Christmas in July - a Ladies' Sip 'n' Shop

I am in the process of planning one of the most exciting events EVER.

What started out as an idea I shared with my friend,  Trish,  to host

a ladies' night out Christmas in July event that would feature the best

local independent artisans and business owners and raise money for 

local non-profits, turned into a MORNING Sip 'n' Shop - an idea

born from  a TWO MINUTE brainstorming session between me and

Nikki, the owner of PowerHouse Gym.

Excited by the event's concept - Nikki** generously offered us the new 4,000 sq foot  EVENT room in the Webster, MA POWERHOUSE GYM facility and the spaces surrounding it. This room looks more like a nightclub - with a stage and  top of the line lighting and sound system, then a room in a gym, but I saw with my own eyes, one of  the Sh'BAM fitness classes that attract more than 100 PEOPLE a session in progress and I can see why it is so popular! Held in the "dark" with the instructors on stage wearing headsets, nary a mirror to be found, women danced,strutted and SWEATED  their way to healthier versions of themselves and looked like they were ENJOYING IT!  I can't wait to replace my hip so I can join the fun! 

Back to Trish I went with the modified plans - a morning event, complete with complimentary beverages and holiday sweets, would be easier and more appealing for the working (instead of heading home then back out on a weeknight) and SAH (getting dressed up AFTER a full day in the sun with the kids) moms that will be attending, as well as the small business owners and artisans that will be setting up and breaking down their displays - how fabulous to be over and done with work by noon on a summer weekend day?! 

Trish was on board as well, and will be photographing the vendors in June - three of their feature items and/or the vendors themselves - providing professional proofs for their portfolios/marketing material as well as ours! After years of shopping small and online businesses - I can not stress enough to vendors the IMPORTANCE of having professional photographs.  So I am going to show them, by  including this professional photo shoot and proofs in the vendor package! 

Save the Date:  

Sunday, July 29, 2012 9-11:30 am

Powerhouse Gym, Webster, MA

The rest of the details are taking shape, and I will keep you all updated as we go!! 


Stay tuned...

meet Jack.

the most adorable, horrible, lovable puppy i've ever met. 

my chug... Jack.

and that cuteness holding him is my almost 10 year old, Shaye.

happy valentine's day

Christmas shopping begins.

 ordered our first gift today... for my in laws. it's a custom designed piece from an etsy shop.

it's just perfect for my in-laws who

 a) love to cook.

 b) collect art.

 3) have a special connection to Massachusetts. (although it works with ANY state)

if that fits someone on your list... i will gladly email you my fabulous gift idea -
i just don't want to spoil it on here for my family.


I also ordered this set of tea towels from Leah Duncan for my bff's housewarming.
























she bought her second house

in

September.

Wasn't sure what I wanted to get her, until I saw these. Then, I loved them SO much,

I also ordered a set for my home.  ♥

alex's lemonade stand

The one we had been planning for months?  it got rained out.  It was held, despite COLD and rainy weather.  Seriously, I had a winter fleece jacket on and was cold.  The wind blew most of our decorations away and drove rain under our tent - making all of the treats damp moist[ and delicious?]. The fact we had even been forced under one little tent and into our garage upset me -

 I had envisioned a driveway and yard full of people - children laughing and playing [hula hoops, bubbles, face painting...] and adults catching up - all while supporting a GREAT CAUSE.  However, speaking of the cause - it is HARD to feel sorry for yourself when comparing the situation to little Alex's bravery and looking at how SHE dealt with adversity. 

And... at the end of the day, due to our few customers' extreme generosity, we had manged to raise over $100 total.  :) 

A few of my favorite resources... brownie covered oreos are ALWAYS a crowd pleaser and they are SO easy to make!  I have always l♥ved tissue poms at parties but thought the prices a bit high to justify. Luckily I found an easy to follow how to make tissue pompoms tutorial.  Though I used curlng ribbon instead of wire, it worked just as well [I am assuming] and I left the ribbon long - hanging the poms up with it! And last, but certainly not least, all of the printables were created and donated by Kate Malandrino aka green apple paperie. 

