Connect The Dots

Insta Friday

2012-01-27T09:19:00.002-05:00

It's time for another week of photos captured with my iPhone!
We're linking up over at Life rearranged.

The Cows. These cute things live across the street from our house. We live in a tree-lined, side walked neighborhood, so it's a little odd, but the field across from our house is their home. And I love them. They are very curious, so whenever you walk by, they come close to the fence to see you. I love to see them when I walk.

I am loving my new stamped necklace from Penny & A Wish... she is a local gal and we are carrying her jewelry in the store. We will have it online soon too! My necklace says "create".

This little birdhouse village is in my in-laws yard. Their yard is amazing. Like something out of a magazine. This little bit of whimsy hangs right by their driveway and makes me smile every time I go over there.

A sweet customer saw this pinwheel while shopping and knew we just had to have it.

Doesn't it look adorable in our flower pot?

I cannot eat enough clementines. I wish we had them all year long.

And I am back to these little gems. I drank them a lot when I was losing lots of weight and I forgot how great they are... 17 g of protein and only 110 calories. GREAT for an afternoon snack.
I think a paper straw makes it even better.

That's it. Thanks for checking out my week.... I hope everyone has a fabulous weekend!

Following a Blog 101

2012-01-26T03:00:00.000-05:00

There are so many fantastic blogs out there. More than I can possibly read on a regular basis. Throw in Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and emails- I'm in Information Overload!

We use our blog to show new products, events, fun craft ideas and then we throw in some random posts like my living room re-do or what I made for dinner. And many of my customers tell me that they can't figure out how to follow our blog, never mind leave a comment! So, I thought I would break it down into simple language.

There are several ways to follow our blog- or any blog for that matter.
There is a place in our sidebar that looks like this:

This allows you to join our site and have our posts saved to your "Reader" of choice.

What's a Reader? We'll get to that in just a minute.

There is another little box on our sidebar that looks like this:

There's that word, READER again!

So what the heck is this thing? If you decide to follow hundreds of blogs like I do, then you will need a Reader. There are several options, but I use Google Reader. It is simple and allows me to put my blogs into categories, so I can skip the "Business" blogs if I just want to read the "Decorating" blogs. (and who doesn't???)

Here is what my Google Reader looks like (in list view):

You can also choose to view it in page view- pictures:

There are many really cool features within Google Reader and I won't discuss them here now, but it is not hard to navigate, so just get in there and click around.

One last way to follow a blog is via email:

This is MY personal LEAST favorite way to go because I also receive about a gazillion emails a day and I certainly don't want to add to that! If, however, this is a better method for you, then by all means, use it. You may have a separate email address just for stuff like this.

Finally, if you see something you like on a blog, SHARE it...

Our blog has this little section below each post:

Each of those little boxes allows you to share it via

Email (M), Blogger, Twitter, Facebook or Google Plus.

So, if you find a craft idea or a great recipe, by all means, share!

The world wide web is an amazing place.

Whatever way you follow blogs....

Keep Following.

And Comment.

We bloggers live for comments.

The Wednesday Word

2012-01-25T03:00:00.000-05:00

We're BACK... with the results of this week's Wednesday Word. If you are just joining us, we started a little challenge last week that will S T R E T C H our creative minds and force us to make something!

It's a self-challenge, so we are only playing against ourselves.

Last week's word was Butterfly.

Here's Kim:

Ok, so I have to start off telling you that I don't really LOVE Butterflies. Nothing against the little creatures- they just don't really do anything for me. So, I struggled on this first week. I immediately remembered the coffee filter/clothespin butterfly that we all made in grade school...not so inspired.

Then, I thought of taking the easy road and coming up with some new stationery collection, but again, not very inspired. And I felt like I needed to do a decent job on this first week.

So, I searched Pinterest and the internet for inspiration. I finally settled on this little project:

It's not an original idea... I saw it here first, but if you do a search, you will find many variations. I loved the symmetry of it and the entire project cost me $0. I used a shutter frame that I had in the closet and asked my husband if it looked like a fence when I turned it sideways- he said it did, so I proceeded. The butterflies were cut with my electric paper cutter using scrap paper I had on hand. I printed out the quote at the bottom and used vanilla to "age" it. (I was at home and my craft supplies all live at the store, so I had to get creative- bonus: it smells really good!)

Here's a closer look:

I have to admit, I like it better than I thought I would and I used colors that would look good in my house, just in case...

Here's Jenn:

Challenges are hard. First week challenges are also hard.

My mantra for this year is: Choose Joy.

Lose a tennis match? Choose Joy.

Husband eats the last of the cookies? Choose Joy.

Clean up a little present from the dog? Choose Joy.

Challenged to create something inspired by butterflies? Choose Joy.

It is so easy to be angry at circumstances. It is automatic. But for me to make the conscious decision to be joyful in all things. That's hard. But worth it.

Anyway.

I wanted to create something that would remind me of this daily. I work from home and spend entirely too much time sitting on my fanny at my desk. I needed a little reminder of choosing joy. When I would rather pitch my computer through the window.

Here is my little canvas:

I used supplies that I had on hand ... paint, a little 5x5 canvas, book paper, and my watercolor paints that I have been itching to use in a different way. I also used rhinestones. And orange paint to match my little owl perched on my desk. Who wouldn't smile at that?

This challenge was fun! I look forward to next week!

If you were inspired to jump in, we'd love to have you link up.

And if you want to join us this week, the word is:

TEMPTATION

hmmmmmmm?????? See you next Wednesday!

Valentine Wishes Trunk Show

2012-01-24T09:39:00.000-05:00

Not in our area? Both of these collections will be on our website SOON!

Chandler's First Birthday Party!

2012-01-23T06:10:00.001-05:00

Chandler Sky celebrated her very first birthday in December and we had the privilege of designing the invitation and party goodies for her mom!

As you will see, Mom had a vision. And no detail was left undone.

Here is the Invitation and the coordinating Thank You Notes and Return Address Labels:

And here is the precious Birthday Girl with her mom on her big day:

The cake was, well, amazing.

We also designed coordinating Water Bottle Labels, Cupcake Toppers and Goody Bag Stickers, but you have to use your imagination because we don't have a photo!

Mom's Birthday is THIS month, so we just designed Invitations for HER big day...

and as you can imagine- they involve some animal print. Like Mother, Like Daughter.

If you have a special theme that you would like for us to work with, just let us know- we would LOVE to make CUSTOM invitations and Coordinating Items for your special event!

Insta Friday

2012-01-20T08:49:00.000-05:00

We're linking up to Life Rearranged

for Insta-Friday.

Ok, so we're back on track for Insta Fridays... we got a little, um, busy in November and December (read: organized chaos), but we are back to our normal craziness, which is completely manageable on most days.

Anyhoo.... Like MANY, I re-dedicated myself to more healthy eating after Christmas. I didn't even wait until the first- I was in full swing on Dec. 26th. That "organized chaos" that I mentioned above also was hazardous to my diet- I was a little out of control on the sugar-diet. So, I reigned it back in and I'm already down about 8 pounds since then. I feel much better already and I would really like to get down to my REAL goal, which is still about 20 pounds away...

So, after a couple of weeks of eating chicken and fish (I don't eat red meat), I found myself studying the spice aisle for some creativity. I decided to try this and it has added a nice little "kick" to my boring chicken. Tonight, I made a salad with grilled chicken over arugula with red peppers and cucumber. It was YUMMY.

