Ruby Dot Designs at Blossom and Poppy

My friend, Kim, at Ruby Dot Designs creates the most fun, fresh and fabulous cards and stationery I have ever seen. She is always coming up with new, unique designs and I never get tired of buying them. I love giving personalized stationery sets as gifts. It is something that many people (me not included:)) don't always buy for themselves. I have given them as hostess gifts, birthday presents, thank yous and end of the year presents for teachers. Check out a few of Kim's designs at http://www.blossomandpoppy.com/ or check out her facebook page at www.facebook.com/rubydotdesignspaper
Happy Shopping!

Nolie Girl

 Sweet Nolie August 2011

 One of our favorite pics from Penny Sylvia

Planetjill Ornament (My favorite picture of her will be in here)

We walked into the puppy room at the SPCA in August of 1998. We were newly married and I wanted a dog. I never had one growing up although we had almost every other kind of animal. Picture cats, birds, fish, turtles, lizards, mice, etc.....but no dog. I was so excited when I saw a little brown and black pup named Missy with a long tail. We took her out to a little bench and my husband looked at her and said "I don't know, look at her tail, its going to knock everything over". I started picturing glasses of water flying, books strewn about, and I giggled. I knew she was meant to be mine. She had beautiful brown eyes, a sweet disposition, she was perfect, we named her Seminole.

I spent the next few days getting ready. I bought food, a bed, a collar, a leash. I had no idea what to expect but I was going to be ready. Much like getting ready for a baby. She was my first child. What I didn't expect was how instantly I would love her, how happy her company would make me and how she would be there for me through so much of the joys and trials of the next 12 years. She is so wrapped up in our honeymoon days, the births and childhoods of our boys, the moving of houses, the making of friends.

It is the pictures that truly show what a part of our family she was. After she passed away on July 29th, I started looking through our old pictures for shots of her. There she was sitting by the dinner table, in the middle of wrapping paper on Christmas mornings, laying in the background as I captured my boys crawling, walking and eventually running.  I see her running behind the boys looking for Easter eggs and sitting next to them as they posed in fresh uniforms on their first days of school. There were pictures of her standing in our houses in different states of remodels and paint changes, laying in the living room during the home tour last Christmas. One picture I found I didn't remember taking, It was a picture of her with my dad who passed away in 2009. I never realized how often she was just around,. Until the very end she just enjoyed being with us. No matter how hard the stairs were she followed us down to the basement and up to the top of the stairs at night. And after she was gone it amazed me how empty our house was without her presense.

I love pictures, I always have. I love taking them, looking at them, making them into books for my boys, jewelry for me, and presents for friends. Every year, after finally deciding which picture is going to be THE Christmas card picture (It is quite a decision based on the number of pictures I take) I have it made into a planetjill ornament. I now have 5 of them. They are my treasures. This year there will be two more....one of THE picture for 2011 and one of my favorite picture of my good girl.

More Aprons from AquaSeventy6

I love Aprons! Especially handmade, one of a kind, super sassy aprons from aquaseventy6. These have become my new favorite gifts (with a candle, of course!). They are so fun, they actually make me want to turn my oven on and bake.

Beautiful dresses on a beautiful girl

My beautiful niece Chloe came to visit from Florida. It was so wonderful having her here. She is so grown up and tall (taller than me!). We had a great modeling session with the dresses. I am going to add them to the website. I will also add scarves by the end of the week.

T-Bags Los Angeles Clothing has Arrived! Brand New Styles for Summer 2011

I was so excited when I returned home from our big trip to find the t-bagslosangeles box waiting in my living room. I bought my first t-bags dress about 4 years ago. At first, I thought it was alot of money for a dress, then I put it on! I live in my t-bags dresses in the Summer (I now own 4!). They are light weight and the cotton is so soft it feels like you are walking around in fabulous jammies. I only have limited stock. Check out the dresses and size availability at http://www.blossomandpoppy.com/ . I hope you enjoy the dresses as much as I have.

P.S. Price compare with other stores and sites (my prices are the lowest:))
P.P.S. Many thanks to my beautiful friend Maren for modeling all the dresses for me <3

Moda Home is HERE!

 Liberty Apron $17

Birthday Apron $20 

 Birthday Tablecloth $25

 Birthday Towels (set of 4) $30

 Berry Delight Tablecloth $30

 Berry Delight Kitchen Towels (Set of 3) $20

 Funky Monkey Birthday Tablecloth $30

 Funky Monkey Birthday Banner $28

Moda Home is here and it is Fabulous! I love the quality (and price) of thier items. I am so excited to finally get them on the website.

