Hear Ye, Hear Ye...

It's here, it's here! As you can see, our new blog design is up and running and the website isn't far behind. We love it and hope you do too. Thanks again Erin! She is absolutely the best and I am so grateful to call her my friend. Check out her designs at Erin Bradley Designs! I love all of her work, but I am especially loving the teal hydrangeas, pink flourish, blue bird, and orange giraffe designs. See all of her designs here. Her invitations and announcements are in our Invitation and Announcement Station and her stationery is on our Stationery pages. Cheers!

Let's Pay It Forward!

Hi all! When I started Molly Lou Gifts, I knew I wanted to give back whenever possible. Our first year, we donated to St. Jude Children's Research Hospital and a local school. Since then we have donated to two schools, a local Moms service organization, the Epworth Children's Home Outreach Program in SC, and have continued to donate to St. Jude.

This year, I have decided to take suggestions for who should be the recipient of Molly Lou Gifts dollars this year. Since we are a small company, I have always tried to give to smaller charities that may not get the big publicity. If you know of a group, family, or organization that needs help, we want to hear about it.

This May and June, Molly Lou Gifts will give 10% of our proceeds to a charity that you all help choose. I will take suggestions until May 10, 2009 and then we will choose the charity! Get thinking, ask friends, neighbors, and coworkers, and send over your suggestions!

We have great products for all on your gift giving list...think graduations, weddings, birthdays, retirements, housewarmings, "kick off to summer" surprises, and more!

This is guilt free shopping...buying gifts for friends/family, treating yourself, and helping out a good cause! It certainly doesn't get better than that!

In other news:

Don't forget about our new contest that ends on Monday. Keep entering and getting your friends to as well. You get entries for friend referrals too. There is a link to the right with all the contest details. Thanks to all those who have entered so far.

Hopefully today is the day! Check back later to see if we have switched over to our new blog and website design. We are so excited!

Have a great day! Send over those charity ideas. Let's all help pay it forward. Cheers!

Excited Like It's Christmas!

My very good and oh so talented friend, Erin over at Erin Bradley Designs has designed the new look for my website, blog, and created a MLG logo. I am beyond excited!!! She is not only a good friend and listener, she has amazing talent and creativity that I yearn for and have just accepted the fact that I will never have. Erin designs all of the invitations, announcements, and social stationery found on our site abd has recently expanded her efforts to include graphic design. She has a shop with ADORABLE premade templates for website, blogs, etsy shops, and more. Check it out here. Many of her designs also coordinate with some of our stationery and invitation designs. She has so many designs that it will be so hard to choose. Perhaps you can have several that way you can change up looks as you change moods...well not every mood change!

After you create this great new website and blog design, you can order some coordinating announcements to send to all your family, friends, readers, and fans to tell them where it's at (hint, hint.)

Other news, I just posted some new shirt designs that are really cute including an eco chic one. I mean it's never too early to GO GREEN (and be stylish) as well. I am loving the elephant design too...how cute are those eyelashes on the little girl elephant!??! I wonder how many is too many personalized shirts for the Molly Lou Minis to wear. The a-line dresses are absolutely adorable and will get plenty of use now that the warm temps are on the rise.

Don't forget about our contest. I posted a link to the right to get all the details of the contest! Stay tuned for the new blog and site looks. Check out Erin's stuff...thanks again!!! Cheers!

VICTORY with the last piece!

As a child, when I did puzzles, I would always do the outline of the puzzle first and then do the inside. This got all of the pieces with the straight edges out of the way and then I would work methodically on various parts. I didn't just randomly put pieces together on the inside as I found them...that would just be crazy. I'm sure others were taught to do the outside first and then the inside. I did this because it was NEATER this way. I had an outline of my project and then could attack it and get to the details. I came up with this neater philosophy and was annoyingly insistent each time a puzzle was challenged. I now realize that I was way too obsessive compulsive even then and think that my parent should have seen some of the warning signs and entered me in to some kind of twelve step program at the ripe old age of 4. Perhaps I wouldn't be this way now. (Isn't it always the parents fault. As a parent now, I can only imagine the things that I will be held responsible for in my children's lives.)

I am always on the lookout for unique and educational children's toys. The toys in our Children's Depot are fun, creative, unique, and (try to be) educational! We have new personalized puzzles in our Children's Depot now. I am really excited about these...you choose any personalization for your puzzle. Kids will flip when they get to put their name together in the puzzle. This will also be a good starting place for a little one who is just getting the hang of bigger puzzles and perhaps doing them independently.

