I am such an unorganized person sometimes....I try too hard to commit things to memory.  And since I am so busy with my work, life & 3 kids, I typically fail at remembering over half of what I "commit to memory."  So when I was given a personalized Much Ado About You planner, I was over the moon! 

It is not your average day planner, and that is what I love so much about it!! It has that retro vintage feel that I love! And the added details make it so much fun to use!  I don't know about you, but for me, that's important.  If things are not fun and pretty, I get bored and stop using them...maybe that is a form of ADD?!

There is a monthly over view page with space to write appointments, important dates etc and then there are weekly pages (like the 1st pic) with so much room and daily columns with time stamps...so organized!  I love the notes section in the back & especially the little quotes on the top of the pages that give me a laugh! Like this one:

Too funny...and true! LOL

Let's meet Emmy, the brains behind Much Ado About You:

I’m Emmy from Much Ado About You.  I am a Paper Freak.  Really.  I love all things paper, and I get giddy excited when the paper companies come out with their new lines each season.  I am married to my high school sweetheart, and we have an 8 year old son and a 7 month old daughter.  I love Jesus, and like to tell people about the amazing journey I have been on with God.  I run my business out of my home office and garage work space, and have 5 employees {including my baby’s nanny}, without whom I could not function.  We make products to help plan and organize life, including our popular Personalized Day Planner that has been sold in all 50 states and 7 countries.  Life is crazy, my house is usually a disaster, my printer makes me bananas… but I love it all!

In 3 words I am:  A. Paper. Freak.

3 of my favorite things are:  Pretty Paper, Organization {although you wouldn’t know it from looking at my house right now}, and Telling Stories

My favorite Blogs are:  Marcus Design {http://marcusdesigninc.blogspot.com/}, Lisa TerKeurst {http://lysaterkeurst.com/}, and Regretsy {http://www.regretsy.com/}

My favorite vacation was in: Wilmington, NC

To Relax I: Relax???  What’s that?

My Hometown:  Ladera Ranch, CA

My favorite room in my house is:  The Family Room

Because:  I love my cozy furniture, especially my leopard print chaise lounge, which is the most comfortable piece of furniture that I have ever sat in.
My guilty pleasure is: Bravo TV

I feel naked without:  Earrings

I fear:  Spiders

This is what makes me smile:  My baby girl’s smile, being with friends and family, a clean house {which rarely happens around here}, catching up on orders {also… rarely happens}

You may not know this about me:  I have had 7 surgeries in the last 11 years, and need at least 1 more

My Worst Habit:  Being late!  I am terrible at estimating how much time I need.

I want to learn to:  Use my fancy camera and Photoshop

My favorite item I bought from another shop is:  I often purchase digital card designs from Sweet Pea Baby {http://www.etsy.com/shop/sweetpeababy}.  I am a huge Christmas Card Connoisseur, and even have a Christmas Card Contest every year with all the cards I receive, so a cute card is very important to me.  But November and December are the busiest months of the year for me, so Christmas cards need to be fairly simple.  I like to purchase a design from Sweet Pea Baby, have it printed at Costco, mount it on cardstock, and then give it some kind of embellishment like a ribbon or a big mounted “B” for Blakely.

My advice to other Etsy Sellers: Keep your shop focused.  Start out with one main product and build a name for yourself before you try to introduce too many others.  Then, as you feel you are ready to add more products to your line, maintain some sort of theme that ties them all together.  For my shop it is organization and planning.  Our main focus is obviously the Day Planners, but we also sell Wall Calendars, Meal Planners, Journals, and Party Banners {some of which are only occasionally listed in our shop} which still center around our theme of organization and planning.  Having too many random products makes it look like you lack focus, and ultimately will turn people off.  If I am looking for a Day Planner, I want to buy one from someone who looks like they make Day Planners a lot and is going to make the best Day Planner possible, not someone that also sells dog collars and felt wreaths, and any other little hobby they can tinker with to occupy their time.

