Cyber Monday Specials Galore!

Whew...I am tired ya'll and it seems the fun is just beginning. I was pretty much totally unplugged for a few days and it was nice. Strange, but nice. I hope you all had a wonderful Thanksgiving weekend.

In honor of Cyber Monday, we are offering specials galore!

This is the last week to use code holiday09 to save 15% off your order. Have you ordered your Christmas cards yet? What about that personalized gift for a friend?

Buy any three sets of notecards, get one free. Enter free choice in the notes at checkout. Do not pay for them, just let us know what you prefer.

TOMORROW is the last day for Personalized Shirts and Personalized Buckets. Go check them out. They are just adorable, unique, and fun. The buckets can be used for so many things and can also double as a gift bag. They look great under the tree.

All orders of $50 or more will include a FREE notecard set. Keep it for yourself as a holiday treat or give to a friend. You will love them! We all need cute notecards.

Use code FREESHIP to receive free shipping on any order! (We always offer free shipping on orders over $125).

Remember we are always happy to wrap and ship your items directly to your gift recipient. We will even include a handwritten personalized note just from you. Visit our Holiday 2009 page for even more holiday goodies. Happy Monday!

Snapshot Saturday~GO TIGERS!!!!

I don't really talk about football on here much, but this week I just can't help it. Today, my alma mater and wonderful football team, the Clemson University Tigers will go to play the University of South Carolina Gamecocks.

This is a much anticipated game every year and I know we will win. This week's Snapshot Saturday is Mini #1 sporting the football helmet and football in cheering on the Tigers.

GO TIGERS!!!!!
Hope you're enjoying your holiday weekend. Happy Saturday.

It's Black Friday Y'all!

I hope you all enjoyed eating the feast and being with all of your friends and loved ones yesterday. We had a great time and I always enjoy being with my family.

But, let's move on to the real excitement-

HAPPY BLACK FRIDAY!!!

I have always loved Black Friday. I used to go out in the wee hours of the morning with my aunt and then when I could drive, I would drag my little sister out. My sister and I have kept up the tradition.

We go out each year together. We map out our root, make our list, checking it twice, get any coupons and ads that we need on Thanksgiving and have bags, shoes, and coats by the door. It is a day full of caffeine and fun.

Molly Lou Gifts has some Black Friday Specials for your too!

Use code FREESHIP to receive FREE Shipping on ANY purchase from our shop. (We always offer free shipping on orders over $125-no code necessary.)

or

Use code Holiday09 to save 15% off your total purchase from our shop.

We are happy to help pick out the perfect gift for someone on your list. Let us know if you have any questions.

Happy Black Friday. Have a great day and weekend.

Thankful Thursdays Part IV

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope you all are already having a great day with family and friends, cooking away, and getting ready to enjoy the Thanksgiving Day Parade.

We all have so much to be thankful for and I need to finish out my list to make it to 26!

21. Icecream-oh, what a wonderful treat. Kudos to the person that created this oh so yummy treat. Think of all the combinations and toppings-chocolate, peanuts, cheesecake, sprinkles, M&M's, cookie dough, oh my. Everyone is happy when they are eating some yummy frozen goodness, even if it just that bowl.

22. Purell-For the germ-o-phobe, this product is a reason to be VERY THANKFUL. Sometimes, I think of bathing the minis in it. We call it "magic soap" in our home.

23. My mom-what a wonderful and strong woman. She did a fantastic job raising my sister and I. It is such a wonderful feeling and quite the sight to watch her interact with my children. She is the perfect Grammy and my children just adore her.

24. Mr. Molly Lou-I am so thankful to have such a loving husband. He makes me crazy at times, but he is mine. He is hilarious and can always make me laugh. I am thankful that he truly thinks that I am beautiful and a good wife and mother. He is always on my side and I am so thankful for the past ten years and the decades more.

25. Cars-I am so thankful that I don't have to ride my bike or walk with two minis and a buggy of groceries to get everywhere I need to go. Perhaps it would be a great weight loss tool if I did have to walk.

26. YOU!!! I am sooooooooooooooooooooooooooo thankful for all of you. Never did I think that I would make such fabulous and real friends. Even though I don't know most of you in real life, I feel so indebted to the friendships that you have given me. Blogland is such a weird, but wonderful place. It is truly an outlet for me and I have met so many friends that can relate to many things in my life and allow me to truly be me. THANK YOU, THANK YOU, THANK YOU for being you!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!!! Enjoy your day and weekend with your loved ones. I can't wait to hear the inevitable family tales of the weekend.

If You're Happy and You Know It...

Clap your Hands,
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands,
If you're happy and you know,
Then your face will surely show it,
If you're happy and you know it,
Clap your hands.

Now that we got that fun going for this Thanksgiving Eve and you will be rocking out to the Happy song all day, I was tagged by M at The Cobia Family to list 10 things that make me happy.

My face is definitely showing it, so here goes:

1. Memories of my grandmother.

2. The sound of my minis laughing. No better sound than that. (Bonus happiness if they are actually playing together and laughing together.)

3. Starbucks-it all makes me happy. And those red holiday cups add a teeny bit more happiness.

4. Clorox Wipes and Lysol Disinfectant Spray! I love a clean house and after cleaning everything and the smell of a germ free area is lovely. :) (12 step program is needed, I know.)