The other component to the healthy lifestyle is, of course, exercising almost every day. I just really do not feel good if I don't do something most days. I was running in the fall and I was liking it, but never got to the point of loving it. "They" say that once you get past a certain point, yada, yada, yada... I may pick it up again, but for now, I am enjoying my hour long walks in our beautiful neighborhood. We have many hills, so it's a pretty good hike.

I've been a little obsessed with making these felt flowers lately. I've made several versions, but this one is my favorite. You cannot even believe how easy it is. I love to wear them on my jackets or sweaters- a great little pop of color, especially in the winter. We're going to make these at our March workshop, so if you are in town, be sure and sign up... so fun!

I was running errands the other day and I parked near this car that has eyelashes. Seriously? I want this.

This is a couple weeks old, but it was so sweet, I had to share. The pre-teen boy and I were texting...And I love that he still tells me that he loves me. at 12 1/2. I know these days are numbered, but I am cherishing them right now.

My husband is a bit of a goof. He was very excited when I returned his level the other day- I had been holding it captive at the store. He put it on his head and exclaimed, "I'm so level headed." Yes, this is what I live with. Oh, and this is not a very good picture of him- he's much more handsome without the instagram effects.

So, that's it. My week in review in cell-phone photos. Don't you just love technology?

Until next time....

Kim

The Wednesday Word

2012-01-18T12:44:00.002-05:00

A new challenge. For me. And my friend Jenn. And YOU, if you want to play along. You see, Jenn and I both agree that we need "inspiration" to keep our creative juices flowing. But sometimes that really is easier said than done.

Sometimes we get so caught up in all the

Pinterest Pins, Blog Posts and Flickr Fotos,

that we just lose sight of what we truly love to do.

Create.

And this is not limited to one particular medium.

As much as I love to create invitations, stationery and note cards, I

like to get my hands messy too.

I NEED to....

play with felt

burn my fingers on the hot glue gun

get glitter in my hair

spray paint something

cut up paper

use buttons on things other than clothing

find treasures in the hardware store

have fabulous fabric even though I don't sew

use twigs for decor

tie ribbons

...and make a general mess.

All in the name of CREATIVITY.

So, in order to keep these creative juices flowing, we nominated Fancy Nancy (aka: my mom) to give us a word each week around which we are to CREATE "something".

For me, it may be a stationery collection, but it could also be something fun and useless, a new recipe, a photograph, whatever! Jenn has an endless supply of vision and imagination, so she will probably create something a-mazing each week.

But, it's not a contest- it's simply a way of inspiring each other and seeing what we come up with.

We'll post the word here each Wednesday and also show you our creations from the previous week.

Wanna play?

This week's Word is Butterfly.

Take our word queue and see what YOU can create.

We would LOVE to see it...simply link your project below!

The thrill of crossing it off the list

2012-01-10T20:57:00.000-05:00

My daily to-do list is one of my most important tools. It keeps me sane and focused during my day... I get interrupted about a zillion times with phone calls, customers, etc., and sometimes I forget what I'm supposed to be working on. It also keeps me motivated- because nothing gives me more satisfaction than crossing things off the list!

I am a very visual gal, so I can't function with a list on my phone, but if this works for you- great! I believe in whatever works. I recently discovered Evernote-it's a free app that helps you organize your thoughts, bookmarked websites, photos, etc. and it syncs on all your devices-awesome!

I've only played with it a bit, but I think it has excellent potential for large projects, future ideas, etc. It also has personal applications like recipes, fitness goals, etc. I'm definitely going to dive in.

My personal to-do list is a notepad I designed myself.

It's a fresh sheet everyday, which I like. I like a "clean slate" to start each morning. It also allows for some precious "me" items, like making sure I drink water-why is this so hard? If you like this style, they are available here on our website.

Whether you choose electronic or paper, I think it's important to have a list.

We're giving away one of our To-Do List notepads....simply leave a comment letting us know YOUR favorite "get it done" plan!!! What works for you and how do you manage your day?

Merry Christmas from the Polka Dot Press!

2011-12-24T10:22:00.002-05:00

Monday One Day Sale

2011-11-24T09:16:00.000-05:00

We’re Closed for the weekend

Black Friday and all (gasp!)

But we’ll be back on Monday

With a big sale that won’t last!

So enjoy time with your loved ones

And make memories-they never fail

We’d love to see you next week

for the Monday One Day Sale!

Creative Customer

2011-11-22T00:00:00.002-05:00

One of our favorite customers, Debbie, brought us a loaf of her homemade Pumpkin Bread. I had almost forgotten about the stickers and recipe cards that we had printed for her a couple of months ago- she was organized so early! I am a firm believer in the "Presentation" of gifts and I think Debbie did a great job with this one... the ribbon compliments the polka dotted pumpkin and the recipe card on the bottom is an added gift!
(Many people would not be willing to share!).

Thank you, Debbie, for sharing your yummy treat!

Advent Calendar Workshop

2011-11-21T00:00:00.000-05:00

This month's Polka Dot Workshop was making a Christmas Advent Calendar. We chose this adorable Christmas Countdown Tree and added an envelope on the back for all of the fun activities or goodies for each day. The great thing about the workshops is that everything is purchased and organized for you in advance, so when you arrive, you are ready to create!

Our instructor for this project was my friend, Jenn, but sadly, I didn't get a picture of her teaching. This is an older picture, but her personality is the same and I think you can get a good sense of that....

Oh, and we believe in "Snacks while Crafting", so there's always a little of that too....

Our workshop participants were a great group of gals and I think they had a great time!

Most of our workshops are for ages 8-108, so we love to see little hands at work!

And a messy table is always the sign of a successful crafting event!

The finished products were a hit and the now the gals can start the countdown....35 days!

Want to join the fun? Check out our Workshop Calendar and join us anytime. Our workshops are always the Second Saturday of the month. Hope to see you soon!

Look at this stuff...

2011-11-03T19:45:00.001-04:00

I know that I have a flair for the dramatic ... but as I was sweeping around the store today, I was singing that song from the Little Mermaid ... "look at this stuff, isn't it neat?" (Now you totally have it in your head too. Unless you haven't seen the movie. In which case you should. It is a Disney classic. And then you can come into the store and we can do a duet together.)

But I digress.

Anyway ... I thought I would show you the fun that I was dancing and sweeping around today at the store.

For Thanksgiving:

Because Aunt Suzie needs to sit by Uncle Ken who can't be by Cousin Jayne because he is allergic to her perfume... Place cards are important to familial harmony, y'all.

Could that plate be cuter? The correct answer is NO. I'd eat squash casserole off that plate. And I can't stand squash casserole.

For Christmas:

Look at the choices. Holiday cards. Popcorn. Cocoa. Snowman Soup. Ornaments. Plates. Trays. I can't keep typing all that is in this photo because I will have a finger cramp. SO MUCH GOODNESS.

The very popular wine wrappers in the new holiday collections.

Snowman Soup. I sing to this one just for the cuteness factor.

Santa deserves a special plate, friends. He brings more down the chimney when his cookies are on a festive plate. Isn't that part of the Night Before Christmas? I'm certain it is! (And who do I spy? Our PDP mascot, Snickers.)

And thank you notes for your little ones to send for their holiday gifts this year. Fact: kids enjoy writing thank you notes when they are cute.

"How many wonders can one [store] hold?"

COME SEE US! And if you aren't in Tallahassee, COME SEE US! Road trips are fun too!

-Jenn

Very Pinteresting.....

2011-11-01T21:06:00.000-04:00

Do you know Pinterest?

