Happy love month!!

How about we start off the month with a giveaway?

Good, glad you like the idea!

I received an email last week from Orange County local, Regina, about her design business. She specializes in cards and they are AWESOME!! I love they way her business works – you pick the design from her shop and email her a picture and within a day she sends you the digital image for one flat rate and you can have them printed  to your hearts content!

Fun right!?!?

The winner of this giveaway will get their choice of one card from Delicious! designs by regina frank.

Now a bit about Regina…

Delicious! designs by regina frank

I’m passionate about cards…they give me the opportunity to truly express my creativity as a graphic designer. I’ve been working in Orange County for over 20 years as an art director in print, editorial, advertising and freelance design. I’ve designed projects from moist toilet paper wipes (oh boy!), to promotional pieces for Quiksilver and Mikasa Sports. I was the art director at Powder, Bike and Inside Golf magazines for many years and I have a special place in my heart for magazine design. But I always come back to cards. I’ve designed them for my own family and for friends…but now it’s time for me to take them and go for it…reach for the stars. In my newly-launched Etsy shop you’ll find birth announcements and Valentines, with many more occasions to come. It’s actually really difficult to stop myself from filling my shop with hundreds of items. Pace yourself, I tell myself…but it’s hard! Especially as a mom to three AWESOME kids who I’m working hard to grow this business for! 

I love everything about designing these cards! I hope you enjoy them too…

I’m loving these treat bag tags…

AND baby announcements…

How to win:

Leave a comment on this post with anything Valentines Day-ish. Kiddo activities, crafts, valentines. Anything because I need some inspiration. A link would be great!

Extra Entries: (you know you want them)

~Go to Delicious! designs by regina frank and leave a link in the comments section of this post with your favorite card (5 entries)

~Let your friends know about the giveaway in your FB status with a link to this post: http://www.elislids.com/delicious-designs-by-regina-frank/  (2 entries)

~Like Eli’s Lids on Facebook or let me know you already do (1 entry)

~Follow Eli’s Lids on twitter or let me know you already do (1 entry)

~Subscribe to the Eli’s Lids Newsletter or let me know you already do (5 entries)

For every extra entry, be sure to leave a separate comment on this post! i.e. If you follow Eli’s Lids on Facebook, and Facebook about the giveaway leave 3 separate comments!

***Giveaway ends Tuesday, February 7th, 9pm. Hopefully in time to get a Valentine if that’s what you pick!***

I’m always looking for fun stuff to do with the kiddos and it’s no secret The Discovery Science Center is one of our favorite spots! We were invited to  check out the new Dora & Diego – Let’s Explore! exhibit.

The kiddos were just giddy to get inside! Can you see the excitement on Cora Jane’s face!? She is VERY into Dora. So much so, that I may or may not have accused them of using subliminal messages in some way shape or form.

The exhibit is hands-on-fun. I got to follow Cy around while my hubby hung out with the big kids. It was awesome to watch him discover everything on his own. Though the exhibit is geared for 3-8 year-olds (in my opinion), he was able to find lots to do at each station. The maze below was a big hit with him…

How was I able to hang out with Cy??

I pawned off Tess on some friends. Jill from Sandy Toes and Popsicles and Liz from Thoughts of a Mommy. Thank you guys for blessing me with free arms!

Everything was really fun and the pirate ship was a huge hit with Eli!

The Dora and Diego – Let’s Explore! is fun fun fun. I recommend going if you have little ones. It was super interactive just like the Sesame Street one last year. There is so much to do it would be perfect for a one on one day. The exhibit will run from January 28th- – May 6th and is included in the regular ticket price (adult – $14.95, children 12.95). For loads of info about each part of the Dora & Diego exhibit click here.

Of course we have to do our regular Discovery Science Center stuff…

             H

    I think Tess may be a future Dora lover too…

We were on vacation this year for New Year’s Eve, so we didn’t get to celebrate our traditional New York New Years Eve Party (2011, 2010, 2009,). My friend Rachael got creative and we celebrated Italian New Year’s Eve at 6pm Ohio time.

Rachael found this idea and I think we are going to add it into our family tradition list-o-fun! You take down your Christmas tree decorations and replace them with goodie filled balloons ripe for popping.

We hit up The Dollar Tree for some festive wear.

Some people liked it more than others…

And we ate pizza. It was Italian New Years.

We counted down with the laptop…

…and then celebrated!

Then spent a considerable amount of time taking family/group photos. (This picture has the most people looking at the camera… and I’m not one of them!!)

Dessert was homemade cookies and Italian honey balls. We sang happy new year to the tune of happy birthday and blew out candles.

Why?

Just because.

Then we finished up the night with the grand finale – balloon popping!!

Money, candy or goodies were in each balloon. I think it would be fun to have a special balloon for each kiddo with their name on it and a special blessing or prayer for the new year inside from Mommy & Daddy.

This celebration was so much fun and sooooooo easy to do!! I’m already looking forward to next year!

After the busy month-o-Christmas, Valentines Day always sneaks up on me. And since Vday is Cora Jane’s birthday as well, I’m about to go into hyper drive!

I made this Valentines Day printable to decorate.

Simple and sweet as all those conversation hearts you’re about to eat!

Get a frame and print this Free Valentines Day Printable…

I got my frame at The Dollar Tree and painted it white for the grew/pink one.

I think red would look great with the red/pink one!

Happy Printing:

Grey and Pink 8.5×11

Grey and Pink in 8×10

Red, white and pink I 8.5×11

Red, white and pink I 8×10

I’m kinda obsessed with making printables now… that and the Amish. So look for more soon!

And don’t forget we are coming out with a new Lid in a couple of weeks. I’m planning the photo shoot now and getting ready to introduce you to the sweetest family ever!!

Dollar store earrings + spray paint = kick a%$ earrings

While walking the aisles of the 99 cent store I came across the cutest wooden earrings. So I bought 10 pairs.

REALLY!

I gave a few as favors at a craft night, kept one wooden and spray painted the rest.

You can do it in minutes too!

You’ll need:

~Earrings (duh)

~Spray paint (double duh)

~Needle nose pliers

~Some sort of drop cloth (I used a paper towel)

1. Use the needle nose pliers to remove all the hardware.

2. Lay the earrings on your drop cloth. Spray. Let dry. Flip. Repeat till you like the color.

3. Use the pliers to reattach the hardware.

I get compliments every time I wear mine… I’ll probably go back and get 10 more pairs.

REALLY!

Side note: I ended up getting my hair colored darker and loved it… but now I think I hate it. Blarg. (me with blonde hair below)