essential organizers.

With all that comes along with having a baby, the day inevitably comes when it's time to leave the hospital. No more doctors or nurses helping you along. Rather, you have this tiny perfect bundle that is entirely dependent on you.

It can be intimidating with so many things to remember. Having The Essential Baby Organizer - birth to one year provides the perfect organizational solution.

Divided by the natural progression of baby's first year you'll keep track of feeding, diapering and sleeping schedules, well baby visits, baby's firsts, benchmarks for what to expect as baby grows and popular parenting topics. You'll also find pages to journal, write letters to baby and keep pictures of each stage.

The Essential Organizer is sure to become your go-to book. No ducks or bunnies, just a smooth sleek design covering ALL your bases. It is a must have for every mother.

Essential Organizers is offering our readers 15% off purchases of either or both their organizers. Simply use code 352149 at checkout.

{winners!}

bonnie berry who said "definitely apple"

and

Cass who said "Wow, they are all so darling! Perfect for my wee one arriving this September. . .
Love the 'Jane" . . . I'm addicted to all things chocolate brown!

Congratulations ladies! Please email us with the size and color you would like as well as your shipping information and we will get those out to you shortly!

Homemade Oreo cookies

These wonderful homemade oreo cookies are fun to make and easy enough to let your kids make them with you. They are definently a crowd pleaser in our home with family members and guests alike. With Valentine's day just around the corner, these would make a delicious valentine for friends, family or teachers.


::Quick and Easy way::
1 package devil's food cake mix - Chocolate or German Chocolate (If you are going to use the German chocolate mix be sure to press cookies to slightly flatten then immediately after removing them from the oven - this will insure a perfectly round cookie)
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil (or butter flavored shortening)

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Roll dough into balls (a little larger than a quarter). Place on greased cookie sheet. Bake for 8 minutes. Remove from oven and let cool on sheet (until warm). Remove cookies from sheet and place on cooling rack.To assemble the cookies, in a pastry bag with a 1/2 inch, round tip (you can always use a zip lock bag with a round tip or just use a butter knife)add about a tablesppon of filling into the center of one cookie. Place another cookie similiar in size on top of the filling. Lightly press, to work the filling evenly to the outsides of the cookie. Continue this process until all the cookies have been sandwiched with cream.

::Oreo cookie filling::
1 stick butter
1 block of cream cheese (8 ounces)
3-4 cups confectioner's sugar (depending on desired consistency)
1 tsp vanilla extract
*cream butter (about 2 mins). Add cream cheese and mix well. Add confectioner's sugar slowly until you reach your desired consistency.


::REAL homemade oreos (via Retro Desserts, Wayne Brachman)
For the chocolate cookies:
1¼ cups all-purpose flour
½ cup unsweetened Dutch process cocoa
1 teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
1 to 1½ cups sugar
½ cup plus 2 tablespoons (1¼ sticks) room-temperature, unsalted butter
1 large egg

*Set two racks in the middle of the oven. Preheat to 375 degrees.In a food processor, or bowl of an electric mixer, thoroughly mix the flour, cocoa, baking soda and powder, salt, and sugar. While pulsing, or on low speed, add the butter, and then the egg. Continue processing or mixing until dough comes together in a mass.Take rounded teaspoons of batter and place on a parchment paper-lined baking sheet, or greased sheet, about 2 inches apart. Slightly flatten the dough. Bake for 9 minutes, rotating once for even baking. Set baking sheets on a rack to cool. Use filling recipe and directions above.
Makes 25 to 30 sandwich cookies
**Store cookies in fridge**

monkey do.

I like the idea of all day pajama parties on the occasional bad weather or feeling yucky day. We've actually been snowed in over the weekend and I can't think of anything more lovely than a pair of Monkey-Do pajamas ("beautifully soft, natural, easy-care sleepwear and daywear for girls, boys and babies") and a cup of milk chocolate.


via Babyology

layla grayce.

Layla Grayce is a collection of "never mainstream but always functional" products for women, children and home that make our homes and lives beautiful. We like their search for quality and unique, and even more so, support their philanthropy.

"We are committed to supporting women. We wish that life was easier than it is. We attempt to relieve the strain of life through donating to several organizations that assist women and families. We recognize that we are fortunate women and hope to bring joy in to other’s homes."

If you tend to lean more modern than shabby chic, be sure to browse their new modern nursery and kids department. A couple of my favorites:

chinese flower velvet moses basket

Fleurville Diaper Bag Escape Pod Yellow Seedpod

Nurseryworks Kids Bedding in Globe Flower Tisket

Layla Grayce is currently easily accessible in our sidebar.

Via Toy boxes

Toys, clothes, shoes, bits, baubles, books and "stuff" can all be organized and look good with these toy boxes from Via Toy Boxes.


"The mission is to provide a versatile line of storage furniture that can begin as a toy box and be converted for other uses later. Today they may store puzzles, books, and dolls. Tomorrow they could store shoes, blankets, and clothes. The uses, as well as the configurations, are only limited by your imagination"

paperpod cardboard creations.

After spending the last week inside due to the large amounts of snow accumulating around us, I think we are in desperate need of one of these.


Hours of imaginative play right at my fingertips. The possibilities are endless and best of all it's cardboard, so you can easily take it down and store it away.