If you haven't visited this amazing website, then I encourage you to do so.

When you have three hours to kill.

Because you will be on there that long.

So, if you don't have three hours of time, we're here for you.

We're going to occasionally feature fun projects, recipes, decorating tips, etc.

that we've found on Pinterest.

This simple little project caught my eye a few months ago.

{source}

So, I grabbed some fun fabrics and took the pinking shears to them...

I used about a half yard of 5 different fabrics and cut them into strips

approximately 5 inches by 1 1/2 inches.

Then, I sat in front of the tv one evening for about 2 hours.

Seriously, this is not rocket science. Cut. Tie. I didn't even double knot them.

The gals at the store helped make two more, so we have a total of three to decorate

our windows and cash wrap area. My pictures don't really show how stinkin cute they are in the store. We are a little leery of leaving them plugged in all night (you know, commercial building/fire- not good), but as soon as it starts getting dark early, they will really be cute!

So there you go... an EASY and fun project. Think of the possibilities- birthday parties,

Halloween, July 4th... so many fun themes you could make! Let us know if you make one...

we'd love to see it!

It's Beginning to look alot like......

2011-10-31T19:59:00.000-04:00

...Christmas?

That's right. It's (semi) official at my house! The Christmas Tree is UP! And it's Halloween.
Before you judge, let me explain. Then you can judge if you want.

So, I absolutely LOVE the Christmas holidays... I love everything about this time of year. The cold weather, the baking, the family, the shopping.... everything! However, in recent years, as my business has grown, I am always so extremely busy during the last two months of the year that I have a hard time enjoying the whole decorating process. Additionally, we usually travel over the Thanksgiving holiday weekend, which is when I would traditionally decorate my house.

So, last year when my tree did not get up until two weeks before Christmas, I was not a happy girl. It was just too late for me to enjoy it and I remember being so tired and feeling like it was more of a chore. I stated last year that I would never let that happen again and I was putting up the tree this year on Halloween. That's today. And we put it up a day early. So there.

I changed our "theme" this year too... As you may have read, we just redecorated our living room, so I was feeling more "burlap and woodland creatures" than my previous theme of "snowmen". I reused many of the snowflakes that I had, but added some new things too.

So, now that we've got you thinking about Christmas...
We are super excited about our upcoming workshop!

We'll be making this adorable Christmas countdown calendar:

Our workshops have limited space, so reserve your spot today!

Details on the website here.

Holiday Collections are online too- go here to pick out your favorite.

Pumpkins gone wild.

2011-10-27T23:20:00.000-04:00

Alternatively titled ... the day my husband used a whole bottle of Mod Podge. Seriously.

I am a stickler for tradition. I look forward to certain events all year. Putting up the Christmas tree. Shopping with my dad every Christmas Eve. Carving Pumpkins.

My husband hasn't always enjoyed the pumpkin carving process. This was mostly a tradition that my son and I did together. But Stu has carved with me the last couple of years after Michael passed away. He's a trooper. But really I know that he is counting the minutes until he can be done with the process.

Tonight was our night for pumpkin carving. Pizza and Pumpkins. (I'm trying to get in all of my favorite gluten filled foods this week until the big day next week!) I decided to paint my pumpkin this year. My big plans included chevron stripes and a orange glittered spider. Stu decided to decoupage his pumpkins. Though he doesn't know what the word decoupage means. He wanted to cover his pumpkin in paper. I taught him the proper Mod Podge application process. He took me very seriously and just doused the pumpkin in glue. Over, under, all over. No part of the pumpkin was left untouched.

This is where we should have just enjoyed the pizza and watched it's a Great Pumpkin Charlie Brown.

My chevron stripe looked like a bad version of Charlie Brown's famous zigzag. Stu's pumpkin has absorbed a full bottle of Mod Podge. A full bottle. It's not dry. We decorated our pumpkins three hours ago and it is still not dry. It's a gooey mess.

I tried to fix my zig zag. I made it worse. I applied the vinyl stencil for my spider. It pulled off my carefully constructed crappy chevron. I said less than nice words as I reapplied paint with reckless abandon.

Our pumpkins look like a bad art class experiment. I'm sure we will tweak again tomorrow. But until then ... see for yourselves. I warn you. This picture is NOT pretty. We need a pumpkin intervention. Stat.

Entitled "Patchwork".

Entitled "Cheer up Charlie".

-Jenn

gluten. free.

2011-10-25T22:25:00.004-04:00

Can we just stop for a moment and reflect on Kim's fantastic Living Room makeover? I love it. I love it in that way that I want to move in right away and make it my own. Move over Williams family. I'm looking at hanging out on the couch. Forever.

But not in a creepy way. Just in a sweet friend way. Promise.

In a week's time, Kim and I will also be undergoing a makeover of our diet. We are going gluten free. Just for a couple of weeks to see how we feel. We might keep it up individually or together or ditch the whole thing in favor of dinner rolls and white rice.

It's nice to have a buddy to do these kinds of things with. Like our running class. We may not be the prettiest runners but I can guarantee that we are having the most fun.

{via}

We start this gluten free fun on November 1. Next Tuesday. So that we can partake in a last sugar fest on Halloween. Watch out Milky Ways ... I'm looking at you.

Any tips or websites or encourangement that our readers would like to share would be much appreciated!

-Jenn

Time for a Change...

2011-10-24T19:44:00.003-04:00

We've lived in our home for almost 6 years now. So, to say our living room needed an update is well, an understatement. The colors were "so 2008" and I was ready for something more neutral. Oh, and if anyone ever tells you that kids get "less messy", they are lying. They just make bigger messes.

So, the order was for neutral colors, kid friendly and of course, on our very small budget. I envisioned dark brown leather while my husband envisioned something more along these lines:

Ok, so maybe that is a little bit of an exaggeration, but he was not being realistic. Our first trip to the furniture store was less than successful. We were on very different pages.

Fast forward a week later. We enter the living room to find our 12 year old son and his friend, s-p-r-a-w-l-e-d out on the couch with shoes on their feet, chips on the coffee table and greasy fingers.

Our next shopping trip to the furniture store was a bit more successful. Leather wins.

So, we've been 'evolving' the living room over the past week. We were able to repurpose many of the things we already owned, including a side chair and the everything on the gallery wall!

So, here's the "before":

and here's the "after":

We're really happy with the results...What do you think?

InstaFriday

2011-10-21T07:22:00.000-04:00

This is my first time participating in the InstaFriday link-up over at Life Rearranged. Here is a little glimpse of my week ... in cell phone photos. And then jazzed up with the Instagram app. (Have you tried this app yet? It's kind of fantastic. It takes my phone photos and makes them so special. Bonus!)

I followed Wild Bill's Curly Fries along the road into work. It's a wonder I made it to work at all. I kind of adore curly fries. And I am sure that Wild Bill makes fabulous curly fries. Is the fair in town? I'm really not sure. I didn't follow in any other fair mobile. Perhaps Wild Bill is venturing out on his own? I'm in!

Added a little vinyl to a gift for my cousin's bridal shower this weekend. Oh the perks of working with creative people!

I don't like to brag ... but I am kind of a sudoku master. Ok. Not really. But LOOK! My time was faster than 5 other times. 100% of those people. I should tell you that I was on the easy setting. I'm really not a master at all. But I had to keep this little gem. I sent it to my husband so that he could appreciate his brilliant wife. Cooking might not be my thing. Sudoku totally is!

I finished up some custom art pieces this week. Isn't this little bird sweet?