5. Christmas music-how can you not smile when you hear any holiday tunes?!?!?!?

6. Holiday decorations-the tree, the wreaths and garland, the ornaments, gingerbread men, smells of Christmas, the stories, red and green galore, you get the idea...

7. Hugs and kisses from my minis-absolutely the best! (Also bonus happiness if they are completely voluntary and unexpected.)

8. Books-I love to read and I love a good book. One that I can get sucked in to the story and feel a part of. Also, I find happiness in being able to read uninterrupted for 5 minutes or longer.

9. Mr. Molly Lou- he is so darn funny and it is fun to watch him with our children.

10. Handbags!

Now I tag all of you.

Safe travels for all of your holiday plans! Happy Wednesday!

Happy Birthday to Me!

Today is my Birthday!!!! I love, love, love birthdays!

I love my own, but I also love to celebrate everyone that is special to me. We all deserve one day a year!

I wish we all could get together and spend the day laughing, chatting, and eating the yummy cake above.

Hope you're all enjoying your Thanksgiving week and gearing up for Thursday.

Have a great day!

We're Off To See...

the wizard, the wonderful wizard of Oz.

This year marks the 70th Anniversary of The Wizard of Oz. Isn't that amazing!

This was on television in the hotel over the weekend and the minis got to watch it some of it. Both of them were mesmerized by it. Mini #2 kept smiling and clapping during the munchkin scene after the bad witch was found under the house.

We continued watching after mini #2 went to bed, and Mini #1 was really studying it and kept asking questions. When the witch disappears in to that red/orange smoke, he got this really disgusted look on his face and said "what is she doing?"

Watching this movie, I kept thinking how truly amazing this movie was for being made in 1939. What creativity and imagination it took and even after the 100th time I have watched it, each time takes me back to seeing it for the very first time as a little girl.

**Mini #1 started singing "follow the yellow paved road." :)

________________________________________________

The winner of last week's Luggage/Bag Tag set of 4 giveaway is

Entry #2 Whitney!

Thanks to all who entered. Whitney, email us and we will get your choices and bag tags created for you. Be sure to check out our Holiday 2009 page to see our complete collection of holiday cards and more.

Have a great day.

Snapshot Saturday~Christmas Card Cuts

With two precious minis, the Christmas card is a challenge. I tried to do some shots a few different days in different places...the object getting cute faces, preferably smiles on both of the children, semi looking at the camera, and no crying!

We have found one, but here are two outtakes.



Photo card orders, need to be placed by December 8!

Happy Saturday!

Molly Lou Family is on the Road Again

On the road again-

I just can't wait to get on the road again...

We are off on a whirlwind road trip this weekend to visit some dear friends that we have missed terribly over the past 10 months. Mini #1 is excited and I know that Mini #2 will just adore the attention and all the "big kids" to play with.

Have a great weekend!

Thankful Thursdays: Part III

Happy Thursday! I can't believe that Thanksgiving is one week from today. Time sure does fly.

In continuing with the 26 things that I am thankful for...

12. Television-my how I love me some television. At the end of the day when I finally get to sit down, I love to catch up and watch all of those mindless reality shows. Seriously, where would I be without reality tv?!?!?! I mean who would actually like to learn new things or engage in thoughtful conversation when you can watch the drama of Jon and Kate, who will win Project Runway, who gets eaten in the shark tank, who has a crying fit when told that they are in fact "not the biggest loser," or see those tables being thrown or wigs being pulled by those crazy Real Housewife gals. Also, couldn't live without HGTV.

13. Lilly Pulitzer's Squeeze Perfume-Mr. Molly Lou gave this to me last year for Christmas and I just love it. I have found "my scent." It makes me a tad happy every time I see the cheery yellow bottle on my counter. Even better when I found it at TJ Maxx for half price!

14. Monograms-Clearly you have all figured out that with Molly Lou Gifts, I love things personalized and monogrammed. I would monogram my kids if I could. Things just look better when they are monogrammed and a boring towel, pillow, or wall can ooze style and personality with a little monogram.

15. Home-I love my home and I love that my children love it too. It is warm and a place we all feel comfortable. It certainly isn't grandiose or perfect, but it is ours and something Mr. Molly Lou and I have worked hard for. Just before I go to bed at night, the house is quiet, I know my children are sleeping soundly in their beds and everything is clean and organized (why is it that the only time my house looks the best is when we are all sleeping and no one gets to see it?!?!), I look around and say a quick prayer thanking God for all he has given us.

16. Vacations-I love planning vacations almost as much as going on them. I am dreaming that I am sitting right now on a tropical beach reading a book and listening to the waves or I am in New York City, my favorite place in the world or perhaps I am touring Italy with Mr. Molly Lou. I am so thankful for all of the places we have been able to go and for all the ones that are still to come in our future. Speaking of Italy, I am guest blogging over at my dear friend Kim's blog, Experiments in a Galley Kitchen. She is away with her sweet husband on an anniversary cruise (very jealous). I wrote about a planes, trains, and automobiles experience during the first day of our honeymoon in Italy. Pop over to her blog!

