Smidge! Crafter Spotlights and more!

Check out Smidge for lots of cool new artists, a monthly giveaway that rocks, and great articles. In particular, be on the lookout for some great No Hurt Headbands to be given away in the next few months. Callidora loves Smidge!

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Hey! The drawing is tomorrow! Monthly giveaway, my beautiful newsletter (small but special) - hurry! Sign up now on my blog in the NotifyList box.

What's being given away? Well, my lucky readers, this month's giveaway will be a wood bead lariat and bracelet and a purse organizer. A prize with a value of $60! The jewelry was handcrafted by me back in my beading days.

Go sign up now!

Creations By Celeste!

First of all, let me say that chat rooms can be a wonderful thing. That's where I met this wonderful, kind new Etsy artist. She makes the most wonderful little hair things - barrettes and bows. Very very cute.

I want you to check out her store because 1. it's NEW!, 2. she's very generous (sent me a lovely sample that I plan on giving to my as yet unborn NIECE!, and 3. it's beautiful work!



Give her some love! If you don't have daughters, you probably have sisters, cousins, friends with little girls, fine hair yourself -find a female and deck them out in Creations By Celeste!

Summer Sale includes FREE Shipping!

I'm trying to clear out and make room for my Fall collections. Take advantage and get items on Clearance AND Free Shipping!

It's a great deal!

http://www.etsy.com/shop.php?user_id=5477964§ion_id=5282487

Computer Down :(

Bear with me folks. I have a computer down and in surgery. The sexy, sleek, new model should be here by the end of the week or beginning of next week. In the meantime, get all your friends and neighbors to sign up for my newsletter and thereby the monthly giveaway. I'll have lots of great stuff to share with you next week :)

Forgot to Sign Up?

Then do it NOW! Sign up for my monthly newsletter and giveaway! You only have to sign up once and you'll be in each month's drawing. Your info won't be given to anyone else and I won't bombard your email box. The newsletter will be short and sweet and will include newsletter only specials each month. Go to my blog and sign up in the NotifyList box in the sidebar - don't forget:)

It's MARVEL-ous!

The new Hulk movie really is INCREDIBLE! As a fan of the TV Series (yes I actually watched that as a kid - a girl kid!), I was tearfully surprised by how well done this movie was in keeping with the comic and the series. I tried to love the 2003 Hulk movie, but Eric Bana just didn't do it for me and the comic split screens were too much for my non-ADD brain to follow.

This Hulk is the Hulk that I've known and loved all these years. Ed Norton does a fantastic job as Banner, the special effects are amazing, Liv Tyler is a lovely, and believable Betty Ross, and the CG Hulk took me on a real rollercoaster ride. The Abomination was disgusting and hateful -everything he should've been.

I own a copy of the 2003 Hulk, but I think the kids and I will use that for a frisbee game. This one is a must-own! And I think a second viewing at the theater is in order :)

Happy Daddy's Day!

To all you men out there who are an active part of your child's life - Happy Daddy's Day! A child is a gift and a blessing (although they try our patience) and can only become what we as parents help to become. Money isn't the only thing needed to raise a child. They need love, understanding, interaction, discipline, laughter, and play - from Mom and Dad. It's not up to the schools, daycare centers, or neighborhood kids to raise your children - it's all you. Remember, any man can be a father - it takes someone special to be a Daddy!

Ronan Moves Up!

My happy little 5 year old son, Ronan, was pleased as punch to learn this week that he has moved up to 1st grade! Now, of course, we don't really use grades in our homeschool, but the neighborhood kids are always asking what grade everybody is in. So I kiind of make a guesstimate based on their reading and math skills and call it a grade.

So Ronan is reading and doing basic math. He works very hard every day (for about 40 minutes) and was shocked that now we will be adding Religion as a subject to his repertoire. His first comment was groaning about more work, but once I reminded him that the big kids do it - he puffed quite a bit!

Big Sky!

So I was searching around for a Father's Day gift for Kevin and I found Big Sky! Ha ha, what a great little shop! I did realize that for Mother's Day I got dinner out, so I will probably just take Kevin out for dinner. But if I were in the buying him something mood, I would probably shop here :) Check it out:




Fun, fun stuff!

Man Apron!

Find more photos like this on Indiepublic



This is a little big on my Max, because he is not full Man yet, but you get the idea. Of course, if you have or are a micro macho man and I can accommodate and make one appropriate to your size.

What Are You Getting Him for Father's Day?