Who knew that my friend (and The Polka Dot Press owner) Kim was so talented in the track department? And the triple jump? Pretty amazing, my champion friend! Kim and I have been taking a running class together (along with another brave friend). Look for our (real) names on the Champions wall VERY soon.

That's my week! Tell me ... what has been the highlight of your week? Or what are you most looking forward to this weekend?

_____

A little PDP business ... today is the last day to order your Halloween goodies! Don't miss out on the treats! Click here for your bag toppers, popcorn and candy bar wrappers!

-Jenn

Scarecrow Crunch

2011-10-19T19:06:00.002-04:00

If you've been into the store recently, then you may have sampled this delicious and SO SIMPLE treat...
Scarecrow Crunch is a fun, seasonal mix that you can create in minutes. It's a great alternative to candy for a fall classroom treat, Halloween party favor or neighbor goodie.

Our treat bag toppers make it extra cute too!

Here's the recipe, but I've made it slightly differently each time- just use whatever you have on hand!

Scarecrow Crunch

4 cups crunchy oatmeal cereal squares
4 cups tiny twist pretzels
1 (22-0unce) bag of autumn mix honey candy
2 cups peaunut butter candy in crunchy shell
2 (6-ounce) boxes caramel popcorn with nuts
1 (6.6) bag chocolate graham baked snacks

In a large bowl, combine all ingredients.

An introduction.

2011-10-18T13:15:00.000-04:00

Allow me to introduce myself...
Hi. I'm Jenn. (That's my husband, Stu).

I have worked with Kim and The Polka Dot Press on and off for the past few years. Kim is a very dear friend of mine so the opportunity to be with her AND play with her fabulous products is a great way to spend my weekday afternoons! I will be writing alongside Kim (and Snickers!) on this blog. We have some fun things planned so check back often.

I'm not very good at describing myself. But I'll give you a top five things I am into right now list. Because who doesn't love a good list, right?

1. Tennis. I play tennis at least four days a week. I am on two teams right now. In the Spring, I play on four teams. I am addicted. Can't say I am great at it! Just really enjoy the game and the friends that I have made playing it.

2. Chobani Honey Nana Greek Yogurt. What is a list without food, right? I am always looking for a good source of protein. I am a vegetarian and a picky eater. Not the best combo! This greek yogurt is specifically made for kids. I am hoping to graduate to full on greek yogurt soon. I'll keep you posted.

3. My husband. I know. Totally cheesy. But really - he is my best friend. I love him. It's true.

4. Fall. I am so ready for cooler weather and can sense that fall is hitting Florida very soon! So ready for jeans and sweaters and hoodies and leggings and sweatpants. Not to mention the pumpkin muffins. Yum!

5. Hobby Lobby. Ours just opend up this summer. How did I craft without this place before? Love that it is close to my house. Easy to get to. Love their sales! I'm a fan!

Nice to "meet" all of you and looking forward to getting to know you through this blog and your stops by the store!

-Jenn

2011-10-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

Hi. My name is Snickers. I am a Guinea Pig and I have quite a lot to say.

I'll be posting here occasionally (when I'm not busy eating carrots or napping).

Today's post will highlight Halloween costumes for my breed. That's right- we can dress up too!

Here are some cute ideas for my fellow Pig Pals.

There's the traditional Pumpkin Costume...

Pirates are very popular for the boys-

This Dinosaur costume would be great!

...Or this Fireman's outfit.

The gals might like this Nurse's outfit...

or this beautiful Princess costume!

And, if you have any black tie events coming up...

All of these outfits can be found here.

Until next time....

Snickers.

Vendor Hightlight #5 ... Trendy Traditions

2011-10-05T10:46:00.000-04:00

Tomorrow! Tomorrow! Gifts at the Gallery starts tomorrow!

Hooray for our next vendor highlight ... Trendy Traditions!

Such beautiful work from Trendy Traditions. We are looking forward to having them in our store! You must see their rosaries in person. Stunning!

In their own words:

Trendy Traditions specializes in personalized, custom Catholic gifts. All items are handmade with love. Trendy Traditions is the work of husband and wife, Joseph & Melanie Gillespie. We are primarily an online business shipping all over the world but occassionally we show our work at craft shows, home shows, and other festivals. Like us on FB to find out when these events are upcoming.

TT offers rosaries that are made to order so each piece is unique making it possible to personalize with a name, date, or event. Custom rosaries are also available if you have a specific theme or devotion in mind.

Like Trendy Traditions on Facebook

Visit the Trendy Traditions Website

Gifts at the Gallery - Vendor #4

2011-10-04T22:59:00.000-04:00

Ready for our next vendor? YES!

Precious Poppies ... come on down!

This is Kari, owner of Precious Poppies', debut! She is very artsy and makes all sorts of things. Peruse her facebook photos for all of the fun things she creates. Beautiful scarves, book page necklaces, hats, necklaces ... the list goes on. Kari will be bringing her artistic flair to the good shoppers of Tallahassee this week. Can't wait to see her set-up!

Like Precious Poppies on Facebook.

Gifts at the Gallery - Vendor Highlight #3

2011-10-04T14:57:00.001-04:00

Raise your hand if you are excited about Gifts at the Gallery! My hand is fully raised and waving around!! WooHoo!

Our next fabulous vendor is ... Lucky Goat Coffee!

From Lucky Goat Coffee: Gourmet micro roaster, producing and distributing FRESH, high quality coffees. Great coffees from around the world roasted daily. We now have fair trade coffee available for purcahse.

Like Lucky Goat Coffee on Facebook

Visit the Lucky Goat Coffee Website

The Polka Dot Press will be carrying Lucky Goat Coffee's holiday blend this season. We were given a sample ... SO GOOD! And smells delicious! Lucky Goat will have samples on hand so you can try their blends yourself. Such good coffee!

Only two more days!

Gifts at the Gallery ... Vendor Highlight #2!

2011-10-03T20:22:00.000-04:00

We can't wait for you to see our holiday decor in the store! So festive. I'll post sneak peaks later this week ... or come on down to the store to see the real thing!

Time for another vendor highlight!

This time we are featuring ....

From the Ella Pearl Designs:

Ella Pearl Designs uses only the highest quality, designer fabrics and outstanding foundation elements to create each custom bag to your specifications. With 23 designs and several hundred {ever-changing} fabrics, the possibilities are endless. Each bag is hand-cut, hand-sewn and personally inspected just for you.

Stephanie Coughlin, owner of Ella Pearl Designs, is one of the nicest people you will meet. And one of the chic-est. She rocks. Come see her at the show!

Like Ella Pearl Designs on Facebook.

Visit Ella Pearl Designs on the web.

Vendor Highlight #1 - Gifts at the Gallery

2011-10-03T11:43:00.001-04:00

Hi friends!

It's October ... and you know what that means! The HOLIDAYS are right around the corner!

Only 12 shopping weeks left.

The Polka Dot Press and Bedfellows are joining forces to kick off your holiday shopping with...

We will be highlighting a few of our vendors leading up to the show this Thursday. Come back daily to see what treats we have in store for you!

Our first vendor introduction:

MISS GINNY'S ENGLISH TOFFEE.

Miss Ginny was across from our table at a holiday show last year. Let's just say that we might have had to bring out the buffet pants at the end of the show. SO DELICIOUS! It was hard to not go back for just one more!