The puzzles have 20 pieces and come in a box with a picture of the puzzle on the front. These would make great birthday presents or perhaps a fun HAPPY SUMMER gift for your child on his last day of school. A great way to ring in summer and all the fun to be had over the next few months. I always keep certain surprises for the Molly Lou Mini for vacations...it never fails we always have one day of complete downpour...weather the storm with a new puzzle.

The puzzles are on sale now and you can use any of your discount codes to receive your extra savings on top of the sale price. Let me know if you have any suggestions. Have a great day. Cheers!

PS-If anyone else is too OCD...pass along your stories to make me feel better about myself. :) Don't forget about our new contest!!!! Check out Sunday's posting for the details...tell a friend.

The Aliens May Take Her

Clearly Molly Lou Mini #1 is having some true aggression at the fact that Molly Lou Mini #2 is not leaving and is now starting to move around and (GASP!!) touch something that used to belong to him, perhaps belongs to him, is within 25 feet of something that belongs to him, something he feels should belong to him, or something that ACTUALLY belongs to him.

Here is the newest line from this morning:
Molly Lou Mini #1 to me: "Mom, I found something for Molly Lou Mini #2."

Me to MLM1: "What did you find for her?"

MLM1 to Me: "A spaceship so she can fly far, far away from me."

Me to MLM1: (trying to hold back the giggles) "Wouldn't you be sad if MLM2 left us?"

MLM1 to Me: "Nope. Not one bit."

You have to love the imagination and honesty of a 3 1/2 year old. Have a great day! Don't forget about the new MLG contest. Pass along to a friend too for more entries for you! Cheers!

Contests, Contests, We all LOVE Free Stuff!

Who doesn't love free stuff??? I mean we are in a recession, aren't we?!?!?!? I love contests even though I never win and it has been in Molly Lou tradition to do one every now and then.

I was thinking that there has NOT been one internet giveaway in 2009...OMG!!!! Sorry to all, but without further delay:

Molly Lou Gifts "Countdown to Fun in the Sun" Contest (cheesy, I know)

The oh so lucky winner will receive a fabulous and stylish custom invitation/announcement set and coordinating personalized stationery. Trust me, you will be SO EXCITED to throw a shindig after this prize. There will be another lucky second place winner that will receive a gift certificate from MLG...OMG (Yes, I realize that I am a total dork.)


Now for the nitty gritty: Contest runs until Monday, May 4, 2009 with the winner being announced on May 5, 2009. There are several ways to enter and your entries are unlimited.
1-Sign up to follow all of the happenings and fun times at Molly Lou Gifts and receive an entry.
2-Convince a friend to get in on the action and if they say that you referred them, each of you gets an entry.
3-Every $5.00 you spend at MLG during the course of the contest gets you an entry. Spend $25, get five entries, etc.
4-Are you a previous MLG customer-leave a review/comment in our Product Buzz and receive 2 entries per comment or product review.

Whew, I hope you got all that! Winner will be drawn at random from all of the entries. Now, help spread the word of Molly Lou Gifts and win this contest! Cheers!!!

Kids Say the Funniest Things

Molly Lou Mini #1 said to me this morning:

"Molly Lou Mini #2 looks like a bird. She should fly away and find a new home with a brother that wants to share with her. She can sleep in a nest and I bet she would like it."

Someone CLEARLY does not like his sister's new found exploration skills. Oh the minds of a three year old!

****names were changed to protect the innocent!****

New Molly Lou Gifts contest coming tomorrow!!! Cheers!

Molly Lou Mini #2 wants you to love Molly Lou Gifts too! :)

Shout it from the rooftops!!!

Feel like shouting from the rooftops, mountains, or car sunroof that you are expecting a little bundle of joy! A hot new trend recently is pregnancy announcements and you know MollyLou Gifts has the cutest ones around. We have OH BABY, OH GIRL, and OH BOY! announcements. You can customize these to your liking and even give a shout out to the soon to be big brother/sister! You can even let all of those friends and family members know your cravings and you just might receive a package of pickles and chocolate chip cookies in the mail...hint, hint!

I only wish we had these when the the two Molly Lou Minis were en route. Perhaps for Molly Lou Mini #3?!?!?!? (Not yet.) Check out our Invitation and Announcement Station here for our pregnancy announcements and great assortment of party, showers, weddings, etc. invitations. Cheers!

Children's Depot Sale!

I forgot to mention items in our Children's Depot are now on Sale. We have so many unique and fun items for children~we have searched to find items that can't be found in just any shop. I know we all have tons of birthday parties to attend and are always looking for a deal. Check out the Children's Depot here and stock up. You can use our code friends10 to save an additional 10% off the sale prices! Cheers!

NEVER, NEVER Lose Keys Again!!

