100th, Well 101st GIVEAWAY Blowout!

So, I'm baaaaaack! Can't wait to share all the tales and tribulations of the past week and a half. Of course, in true Molly Lou style, NOTHING is ever easy and after many, many days of waiting and "issues" the oh so nice internet man just left and granted me access back in to the world! WOW...am I addicted? I really felt like a drug addict going through withdrawals this week without all of you and your updates, tweets, and emails! Even on vacation, I have access, so this was a real test that I am proud to say that I, the minis, and Mr. Molly Lou made it out of alive. Thanks to Molly Lou sister who posted my short still alive message so all of you dear friends didn't forget about me. Thanks to Sherwin Williams pain, gallons of bleach, and scrubber brushes, I am pleased to announce that the house is fab and there are barely any traces that the DISGUSTING "interesting one" previously resided here.

I have so much to catch up on...if anyone of you posted anything huge that I need to immediately know about, please comment or email me so I get back in the loop asap!

But this post is all about my 100th (now 101st post) post giveaway blowout! That's right, I said BLOWOUT! I know this tiny little 100th post is just a small feat compared to some of you, we are thrilled and it feels like only yesterday that we were just becoming Blogland friends.

Get excited...drum roll please! For this giveaway, I have decided to do $100 in Molly Lou Gifts products!!! YAY! The winner of this fantastic giveaway will receive:

*1 set of personalized social stationery or 1 set of custom invitations for your summer soiree!

*1 personalized pail-perfect with a monogram and great for housing odds and ends, writing utensils, plants, etc.

*1 set of NEW personalized coasters that I am in love with!

*1 set of 4 handmade blockprint art greeting cards

*1 memo pad box set

*1 ribbon notepad in the adorable black and white damask pattern with blue ribbon

*1 $10 Molly Lou Gifts gift certificate for your choice of fab item!

Also, there will not be one, not two, but THREE winners to this giveaway! The grand prize winner will win the above mentioned treasure box and two other lucky winners will win Molly Lou Gifts gift certificates!

So, the nitty gritty to the contest:

Contest will run from now until July 10, 2009! Anyone can enter and of course, there are several ways to enter!

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

~Refer someone who becomes a follower. If they tell me you sent them over, then you get an additional entry. We are close to 200 followers...help us get there!

~Blog and/or tweet about this. Comment that you did one or both and provide a link to the blog post. You can get up to three entries for this (Blog three separate times about this and link us back each time and you will get three entries).

~Head over to our website, peruse around and come back and let us know what you like, what you don't, and any suggestions you may have. I have always wanted to have a shop that provided great, affordable products and offered the best customer service. I need your opinions!

~For every $10 you spend at Molly Lou Gifts, you will receive an entry. Order a birthday gift for a friend and get an adorable packaged item and entries...see, it really does pay to shop! If you are buying a jump present for Spirit Jump and you mention it in the notes section of your order, you will get double entries. Remember, use code spirit15 for spririt jump gifts and we will give you 15% off and will wrap and ship your item directly to your recipient! :)

Whew! That's a lot, but well worth it! Get entering and tell a friend! Thanks to everyone! Can't wait to catch up!

Have a great day! Cheers!

I'm Alive (Barely!)

I'm still alive and I apologize for my lack of posts... the internet is still not hooked up. Lots of stories to share! The 100th post giveaway will be even bigger because it is now the 101st! I can't wait to catch up. Don't forget about me! Have a great day! Cheers!


P.S. I totally forgot to announce the Lola's Girl Giveway winner... babalisme. CONGRATULATIONS! Email me and I'll hook you up with Lola's Girl and you'll claim your prize. Thanks to everyone who entered!

Smile Big...

WE CLOSED! Hallelujah!

People often ask me where the name Molly Lou Gifts came from. Most assume that my name is Molly Lou and I have been referred to as Molly Lou many times since MLG's creation.

When I was student teaching many moons ago, my mentor teacher read the class, Stand Tall Molly Lou Melon by Patty Lovell. It is a wonderful children's book and quickly became my favorite. It read it to my students throughout the years, even to a group of sixth graders. After the birth of Molly Lou Mini #1, I first read him this story and he loved it. It quickly became a favorite in our house and was read daily. When I set out to create this shop, I decided that Molly Lou Gifts would be the perfect name after the story's character, Molly Lou Melon.

Molly Lou Melon is a short "just taller than her dog", clumsy, eccentric child with interesting talents and a great attitude towards life. Her grandma gives her great advice, telling her to smile big, walk proudly, and sing loudly. After each of grandma's wise offerings, the page always follows with "so she did." Molly Lou moves to a new school and is met with a bully, but each time Ronald Durkin tries to embarass or harass Molly Lou, she remembers her grandmother's wisdom and entertains her new classmates and puts Ronald in his place. David Catrow offers perfect illustrations to accompany the wise story. The story and illustrations just bring a great big smile to your face.