Miss Ginny's ... in her own words:

Miss Ginny began making English Toffee over 20 years ago as gifts for family and friends at Christmas time. Handmade in the English tradition from an old family recipe, she uses the best ingredients: rich creamery butter, sugar and premium chocolate sprinkled with the souths most desirable pecans.

Miss Ginny's English Toffee makes great gifts for teachers, favors for weddings & parties, a unique gift for that someone who has everything, or as a treat for yourself!

Like Miss Ginny's English Toffee on Facebook!

The Polka Dot Press will also be unveiling our Holiday collections this week. Come see our Holiday cards in person - the preview below doesn't BEGIN to show you how fun they are!

See you at the Gifts at the Gallery!!

New Sale Items!

2011-09-29T08:00:00.000-04:00

We have some new items in our Sale section, check it out!

Chevron Stripe Inspiration

2011-09-28T08:00:00.001-04:00

I am loving the Chevron Stripe trend that is on fire lately. I recently was inspired and added several new Chevron Stripe items to our website.

See all my pins here.

Do you have any chevron stripe decor going on in your home?

Grillled Buttermilk Chicken

2011-09-27T08:00:00.001-04:00

We still have plenty of time for good weather for outdoor grilling, if we can only find the time to do it!

Doesn't this grilled chicken look amazing? I can't wait to try it! It would be a great tailgating recipe too.

For more delicious grilling recipes click here.

Ingredients

1 quart buttermilk
1/2 cup chopped shallots
2 tablespoons chopped garlic
2 tablespoons kosher salt
2 tablespoons sugar
1 tablespoon ground cumin
1 teaspoon pepper
6 chicken thighs (about 2 1/2 lb. total)
6 chicken drumsticks (about 1 3/4 lb. total)

Preparation

In a large bowl, mix buttermilk, shallots, garlic, salt, sugar, cumin, and pepper.

Rinse chicken thighs and drumsticks and pat dry. Trim off excess fat. Submerge chicken pieces in buttermilk brine. Cover and chill for at least 4 hours, or up to 1 day (see notes).

Lift chicken from brine; discard brine. Wipe excess from chicken with paper towels.

Lay chicken pieces on a barbecue grill over medium coals or medium heat on a gas grill (you can hold your hand at grill level only 4 to 5 seconds); close lid on gas grill. Cook, turning frequently, until browned on both sides and no longer pink at the bone (cut to test), 20 to 30 minutes. Serve hot or cold.

Note: Brine the chicken up to 1 day before grilling; grill up to 1 day before serving (chill airtight). Transport in brine when grilling on-site. Keep the meat well chilled in an ice chest until ready to serve or grill.

Great Ideas for Tea Towels.

2011-09-21T13:45:00.000-04:00

Aren't these tea towels gorgeous? I love the creative use of them for things outside the kitchen!

You could wrap out some of from our kitchen collection and have yourself a fabulous gift!

And if you can sew, you could use a tea towel, to make a little tunic shirt/dress for your little girl!

Hand Painted Pails!

2011-09-21T12:42:00.000-04:00

These just got delivered to our store!

Local artist, Kim Pisano is making these ADORABLE Halloween pails and we will personalize with your little goblin's name! $22.50 while supplies last.... contact us at 850-894-8737 to order!

Free Fall Prinatable!!

2011-09-20T08:39:00.000-04:00

Fall is my FAVORITE season of the year!
Here's a little freebie that I thought you might enjoy!
(8x10 size for framing)

You can download the pdf here.

Start a Special Tradition with Personalized Plates

2011-09-20T06:00:00.003-04:00

I was thinking the other day about traditions and how Moms like to have traditions on birthday's and holidays to make them more special and show their love.

How sweet would it be to have a special plate for your little one, that she can use on birthday's or even special days, like when she aces her math test?

This mermaid one would be perfect for all the little mermaid lovers out there. To see our full collection click here.

And if Mama needs a personalized tray for entertaining, or just because, check out these.

W is for Workshop...

2011-09-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

We held our first Polka Dot Workshop last Saturday and it was SOOOO fun!
Thirteen participants. One fabulous instructor. LOTS of crayons!

Randi Shiver, The Homemade Parade, was our instructor...
She teaches Kindergarten, so this project did not scare her at all.

After their initials were complete, everyone enjoyed another crayon project- this one was edible!

These "crayons" are actually pretzel rods dipped in melting chocolate! They are as cute as they are delicious! Want to try this one at home?... here is the link for the instructions and the printable!

If you'd like to join us for an upcoming Polka Dot Workshop, check out the calendar online here.
Our next one will feature Whitney Fletcher, Photographer, and she will be teaching us some tricks of the trade for our family photos! It's almost full, so contact us today if you are interested!

Save the Date of Gifts At The Gallery

2011-09-18T15:24:00.000-04:00

Healthy Tailgating Recipes

2011-09-15T13:13:00.000-04:00

I came across some healthy tailgating recipes that look delicious and thought I would share!

What is your best, healthy(ish) tailgating recipe? Even more important, what is your favorite recipe that is the easiest to prepare?

A healthy version of chile con queso.

Deviled Eggs are actually a healthy snack! They have a ton of protein and nutrients and no carbs.

How about mini, twice baked potatoes instead of greasy potato chips? Sure, they still have a good amount of calories, but you fill up faster and actually get some protein and nutrients this way.

Check our fun tailgating items to make your party even more fun!

Boo! Halloween is Just Around the Corner!

2011-09-13T11:59:00.000-04:00

I know you all are like me, dreaming and skeeming months in advance before the holidays (which is why I posted about Holiday cards before Halloween!) and then in the end, I run around last minute trying to get everything done.

But for those of you, who can actually manage to follow through with your well laid plans, be sure to include our Halloween items in your dreaming! You can see more ideas on our website.

Halloween Square Stickers:

Halloween Popcorn Wrappers:

Halloween Mini Candy Bar Wrappers:

Halloween Stationary Collection:

October Polka Dot Press Workshop

2011-09-12T19:18:00.000-04:00

Our next Polka Dot Press Workshop will be on Saturday, October 8, 2011 with the lovely and talented Whitney Fletcher!! She took some pictures for me recently and I love them!

Photographer, Whitney Fletcher, will teach us how to take better photographs! In case you want to do your own DIY family portraits this upcoming holiday season or just capture better pictures of your children, you will not want to miss this workshop.

Space is limited so reserve your spot today!

The cost of the workshop is $15, which includes supplies, instructions and a very fun snack! Only a few spots left, so call or come by to reserve your spot! And stay tuned to the website for more upcoming workshops-we've got LOTS of fun planned for the coming months!

Retail Store: 850.894.8737

Visit us at:
1485 Market Street
Tallahassee, FL 32312
in the Gallery at Market Street-
Second Floor- above Nic's Toggery

Calling Cards

2011-09-09T14:20:00.000-04:00

Do you need some cute calling cards? They can double as note cards or stickers, if you want them too!

These gift tags are perfect for so many uses: hostess gifts, baby gifts, personal calling cards, quick notes & more! Choose from gift cards printed on heavy cardstock or stickers for extra convenience!

gift cards are 3.5 x 2 inches

stickers are 2 x 4 inches

personalized with any information you like!

Tailgating Fun!

2011-09-08T00:00:00.001-04:00

Is this not the cutest tailgating party you have ever seen? My sweet friend was totally decked out last weekend, for FSU's first home game. She had water bottle wrappers, cupcake toppers, personalized drink ware and wine bottle wrappers.

If you have any of our products at your next tailgate, be sure to take a picture and post it to our Facebook page. We would love to see it!

