the teal pumpkin project

growing up i loved going trick-or-treating with my family and friends.  i never thought such a fun and exciting holiday could bring so much anxiety to some kids ... until i had my little guy.  you see he is allergic to peanuts so he's excited at the thought of getting candy - he's not excited about getting candy he can't eat.  when he was about 3 he would go up to a house and ring the door bell and say "trick or treat - i'm allergic to peanuts do you have anything i can have?" - all in one breath.  as cute as it was (and it really was) it was also very sad - especially when he came home with about 50% of the things he was given having peanuts in them.  

we don't keep nuts in our home and don't give out candy with nuts - just for that reason; however, i just heard about a campaign that the FARE (food allergy research & education) group is sponsoring - it's called the teal pumpkin project.  the idea is that you have a separate bowl of non-food items that can be given to kids that have food allergies so they can go home with something that can keep them safe and have fun too!  i'm so excited to be participating in this program this year and can't wait to go out and find some fun stuff that kids would want to get (rather than candy). 

you can either paint a pumpkin teal and put it on your front porch to indicate you're a family that supports this project or you can hang a sign on the front of your house.  you can get that sign here. we will be doing both & hope to see many other homes supporting this cause!!  

happy trick-or-treating.  

 -kris

i {heart} philippines

great cause ... pick up one on jcrew online today!

-k

discipline

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i just wrapped up a book yesterday that might have been the best productivity book i've read (more to come).  but the author closed with a chapter on discipline and perseverance.  i do think i'm naturally strong at perseverance but discipline is where i feel i fall short.  ironically i gave up sweets over a week ago (being too reliant during stressful times) and if i look back to my life before kids i was far more disciplined.  so what happens after kids ... thinking about it more i'm very disciplined when it comes to the schedule for my kids ... but for myself i have no energy left.  so this month i'm starting with my biggest and most challenging "frog":  create more discipline in my life and hold myself accountable.  do you have any tricks you use to self-discipline?  

 

-k

a great lesson in balance

did you see this story this week ... it just brought a smile to my face - not only when i saw the picture but when i read the article {if you haven't you should here's the link}.  i love how erin doesn't really apologize - she does explain further the context of the picture, but i love how she's honest and shares this side of parenting.  we all do it ... we all make choices and like a tight rope walker we a lose our balance sometimes - but what we do to get it back is the brilliance.  thanks for sharing erin!! 

happy reading
-k

introducing bookshelf ...

a couple of years ago i was struggling with finding time in my day to do more reading.  at night didn't work for me because i would fall asleep and i couldn't find time during the day and then it hit me ... audio books.  my aunt {a former working mom herself} used to listen to them as she traveled between dealerships as a loan officer for GMAC.  i listen to them in the car on my way to and from work, when i'm working out {going for a long walk or jog}, and sometimes - if i'm really, really into a book i'll listen to it in bed before i go to sleep.  i've been doing it for a couple of years and i have to say i love it!  i actually look forward to picking out books and to my commute!!  

this morning i've started compiling a list of the books i've read ... and i thought i'd share with you.  there is a total assortment of books as i can't stick to any one topic or genre.  i've got some career & productivity books, some parenting & time management books, and then some fiction novels and self-help books.  one of these days i'll get around to writing some reviews as well ... but for now i just wanted to start the long list.  

while i purchase my audiobooks through itunes, i keep a "wishlist" in amazon.com for all of the books that i want to read.  now if i could only find a way to share my audiobooks with friends {and yes i'm that technologically challenged}.  

what are some books that you like? 

happy reading!

-k

birthday party ... supplies

ok so yesterday we had a marathon of birthday parties and while i was prepared with gifts ... i ran out of cards.  yikes.  

over the holidays when i was out and about i did stock up on gift bags and tissue paper.  my favorite sources are the dollar store and tjmaxx.  my theory - i'd rather put more money into the gift than the cost to wrap it.  

but let me get back to my delemma of yesterday ... cards.  so i got these custom "gift tags" a few years ago and i love using them BUT they are customized with both of my kiddo's names.  so yesterday i ordered a set for each with just their name so i'm good for 50 more birthday parties.  below is what i ordered {from one of my fav's ... shutterfly} ...

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but i got to shoppin' around a bit more and here are some super cute solutions so you never have to be as unprepared as i was yesterday.  :)  

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this one you'd have to hit during the season but look for classroom valentines that don't say "happy valentine's day" 

 

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i think these are all a great alternative to a card ... but then again a card is nice and you can pick them up for as little as $.99 cents each or you can purchase 6 or more in bulk too.  

 

hope this gives you some ideas so you're not caught off guard like i was yesterday.

 

 -k

p.s.  GO BRONCOS!!!!

cute stuff for the office ...

omg ... have you gals out there seen some of the new stuff on see jane work?  

if you haven't take a look!

i started my new year with a nice new notebook ...

i can't tell you how much i love this idea!  52 notecards in a box ...

and finally ... i need to add some style to my office ... and this double duty scribble pad is perfect!

adding something with a little bit of pretty & functional is totally what i need these days!

happy shopping!
-k