My typical day is:  Wake up.  Shower and get ready {and yes, I do this EVERY day… I am not a sweats kind of girl}.  My employees arrive for the day. Work.  Work. Work. Work.  Take my son to sports.  Make {or pick up} dinner.  Work.  Put the kids to bed.  Work.  Maybe watch some TV with my hubby. Work.  Sleep.  Feed the baby.  Sleep.  Feed the Baby.  Sleep.  Do it all again.

I stay inspired by: New paper lines.  My favorite time of year is when all the paper companies release their new paper lines.  I love it.

3 things that have helped my business are: Starting a blog and using social media, networking through boutiques and blogging events, and having excellent Customer Service.

My favorite materials to work with are:  Paper.  Have I mentioned how much I like paper?

3 tools in my studio I can't live without:  My ATG {Adhesive Transfer Tape Gun}, my Crop A Dile, and my printer {although I wish I could live without my printer… printing causes more strife than anything else in our office}.

DISCOUNT ALERT:

10% off good thru the giveaway 

CODE: JESS10

Emmy is giving one of you the chance to get organized like me ;) 

She is offering up a $30 shop credit!!

Want to get organized in 2012? Here is how you enter:

MUST be a jessicaNdesigns follower to enter (join this blog via the sidebar)

• Visit Much Ado About You & tell me what you would pick if you won
• Add Much Ado to your Etsy Shop Favorites
• Like Much Ado on Facebook (Be sure to tell her I sent ya!)

GOOD LUCK! I will pick the winner via Random.org Thursday 1/12

Our Fun Fall Day, Created by Emma Review & GIVEAWAY!

My Babies: Brooklyn, Lucy & Lofton.

It was such a beautiful day yesterday...the kind of day that makes me love fall! Warm, but cool at the same time...sun shining...leaves on the ground...crisp clean air.  So we decided to go outside and play in the leaves! 

It was Lucy's first experience with the leaves, so of course she had to try them!  She is at the stage where EVERYTHING goes in her mouth, including freshly peed on toilet paper from the bowl your 3 year old leaves open because she "likes to play in the water." Ahhhhhhhhhhhhh good times...

Such a great big sister...so proud & helpful!

I am pretty sure this is one of the cutest pictures ever...little moccasins, pink elephant on her little booty, adorable pink hat. 


Speaking of those amazingly cute hats, a bloggy friend, Emma made them & sent them to me!! CAN YOU SAY WAY TOO CUTE?! Everyone who sees them does! :) 

Let's Meet the sweet & talented Emma Shall we?

Hi! I'm Emma! i believe that most people would say that i am creative. i LOVE creating beautiful things. fun things. practical things. not to mention delicious things [see here]. 

In 3 words I am: short, funny, creative

I can’t live without: being able to create something, paint something, sew something, decorate something

My favorite Blogs are: yours of course, The Simple Life, Freshly Picked, E Tells Tales

This is how I like to Relax: getting hooked on a TV show & crocheting while I watch. or on a nice day just  curling up with a good book in my hammock.

My favorite TV Shows/movies: TV- Late Night w/ Jimmy Fallon, Grey's Anatomy, The Office, Modern Family, Sons of Anarchy, Movies- Beauty & The Beast, Superbad, Bridesmaids {I'm a bad girl sometimes}

My favorite materials to work with are: any kind of fabric. fabric is magical, it can made into almost anything. & yarn. specially the chunky, thick kind. love. 

My Hometown: born in Santa Ana, El Salvador, shipped all around the San Fernando Valley in SoCal for 10 yrs. High School in Northwest Arkansas, Now live in Southwest Missouri... basically I'm confused. 

My favorite room in my house is: my living room. 

Because: no TV just looking out the window from the couch. 

My favorite vacation was in: California after we moved to Arkansas. 

My guilty pleasure is: The Jersey Shore. I said it. 

I feel naked without: an undershirt. yeah. weird!

I fear: moths. they freak me out. but the most I guess is failing. letting myself down.

This is what makes me smile: my kids. craft/fabric stores.

You may not know this about me: I sing. a lot. like a. lot. my friend Amanda said that show New Girl, reminds her of me. In it the girls makes up a them song for herself. yeah, that's me. 