And don't forget to join us this Saturday for a Football Party in the District!

Yellow and Grey Color Story

2011-09-07T00:00:00.002-04:00

I am in LOVE with the color combination of yellow and gray. Everything from clothes to home decor. To check out my full Pinterest board, click here.

Grey Formal Note Cards by French Blue

Vintage Yellow Flower Collection

So what do you think about yellow and gray? Does anyone have any yellow and gray in their home?

Christmas is Coming!

2011-09-06T09:00:00.000-04:00

Do you know that there are only 109 days until Christmas?
It's time to start thinking about those Holiday Cards and of course, the "Annual Family Photo". We will be loading all of the new Holiday Collections onto the website this week, but I wanted to give you a sneak peek!

And, if you are going the DIY route on the "Annual Family Photo", you may want to join us at our October Polka Dot Workshop.

Football Party in the District!

2011-09-05T08:38:00.000-04:00

We will be participating in the Football Party in the District, THIS Saturday from 11-3p!
This is the same day we will be hosting our 1st workshop, from 10:30-12p.

There will be lots of food and some awesome giveaways. You can sign up for the giveaway once in our store, then visit the other participating stores in the district for more chances to win.

Hope to see you there! And GO SEMINOLES!

If You Give A Mom a Muffin...

2011-09-01T12:04:00.000-04:00

If you give a Mom a Muffin.... she'll probably want to buy some cute stationery!

Muffins for Mom was a huge success! Thank you to all of our customers who came out to visit, have a delicious muffin, a free gift and get an exclusive coupon! Our neighbors at Dunkin Donuts graciously donated the muffins, donuts and coffee!

Check out the fun we had!

Healthy Lunch Box Ideas

2011-08-31T09:44:00.002-04:00

My son loves to eat healthy, but he is way past the pack a cute lunch with a love note stage, but when I saw all these cute ideas on Pinterest, I just had to share. You are following me over there, right?! :)

How adorable are these? For all the pictures and links click here. And if you want more information about how to make SUPER healthy lunches check out this site.

If you can still get away with putting a sweet note in your kid's lunch box be sure to check out our lunch box notes.

AND, if you become a google follower of our blog, and leave a comment in the comment section telling us so, we will enter you in a giveaway of our lunch box notes! Share about this giveaway on Facebook and get another entry! You have till 9.16.11 to enter.

Let's Party!

2011-08-30T06:36:00.000-04:00

We have a new section on our newly redesigned website called Let's Party. We love helping moms plan birthday parties with custom invitations and cupcake toppers, so we thought we would add other fun items to the mix to make your parties even more special.

With the above items, you could throw a super cute, hot pink and black color themed party. Check out these pink and black party pictures for some inspiration:

We also offer custom water bottles wrappers. If you have any questions or need something specific, please let us know.

New Website Design

2011-08-29T14:59:00.001-04:00

Have you been over to our website, www.ThePolkaDotPress.com lately? We just redesigned our website!

We think it's pretty awesome! What do you think? Is there anything we could do to make it easier to find or view products?

Fall Fun

2011-08-26T06:03:00.003-04:00

Fall is coming! Can you feel it?

Be the first to check out some of our fall favorites here.

Coordinated Desk Accessories

2011-08-25T06:00:00.001-04:00

An adorable gift for a girlfriend, co-worker or a college gal... coordinated desk accessories!

Shown: Pencil Cup, Folded Note Cards and Personalized Pen all in the Preppy Plaid collection. Other items available, such as a mouse pad (notepad) and a ruler!

Too cute!

Yellow and Teal Birthday Party Inspiration

2011-08-24T06:00:00.001-04:00

Stephanie did a yellow and teal theme for her daughter's first birthday party last year. Love it!

See the rest of the party pictures and tutorials here.

For all sorts of party ideas and inspiration check out this site.

Monogram Inspiration For Your House

2011-08-23T06:00:00.003-04:00

Yesterday we showed you the proper way to do monograms. Now check out these awesome ways to add monograms to your house!

These trays are cute way to add a little monogram beauty to your kitchen or dinning room.

Or these adorable plates!

To see our Pinterest board of all the images look here. And be sure to follow us on Pinterest as well!

Monogram Etiquette

2011-08-22T06:00:00.006-04:00

The rules of monogramming can be confusing, so here are a few guidelines to help you make the best choice for your personal stationery or gifts:

For a single woman, the monogram should include her first, middle and last initial. The last name initial is larger than the first name or middle name.

Kimberly Anne Turner would be:

KTA

For a married woman, the monogram should include her first, maiden and married initial. Again, the last name is larger than the first or maiden name initials.

Kimberly Turner Williams would be:

KWT

For an engaged or married couple, the monogram should contain the bride's first initial, the surname of the couple and the groom's first initial, in that order.

Kimberly and Mike Williams would be:

KWM

For a man, there are a couple of options. Many people prefer to use the first, middle and last name initials in that order and the letters are all the same size.

James Michael Williams would be:

JMW

However, it is also correct to use a man's surname initial in the middle, so

James Michael Williams would be:

JWM

We hope this helps in your purchase, but as always, if you need additional assistance, don't hesitate to contact us!

Whitney Fletcher Photos of New Store!

2011-08-19T00:00:00.001-04:00

The wonderful and talented Whitney Fletcher recently took pictures of the new store.

Click here to see them all!

Alex's 3rd Birthday, a Horse Theme!

2011-08-18T00:00:00.001-04:00

We make Birthday Parties easy! Alex's third birthday, was a huge hit at the Painted Pony!

And her mom loved having everything cute and coordinated for the party!

Shown: Custom Invitations, Thank You notes and Goody Bag stickers.

Happy Hour Baby Shower

2011-08-17T00:00:00.000-04:00

Recently, we designed a Happy Hour Baby Shower. We did everything from the invitations, to the

wine wrappers. It was a huge hit!

Check out some of the pictures from the shower.

Cupcake toppers up close. Mommies really DO rock!

The wine glass party favors.

The wine wrappers. Isn't it amazing what a difference such a small detail can make?

And the invitations. I love how unique this shower was. No pastels. No diapers and bottles for decor. This Mama had style!

What's the most stylish baby shower you have attended?

Personalized Hand Sanitizer!

2011-08-16T00:00:00.002-04:00

One of our newest products is just in time for the school year! Personalized hand sanitizer is a teacher's dream (and mom may like one too!) The giant, 40 oz. bottle is refillable, but it will last a long time!

You can choose the polka dot colors, so have fun with school colors, team colors, or just something cute for the kitchen. You can order one here or come by our store!

Polka Dot Workshops

2011-08-15T00:00:00.002-04:00

This adorable crayon letter will be our project at the first "Polka Dot Workshop" to be held from 10:30-12 noon on the Second Saturday in September (in the store).

Randi Shiver, of The Homemade Parade will be our instructor- she is full of fun ideas for the kids and mom! The cost of the workshop is $15, which includes supplies, instructions and a very fun snack! Only a few spots left, so call or come by to reserve your spot! And stay tuned to the website for more upcoming workshops-we've got LOTS of fun planned for the coming months!

Retail Store: 850.894.8737

Visit us at:
1485 Market Street
Tallahassee, FL 32312
in the Gallery at Market Street-
Second Floor- above Nic's Toggery

Meet Stephanie!

2011-08-14T14:57:00.000-04:00

Are some of you wondering who the new gal is over on The Polka Dot Press Facebook page? Well, let me officially introduce myself!

