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Looking for a unique sibling gift or an adorable personalized gift? You must check out these adorable t-shirts and onesie. They feature a slightly more sophisticated design than the typical personalized shirt. Too cute for words, and available in a number of styles, colors, and sayings. The “Big Sister” or “Big Brother” Tee would be the perfect gift for an older sibling welcoming a new baby to the family.  

 Luna B Tees

 
Spice Up Your Wardrobe with Personal Splash!

 

Sister Shirt

We are still in the process of adding this great new line so check back often!

Preview of more to come:

Tuesday Tip - Lovin' Lemons

More Uses for

 Lemons!

via StrawberryGirlM

Natural Whitener

Tea and coffee stains can be removed from ceramic cups with denture-cleaning tablets. Just fill the cup with warm water, and drop in a tablet. When the tablet stops fizzing, empty the cup, and if it's still stained, repeat the process. To whiten cloth napkins, linens, and even socks, fill a large pot with water, and drop in several slices of lemon. Bring to a boil, then turn off the heat. Add the linens, and let them soak for about an hour. Then launder as usual. Many bathroom cleansers are gritty; they may be effective at cleaning grout, but they can scratch tiles. Baking soda is a safe and inexpensive alternative. First, wet the grout, and apply the baking soda to the stained area with an old toothbrush. Work on a small section at a time, and then rinse clean.aaaa

Happy Valentine's Day

Chocolate Dipped Shortbread Hearts

via Martha Stewart

Tip from Martha:

You may use any size heart cutters you like to make these shortbreads; the chocolate is optional. For the most beautiful cookies, don't reroll the scraps.

Recipe:

Ingredients:

Makes 4 dozen 2 1/2-inch heart cookies

• 
  
  1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter
• 
  
  3/4 cup sifted confectioners' sugar
• 
  
  1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
• 
  
  2 cups sifted all-purpose flour, plus more for dusting
• 
  
  1/2 teaspoon salt
• 
  
  3 ounces semisweet or bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped
• 
  
  1 teaspoon canola oil or pure vegetable shortening

Directions:

1.In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter, sugar, and vanilla until combined. On slow speed, beat in flour and salt until combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap; chill until firm, at least 2 hours, or overnight.

2.On a lightly floured surface, roll out the dough until 1/16-to-1/8 inch thick. Cut out hearts with a 2-inch heart cookie cutter. Transfer cookies to an ungreased baking sheet; chill for 30 minutes.

3.Heat oven to 300 degrees with a rack in the center. Press the tines of a fork into each cookie to make designs. Bake until just beginning to brown around the edges, about 18 minutes. (Cookies will keep in an airtight container at room temperature for about 5 days.)

4.In the top of a double boiler or in a heat-proof bowl set over simmering water, melt the chocolate, stirring occasionally. Stir in the oil. Dip half or one third of each cookie into the chocolate mixture. Transfer cookies to a cooling rack to dry, or place them on a piece of parchment paper in the freezer for 10 minutes. Serve.

Did you say eye candy?

.... LOVE, LOVE, LOVE

these Sweet Designs by Amy Atlas

via Amy Atlas

Valentine's Day Desserts

Want to make some yummy valentine treats? I came across these♥ Enjoy! Valentine's Day Desserts

Sugar Cookies	Chocolate Cupcakes	Chocolate Brownies
These sweet and buttery cut-out cookies are always a favorite for not only can you tailor the shape of the cookie to the occasion but you can also dress them simply with granulated or colored sugars or make them very decorative by frosting them with royal icing. more	These beautiful chocolate cupcakes have a wonderful chocolate flavor and are frosted with a chocolate fudge frosting. more	Chocolate Brownies have a lovely deep chocolate flavor and dense fudge-like texture that are topped with a smooth and glossy Ganache frosting. more
Meringue Hearts	Chocolate Truffles	Chocolate Sugar Cookies
Since meringues pair so well with fruits and creams, for this dessert I have made individual heart-shaped meringues and topped them with strawberry cream and fresh strawberries. more	These rich and elegant, bite-sized round petit fours are made from a mixture of dark or white chocolate and cream to which various flavorings can be added: butter, liqueurs, extracts, nuts, coffee, purees, spices, candied or dried fruits. more	Chocolate Sugar Cookies are a sweet and buttery cut-out cookie with a mild chocolate flavor that are frosted with royal icing. more
Chocolate Hearts	Shortbread Cookies with White Chocolate & Raspberries	Raspberry Truffle Tart
I don't know who likes these better; kids or adults. All you need to make these delicious treats is your favorite milk, dark, or white chocolate and Rice Krispies more	Shortbreads are a buttery cookie (biscuit) that taste absolutely delicious when sandwiched together with raspberry jam and grated white chocolate. more	What could be more enticing than a giant raspberry-flavored truffle set in a biscotti crust.This beautiful raspberry-flavored truffle tart is set in a delicious biscotti crust. more