17. Birthdays-everyone we get to celebrate means another year of living this crazy life. Birthdays are so fun and should be a big deal. Decorations, gifts, cake, and feeling UBER special all day. We should celebrate all that we have accomplished in the past year.

18. Mini #1's preschool- I am thankful that we have found a place that Mini #1 feels comfortable and enjoys going. He adores his two teachers and they are kind, supportive, and loving towards him. This has been a great place for him to make friends and learn those necessary social skills. He is learning new things and also gets to share what he knows and build on that love for learning. Today is his Thanksgiving Feast. This is his first school "program." His class will be indian's...definitely should be interesting. Mr. Molly Lou can't go, so my mom has come up to attend with us.

19. Water-wow! So useful and versatile...in just about everything, you can bathe and swim in it, is a healthy drink and is so good when it is ICE cold.

20. Mini #2-My oh my how I love and adore this child. Last week I wrote about her big brother, but this week, the spotlight needs to go on her for a bit. At almost 14 months, Mini #2 is a true ray of sunshine. She is happy just about all the time and has the best smile and her laugh is my favorite sound in the world. She is gentle, smart, adorable, loving, stubborn, dramatic, and interested in everything. She adores her brother; no one can make her giggle like he can. She is beautiful with those big blue eyes and blond hair. She has six teeth now and grins like a jack-o-lantern. She has more rhythm than either of her parents and can bust out in her own "song" and get her groove on. Her face lights up when we walk in to the room and my favorite time of day with her is when I open her door in the morning. She is standing at the corner of her crib ready to start the day. As soon as I open the door, her face lights up and she starts babbling. When I pick her up, she snuggles in to my neck and have just a few cuddly moments before she is off and ready to go. She is such an easy baby, much different than her brother and I am so thankful that she is in my life and I get to be her mother.

Stay tuned for next week's installment to round us out to the Thankful Thursday Finale. Have a great day!

PS-Did you see yesterday's post? Enter this week's Birthday/Holiday Giveaway!

Worthwhile Wednesday~Holiday Tags

'Tis the Season for holiday shopping. Holiday shopping leads to gift buying which leads to gift wrapping, which leads to GIFT TAGS and ENCLOSURES!!!

That's right...you need holiday gift tags to adorn your beautifully packaged holiday gifts. We have a great selection of gift enclosures. We have holiday themed embossed gift enclosures (snowflake, gingerbread, and menorah), but also have monogram and name embossed sets and two thermography ink sets. These can be used for all gifts given throughout the year or just as little notes to tuck away.

We have sticky Very Merry sticky gift tags from the lovely Kara Rosenberry that coordinate with your Very Merry holiday folded notes.

A unique twist on gift tags this year that I just LOVE is to order our personalized luggage/bag tags. Attach these to your gifts and they serve as a gift tag and great gift add-on. Your gift recipients will love their new tag and think of it as going green~you're not wasting a paper tag and finding another use for a bag tag!

Next week is the big birthday, so we need another Holiday/Birthday Month Giveaway. This week's winner will receive a set of 4 Personalized luggage tags. You choose the designs and front/back personalization. Give as a gift, keep for yourself, use as a bag tag, or make a stocking stuffer!

Entries will be taken until Sunday and the winner will be announced on Monday.

You know the drill:

-Become a follower or let me know you already are one.

-Tweet/Blog about this giveaway (1 entry for each). You can also tweet once daily to get another entry. Be sure to link it back.

-Give me some unique holiday ideas or who you would give your personalized bag tags to.

-Every $5 you spend at Molly Lou Gifts, you receive 5 additional entries.

-Tell a friend, they let me know in the comment that you referred them and you get an extra 5 entries.

Ready, set, go! Have a great day.

(tilt your head for this last picture...sorry.)

What Does "Don't Tell Anyone" REALLY Mean?

My lovely, witty, and SMART friends, I have a question for you.


What does "Don't tell anyone" really mean?


Something happened to Mr. Molly Lou's brother and apparently he said "don't tell anyone," but didn't tell their sister that.


His sister emailed me yesterday and mentioned this situation and asked me to help. I had no idea what she was talking about so I called. She was asking me when I had last talked to Mr. Molly Lou and then explained the situation.


I started defending Mr. Molly Lou to the sister saying I was sure he didn't know. I had been with him all day the day before, etc. I feel horrible about this and called Mr. Molly Lou to discuss with him and see what his plan of action/how we could help his brother.


He replies "I did know. He called me, but asked me not to tell anyone."


WHAT?!?!?!?


Now, let me backtrack just a bit. I have known the siblings since they were young teenagers and we all get along really well. Now, if a friend were to tell me this, I would certainly keep that in confidence, but would tell my husband. More from the standpoint of needing his assistance and thoughts on how to help, etc.


If a friend specifically asked me not to tell my husband, I would certainly do that.


My feelings are hurt that he didn't tell me, I'm embarassed that his sister was sure I knew and I defended Mr. Molly Lou that he didn't know and then it was just me. I am also mad because I feel that I should have known this. I could have helped even behind the scenes. I would have offered some suggestions for Mr. Molly Lou such as he should have left my parents house where we were staying for the night to be with his brother.


So, where is the line drawn on this question? ?Would you tell your spouse?


Have a great day!