My Worst Habit: procrastinating.

I want to learn to: manage my time. i suck. {see previous answer}

My favorite item I bought from another shop is: Oh Snap mini wallet from Knittie Bitties, & yellow chevron pillow covers from MoxieMandie

My advice to other Etsy Sellers: personalize & take care of your customers! there's nothing like a nice hand written thank you, no matter how short, with handmade purchase. 

My typical day is: wake up later than planned. scramble for breakfast. have bf with kids, play outside. fix lunch, lunch with kids, "creative time", dinner, baths, bed... fun fun! ;)

I stay inspired by: my children.

3 tools in my studio I can't live without: crochet hooks, sewing machine, hand needle & thread.

FIND EMMA: 

Shop : Blog : Facebook

Go check out her shop!

Emma is Offering you all a 20% discount on your orders with Coupon Code: JESSICAN

Wanna win a $30 Credit to her shop?? 

Here's how:

• Visit her shop, come back and tell me your favorite item. (one entry)
• Like Emma on Facebook & tell her I sent ya! (one entry)
• Follow her blog (one entry)

Leave a seperate comment for each thing you do! Winner will be announced 11/16.

Sweet Baby...

I LOVE it when friends surprise you with something sweet!! 

My bloggy friend Aubrey told me she would like to make something for my sweet baby Lucy & I knew it would be awesome! So imagine my delight when this sweet personalized baby doll came in the mail for Lucy!

Lucy is almost 9 months, my favorite age!  She has been standing up on her own for a few seconds and is walking the length of the couch...pretty soon she will be walking on her own!

I love how she is really developing a personality now.  I love how cuddly she is, how she loves to play with my face and stick her fingers up my nose when I rock her to sleep! 

I love how she "sings" to herself when she is almost asleep.  I love how she crawls really fast head down, like a bull. I love how silly she is, crinkling up her nose and snorting at us all the time, that is my favorite thing she does and I will be sad when she stops. 

I love the sound of Ma Ma Ma coming out of her sweet baby lips.  I love how sweet she is. I love her big blue eyes, they remind me of her daddy.  I love how her face lights up when she sees her big sister and brother. I love how she throws herself face first into the floor when she is throwing a little fit...you know, it's still cute at this age! ;) 

I just love everything about my sweet baby Lucy!

Thank you so much for the sweet baby doll for Lucy, Aubrey!! 

It reminds me of a doll my great grandmother made for me. She was stiched together with a variety of different fabrics and stuffed just like Lucy's new doll is! I cherished that doll and kept it for my girls, just like I picture Lucy doing with this one! 

P.S. No, Lucy did not actually eat any Sweetarts in the making of this post...

Go check out Aubrey's store...I love her & I know you will too!! Also, stop by her blog and say Hi! She is so sweet!!

Shop Spotlight with Andrea of Knitty Bitties

I love doing shop spotlights! I love introducing you to new, amazing shops and their owners! I love seeing where they work, learning more about them & how they run their business and stay inspired! Today I am thrilled to introduce you to Andrea of Knitty Bitties:

 
Hi I'm Andrea!  I have a passion for creating (sew, sew, sew) and Knitty Bitties is where I can share that with you!

In 3 words I am: Shy, Funny, Bossy
I can’t live without: Iced Tea
My favorite Blogs are: Joy's Hope, Simplify & Oh! Fransson
This is how I like to Relax: napping or running
My favorite Tv Shows/movies: Gilmore Girls, Friday Night Lights, Devil Wears Prada & Sweet Home Alabama ... and maybe The Real Housewives of ... {shhh, don't tell}
My favorite materials to work with are: fabric, fabric and fabric :).
My Hometown: A small {not as small as it used to be} town in Idaho
My favorite room in my house is: Our master bedroom
Because: I get to go to sleep and wake up next to my other half
My favorite vacation was in: Maui, celebrating our 10th Anniversary
My guilty pleasure is: ice cream
My favorite fashion item is: cute shoes
I fear: one of my loved ones dying & my heart breaking
This is what makes me smile: A day spent with my big guy & our little guy