This is only the beginning!

Go HERE for more.

Tuesday Tip-all those packets!

Clever Uses for Mustard or Soy Sauce Packets

Do you have lots of these?

 I found this great tip from Heloise!

Use them as mini ice packs: If you get condiment packets with a take-out meal, put them in the freezer. 

They make great mini ice packs for small boo-boos. 

Tuesday Tip - Winter Blues

Banish a Bad Mood in 15 Minutes

Pull yourself out of a funk, pronto, with these 3 surprisingly simple steps.

Decode Your Mood

Ask yourself these key questions to figure out what’s wrong.

• What’s really bugging me? You’re irritable and sad, but you’re not sure why. “Think about what happened earlier in the day or in the week,” says Larina Kase, author of Anxious 9 to 5: How to Beat Worry, Stop Second Guessing Yourself, and Work with Confidence (New Harbinger, $15, barnesandnoble.com). “Keep going back until you hit on the most upsetting thing, something that resonates with you.” This will help you address the underlying problem rather than just focusing on the latest snafu in your life
• Am I avoiding something? It’s easier to pin your bad mood on stalled traffic than on, say, your stalled romantic life. If you still don’t feel that you’ve arrived at the root problem, ask yourself if there’s something big going on that you’re unwilling to address. Is there someone―your new love, for instance, or your best friend―whom you’re reluctant to show anger toward? Is there a nagging problem that has been building for months that you’ve been hoping would simply go away? Merely acknowledging the bigger issue will take some pressure off. 
• Could it be more than one thing? Say you had a bad fight with your sister. It might be a simple case of cause and effect: You argued, and now you’re angry. But the fight might have been aggravated by a problem you’re dealing with at work or compounded by the fact that your father is sick. In those instances, you might be angry but also feel sad or hopeless. It’s common to have multiple emotions cropping up at the same time. When you have two or more pressing problems bringing you down, try to address them one by one.  

Calm Down

Start by taking a few deep breaths to get your emotions under control. Then choose one or more of the following techniques to help clear your mind. 

• Focus on breathing. Take 10 deep breaths. Breathing may help restore the balance between the parasympathetic (or restorative) and sympathetic (fight-or-flight) nervous systems, buffering your body’s natural reaction to stressful situations, says Brian Knutson, an assistant professor of psychology and neuroscience at Stanford University. 
• Make a pie chart. Draw a circle and create slices of a pie chart to represent all the things that are upsetting you, suggests Kase. Include everything you can think of, even if it’s as mundane as the nonstop rain outside. The act of presenting your concerns visually clarifies things, she says, making the problems easier to identify and therefore to manage.
• Distract yourself. Read a favorite funny website, play with your dog, fold laundry, or wash dishes for a few minutes. “Diversions allow your emotions to calm down,” says Peter Ubel, a professor of medicine and psychology at the University of Michigan, Ann Arbor. “And because your brain keeps processing the problem even when you’re not consciously thinking about it, you’ll be better able to deal with the issue once you return to it.”  “Ideally, go someplace where you can have privacy to shut down the stimulation to your brain,” says Pierce Howard, a cognitive psychologist in Charlotte, North Carolina, and the author of The Owner's Manual for the Brain (National Book Network, $20, amazon.com). If you’re at a busy place, like your office or a restaurant, he suggests, head to the bathroom and take a few minutes for yourself. If you’re at home, go to your bedroom or a place that feels comforting. 
• Get some exercise. If possible, go out for a brisk walk, or do some yoga poses. “Just 10 minutes of an active and distracting activity breaks the flow of rumination and lifts people’s moods,” says Susan Nolen-Hoeksema, a professor of psychology at Yale University and the author of Eating, Drinking, Overthinking (Henry Holt, $24). “This leads them to think more clearly.” 
• Blow off steam. Call a patient friend. Be sure to tell her you’re not trying to fix anything―you just want a listener. “Talking through your concerns makes them seem more manageable,” says Kase. “But once you’ve vented, it’s important to let it go.”
  
