Check out this adorable silhouette of Naomi made by Shauna Rogers of Lemon Drop Studio on Etsy!  I gave two of these away as Mother’s Day gifts and kept one for myself, of course.  The classic image of a silhouette is a treasured keepsake and unique gift, not to mention the fact that a little one’s profile will change as she grows, so it’s great to capture the image while she’s young. 

It was so easy, too!  I took Shauna’s advice and put Naomi’s hair up in a little pony tail and then snapped a few photos of her from the side.  All I had to do was send a couple photos to Lemon Drop Studio and she did the rest!  I plan to frame mine and hang it in the hallway next to Naomi’s hand and foot prints and some other photos.  We are creating a beautiful treasure wall and I know that twenty years from now I will appreciate this silhouette of my little girl even more than I do now.

Check out Lemon Drop Studio on Etsy for pricing and many other fabulously creative items such as cards, prints, digital invitations and more.

I recently discovered this blended coffee treat with help from my friend, Amanda.  I love that it is much cheaper than going out for coffee and I can make it in the convenience of my own home.  I like to store the coffee cubes in the freezer and pull out the amount I need whenever I’m in the mood for a cool, delicious treat.  You can even add Hershey’s syrup to the blender to make a blended mocha.  Yum!

Ingredients:
1 bag of your favorite coffee
6 oz. can of sweetened condensed milk
nonfat, lowfat, or regular milk

Make a pot of strong coffee (12 cups).  While the coffee is still hot, stir in the can of sweetened condensed milk until it’s completely mixed in.  Pour the mixture into 4 ice cube trays and freeze overnight or longer.

To make individual servings:
Simply put 6 coffee cubes (let the tray sit on the counter for about 5 minutes so they’re easy to remove) in the blender and add about a cup of milk of your choice; blend until smooth.  Of course, you can make more servings in the blender at once, just use the 6 coffee cubes to one cup milk ratio.  Pour into your favorite glass and drink with a straw! Enjoy!

Comfortable, stays on, and cute...what more could you want in a headband?  I have never liked metal or plastic headbands that squeezed my temples and gave me the inevitable headache.  But I love these new fabric headband/wraps because kids don't even notice they're there, they're so comfortable.  I especially like them for my toddler because they keep her hair out of her face without the small parts that hair clips have.  Why is it that she can't wear a hair clip without taking it off and putting it in her mouth?  Problem solved with this fabulous headband! I handmake each headband starting with cutting and sewing the fabric and crocheting the flower with careful attention to detail and quality.  Get them only from Punte Bella on Etsy...

Cost: $12 + shipping

Fabric colors available: brown, lavender, and pink

Yarn colors available: many! (see my shop)

Her name is Carrie and her shop is Carried Away Bags on Etsy.  Perfect!  The bag I ordered is perfect, too.  Excellent quality—looks like something you’d buy at a specialty store, but the price is right: 20 bucks!  Fabulous stitching throughout, durable, won’t show the dirt exterior and-surprise!-gorgeous floral pattern interior.  It’s like my own cheerful, stylish secret every time I reach into my bag.  Love it!

She also has excellent customer service and fast shipping--a couple of the many benefits of buying handmade items from hardworking moms and other entrepreneurs right here in the USA.

Visit her shop on Etsy to see more colors and sizes!  Order one for your next trip to the Farmer’s Market or a unique gift for a friend.

I love the way Anna of Life Stop Photography captures special memories with an artistic touch.  No awkward poses, no getting your child to cooperate...she just watches and waits and snaps quiet shots of everyday life.  Curiously, the photos she takes come out as anything but everyday--they are truly beautiful, so beautiful in fact that you will want to put them on your wall so you'll always be reminded of those moments that seemed little at the time but you know you will never want to forget.