2.25.2009

{ made my day }






this lovely package of goodies arrived in my mailbox today from my dear friend alli, of birddogpress fame...{also the creator of henry's amazing adoption announcements}!

just look at this handbound, letterpress printed, baby book!!! have you ever seen anything more darling in your life? you can see more pics of it here. and you can check out more of alli's creations here and here.

2.24.2009

{ sicko }


This is why I haven't been blogging very much...a sick little girl at home...although this is the amount of full blown energy she has while I am keeping her home from school, swim lessons, ski lessons until her cough subsides...she's going crazy...i'm going crazy. i'm sure both of us girls are driving willy crazy. too much energy cooped up in one house! Is it SPRING yet?!?! :-)

2.22.2009

{ happy birthday willy }


we {heart} you big time.

2.19.2009

{ fit ME }


So, with the new found popularity of the Fit ME notepad, I've been personally re-inspired to fill it out this week and pack it with workouts...I rotate through fitness routines quickly (slight A.D.D. tendancy in this arena) - one month I'll be all about running, the next month all about yoga, etc. Well, this month's new found LOVE of working out can be attributed to Tracy Anderson's new Mat Workout DVD...the {mat} part of it is slightly misleading as you are only on it for a floor leg & ab routine...but it burns baby! :) I have been doing it every morning from 6-7am! Seriously! In fact I like it so much that I just ordered her Cardio Dance DVD as well {although I've heard it is super technical and if you aren't coordinated in the sense of being able to pick up dance moves, you may experience slight frustration as she moves fast}. I've written about her before, and while she remains a controversial celebrity trainer, I really enjoy her workouts.

Anyway, what are you all doing to stay fit this winter?

ps. for her Mat DVD - all you need is a mat (but a carpet will do); 1-3 lb weights (she says no more than 3 lbs) and you do SO many repitions (50-100's) that you'd be crazy to try it with more than 3lb weights; and a dining room chair. That's it. Enjoy!

2.18.2009

{ popsugar + chaos }


The brief, non-intentional, subtle, but exciting anyway appearance of LobotoME notepads on the front page of popsugar.com, next to the Simpson sisters.

And now onto the chaos portion of this post. This is what my living room usually looks like...


This is what it has turned into since the blurb in Shape Magazine...full on shipping central. (note: this is just today's orders that are shipping.) While good for the bank account, it hasn't been good for my mind or body! :)

2.16.2009

{ goodies to go }





I use these adorable suitcases for everything.... LobotoME products, Valentine's Day treats for Sam, Easter Baskets, Halloween goodies, birthday gifts, baby shower gifts, etc. When we go on trips, I fill a new one up with art supplies, activity boxes, disposable cameras, etc. for Sam. Here are a few pictures of ones I've boxed up recently... {I tend to fill them with art/creation goodies instead of candy for the kids on holidays.} Happy Monday!

2.14.2009

{ my heart belongs to... }

my boys....


and this sweet little girl.



hope you all get to spend the weekend with the ones you love.

2.09.2009

{ our february }


We are in the midst of a winter wonderland in the mountains of Colorado. This is a cozy time of year and my family is content to be home-bound and cuddled up by the fire at night. We all go to bed earlier as the winter days take away our sunshine earlier. Just when the quietness of winter has settled in, February comes along with a celebration of love, all in the name of St. Valentine. From as far back as the Middle Ages, February 14 has been the special day to express love to those around you. Today, Samme & I are making valentines cards for all of her classmates and teachers, modeled after the above Martha Stewart idea discovered via Black*Eiffel. I love the idea {below} too for the matchbook valentines via Inchmark! We'll be eating plenty of heart shaped pancakes and sporting red & pink colored clothes this week too. {And Will & I are taking time to reconnect at the end of the week with a couples massage and date night. Woohoo!}

Here's hoping you all hear as many times as possible this week, 'Will you be my valentine?'

{ new year, new you - simplify }


One of main resolutions this year is to simplify my home, my life and the way I work and live...Simple Family Living is my new motto. Over the past few weeks I've wrapped up some projects that have been hanging around, cleaned out several cabinets and closets and made lots of lists. I've said no to some commitments and projects and have felt a weight lift off of my shoulders. It feels good to pare down and get rid of things I don’t need and don't want to do and to clear away some piles that were hanging around. I know you can all relate. {Less is more.}

It's hard to believe mid-February is upon us...it's a good time to check in with your new years resolutions &/or goals...how are they going? Have you been able to take any steps forward towards living the life you want, or do you feel a bit stalled? Take a deep breath and do one thing today that helps you work towards one of them...take our your weekly planner and schedule in some time each day for self care, for exercise, for healthy meal planning and preparing and for working towards your big goals. Clean out one drawer if your goal is to de-clutter. Try a new workout class if your goal is to tone up or lose a few pounds. Get up 1/2 an hour earlier tomorrow to have time to write if your goal is to write more.