My Worst Habit: procrastination
I want to learn to: crochet
My advice to other Etsy Sellers: Success does not happen overnight. You have to work hard at your shop and you have to love what you're doing. Be the best you and don't try to be anyone else. Learn to take fabulous pictures. Connect with others.
My typical day is: I'll give you a typical 'school' day as our summer days are anything but typical :). We get up around 7:30AM do breakfast/check e-mails/tweet/get dressed and ready for the day 9AM school drop off/post office run/home to work 9AM-Noon Sewing/E-mail/Orders Noon-2PM Run/Lunch Break 2-3PM Finish up morning work 3-5PM Time with my little guy after school and dinner prep 5-8PM Family time/clean up/house chores 8-9PM A little more work 9-11PM Time with my sweets & bedtime
I stay inspired by: magazines, blogs, Pinterest, new fabrics
3 tools in my studio I can't live without: sewing machine, iron & rotary cutter

 FIND ANDREA:

BLOG :: TWITTER :: FACEBOOK :: SHOP

<------------------My Knitty Bitty! The Sugar Plum Dreams Camera Strap Cover! I LOVE IT! It makes wearing my camera so much more fun & fashionable! I get compliments on it all the time! 

I am thinking of getting the orange and teal one for fall...because you know those are fall colors and let's face it, I need an excuse to get another one!

Want your own Knitty Bitty? SURE YOU DO! There is way to many cute bitties in her shop not to!

She has mug rugs, totes, ruffle pouches, camera strap covers and a super cute ipad cover that totally makes me want to pull the trigger on buying that ipad I want!

GET ONE NOW ON SALE!

Use Code: JESSNDESIGNS15 for 15% off

TODAY THROUGH SUNDAY 9/18/11 !

 Ruffle up Pouch : Mug Rug : Camera Strap Cover : Everyday Fresh Tote

Happy Shopping!

Easy Canvas Prints & Family Pictures...FINALLY

I was approached by Easy Canvas Prints to review one of there Canvases & I am SO happy I agreed! I SERIOUSLY LOVE my Canvas! I immediately texted a picture of it to my best friend & family! I LOVE it. LOVE.IT.

I chose my FAVORITE picture of me & Brooks from our family photo shoot and decided on an 11x14 Canvas with the image wrap border (where your image wraps around the edge of your canvas print.)  

I love that it is so easy to put your photo on a canvas! All you do is pick a size, upload your photo, choose a border & BAM...your canvas is shipped to you! I am going to get another one made of the whole family!


p.s. If you become a fan of Easy Canvas Prints on facebook, you get 50% off and FREE shipping! SWEEEEET!

I wanted to FINALLY share the rest of my family pictures today too! 

So...which family picture do you think I should make into a canvas next?

Playroom Rules...i love it all.

I stumbled upon Monika's Shop and then her blog a while back and have been a lover ever since!  I contacted her one day and we decided to swap some goodies! I knew I wanted a print for the kids & worked with her on designing a Playroom Rules Print! Here is what she made for my kids:

I LOVE IT! It came out JUST like I wanted! The best part is when you work on a Custom design with Monika, she sends you a proof to look over and make changes to before you finalize it. 

I picked out a colorful frame and handed it over to my awesome Aunt Tracy to finish for me. She picked out the mat, cut the glass and made it ready for hanging!

We in in the process (extremely LONG process) of finishing a room in our basement for a playroom. I thought it would be done by now and I could do the big reveal with this sign...but it is taking FOREVER! I can't wait to show it to you in our new playroom! 

She sent me all these little goodies too! I LOVE them...The BE print is a magnet & I love that I can display it for the family to see all the time! I am also going to frame the little print that starts with Blessed & put in on my desk!

On her blog she shares these AMAZING Mini Albums she makes (they are also available in her shop!) I would love to make some for my kids!! (On my list)

 Creativity print : Kraft Bags : Have fun & Craft on Print

DISCOUNT ALERT:

Crushin' on something from her shop? Now is the time to get it! Monika is giving you 20% off effective through August 29, 2011 with CODE: JESSICANDESIGNS20  (personlized and customized prints are not eligible for the discount.)