While it's a children's book, but has so many of those valuable life lessons that we all can appreciate. My favorite line from the story is "Smile big and the world will smile right alongside you." Even if you don't have minis, read this book. Go ahead, I won't tell anyone! Perhaps my next job should be a Barnes & Noble book critic! :)

So my friends, walk proudly, smile big, and sing loudly!!

TOMORROW IS THE BIG 100! Can you believe it??? MLG is celebrating 100 posts! YAY! Come back for the BIG reveal and party. NEW giveaway celebration coming tomorrow! Celebrate with us!

The Real To Do List

As I reorganize and unpack, I came across this adorable hand painted plaque, The Real To Do List that used to hang in Mini #1's bathroom. I went to hang it and just read over it again and thought I would share:

Sing.
Smile at Strangers.
Keep learning.
Notice Kindness.
Eat ice cream.
Hope.
Count your blessings.
Laugh.
Love.
Love some more.

Enough said. Can't wait to hear about all of your weekends. Have a great day! Cheers!

Don't Hate...

Ok, so for those of you that tuned in to Saturday's "Snapshot Saturday", you saw the adorable Fenway! This Basset Hound's very cute picture was sent in to be featured. It was a great little post, but I got HATE MAIL!

I am not kidding, HATE e-mail. Not about the adorable dog...don't get too upset!

I mentioned that I am not really a "dog person," but Fenway almost made me want one. The HATE mail was in regards to my not being a "dog person." These emails tried to teach me that having a dog was great, dogs bring such love and fun to your life, that I should open my heart to a dog, dogs would be beneficial to the minis, blah, blah, blah!

First of all, I am so thrilled for all of you that love dogs and have them. I agree that dogs bring people joy, love, friendship, etc. I did not make accusations or state anything to the contrary. I grew up with dogs...always had one. I don't mind dogs and can certainly be in a home that has them. Most of my family and friends have them and YAY for them.

Here are some of my arguments against ME having a dog:

When I was two, I was attacked by our German Shepherd. Long story, but I am pretty sure that started my adversion to canines. I made it out fine, but I think it is understandable why I was skiddish around dogs growing up.

Molly Lou Mini #1 is also allergic to dogs, so that poses a slight problem with the dog as a pet in the Molly Lou house. To the one that said that my children needed to have a dog growing up and gain that love and companionship of a dog (I am rolling my eyes at you and perhaps more). I am in no way impairing my children's abililty to have a happy, healthy, and normal childhood. My parents have dogs and other friends and family, so they are around dogs enough and then Mini #1 has his nebulizer treatment and steroid medicine if it's really bad.

Mr. Molly Lou doesn't feel that he is responsible enough for a dog. He used to really want one, but then realized what all it would entail. And let me just remind you that I have two children, a messy husband, business, house, etc. and I DO NOT NEED TO ADD A DOG TO THAT!

I am obsessive compulsive. I need to have a clean house. I already vaccuum at least once a day and add a dog to that mix between shedding, sickness, food, and drool, I might just lose it. Did I already mention how messy Mr. Molly Lou is?

I appreciate all your thoughts on our needing a dog, but hopefully I have opened your eyes to my reasons and certainly hope this doesn't affect our friendship. To those of you who sent the hate mail, thanks for taking the time to fill me in on your thoughts, but might I make a tiny suggestion: GET A CAUSE. There are MUCH more deserving causes and others who need sound life advice that perhaps you could extend an olive branch to.

Have a great day! Cheers!

Octopus Arms Please!

Does anyone else need 8 arms, more than 24 hours in the day, an Inspector Gadget car, and an obscenely rich husband??? One of those days...

On a different note-Molly Lou Gifts' blog is getting ready to celebrate our 100th post. Can you believe it? WOW-it seems like only yesterday we all became friends and part of our daily routine. In honor or our 100th post, we MUST do a giveaway and contest. I mean it is an absolute MUST! I'm taking suggestions on the prize(s) and the contest requirements and details. Take a peek around the shop and let's make this fun...I need your help and suggestions. Get thinking!!!

Hope you're having a great day. Cheers!

PS-Happy, Happy Birthday Molly Lou Momma! We love you so much and hope you have a wonderful day and year ahead. You are such a great Mom and Grammy and we are so blessed to call you ours! We can't wait to see you! Happy 27th Birthday Mom! xoxoxo

Happy Father's Day!

Happy Father's Day Mr. Molly Lou! We all love you so much and our minis sure are lucky to have such a great and fun daddy.

I love watching you with our two children and see their excitement when you come home and the giggles and squeals they make when you play and tickle them.

Thank you for being such a wonderful father. Enjoy your day! I love you!

HAPPY FATHER'S DAY to all of the other fathers, daddies, uncles, friends, step-dads, grandfathers, papas, grandpas, etc.

Have a great day. Cheers!