So, I'm sure I'm not the only one that loses keys all too often. It alway seems to happen when I have about 482754385 things in my hands, two kids out the door, and am of course, running late! AHHHH!!! I stumbled upon this too cute and practical monogram key ring. Big things are in now-just look at the monster size bags that every designer is making. These key rings are made of acryllic, so very durable and their large shape makes it easy to find on the counter, junk basket, bottomless purse, etc. With two kids, it is amazing the things that I now find in my bag. Sure the necessities are there-wallet, cell phone, hand sanitizer, but I am talking about only the things that are found in a mom's bag-action figures, trains, cars, three day old cookies, crumbs from who know's what food, diapers, wipes, clothing, wet clothes you forgot to take out, rattles, etc.

I digress back to the fab key ring. I had to have it and also felt it would be a great service for Molly Lou to carry it too. This way all friends and customers could be saved from the loss of keys! We here at Molly Lou Gifts are truly helping save your sanity while keeping you in style. These are great-feature your monogram or single initial in your choice of fonts and are very affordable at only $22. These would make a great gift~think Mother's Day, end of the year teacher gifts, birthdays, bridal showers, baby showers, etc. They are found on our Accessories and Such page found here.

Don't forget to use our code friends10 at checkout to save 10%. Have a great day! Cheers! http://www.mollylougifts.com/

Wedding Season Here We Come!!

Just back from an amazing wedding of a close college friend in Charleston, SC. It was seriously the most beautiful wedding I think I have ever been to. We had such a great time and part of me wishes that I could go back and plan my wedding again. I loved planning it and enjoyed my day. It was almost five years ago and there are definitely some things I would love to do again. I'm not really a vow renewal, big shindig thing again type of girl, so I will have to live vicariously through my friends and clients that are still planning their big day.

We have some too cute Save the Date announcements in our Invitation and Announcement Station. You can also take any of our party invitations or other announcements and turn in to a Save the Date for your and your honey. Your Save the Date announcements should be stylish and unique...they give your wedding guests a first glimpse to your big day and what's to come.

Check out our Save the Dates and other party invitations here. We have matching invitations, notes, and accessories. Think rehearsal dinners, bridal showers, bachelorette parties, and more! We are always here to help, so drop us a line if you have any questions while looking around. Cheers and Happy Wedding!!

Love you to the moon...and back!

Guess How Much I Love You is a favorite book in my house. Molly Lou Mini #1 has it memorized and it won't be too long before Molly Lou Mini #2 will too! It's almost Mother's Day and we all need to take time to THANK, THANK, THANK our mommas, grandmommas, or anyone that helped raise us!

We have some great products to kick off Mother's Day and let that special woman know just how much she is appreciated and loved-social stationery notes, personalized monogrammed stationery, personalized accessories, tableware, and more! Check out our site to see what all we have to offer! As a special thank you to those dear friends, our mothers-use code friends10 at checkout to receive a 10% discount!

Cheers!

Children's Personalized Apparel

Ok, so I seriously love personalized things...hence Molly Lou Gifts. I have fallen in love with our new children's (and now adults too) line of personalized shirts of all styles and colors and toddler's A-line dresses. My good friends at Lima Bean Kids have created the perfect combination of whimsy, preppy, stylish, durable, and absolutely so ADORABLE designs for the apparel. We have so many designs to choose from. You get to choose the design, font, personalization, shirts, and you can even change the colors on the design...the possibilities are endless. Go check them out here.

Enter friends10 at checkout to receive 10% your total purchase from Molly Lou Gifts. Have a great day. Cheers.

PS-the all too precious child at the top is Molly Lou Mini#1 rocking his octopus shirt!

Where oh Where has Molly Lou been?

Where oh where has Molly Lou been you ask?

Oh, the usual...not enough hours in the day to get everything done, two Molly Lou Minis running around, new website look and complete redo (which also means reloading EVERYTHING), moving, etc., etc., etc. WE PROMISE to get better and promise to update at least a few times a week.

We so want Molly Lou Gifts to expand this year and are working hard to see that happen. We have some great things coming and are so excited and pleased with your new web host. The new site is much easier to use and shop on and the ease of shopping is much easier. We can also do coupons too!!

We have expanded our lines and now have the MOST ADORABLE children's (and adults) personalized clothes, personalized pails to hold everthing, new stationery and invitations, vinyl decals, playcases, new children's toys, and more! Please take a peek and let us know what you think. We will be featuring different products and adding BLOG ONLY specials. This should help keep us motivated.

We appreciate all of our wonderful clients and friends that have been here to help. Help spread the word of Molly Lou Gifts~www.mollylougifts.com.

Cheers!