FIND MONIKA:

Blog : Shop

Go over and visit Monika & see how she displayed one of the Family Est Spoons I sent her! TOO CUTE!

Sponsor Spotlight: The Pink Jelly Bean

I fell in love with The Pink Jellybean the first time I stumbled upon it on Etsy!  I am honored to have Elizabeth as a Sponsor & was THRILLED when she wanted to send me an outfit for Lucy! It is the most adorable dress I have ever seen...seriously! It is so well made too! I will be sad when Lucy outgrows it! Take a look at it:

Lucy Loved it! She kept playing with the fabric! I LOVE that it is a onesie underneath! So easy to change diapers that way! And that headband....OMG too cute! I can't wait to give these photos to family! THANK YOU Elizabeth! Let's take a look at some more goodies from her shop and get to know her better:


In 3 words I am: full of energy!

I can’t live without: my lap top.. I am a social media addict!! sad but true!!!

My favorite Blogs are: where to start... top 3. the weigands, raechel myers, and the fab gussy sews.

This is how I like to Relax: a good book in a lounger next to the pool, maybe a cold beverage involved ;)

My favorite Tv Shows/movies: don't judge me, mm'kay... twilight fanatic, harry potter loving, jersey shore watching, rachel zoe addicted, never miss my young and the restless... it's bad, I admit!

The Willow Dress in Navy

My favorite materials to work with are: I love fabric, I love combining colors and prints and textures! 

My Hometown: kansas city

My favorite room in my house is: my bathroom, can you say spa tub?

My favorite vacation was in: cozumel, mexico...  need to go back, {refer to biggest fear}

My guilty pleasure is: fro yo?  self serve yogurt.. I could go there every day!

Stella Dress

My favorite fashion item is: my target paper boy hat... it's my go to when I don't feel like doing my hair or my makeup... is that considered fashionable?  I need help!

I fear: flying, like really, I have to be medicated to even get on the plane.. no joke!

This is what makes me smile: my daughter, miss presley jane!

You may not know this about me: I have over 100 cousins, on just my mom's side... yep!

My Worst Habit: I sometimes have a potty mouth,  oopsie!

I want to learn to: spanish!

Birthday Cupcake Outfit : Ruffle Headband

My favorite item I bought from another shop is: definitely my gussy bag!

My advice to other Etsy Sellers: put yourself out there, advertise, get to know all of the people in this amazing creative community...  and follow your dreams, set goals, and go for it!!!

My typical day is: it depends, some days I sleep {I work as an OB nurse + night shift} the other days are spent on my lap top, playing with P.J., sewing, creating..

I stay inspired by: photography, I love to look at photography sites and amazing photos! oh, and I find a lot of inspiration in pinterest!

3 tools in my studio I can't live without: my serger-best purchase ever, my glue-gun, and my rotary cutter!

Find The Pink Jelly Bean:

Shop : Blog : Facebook : Twitter

GIVEAWAY OPEN TO jessicaNdesigns followers ONLY.

Need help following? Go to Follow me @ top of blog & click JOIN THIS SITE, log in & join!

Here is how you enter {ONLY one that is mandatory}

Go check out The Pink Jellybean COME BACK, tell me how you would spend the $25 shop credit if you won!

Want Extra Entries? 

Do any of the following & leave a SEPARATE comment for each one you do:

• Become a fan of The Pink Jelly Bean on Facebook
• Blog about the giveaway & Leave a link to your post
• Add The Pink Jelly Bean to your Etsy Favorties
• Follow her blog! It is really a great blog!
• HELP ME WIN! Go to ByAmiee's facebook page, find the post about jessicaNdesings that starts with "ENTRY #8" and LIKE IT! If I get the most likes I WIN!!!!

Contest open until 7/27 10:00 pm EST Winner chosen via Random.org & announced on 7/28

GIVEAWAY CLOSED