Hi there! I am Stephanie, the little one in the picture is my daughter, Penelope. The love of my life! She was born on 11.11.09, at home, in water and into my own two hands. You can read more about her birth story here and our breastfeeding struggles here.

I am a Licensed Massage Therapist, Certified Yoga Instructor, Certified Doula and a Birthing From Within Mentor. Basically, I love all things mama and baby and yoga! I'm passionate about handmade, storytelling, community building, eating organic foods, living a mindful, peaceful, healthy life and always trying to be a better person. You read more about me here and here.

I am the founder of Mama and Baby Love, which if you been in Tallahassee a long time, you might have heard about. It was a yoga studio for mothers and children at Manor@Midtown. Now, it is a thriving blog dedicated to natural parenting, yoga, DIY, travel and real food.

With my background in marketing and social media from running my business and blog, I now do freelance social media management and community building. I am so excited to be apart of The Polka Dot Press team and get to know you all!

Grand Opening Success!

2011-08-12T14:30:00.001-04:00

Thank you to everyone who came out to our Grand Opening!!!

We had such a great time seeing old clients and meeting new ones.

And remember, if you become our fan on Facebook, you have exclusive access to our current coupon (25% off!!) This is just for the local folks, to continue the celebration of our new location. But don't worry, a special offer will be coming soon for out-of-towners!

Lots of cute kiddos at the Grand Opening... they kept busy at the coloring table.

Snacks and munchies.

A hopeful customer registering for Whitney Fletcher Photography's giveaway.

Some very well behaved boys. Just chillin, while Mom shopped.

A friend brought by monogrammed brownie bites!

We collected School Supplies for the Junior League of Tallahassee, Kids Boutique. Our customers were so generous!!!

The Crazy Crayon contest! Click here to see who won!

So many gorgeous flowers and plants were sent from friends and family!!!

Thank you again to everyone who came out to support and celebrate!

Crayon Crazy Winner!

2011-08-11T14:56:00.001-04:00

Congratulations, Tijen Owings!!!

Who guessed, 83, very close to the actual number of crayons, 81!! There were a couple of other close picks, so we put the closest four in a hat and picked one. :)

Tijen, has won a $50 gift certificate to The Polka Dot Press. Please contact The Polka Dot Press to redeem your prize!

What was your guess?!

Back to School

2011-08-09T12:17:00.001-04:00

Here are some of my favorite back to school items!

How adorable is this? I am so going to be that mom who writes a note to my daughter every day, and then I will hoard them all in a box for safe keeping.

I mean, really, can it get any cuter?

This makes me want to be a teacher, just so I could justify having a personalized ruler in the house, to my husband.

I want to buy these and put them on everything, even though my daughter is not in school yet. I am one of those people, I really like to label things.

Which one is your favorite?

The New Storefront...photos, at last!

2011-07-21T19:24:00.000-04:00

Thank you to everyone for the huge amount of support we have received in our first week at our new address! Fancy Nancy and I have loved seeing so many familiar faces, but also meeting new friends. We are loving our new neighborhood and look forward to a successful fall season and beyond. I finally took the time to snap a few photos of the new storefront....
so, in case you live outside our area, you can be with us in spirit!

Here's a storewide shot...

The children's area...

Goodies for the Kitchen...

Party Time...

A little something "Executive"...

For the Bride...

Cute stuff for the gals...

We love teachers...

And Babies...

The Stationery Bar.. paper & envelopes by the dozen!

A Girl, Some Cash & A Bathroom....

2011-06-29T19:49:00.003-04:00

The move is on. We have a big blank "canvas" that is a new storefront. So many details.

Enter: Summer Intern. Caroline is an Interior Design Major at Alabama.

And she was ready for a challenge. The Bathroom.

I wanted it to be a fun, unexpected surprise.

So, I handed her the budget. A mere $100.

And gave her my "idea".

The walls in most of the store have been painted a crisp white. A perfect canvas for color and creativity.

The bathroom is relatively large, but we decided to concentrate on a main wall that is visible from outside the bathroom. And Caroline delivered.....with $25 to spare.

The wall is whimsical, fun and full of personality!

I can't wait for people to ask, "Do you have a restroom?" :)

We're Moving and We're Having a SALE!

2011-06-27T07:51:00.002-04:00

Look Whoooooo's Having a Baby!

2011-06-13T07:46:00.000-04:00

My cousin, Amanda, is pregnant with her first baby (a boy) and due in July.

My aunt organized her baby shower and I helped with the invitations and some goodies for the tables...

Mandy is a simple girl, so no crazy baby stuff here.

The theme was based on her bedding, but she really loves the owls, so we played that up...

My aunt and her husband made centerpieces using owls that I printed on card stock and we made popcorn wrappers that read. "Look whoooos about to pop!" for the guests.

Mandy's sister had the cake made to match the invitation and it was A-mazing!

We made "advice cards" for the guests to fill out... with about 70 guests, that's ALOT of advice!

Water bottle labels were also a cute touch...

There were ALOT of gifts. It took Mandy a long time to open them all, but it was so fun!

We kept the gift list organized and made her some matching thank you notes...

...and they will have many thank you notes to write.....

We can't wait to meet Baby Jacob!!!!

Water Slide Birthday Party!

2011-05-24T00:00:00.000-04:00

It's already HOT here in Florida, so a May birthday party definitely calls for a water slide!

Sam and his mom requested some invitations to fit the theme and they were thrilled with our design!

And it looks like the water slide was a HUGE hit!

Sam's Grandma made the Water Slide Cake..... awesome!

Happy Birthday, Sam!

And if you need custom invitations, just contact us! We'd LOVE to design something just for you!

"Do you have a coupon for that?"

2011-05-22T20:15:00.001-04:00

Several of my friends have noticed that I've been "absent" from my social media connections- facebook, this blog, etc.... Life just gets BUSY sometimes...

It's May, so we've been pretty busy in the studio with Graduation announcements, Teacher Gifts, Rehearsal Dinner Invitations, etc.
In an effort to keep the 50 pounds off that I lost, I've been keeping up with my exercise regimen, which requires a daily chunk of time. It's non-negotiable.
AND my husband and I have become avid coupon-ers! I said avid. Not extreme.

–adjective: enthusiastic; ardent; dedicated; keen

We became interested a couple of months ago...more curiosity than commitment. At first.

We started out slowly. We did lots of reading of blogs. I ordered my pink coupon binder.

And we saved a little money.

But then, we started to get good at it. Like really good. Like 19-cent-box-of-pasta good.

And 20-cent-sour-cream-good. And free-razors-good.

There are coupons everywhere... the inserts in the Sunday paper are a good start, but there are also store coupons, printable coupons, and coupons right on the products. It didn't take long for my little pink coupon binder to get quite full.

And it didn't take long for us to be saving more than we spend.
Case in point: this week's grocery bill. Spent: $100.
Saved: $108.
I cannot even tell you the last time we spent this little on a week's worth of groceries!
And we're just getting better at it!

We focus on three stores, primarily. Publix, CVS and Walgreens. Each has a different set of rules and you have to learn how to strategize for each store. But, this isn't rocket science and it doesn't take long to get your game on.

So, what I'm telling you is that in a little over two months, we have managed to lower our grocery bill by half and put this together:

a "second pantry" in our entryway closet.

and this....

... the "health and beauty" section in my laundry room.

and this little stockpile of laundry detergent and toilet paper....

Yes, we will have clean clothes AND bottoms for months to come!

Some may call it extreme.

We are just trying to win the battle of the budget in these difficult times.