________________________________________________


Yesterday, I forgot to name the winner of the Holiday Card Set giveaway. Be sure to check out our Holiday 2009 page for our entire collection of holiday cards and gifts.


Congratulations to entry #4, Headbands and Handbags! You should hop over and check her out...she is fabulously adorable.




From her entry, she chose the Words of Christmas card set (only in her entry, it was phrased"tree word one" :)) and once she sends me her address, a set will be on the way to her. I hope she loves these cards...they are really neat and even better in person. Would also make a perfect hostess gift this season.

Thanks to all who entered. A new Birthday Month Giveaway will be up tomorrow.

What fun!

H1N1 Shots, Flu Shots, and an gynecology appointment...

The minis are thrilled and so am I! What fun!

Happy Monday!

New Discount Code

Happy Sunday! Hope you're all having a great weekend.

We have a new discount code to share with you. Get your holiday shopping done with our fabulous holiday gifts, accessories, and unique gifts. Have you ordered your holiday cards yet?

Use code FREESHIP at checkout to receive FREE shipping on any order from Molly Lou Gifts.*

We always offer FREE shipping on orders $125.00 or more so you could use the holiday09 code for an additional 15% off. No code necessary for that free shipping.

Enjoy your weekend.

{No other discounts apply with the FREESHIP code, however, you may use any discount code available on orders over $125 and still receive free shipping. }

Snapshot Saturday~Awesome Argyle

This week's Snapshot Saturday features the minis sporting their argyle shirts...How stinkin' cute are they?

We have over 20 different shirt styles and colors as well as 16 fonts for your choice of personalization.

We also have several holiday shirt and dress designs.

NEW MLG DISCOUNT CODE: Use code FREESHIP at checkout to receive free shipping on any purchase from our shop.

Happy weekend.

Cynically Smart??????

Yesterday, my #11 on my Thankful Thursday list was my sweet Mini #1. Oh how I love this boy and daily he amazes me with the things that come out of his mouth. In describing him, I mentioned SMART as an adjective to describe him.

Well, SMART he is. First of all, if any of you are new, Mini #1 is 3!!!

Not 13 or even 30, 3...1, 2, 3!

Yesterday, Mini #1 was taking his sweet time in finishing breakfast and getting dressed before school and we were alread pressed for time. I also forgot something he was supposed to take to school, so we had a stop to make before school and the "Thank You Ida" weather wasn't helping. him

So, I say to him "Don't worry, Mini #1*, take your time. I have all day."

To which he responds to me "Mom, don't be cynical."

CYNICAL...You read that correctly. Yes, my 3 year old son not only used the word CYNICAL in a conversation with me, used it CORRECTLY!

I am not kidding...I thought I was going to pass out and wet my pants at the same time.

I asked him where he learned that word and he just laughed. I never could get him to tell me.

If this is 3, I am excited, nervous, and scared to see what his teenage years bring.

Happy weekend!!!

Thankful Thursdays: Part II

Last week I started my series of posts on things I am thankful for. I highlighted the first four. So, moving on in my quest to list 26 things I am thankful for.

5. Music~Oh how I love music. It is amazing how a song can transport me back to a particular place, event, or time in my life. The various genres of music are so appealing to the many moods and emotions that occur in this crazy life.

6. Common Sense~There are MANY things that just seem so incredibly and completely logical to me, even "duh" moments, but then I stop and realize that common sense isn't a gift that everyone is given. Praise God that he gave it to me.

7. Spray paint~It is the poor woman's best home (re)decorating companion. We purchased some black .99 spray paint from Lowe's and it is fabulous. Our front door had icky brass numbers, kickplate, and doorknocker and we had a chandelier upstairs at the top of the stairs that wasn't so pretty brass either. Leave me alone with those pieces and some black spray paint...VOILA. Perfect. They look so fantastic. I also repainted our front door to clean it up and give it a fresh coat before putting the pieces back up and even a few weeks later, I love looking at it. Now, I am thinking of new projects so I can use the happy spray paint again.

8. Cheese~Mozzarella, Cheddar, Gouda, Muenster (of "monster" as Mini #1 calls it), Blue, Goat, Feta, American, Swiss=YUMMY! Cheese really makes a boring meal or sandwich fantastic. It is yummy hot or cold and either on something or just alone. I heart cheese.

9. Stationery~Clearly I like stationery, hence Molly Lou Gifts. I get downright giddy when I find a new stationery love. Personalized stationery is something that everyone needs and should be happy to use. Different sets and styles make me happy...stationery for different moods. colorful, trendy, elegant, classic, etc. If you have notecards that you love, you will be more apt to write to friends and family. It is so fun to receive a nice note in the mail too.

10. The color black~love its slimming affects and just wish that for every layer of black, I would look that much thinner.

11.Mini #1~Last week, I mentioned my children together, but I am going to separate them and tell you a little of why I love and adore each of them and thank God MANY times a day for blessing me with them. Mini #1 is a sensitive, compassionate, smart, handsome, funny, loving, stubborn, creative, and thoughtful child. He is very intense and interested. He studies things and wants to know how things work and why they do what they do (hello! Engineer father). He has a love for learning and books. He could sit for hours and read. As a REALLY fussy infant with such horrible colic, he loved when I would read to him. He has taken this love and "ran with it." He can now read and gets so excited when he finds a new book and can read pages in it. That passion for learning is going to be so incredible to watch as he grows. He had a friend over yesterday and it was nice to see him interact with another child and independently play. It really smacked me in the face on how big he is getting and how quickly time passes. I am so blessed to be his mother and so fortunate to have such an incredible seat to watch what life has in store for this boy.