Road Trip 2011

We just returned from a three and a half week East Coast road trip. We covered the state of Florida, going to the beach and visiting with friends and family. We ended our time in Florida in Tallahassee where my husband and I both went to FSU. Our son, Joe, attended a three day football camp with Coach Jimbo Fisher. It was amazing (and so were the fried pickles, po boys, and the bagel bagel). We then drove through crazy thunderstorms in Georgia making our way to Vonore, Tennessee. We were able to stay the weekend with our dear friend Bob. We spent the weekend boating, catching fireflies and checking out the UT campus. Bright and early Monday morning we headed to Washington DC. We stayed in the W near the whitehouse. The boys could see the snipers on the roof of the whitehouse. Seriously impressive to 6 and 9 year old boys. We loved DC! It was so beautiful and accessible and educational. I cannot wait to go back again. We then drove through Maryland, Delaware, New Jersey, New York and into Connecticut to visit my husband's family. It was so fun to see family and friends. We took the train into New York and went to the top of the Empire State Building, Time Square, and the giant Toys R Us. It was an amazing journey. I am so pleased that my boys are such great travelers and that they had an opportunity to see our beautiful country.

New Laci Jean Purses

                                                                  Girl's Swim Bag $30

                                                       The Kimberly Summer Tote $70

Two more Laci Jean purses arrived and they are both amazing! The little girl swim bag is made out of a fabulous turquoise and orange waterproof fabric. The little attached flower is such a cute touch! The Kimberly Summer tote is green and burgundy with the most darling green and white fabric on the inside. They are both hand crafted and one of a kind. They are both on the website http://www.blossomandpoppy.com/ or you can email me at mary@blossomandpoppy.com

Moda Home is coming soon!

 I have to admit I am a sucker for the Fourth of July (It also happens to be my birthday!). I love fireworks, I love patriotism, I love our neighborhood parade and the bike decorating parties, I love birthday cake. But mostly, I love to celebrate, probably a bit more than I should. When I saw this red, white, and blue celebrate banner, I could not resist ordering it for the website. I already have a birthday banner from the same company and I treasure it. The birthday banner hangs the whole month of July in our house. I cannot wait to hang both banners up, year after year, crisscrossing my front porch. I always love a beautiful, fun reminder that life is too short. CELEBRATE!

Celebrate, Happy Birthday, Funky Monkey Happy Birthday, and alot more from Moda home arriving soon.

Laci Jean Designs and Ruby Dot Designs

Laci Jean Designs offers the most amazing handmade, one of a kind purses, bags, and totes. They are truly spectacular and addictive (I just ordered my second!). I have recieved so many compliments on my bag and always make sure I have her business cards in the pocket when I leave the house.They are all designed and sewn by Holly Williams. She is a beautiful, talented, creative mama of three. You have to check out her blog. http://www.lacijean.blogspot.com/
Wait until you see the little girl dresses she makes too. They make me want to have a girl.....or at least borrow one:)

Kim Farrens of Ruby Dot designs is also an amazing, beautiful, talented and creative mom (of two sweet girls). Kim designs the coolest, most unique, fun cards and stationery I have ever seen. She adds her own personal touch to every card. She will work directly with you to personalize any of her cards. Her birchwood cards are really awesome. You can see some of her cards on my website http://www.blossomandpoppy.com/
There is much more to come. I can't wait to see what is next!

Mother's Day Cards from Ruby Dot Designs

I cannot believe that May is less than a week away! What happened to March and April? They have flown by. Mother's Day is coming up fast (and my sister's and brother's birthdays, May 2nd and 4th). I am always on the look out for fun and unique items. I love personalized, handmade, one of a kind, and fun gifts. I am buying my sister a Laci Jean purse for her birthday (no surprise since I am sending her to Holly to design something special). My brother, well he doesn't care so much about gifts, so nothing too creative there. Then there are the moms in my life. My own mom, Cheryl, and my mother-in-law, Helen, plus a few other mamas who are so special to me. I don't know if they are reading this so I don't want to give it away but that card up top may be in your mail box soon:) plus a few other things....

This mother's day does feels extra special to me because of Blossom and Poppy. I have always strived to support my creative mom friends. I host markets and trunk shows and try to purchase and advertise all their wares. Their creativity never ceases to amaze me. The energy they put into being great mamas and making fabulous items blows my mind. I can't even sew a hem and Holly, Autumn and Yvette sew the most beautiful things I have ever seen. Kim creates the most fun, modern, cool cards! Penny takes pictures of my family that capture them so well it brings tears to my eyes. I am so lucky to be able to showcase their items on my website. I hope that it brings them lots of business because they deserve it.

My Mother's Day weekend will be very Blossom and Poppy. I will be at the David Lubin Garden Tour boutique from 10-4 Saturday and Sunday. Stop by and see me and support David Lubin. Just follow the scent of rosemary candles and you will be sure to find me:)

Pictures From Penny

We were fortunate enough to be on the Holiday Home Tour for our children's school last December. It was so fun seeing our home transformed into a Christmas wonderland. We were even more fortunate that our Favorite photographer Penny Sylvia lent her time and talents to us. Here are some of the incredible pictures she took of our house. Thanks Penny! You are the best.