Her designs are beautiful and the color quality was excellent.  She even sent the banner already strung with pretty yellow ribbon!  What she didn't send was any business cards. I couldn't let her generosity go underappreciated and so I asked her for a pdf file of business cards that I could print and hand out at the event for her. My crappy 4 year, regular ol' Epson printer printed that file out like a PRO.  I have had issues with party custom printables color quality in the past and had resorted to paying MORE for prepinted paper decor mailed to me. NOT anymore! I can order her custom party printables and save lots of money again - yeah!

set of words I [am trying to] live by.

because...

so, i am going to try [with all of my being] to...

thrive

 verb \ˈthrīv\

thrived or throvethrived also thriv·enthriv·ing

Definition of THRIVE

intransitive verb

1

: to grow vigorously : flourish

2

: to gain in wealth or possessions : prosper

3

: to progress toward or realize a goal despite or because of circumstances —often used with on <thrives on conflict>

¹em·brace

 verb \im-ˈbrās\

transitive verb

1

a : to clasp in the arms : hugb : cherish, love

2

: encircle, enclose

3

a : to take up especially readily or gladly <embrace a cause>b : to avail oneself of : welcome <embraced the opportunity to study further>

4

a : to take in or include as a part, item, or element of a more inclusive whole <charity embraces all acts that contribute to human welfare>b : to be equal or equivalent to <his assets embraced $10>

intransitive verb

: to participate in an embrace

— embrace·able \-ˈbrā-sə-bəl\ adjective

— em·brace·ment \-ˈbrās-mənt\ noun

— em·brac·er noun

— em·brac·ing·ly \-ˈbrā-siŋ-lē\ adverb

ex·ude

 verb \ig-ˈzüd\

ex·ud·edex·ud·ing

Definition of EXUDE

intransitive verb

1

: to ooze out

2

: to undergo diffusion

transitive verb

1

: to cause to ooze or spread out in all directions

2

: to display conspicuously or abundantly <exudes charm>

post on Faith

I'm Italian.

I was born and raised Catholic.

Practiced my religion in varying degrees -

including one marriage, two children baptized,

and one child making her first communion -

before stopping "practicing" all together.

Now I am surrounded by inquisitive minds.

Minds that question everything around them,

even that which they can not see.

And I am enjoying learning with them.

We have read about Judaism.

We have learned from and prayed with missionaries

from The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints.

And last Sunday,

the youngest two girls and I went to a Catholic Mass.

It was their first time ever, and it was interesting to see

it all through their eyes.  My 6 year old was unimpressed

and as the service stretched past one hour

(I don't remember Mass being that long)

she was over any interest she might have harbored.

My eight year old however, sat - hands clasped and eyes wide;

Watching and reading and singing along.

Afterwards my youngest skipped out like a little bird freed from it's cage,

while my eight year old lingered... shaking hands with the priest and learning


to

bless

 herself

with Holy water. 

"sick" day. [or lack there of.]

Today, my youngest doesn't feel good.

So we have spent hours together - 

first  playing games

(math lessons involving coins and counting blocks)

and  then

snuggled up on the coach

taking turns reading out loud to each other. 

These days are some of my favorite "homeschool" days

because they remind me of one the sweetest  benefits of homeschooling -

there is no such thing as sick days.

No one will ask us why we are not "in" school.

No one will question my judgement

to allow her to curl up on the couch for half of the day.

No one will ask me to bring a doctor's note and if I don't see the need to run to the doctor's - paying a co-pay - each time my daughter needs some rest and recuperation, mark those days absent - not knowing or caring that she actually learned a whole lot while she was at home being cared for.

Including how to listen to the cues her body sends her

and  then give her body the rest it needs to get better -

one of the most important lessons someone can learn in life.