My Favorite Everything

02.04.10 friday favorites

It was a crazy busy week again (What weeks aren’t for moms?? Do any of you have a new found respect for your mom?? I sure do!) And I can’t believe it’s just over 4 weeks until the newest babe is here! PLEASE, PLEASE, PLEASE don’t make a showing any earlier!!! I love ya and can’t wait to meet ya, but you just go ahead and stay nice and cozy until March 9th, Pretty Please!

OK, onto the fun things from this week. I actually had to edit this a bit because I saw so many fun things to share and try! Here is just a sampling….

These are just too darn cute! Sweetie Pies, from Williams Sonoma. YUM!!

“Pure edible nostalgia, our heart-shaped treats recall the whoopie pies beloved by kids but with a decidedly sophisticated twist. The sweet valentines come to us from a bakery in Maine that uses local butter and free-range eggs to make individual rich, moist red-velvet cakes that are filled with decadent buttercream in three delicious flavors: chocolate, raspberry and classic vanilla.”

I {HEART} whoopie pies! If you live in the Orange County or Los Angeles area you might also try Susie Cake’s whoopie pies. I think they got me through Hayden’s pregnancy, PURE DECADENT HEAVEN! But I love that these ones from Williams Sonoma are red velvet cakes and are in the shape of hearts for Valentine’s Day. Yummy AND cute!

Every girl needs a “go to” pair of “Flips” (as they are called in our house) for Spring and Summer. I’m personally addicted to Havaianas Gold Slim Flip Flop, they are SUPER comfortable, don’t need breaking in, they always look good, and a gold pair is JUST what your wardrobe ordered! Gold goes with EVERYTHING, add this to your wardrobe and simplify your “what am I going to wear today” daily decision. (I also recommend buying early as the slim gold Havaianas tend to sell out closer to late spring and summer. I like to have them waiting for me when I need them. Just ordered mine this week from Amazon.)

I seriously love Make and Takes blog! If you don’t subscribe, I would suggest doing so. Not every daily email has something for me, but when it does, IT REALLY DOES. I saw this tip for making your own microwave popcorn bags last fall and LOVED IT! But then Make and Takes has to one up themselves and show us a fabulous Valentine snack….who doesn’t love white chocolate, M&Ms and popcorn!?!? Check out their White Chocolate Valentine Candies….such an easy fun project for you and your Littles (or just you after the Littles go to bed and you’ve poured yourself a glass of wine to go along with your “People“ magazine….not going to lie, eating this by myself on the sofa watching my DVR shows in peace and quite sounds REALLY good!)

OK this last Favorite of the week is DEFINITELY a FAVORITE. You must know by now how much I love the work that family photographer Sandy Heit does. If you don’t, check it out here and here. And lucky us, Sandy is offering this great mini photo session (LOVE that they are only 30 minutes!) to celebrate her natural light studio. Sandy is extremely talented and so amazing at catching those little “looks” and moments in your Littles that you will treasure forever! Be sure to check out her blog for more information. (Great way to get an early Mothers Day gift taken care of for the Grandma’s, or just for the fun of updating your wall photos).

WHAT: 30 minute photo session
WHEN: February Only – contact Sandy for available dates & times
COST: $250
INCLUDES: Session Fee, (1) 8×10, (2) 5×7s

Call 949.515.3905 or email sandy@sandyheit.com to reserve your spot

(Images: Sandy Heit)

Anyone want to know who won the Valentine appliques???
We have 2 winners that have each won 1 Valentine applique:

Tiffany Lockette and Chrystal @ Happy Mothering

Congratulations!

Thank you so much for entering! Please email me at shanna@myfavoriteeverything.com

And last, but not least here’s the meal plan and shopping list for next week. Don’t be too critical! I’m trying to keep it real for us all. What I give you for a meal plan is what my family is TRULY EATING. I used to make the menu ahead a week to test for you all, but it became too much of an extra step. So now we eat the same thing in the same week Next week has some challenges – it’s my birthday, I have bookclub, and I have a conference. So hubby has the girls 2 nights on his own. Therefore next week’s menu is how I’m planning for all of that.

Would love to hear any suggestions you all have for your regular easy week night meals. Or what you do for your family when you will be out! I tend to stick to the same things that just “work” for me to do quickly, would love to hear your easy favorites too! Email me your recipes, shanna@myfavoriteeverything.com and I’ll try them out for including in the meal plans. Looking forward to reading and sharing them! Thanks!