How are my resolutions coming along? I've actually been doing really well...considering it is the yucky middle of winter and I am craving spring and more sunshine...I've been waking up early and having some time to stretch, meditate, breathe, drink tea and read blogs before the kids are awake. This quiet time in the morning has been amazing. I've also had the time and energy to exercise almost every day (mostly at the gym as I am not much of a cold weather runner) and feeling really healthy {knock on wood.}

One of the areas I really wanted to focus on this year was better financial management - sticking to our spending plan; making more $ and spending less...we've been doing well with this and I think we are on track to meet our financial goals this year. Joslyn's Spending Hiatus support group has been a kick! The free PR in Shape Magazine certainly hasn't HURT sales! ;-)

I've been on a cleaning, decluttering and nesting mission this winter...with the new bebe and the cold weather keeping us more home bound than other times of the year, I've been getting a lot done around the house.

Let me know how your resolutions are coming along...and have a great week!

{ ps. today is International Read in the Bathtub Day! No joke. Kick back tonight in the bath tub with a new magazine! }

{ pps. my blogging will be light this week, as we've got a lot going on... but feel free to follow ME on twitter for random thoughts oozing out of my brain! Speaking of blogging, this is my 701 th post...who would have thought I'd have that much to blog about?!! Thanks for reading! }

2.06.2009

{ don't sweat the small stuff }


Thank you Katie for passing this along.

IF I HAD MY LIFE TO LIVE OVER - by Erma Bombeck
(written after she found out she was dying from cancer).

I would have gone to bed when I was sick instead of pretending the earth would go into a holding pattern if I weren't there for the day.
I would have burned the pink candle sculpted like a rose before it melted in storage.
I would have talked less and listened more.
I would have invited friends over to dinner even if the carpet was stained, or the sofa faded.
I would have eaten the popcorn in the 'good' living room and worried much less about the dirt when someone wanted to light a fire in the fireplace.
I would have taken the time to listen to my grandfather ramble about his youth.
I would have shared more of the responsibility carried by my husband.
I would never have insisted the car windows be rolled up on a summer day because my hair had just been teased and sprayed.
I would have sat on the lawn with my grass stains.
I would have cried and laughed less while watching television and more while watching life.
I would never have bought anything just because it was practical, wouldn't show soil, or was guaranteed to last a lifetime.
Instead of wishing away nine months of pregnancy, I'd have cherished every moment and realized that the wonderment growing inside me was the only chance in life to assist God in a miracle.
When my kids kissed me impetuously, I would never have said, 'Later. Now go get washed up for dinner.' There would have been more 'I love you's, more 'I'm sorry's'.
But mostly, given another shot at life, I would seize every minute, look at it and really see it, live it and never give it back. STOP SWEATING THE SMALL STUFF!!!
Don't worry about who doesn't like you, who has more, or who's doing what.
Instead, let's cherish the relationships we have with those who do love us.

2.05.2009

{ closet...before & after }

Let's focus on the AFTER first, shall we?





How? Well, I spent about $200 on bins, boxes, more shelves, wood hangers, etc. I purged and organized. I donated a ton of stuff to the local women's shelter and thrift store. I sold a few handbags and dresses on ebay. But a 100x better isn't it? {I actually bought 120 wood hangers (and that's all - everything else had to go).}

Here's is the BEFORE. Which granted was not as bad as this darling bloggers, closet.

{My closet BEFORE}

{ tape swell }


oh my goodness, look at this tape & mailing labels.

2.03.2009

{ an interview with ME }


It's been a busy week at LobotoME HQ, beginning with the Shape Magazine mention!

Stephanie at BizzieMommy - a great business site for moms recently interviewed ME about the working mom thing. Here it is!

The Inspiration Lounge posted about LobotoME goods recently too.

And the fab Tracie from Broadway Paper passed along a {fabulous} award to our Brain Fog Blog!

And, if you have a chance, would you be so kind as to vote for LobotoME at Start Up Nations Mom-owned business competition?

And speaking of being a mom - just look at them! :)

2.02.2009

{ shape ME }


LobotoME goods are featured as the Editors Pick in the March 2009 issue of Shape Magazine (pg.35). Thanks Shape editors!
p.s. i'd like my abs to look like that. :)