And, it's kinda fun!

I am fortunate to have a husband who is ALL IN with this...

He is responsible for most of our printable coupons and he does alot of the planning.

It's a fun thing to do together (we are THAT boring) and it's good for the family.

So, the next time you are grocery shopping, ask yourself...

"Do I have a coupon for this?"

So many Gifts...So little time!

2011-04-24T12:05:00.001-04:00

It's that time of year again.

Almost May.

In my opinion, May can be busier than December.

There are Graduations, Brides, Mother's Day, School Parties, Teacher Gifts....aaacccckk!

We're making your Gift Shopping ALOT easier

with our Gift Certificates- ON SALE!

Yes, it's like MONEY on SALE!

This week only, so make your list and check it twice.

Then, we'll handle the rest.

Happy Anniversary... to US!

2011-04-15T21:05:00.000-04:00

One Year.

That's how long we've been in our Studio Space!

We used to be in our dining room-turned-studio:

Then, last April, we moved into our small, but efficiently-used, space:

...and now, our fabulous customers can come SEE us and our products!

And, we work a little bit too! (Well, Fancy Nancy does!)

Thank you for a fabulous year in the Studio!

We are so blessed to work every day at something we just LOVE!

The Polka Dot Press Team.

OH, and to celebrate, we put a few things on sale... check them out here!

Spring Break in the Mountains....

2011-04-11T00:00:00.000-04:00

This is the story of our Spring Break adventure... I had not seen my best friend in over 3 years!!!

So, we each packed up the kids and half of our houses to meet in Tennessee for the week!

SO. MUCH. FUN.

BFF's since 10th grade

Too many miles

The "middle" and our home away from home for the week

Our cabin... it was absolutely adorable and had all the comforts of home!

The theme of the week was "Good Ole' Fashioned Fun". No cell phone service. No wi-fi. We did have television, but it was definitely a secondary choice...the kids (and moms) really "unplugged" and enjoyed the outdoors.

The payoff for a long hike... a beautiful waterfall!

The weather was warm enough the first part of the week for the kids to swim in the river...

....and too cold at the end of the week for a hike up in the mountain!

Brrrrr.... 30 degrees and spittin' snow!

The Blue Ridge Mountains are named appropriately...so pretty!

More hiking...

...and a reluctant pose with mom. (It's so not-cool to smile for a photo at 11 1/2)

Roasting Hotdogs in the fireplace became a nightly ritual...
(see how the tv is not even ON?)

...and Delaney and I did some "crafting". I wish I had taken more photos, but we painted a tee-shirt, made friendship bracelets and an Easter egg wreath.
Delaney painted this pillowcase too!

We ventured "into town" most days and we visited the local flea market.

There was lots of camo.

...and fried things (which, of course, we had to try!) When in Tennessee, right?

I love this photo of a meadow with new grass... Spring was just starting there.

...and we are already planning our trip for next year!

Cooking Birthday Party!

2011-04-06T14:13:00.000-04:00

Wesleigh had a fabulous birthday party at our new

Publix Apron's Cooking School.

The kids got to make an entree

and an individual cake!

We designed the invitations, note cards and stickers for the party...

The Birthday Girl is quite the chef!

It looks like the party was a huge success!

If you are hosting a similar party, you can get the

Cooking Class Collection here!

Thanks, Nicole, for sharing the birthday fun!

*Do you have photos from an event that we printed goodies for?

Earn a $25 gift certificate if we feature your photos on the blog....

So, send us your photos!!!

Hop over for Easter Goodies....

2011-04-04T13:40:00.000-04:00

Order Easter Goodies by April 10th!

Invitations, Photo Cards, Stickers & More!

NEW! Polka Dot Dollar$!!!

2011-03-31T21:02:00.000-04:00

We are always looking for ways to reward

our loyal customers......

Introducing, Polka Dot Dollar$ !

After 6 purchases, you receive a discount equal to

10% of the total of your previous 6 purchases.

You've heard the phrase,

"The More You Spend...The More You Save".

But, it doesn't matter WHAT you spend-

you get rewarded just for shopping with us repeatedly!

Online or in the Studio- just let us know that you want to apply your purchase to your Polka Dot Dollar$...

we'll keep track of your spending!

Spring Break!

2011-03-18T00:00:00.002-04:00

We're taking a BREAK.

So we're giving you a BREAK.

Take 20% off your entire order online while we're gone.....
use discount code: (you guessed it) BREAK
(sale prices effective Saturday, 3/19-Saturday, 3/26; custom designs not included)

Where are we going?

We're headed to the...

...Mountains of Tennesee

We'll be staying in a ....

....Log Cabin!

We'll be having so much fun with....

...my BFF and her kiddos

We can't WAIT!

Happy Spring Break and Happy Shopping!

Barista Love

2011-03-17T00:00:00.001-04:00

Most people who know anything about me, know that I have a bit of a coffee issue.

That is, I LOOVVVEEE coffee.

I love the warmth of the cup in the mornings, I love how it smells, I love coffee cups- the whole bit.

So, it's no surprise that I'm kinda a regular at my local Sbux.

And it's really not my fault-

It's located RIGHT NEXT DOOR to my local printer that does all of the printing for the Polka Dot Press.

So, I have to walk right by there almost every day.

Now, I don't go there every day for two reasons.

1) We don't have a money tree growing in our backyard and this habit can be quite expensive.

2) My waistline has been shrinking and this habit can also work against that main objective.

But, occasionally, I do indulge.

And last night was a little date night with the hubster, so we stopped in after our dinner out.

And my barista handed me my coffee, just like always.

BUT, it had a little surprise!

In case you are wondering, I just about always get the same thing: Grande Nonfat 2 Splenda Latte.

The nutritional info is below or it's 3 WW Points Plus Points. Not bad for a treat.

Nutrition Facts Per Serving (16 fl oz)
	% Daily Value*
Calories 130	Calories from Fat 5
Total Fat 0g	0%
Saturated Fat 0g	0%
Trans Fat 0g
Cholesterol <5mg	2%
Sodium 150mg	7%
Total Carbohydrate 19g	7%
Dietary Fiber 0g	0%
Sugars 18g
Protein 13g
Vitamin A 15% Vitamin C 0% Calcium 45% Iron 0%
Caffeine 150mg
*Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet.

The Season of Bunnies

2011-03-16T00:00:00.000-04:00

I love bunnies.

Not just at Easter time, but all the time.

They are a year-round feature in my kitchen, but I do especially love them in the Spring.

on the windowsill.....

in the tv nook of the kitchen...

above the refrigerator....

by the back door....

on the countertop...

and this one sits in the living room....

I would have a live bunny if I could. I guess that's why I love our guinea pig so much?

Glue in my Hair

2011-03-15T00:00:00.000-04:00

Sunday Afternoon....
A few Friends + A Few Projects = An Afternoon of Crafting!

A few us decided to get together and work on whatever craft-du-jour we had going on. It was a nice afternoon of chit chat and crafts- we don't do that often enough!

My friend Liz was working on some fabric flowers. She has A LITTLE bit of fabric laying around.

She made this one for me- it has a pin on the back so I can wear it on a shirt or jacket!

We were inspired by the Spring Weather, so she whipped up a little nest for me too!

My Mom (left) and our friend, Patty, made these initial letters for friends....

I took these wooden eggs....

and added some cute. (I made the pedestal stand too, but more on that later)

Oh, and there were snacks....

This was an afternoon of sheer relaxation for me- and I need to make time for it more often!