Have a great weekend and we’ll see you back here on Monday!

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categories: Activities, Fashion, Friday Favorites, Gifts, Good Eats, Services tags Bits for Baby, Havaianas, Make and Takes, Sandy Heit, Williams Sonoma

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02.03.10 blessing banks ~ a blessing of a gift!

I have a darling friend from college that I adore and love.

We lived in the same dorm, and she was as spunky as can be! Always smiling, friends with the world, a total spitfire!

I’ll never forget visiting with her in her dorm room the first time and seeing her hooked up to what looked like a small refrigerator, and breathing into a mask…

My friend has Cystic Fibrosis.

When she came to visit with me in California, she brought along a machine that literally pounded her chest. I think the machine was bigger than she was…yet through all her treatments she was ALWAYS smiling! Mandy defies the odds!

Mandy is a giver, always has been, and I’m sure always will be. She gives with her smile with every person she meets.

And now she is giving to our children.

My children and your children.

My dear friend recently started a company called Blessing Bank.

“Finding a purpose in life takes on a sense of urgency when dealing with a chronic illness like Cystic Fibrosis.

After reading ‘Same Kind of Different As Me’, I became even more confident that the Lord does indeed have a reason for me being on this earth. I began praying that He would show me my purpose. Because my husband and I cannot have children of our own, I prayed for us to make a difference together. After several months of praying, an idea became a passion and before we knew it, Blessing Bank became a reality.

It happened one day while I was shopping for my two precious nephews. I became frustrated at the lack of options. Everything I found was just another toy and I knew it would be quickly cast aside, without any lasting impact or memory.

Right there in the middle of the store, God gave me the idea for a gift and parenting tool that would inspire children to give.”

“Our banks reflect our desire to blend form and function into a sturdy, yet beautiful handmade piece that will last for generations. Whether used as a tithing or savings bank for helping those in need, we believe the Blessing Bank will help nurture a giving spirit that will grow with the individual for a lifetime.”

As Mandy notes, at 24 months a child has the ability to learn to put money into a bank. (Addie has been doing this with her Daddy for about 4 months now, and she will be 2 years next month.) And by 3 years they can use the money to buy a needy child new shoes, or a toy, or much needed food…

…and it’s from THEIR bank. What a VALUABLE lesson and gift we can teach our children!!!

I absolutely LOVE these banks.

Addie and Hayden both have them along with Little Blessing Bags. Each bag has a little saying or verse on it. Your children can use them to take a portion of their savings to wherever they wish to donate and give. Helping another in need, tithing at church, no matter where it is. This lesson is soooo invaluable! It is NEVER too early to teach our children to save and to give! I still remember the margarine containers my dad helped us make, cutting a slit into the top so we could save hard earned change.

The wood banks come in a girl or boy design, either oak or birch.

They also come Ceramic, Pink/White, Blue/White, Chartreuse Green/White and all White.

Such a perfect gift for a baptism, christening, birthday, or God baby. The banks are each $30!! And the bags are $2.50 each…excuse the pun, but this DOES NOT break the bank for a meaningful gift to give!

Blessing Bank is so serious about their commitment and desire to help children learn to give that they are giving away 2 darling banks!!

Here are the rules:

Visit Blessing Bank and comment below with your favorite bank. (1 entry)
Become a fan of Blessing Bank on Facebook. (1 entry)
Subscribe to My Favorite Everything daily emails. (Orange box above, or at the end of the post) (1 entry)
Tweet about this giveaway, just copy and paste “Visit @myfaveverything and learn about teaching your children to give, http://ow.ly/13cob with Blessing Banks” (1 entry)
Or send a Facebook post and copy your post back into your comment. (1 entry)

Giveaway ends Wednesday, February 10th at 5:00pm PST. Best of luck to you!!

AND you have all been so patient waiting on the winner!! Now that there are so many more of you, I’ve turned to Random.org to select the winners for our giveaways. Addie and Hay may still make guest appearances though, not to worry! Soooooooo, the Stella & Dot Giveaway winner is….

Jessica Barkett!!

Congrats! Please email me at shanna@myfavoriteeverything.com

(Disclosure: I am not affiliated with Blessing Bank, nor have I received payment for this post. I love Mandy and love her banks!! This is my honest opinion on a wonderful tool to teach our children to give.)

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categories: Baby, Family, Gifts, Give a Ways