Do you have one of those lovely men in your life who is impossible to shop for? Or is he a one-of-a-kind guy? Simply tired of the same old Father's Day presents? Take a look at what you can get him on Etsy:




And if none of that appeals, you can always request a Man Apron or Man Bag for your favorite Dad from Callidora's! Man Apron is great if he loves to cook or grill out - manly, durable, AND stylish! Man Bag is a laptop/messenger bag that is worn across the shoulder and holds just about anything. You can even customize it with a themed lining - sports, skulls, etc. or put an initial or motif design on the outside. Sadly, a Man Bag would not be ready in time for Father's Day, but you can either give it late or keep it in mind for a birthday or anniversary. It also doubles aa an inconspicuous diaper bag if he's the one cartin' the kids around :)

Reminders

Happy Monday! Hope you all had a lovely weekend. It was quite sweltering here in Richmond VA - very reminiscent of my Arizona days. Blech! I just wanted to remind you to let you opinion be heard in my poll. If you subscribe by email, please go to my blog and answer my poll question - it's at the top on the right side. Only a few days left for that.

Also, don't forget to sign up for my monthly newsletter. It's also your entry into my monthly giveaway. You only have to sign up once and you will be entered every month that you remain on the list. The drawing will be held around the end of the month, so be sure to enter. That box is also on my blog on the right side about half way down.

Need Help with Geneology

My dear faithful readers - I need your help! My kids are interested in charting our twisted up family tree and the Grandmas Deluxe have given us some info to get started with. I just don't know what are the good sites for charting. Are there any good free ones? I also need very user-friendly. So please leave me some comments on easy to use, free sites. Thanks!

Looking for Wholesale Buyers

I am looking for people or stores, online or physical, that are interested in buying my line at wholesale. I want to branch out and get more exposure. I am currently designing seasonal handbag collections, as well as offering my No Hurt Headbands and aprons for wholesale. If you have any interest in buying wholesale, please contact me. I will sell handbags and aprons in quantities as low as 6, and headbands in increments of 20.

If you are a salon, or would like to see your favorite salon, carry my headbands, let me know. I am willing to create a custom apron or handbag collection for your store, and make it with your private label - your own exclusive collection!

As incentive to non-store owners, if you initiate a recurring wholesale account for me, you will receive a $100 gift certificate to my store and enjoy a 20% discount for 12 months!

Doogie Howser checks in

Well Max, our resident Doogie Howser, has gotten through his first couple of weeks of compressed college summer session. At first, he was nervous, then scared he wouldn't be able to keep up with the work load. His teacher, excuse me "professor", seemed like a tyrannt - so many rules! Ah the plight of the homeschooler. So Professor Rand has turned out not to be such a tyrannt. And the work isn't as awful as previously thought - yes, it requires a lot of effort and discipline on his part, but he is finding his groove.

It must be okay - we're already talking about what to take in the Fall!

Happy Anniversary!

So, last week my husband Kevin and I celebrated our 14th anniversary. My how time flies when you're having fun :) Sometimes it's hard to believe that we've known each other for 16 years, that seems like a long time. We have laughed quite a bit during those 16 years so they've gone by faster than either one of us has been prepared for. We can't move as fast as we used to, we've both gained weight, one of us has lost hair and what hair we do have is gray. But we still drink, laugh, and have a good time. We love our rock music and karoake! Our kids tell US to be quiet :) We still finish each other's sentences. We argue, disagree, grumble, complain and cry; but we are still here together and in love. Life seems like such drudgery sometimes - wake, work, cook, clean, collapse, do again. Spend it with your best friend - the love of your life. I am.

Giveaway Signup Fixed

Thanks to Bunny B for bringing my faulty sign up box to my attention! I have put up a new box, less fancy, but hopefully this one gets the job done. Please sign up and let me know if you have any other trouble with it.

Callidoras.com Now Open!

I've been working on it for a month and it's still a slow beginning, so cut me some slack. But there it is! Callidora's is now open!

Right now, I have only a few Limited Edition summer items available there. I am working on the Fall Collection, which I hope to debut in August. I will probably add a few more items to the summer collection, so keep checking back.

Remember to sign up for my Monthly Newsletter through the NotifyList box on my blog. That will be your entry for the Monthly Giveaway. If you don't sign up, you can't win!

Large Custom Project!

I'm very excited! I got a large custom project! Emily Rose of Emily Rose Jewellery has commissioned several sets of Mother/Daughter aprons to sell in her online boutique. Emily sells beautiful keepsake jewelry and accessories that she monograms for her customers. She has chosen my full aprons with pockets and pleats to be made with a solid bodice and print bottom, then she will monogram in the solid area.