  

Create a Strategy

The tips below will help you fix the situation that caused your bad mood. Do all three in sequence. If you’re still in a funk, consider making an appointment with a therapist.

•  Talk to a problem-solver. “People often think they should be able to handle problems on their own, and they don’t want to burden others,” says Kase. “But it’s easier to strategize with support.” Discuss things you can do to feel better as well as fix the problem.
• Make a list. It should include things that will make you feel better, like sending flowers to your husband, calling Dad’s doctor to discuss his progress, or going to the gym at lunchtime. “Lists force you to structure your concerns and help you move into problem-solving mode,” says Nolen-Hoeksema. Number the items in the order that you want to accomplish them. 
• Visualize your ideal. Take a few minutes to close your eyes and picture what you want in the moment, as if it’s actually happening. This visualization technique is “basically a form of rehearsal,” says Howard. For instance, after you and your sister argue, imagine the two of you having a great time over dinner at your favorite restaurant. The memories of the fight will be replaced by a positive picture of harmony and fun.
   
  

[information from article By Lisa Ann Smith]
  {pictures by Sophie Blackall}
via Real Simple

Love These

Pocket ♥ Presents
"Itty Bitty Valentines"

Decorate matchboxes with romantic designs, then fill with Valentine's treats.

via All You

You’ll need:

• Scissors
• Red, pink and white wrapping paper in assorted solids and patterns
• Craft matchboxes (at ecrater.com)
• Glue stick
• Heart-shaped paper punches in graduated sizes (available at craft stores)
• Pinking shears
• Assorted decorative items, including red baker’s twine (at baking supply stores), small gift tags and
• small adhesive rhinestone strips (at craft stores)
• Small Valentine’s Day candies, such as heart-shaped red hots or red-pink-and-white candy corn

1. Cut wrapping paper to wrap around outside of box.
2. Apply glue to the back of wrapping paper. Adhere paper to matchbox, working from one end and pushing out any air bubbles as you go.
3. Using heart-shaped punches in different sizes, make hearts out of wrapping paper. Or cut narrow strips of wrapping paper using pinking shears and make a design by punching out a row of small hearts from strips.
4. Decorate wrapped boxes as desired, using hearts, heart strips, baker’s twine, gift tags and adhesive rhinestone strips.
5. Fill matchboxes with assorted candies.

If you want to see more on this idea go

HERE

via Inchmark

Clothespin Valentine

Fun Valentine Project to do with your kids♥

             via Martha Stewart Living

Secure a small satchel of Valentine's Day treats with this festive fastener. Use any size of clothespins and as many different colors of paper as you like, but it's best to use wooden pins, which hold the glue better than the plastic variety.

Tools and Materials:

• Wooden clothespins
• Decorative paper
• Tacky glue
• Card stock or other heavy-weight paper
• 1/16-inch circular punch or paper edgers (optional)

Clothespin Valentine How-To1. Use the clothespins to determine the desired size of your hearts: Fold a piece of card stock in half, place the clothespin against the seam, and mark the top and bottom of the clothespin. Draw half a heart from the seam edge of the card stock that is slightly larger than the marks. Keep the card stock folded, and cut out a heart. Use this as a template to trace out hearts on the decorative paper. Make a front and back heart for each clothespin.

2. Cut out the heart. Apply tacky glue to one side of the clothespin, and affix the heart. Repeat on the opposite side. If desired, use paper edgers to decorate the heart, or try punching small holes around the border with a 1/16-inch circular punch.