More next week. What are you thankful for?

Have a great Thanksful Thursday!

PS-Have you entered our newest Birthday Month Giveaway yet? Check out yesterday's post here.

Worthwhile Wednesday~Holiday Cards in Style!

'Tis the Seasonn for HOLIDAY GREETINGS!!! Yesterday, I got on my soapbox about shopping from small business this year. I also added a new discount code for Molly Lou Gifts. Use code holiday09 to take 15% off your total purchase at our shop.

So, let's chat about holiday cards. I LOVE, LOVE, LOVE holiday cards. I love seeing the different designs, greetings, and notes from friends. It is such a great way to catch up with my peeps and see what the year has brought them and what is to come in their future.

We have a variety of adorable Holiday cards-personalized, blank, and photo personalized in our shop this season. They are just so colorful, unique, and festive!

With our personalized and photo cards, you get to choose your holiday greeting and include your own personalized message and names to appear on your card...making it simpler and still stylishly personalized!

Don't forget to shop our Holiday 2009 page to see our complete line of cards, gifts, and accessories.

To continue with our Birthday Month Giveaways, we are giving away one set of personalized holiday cards. This should get you in the festive spirit and start your holiday correspondence event off to a great start.

Entries will be taken until Monday, November 16 and the winner will be announced on Tuesday.

To enter:

~Head over to Molly Lou Gifts and check out our personalized holiday greeting cards. Choose your favorite and let us know what you love.

~Become a follower of our blog or let us know you are.

~Tweet (@mollylougifts)/blog about this and link it back to us.

~Refer a friend to our shop/blog/twitter. When they mention you, you will get another entry.

~For every $5 purchase you make, you will receive an additional entry. ($25 purchase=5 more entries.)

Have a great Wednesday! Here are a few more cards for your viewing pleasure:

I Think I Can, I Think I Can...

I think I can, I think I can, I think I can, I think I can only shop from small businesses this holiday season.

So I have decided that the big businesses don't need me this year. As a small, locally owned business I know how hard this recession and economic crisis has hit me, my friends and colleagues.

My friend E wrote one day about an antique shop in her town closing after decades in business. One that she grew up knowing the owners, their stories, etc. She loved learning the history of the pieces and the owners became her friends. I have a favorite shop from childhood that just recently closed after almost 30 years and a local bookshop that I used to ride my bike to as a child and then took my son to play in the children's nook as a small toddler that had to close their doors this year too. I have a few friends that have decided to close up shop after a particularly bad year,readjust, and focus on other things. I work too hard and have such a passion that I won't be one of those stories and I don't want small businesses that love to follow that path either.

I have decided that I am only going to shop from small businesses for everyone on my holiday list this year. This is slightly challenging with the minis...Mini #1 is obsessed with the 15 daily toy catalogs that come in the mail and I HEART the day after Thanksgiving early morning shopping. I can still get the same great toys and children's products from smaller shops and sites and do that shopping on Black Friday, I am just being more selective and loving those small businesses.

When I started Molly Lou Gifts, I was in search of high quality, stylish, and unique products that couldn't be found just anywhere. I wanted to offerings in my shop to be items that customers were excited to find, give, and receive.

People often feel that shopping at small sites and shops means that it will be more expensive and cost more. Actually, quite the opposite. I do a lot of research and most of our items are cheaper than the big competitors.

We have a new holiday discount code for use on any purchase from Molly Lou Gifts. Use code holiday09 to enjoy 15% off your total purchase from our shop this season. We are happy to wrap, ship, and include a personalized handwritten gift message to your loved ones.

Please let us know if we can be of any assistance or answer any questions. We are happy to help and appreciate all of our clients and friends. Have a great day!

Sunny Days...

keeping those clouds away...

Happy Birthday/Anniversary "Sesame Street"!

WOW!!! 40 years old...

We all need to take a moment of silence to pay homage to the creative genius talent of Jim Henson.

What a cool place to be. I always wanted to go to Sesame Street.

I think it is so fun and neat that parents that grew up singing the "sunny days" tune can now share it with their own little minis. I was totally one of those parents with Mini #1 that didn't allow him to watch ANY telelvision until after 2. One day, I turned on Sesame Street and he was completely in love. Sesame Street is such a fun, educational, loving, diverse, and somewhat magical place for children of all ages and across the world.

I stumbled upon some interesting facts about "Sesame Street":

Big Bird is 8'2".

Only 1 person has played Big Bird.

"Sesame Street" was orginally created to teach inner-city kids English.

"Sesame Street" has won more than 100 Emmys in its 40 year history, more than any other show.

Before trying cookies for the first time, Cookie Monster's name was Sid.

Ernie wears horizontal stripes on his sweater to make him appear more relaxed; Bert wears vertical stripes on his sweater to make him appear more uptight.

Snuffy Snuffleupagus wears a 65 GGG shoe.

