Lily Jane

Things to Get Done...

I don't know about you but my to-do lists tend to be a little haphazard; yesterday on an index card, today in a random notebook, tomorrow on a scrap of paper.  Wherever is most convenient at the moment.  But it's usually not the best spot for the long run.  It would be so nice to have a little list like this one designed by Sarah of the Small Object.

It comes with handy little day of the week magnets so you can keep all your to-do's and lists straight.  What a great and adorable idea!

What do you do to keep your goals organized?  Do you love lists with a passion or prefer to set your tasks based on where the day takes you?

{images via the small object}

Getting Organized: Clipboard Mirror

Hello, my dears.  How was your weekend?  I realized last night that every year right around the turn of August to September I start feeling ambitious.  I want to learn new things, take classes, get my hair cut, etc., etc.  Needless to say, my to do list fills up pretty quickly.  Are you the same way?  Or does your to do list fill up simply from things you have to get done, due to a busier season?  Well, here's a pretty way to help you check things off that list: a mirror clipboard.

Writing things down and keeping that list handy will help you get through your to-do's in record time (instead of losing it in a pile of papers on the desk or at the bottom of your purse) .  Why not have a clever mirror to help you out?

This week will be all about the transition from summer to fall: helping you get organized and ready for busier times, whether that means back to school or just into cooler weather.  Is there anything you're hoping to accomplish this season?  What things are on your to-do list?

**Oh, and stay tuned.  I'll be having a giveaway later this week for a brand new Lily Jane product.  Can you guess what it is?

{image via here}

Have a Lovely Weekend

Yikes.  It's the weekend before school starts here and I can hardly believe it.  The summer has flown by for me.  Has it gone quickly for you, too?  We're trying to squeeze in a few more warm-weather activities before the blazing sun is gone.  Tonight we'll be having a stay-cation camping in our backyard, followed by fishing at a local pond in the morning. 

Before I head off with our little tent to the wilderness that exists behind our house, I have some of my favorite links from this week to share with you:

• The cutest baby animal prints.  They'd look adorable in a nursery.
• Candied bacon ice cream and a whole slew of other sinful flavors.  Oh my.
• This up-do is so beautiful.  I wonder if I could figure out how to recreate it...
• If you love Dr. Seuss, you'll love this birthday party.
• Meet washi paper tape's sister, fabric tape.  I'd use this stuff on everything.

Next week I'll be blogging all about getting organized, ready for fall and having a fresh start to a busy season.  See you here on Monday!

{image via the animal print shop}

Roll and Tumble Press

Oh, the memories this print brings back to me...of all the silly things I said when I was younger.  It makes me smile. 

Another thing that makes me smile: Roll and Tumble Press is having a BOGO sale on all their fun and witty prints right now.  That's a happy way to start the weekend.

What silly things do you remember saying when you were a child?

{via poppytalk}

Les Madeleines Cooking Classes

Well this is exciting.  I just learned that the bakery, Les Madeleines, famed for their heavenly Kouing Aman pastry, offers cooking classes.  I love it when my favorite places to eat are willing to teach me some of their culinary secrets.

This is definitely going on to my bucket list: take cooking class with husband.  It would be such a fun date (and he'd like it too, because they serve a whole dinner at the end).  Have you ever taken a cooking class?  Would you?

{image via les madeleines}

For the Children: Preschool Backpacks

In less than a month my baby will be starting preschool.  How did time fly so quickly?  He's super excited about it and I have a feeling he'll be even more excited when I tell him he's getting one of these adorable animal backpacks by Skip Hop to take with him.

I'm still deciding between the monkey and the zebra.  But if I had a little girl, I'd definitely get the little owl. What's your favorite?

DIY: Tassel Bookmarks

I just found a new project to try for gift giving this holiday season.  I've never tried my hand at it, but apparently tassels are quite easy to do and make the cutest bookmarks.

Pair one with a good book and a personal message and voila!  Instant gift for just about anyone.  There are some books, like the Penguin Classics above, that you just can't go wrong with.

I'm always wishing I had a bookmark, but find myself using old receipts or post-it notes instead.  This would be a much better option.  How do you keep your page when you read?

Baking Day: Strawberry Shortcake

My husband has two desserts he absolutely loves: root beer floats and strawberry shortcake.  I'm not one to stick up my nose at dessert, so I'm happy to oblige.  Root beer floats happened a few months ago, but it's taken us until August to make the strawberry shortcake happen.  But happen it did.

The whole confection was baked, assembled and eaten last night.  Which is why I don't have any of my own photos to share with you.  It was great, let me assure you.  I shared this recipe with a friend a few years ago and she says her family has been eating it all summer long ever since.  If you're wondering if it's worth the effort to make your own shortcake instead of using one from the store the answer is a resounding YES!  The recipe really isn't difficult and is worth every extra second spent.

What are you favorite summertime desserts?

{images via martha stewart}

Charitable Artist: Painting Well

Beautiful artwork adds so much to a room.  These paintings by Charlotte, the artist behind Painting Well, add even more because each time you look at one you'll know that 100% of the profit from that piece was donated to cancer research.

She has a wide array of gorgeously depicted landscapes; I'm partial to the ones with water.  What types of landscapes are your favorites?

{images by painting well}

Bloom 101: Globe Amaranth

Globe Amaranth, or Gomphrena, is one of my favorite flowers to find at the Farmer's Market.  They bloom all summer long in shades of pink, cream, lilac, orange, white and red.  Plus, the papery blossoms dry perfectly making it something to display all winter long, too.

Amaranth has long been admired for its everlasting qualities.  So much so that Aesop wrote a fable about them.  I have to say that I agree with Aesop; these little flowers are something I love all year long.

Have you used globe amaranth before?  What arrangements have you seen it included in? 

**To download the 3x5 reference card, simply click the above image, print and trim to size.

{images via this flickr stream}