So now, you can successfully beat everyone at "Sesame Street" trivia today. Check out the Google homepage today. Thanks "Sesame Street" for 40 years of fun education.

Have a great day!! New Birthday month giveaway coming tomorrow!

{Thanks to AOL for the Sesame Street gang picture.}

3, 2, 1...BLAST OFF!

So my computer sounds like a rocket getting ready to shoot in to outerspace. I have on my protective goggles in case it explodes as I am writing this.

I really don't know if I should laugh or grab my children and run screaming from the alien monster that is eating my computer.

I will see if I can fix this problem(I know you all are laughing and rolling your eyes at the thoughts of ME trying to do some technical work.) Perhaps Mini #1 can help...he loves a good "fixing job."

I wanted to announce the winners of the Vintage Photo Mix Note Set. Thanks to all who entered...we love these new sets and think they are the perfect surprise or stocking stuffer for those on your holiday list.

The winners are #14 Belle and #7 Happy Dash. Congratulations girls!

Email me with your addresses and we will get you all set up.

The note sets are still 10% off and if you order 2 or more sets, we will ship them for FREE. Go ahead and get your shopping on! You don't have to get a mixed set; we have Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Here Comes the Bride, and Cherish sets too.

Have a great day...say a tiny prayer that my computer makes it through this illness.

PS-You must hop over and read Whitney's post today on Good Will Grace...it is fantastic as usual. You will love it. Are you a follower yet?

Sunday Miscellany

Happy Sunday! Hope you're all having a great weekend...time for some Sunday randomness.

GO TIGERS!!! What a wonderful night for Clemson fans. Such a great game against FSU. Mini #2 also donned a Clemson cheerleader outfit for the first time that was OH SO ADORABLE. She must have been the lucky charm.

Have you entered our Vintage Photo Mix Note Set yet? I was going to announce a winner today, but I am extending the deadline and will pick a winner in the morning. Get the details here. They make great holiday gifts for all and are just PERFECT for swap gifts.

What a coincidence! Molly Lou Gifts' Vintage Photo Mix Note Set is perfect for swap gifts and I have a swap to tell you about. I love the holiday season and I LOVE a good swap. ClemsonGirl and the Coach is hosting a Christmas swap. Head on over and sign up...we could be partners! (Remember it is guilt free shopping if you are doing it for someone else.)

If you missed yesterday's Snapshot Saturday post, you must check it out. I laugh everytime I see the picture. Yes, I do ask myself daily what I did to deserve this man. :)

Enjoy your day.

Snapshot Saturday~The Big Race

Last Saturday, my sister and her husband ran their first race, a 5K in town and we went to cheer them on.

This week's Snapshot Saturday features my boys and their race attempts.

Mr. Molly Lou "raced" down to Starbucks to get us cheerers coffee...look at that serious and focused face. I love it that my man takes the coffee run with such stride. :)

The second is Mini #1...he kept racing up and down the street and then running all around in circles while we were waiting closer to the finish line. Oooooh, check out that outfit too...shorts, orange shirt, green jacket, and Lightning McQueen knee high rain boots...CLASSIC. (To be 3 again or perhaps just that darn cute and get away with an outfit like that.)

Both of my boys WON their races with flying colors! Happy weekend!

GO TIGERS!!!!

A Sugar What?

Let's just say that I have been called MANY things in my lifetime, but a Sugar Doll has NEVER been one of them.

Until today...

My dear friend Kim over at Experiments in a Galley Kitchen tagged me with the "Fabulous Sugar Doll Blogger Award." I love the title of this award and can add one more name to my list.

Please don't confuse Sugar Doll with Sugar Momma because I have no money. Sure did fool Mr. Molly Lou all those years ago though. (Actually, I am the one that I fooled...KIDDING!)

To play along, I'm supposed to list ten interesting things about me...you know inquiring minds want to know.

To be honest, I LOVE reading other people's lists, but this is so hard for me. Interesting??? That might be another adjective that isn't normally used to describe me, so let's just go with random things about me.

1. I heart Starbucks and all COFFEE. If I was choosing a meal over Starbucks, the coffee would win out most of the time. The International Delight Pumpkin Pie Spice creamer has been my BFF lately...don't have a Starbuck's close and those minis will want to go to college, so it is kind of the poor woman's Starbuck's latte. Coffee+Pumpkin=Perfection.

2. People watching is probably my greatest hobby. I could sit there all day and just watch. My mom and I sometimes make up stories about people around us...how they are related, what they are doing, past history, etc. This was FANTASTIC and so PERFECT when Mr. Molly Lou and I lived in Vegas. (Greatest hobby aside from blogging/twitter that is. I wonder what I did before the Blogland and Twitter ate me up.)

3. I want one more child and some days I think I am totally ready now. Then, I bounce back to reality and notsomuch. I have a great desire to adopt. Now that I have had the amazing opportunity to have my own children, I would love to spread the love to another child that is in need of a family.

4. I have a handbag addiction. I would rather buy a handbag or shoes any day than clothes. No matter what I weigh, the bags and shoes still look good. Right now, I am pining for this one (not typically me)and this one (trust me, I think $795 is beyond ridiculous and I am fully aware that I will never actually own it, but I just said that I wanted it) and this one (again, won't own, but love).

5. I can cry at the drop of the hat. (This really annoys Mr. Molly Lou.) I can be watching tv, thinking of something that happened years ago, think of hypothetical situations, or just be hormonal and the tears come bursting out. (So thankful that I was the only one in the room while watching Grey's Anatomy last night...Me=blubbering idiot.)

6. I switched my major three times in college. Once I landed in education, it was the perfect match and I knew it was what I was meant to do.

7. I met Gene Simmons at the Beverly Hills Hotel when I was there with my sister and her friend when we lived in Vegas. My sister and her friend didn't even know who he was. He was standing right next to our table and then played with my sister's friend's ponytail. Bizarre, but he was nice. I guess an interesting way to drum up a conversation.

8. I have a handblown glass ball collection. I have ones that we have collected from travels and each one makes me think of different events in my life and places that I have been. I would love to learn the art of blowing glass...add that to the list of 45467832 things I want to do/learn.

9. Friends is still my favorite show of all time. I could watch episodes all day long. If my remote had to be stuck on one channel though, it would be HGTV. I can get sucked in to all of those shows.

10. I heart chocolate. It is a serious problem. Halloween and the holidays rolling on certainly aren't helping. Throw peanuts/peanut butter in to the mix and I can't resist. Such a shame that Mini #1 is allergic to peanuts...I needed to save him from that peanute Halloween candy. Aren't I good mom?!?!?!?

Now, I'm supposed to tag 10 Bloggers to play along. (Kim stole a few of my nominees, so double Sugar Doll.) Passing along the Sugar Doll to...

Ashley at Perfectly Pleasant
Gina at Namaste By Day
Jennifer at Southern Living: Preppy Style
Michelle at Stuttering Shell
Whitney at That Girl and Her Pug
Katie at The Perks
Headbands and Handbags
kHm at Queen Bee Swain
Gussy
Name Twin at Living in the Moment
Shaina at Post Smith

Ladies, you are now officially Fabulous Sugar Doll Bloggers! And thanks again Kim...I heart you!

PS-I know I was supposed to tag 10 and did 11. Clearly counting isn't my strong suit. :)

Thankful Thursdays

I have decided that each Thursday this month I will write about about all things I am thankful for. Some will be silly and funny, some will be serious and heartwarming, but they will all be things that I am VERY thankful for. I will do 26 things since Thanksgiving falls on the 26th this year.

I invite you to join in with me and do your own Thankful Thursdays!

1. Digital Cameras: I am so thankful for digital cameras. I can take a picture, hate it, press the delete button. Take 371 of the same thing and then erase all the non-perfect ones. I also have a budding photographer in Mini #1. That boys loves to take some pictures, so I let him have free reign and then just delete the ones I don't wish to savor for eternity.

Case in point...he got camera happy with the pumpkin goo while carving jack-o-lanterns. He isn't much on playing in the goo, so he was the photographer and then jumped back in the for the design/carving. Do I deprive my child from his love of cameras? No, I let him take the 45 pictures of pumpkin goo and then delete when he isn't looking.

Digital cameras=VERY THANKFUL!

2. Holiday music. I heart all of the holiday songs. I play them constantly during the holiday season and they just make me smile everytime. "Have a holly jolly christmas...", "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas...", etc. It is also such a fun and wonderful sound to hear Mini #1 belt out a few holiday tunes. I'm pretty sure "Jingle Bells" will live on as the favorite...last year he would get confused on what part he was on and just keep repeating himself.

3. Freedom. I am so thankful that people have the freedom in this country to wear a kermit the frog long sleeve shirt, black corduroy mini skirt, red scarf, and knee high "combat boots" to the ZOO with CHILDREN. I am also so very thankful to have the freedom to think they are beyond crazy and give them weird looks through my sunglasses.

4. The Minis. I mean seriously, I will bring them up a few times this month I'm sure. I just love these little munchkins so much. They make me smile, laugh, and cry with joy each day. They are pretty darn cute too.

Happy Thankful Thursday. Wonder what next week's installment will bring. :)

PS-don't forget to enter my giveaway for a set of our NEW Vintage Photo Mixed Notes Set. They are also 10% off and if you order 2 or more sets, we will ship for FREE...great gifts and stocking stuffers!

Worthwhile Wednesday~Vintage Turkey Giveaway

Ooooh. I have you so intrigued with my post title, don't I? "What in the hay is a vintage turkey giveaway" you ask?

Take an internet walk (read) with me.

For this week's Worthwhile Wednesday, we are introducing 5 new products to the Molly Lou Gifts shop, exploring our must have turkey day accessories, and of course, offering a giveaway.

You see NOVEMBER is a special month. It is my BIRTHDAY month. Woohoo! I love birthdays!! They are so fun to celebrate, I love giving gifts and making my someone in my life's day perfect and memorable. And I love my own birthday...always have and it doesn't matter how old I get, I am excited for my month to arrive.

In honor of my birthday month, I will be doing a giveaway each week and then a HUGE Birthday explosion giveaway around my actual day toward the end of the month.

This is great for you and also helps us kick off the holidays.

First, let's look at two adorable turkey items that you MUST have this season. First, we have this turkey platter. You get to choose personalization and I had a customer last week order one that said "GOBBLE 'TIL YOU WOBBLE!"** So funny and cute too! Our platters are made of melamine and guaranteed not to break so you can enjoy for many years of Turkey Day.

These are great gift for your Thanksgiving hostess: friends, sisters, parents, in-laws, or add to your holiday collection if you host the holiday.

Now, feast your eyes on these! How adorable are these turkey personalized shirts. We have so many shirt options, 16 fonts to choose from, and sizes from 3 months to Youth 12. You choose your personalization and let your little turkey walk around in style.

NEW Items!!! We love Kara Rosenberry and are so thrilled she is part of the Molly Lou Gifts family. We have added her vintage photo notes collection. There are four designs: Happy Birthday, Happy Anniversary, Here Comes the Bride, and Cherish. We also offer a Vintage Photo Mix set with 2 of each of the 4 designs. These photos are all people in her family and are just adorable.

They would make great stocking stuffers, Secret Santa gifts, teacher gifts, friend gifts, holiday hostess gifts, or even just thinking of you gifts. We all need notes and these are so unique, adorable, and cost effective.

Our Vintage note sets are marked 10% off to welcome them. Order 2 or more vintage photo note sets and we will ship them for free. (Refund given via Paypal.) Start checking those off on your list!

I believe I mentioned giveaway before. In honor of my Birthday Month Giveaways and these new additions to our shop, we are offering 2 lucky winners a set of the Vintage Photo Mixed Note Set.
To enter:
1-Become a follower or let me know you are one.

2-Leave a comment about
3-Tweet about this with a link to this post and link @mollylougifts

4-Blog about it and leave a comment.

5-For every set of vintage notes purchased, receive 5 entries per set.

The winners will be chosen on Sunday, November 8, 2009. Have a great day and Happy Wednesday!

PS-Don't forget we are happy to wrap, ship, and include a personalized gift message to your recipient free of charge for anything found in our shop.

**-A large retail chain gift shop has a similar Thanksgiving tray and it is almost double the price. I'm just saying... :)

Today, I Am...

not here.

I am sitting here listening to the waves and eating this:

SERIOUSLY YUMMY Chocolate Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Poundcake:

• 1 3⁄4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 1⁄4 teaspoon ground cloves
• pinch nutmeg
• 1⁄2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter, softened
• 1 1⁄4 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 1 cup canned pumpkin purée
• 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 1⁄3 cup milk
• 1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Coat the inside of a 9-inch by 5-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray and dust it with flour.
2. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, salt, cloves and nutmeg in a medium mixing bowl.
3. Combine the butter and sugar in a large mixing bowl and cream with an electric mixer on medium-high speed until fluffy, about 3 minutes, scraping down the sides of the bowl once or twice as necessary.
4. With the mixer on medium-low speed, add the eggs, one at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir in the pumpkin purée and vanilla. Stir in the milk.
5.Turn the mixer to low speed and add the flour mixture, 1⁄2 cup at a time, scraping down the sides of the bowl after each addition. Stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.
6. Scrape the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula. Bake the cake until it is firm to the touch and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 minutes to 1 hour. Let the cake cool in the pan for 5 minutes, invert it onto a wire rack, and then turn it right side up on a rack to cool completely.

really, I mean it...go make it. You will love it.

I'm sure the minis will be ok for the day while I check out temporarily. Right?

Have a great day!

{Image via my mind and here. Also, thanks to the Today show for this cake recipe.}

Let's talk about....

Let's talk about you and me...

Let's talk about QVC!

What is about QVC? I can get sucked in to watching/staring at QVC for what appears to be years. I swear they send out some kind of hallucinogenic waves to suck you in to their world.

Just about every time I am flipping through the channels and I come by QVC, I stop. I get sucked in. I stare and stare and stare. About 15 minutes later, I snap out of it and move on.

This was particularly a habit when Mini #1 was an infant (Mini #2 occassionally, but she is such a good sleeper). I would up in the middle of the night with him and there would be NOTHING on and those hosts on QVC were pretty much the only adult interaction I would get in a day.

I am surprised that I haven't spent their college funds on food dehydrators, diamonique brooches, reversible fleece big shirts, the bejeweled metallic belts, danging snowglobe earrings, 122 piece Rubbermaid sets or the magic crossbody shopper bag.

They actually do have some good things and deals that I have been tempted to purchase before, but just haven't. How fun would it be to be one of the featured callers and chat it up with the hosts and be one of the digits flipping for the number sold!

Have a great day!

PS-click your way over to Good Will Grace to see today's post. It is wonderful and you will be so glad you did. Good luck Whitney!

Yes, it really is fabulous!

I have discussed my face and how recently, I have been breaking out like a teenager. UGH. I thought I was over that.

Over my life time, I have probably spent $548973 on different cleansers, exfoliants, and other random "perfect" face products.

A few weeks ago, Mrs. Newlywed wrote about Burt's Bees Deep Cleansing Cream and how she loved it. (Everyone must have been having small facial issues that week-at least I'm not alone.)

Later that week, I was at CVS filling a prescription for Mini #1 and there it was sitting all nice and pretty with the other Burt's Bees products just looking at me.

I purchased it and I must say, yes! Yes, it is wonderful, fabulous, and just about perfect. It smells great and it doesn't dry out my skin.

Thank you, thank you Burt and all your bees!