daughter :: daughter: 04/01/2009

The 3/50 Project

As small business owners, our credo is:

Do Something Local Every Day

You can substitute your town/city with the word "local".

It really is that simple.

The 3/50 Project is dedicated to supporting the local businesses.

How? Commit to spending $50 a month in three locally owned, independent businesses.

Why? For every $100 spend at locally owned, independent businesses,

$68 goes back into the local economy.

For every $100 spent at national retailers,

only $43 goes back into the local economy.

As local business owners since 2004, we have recently

taken the opportunity to participate.

This project brings the facts to the forefront

about the stake we each claim in supporting our local economy.

You can join The 3/50 Project by visiting their website.

Anyone can register as a supporter whether you are a storefront retail store, brick and mortar business, association, group, manufacturer, wholesaler, sales agency, national/regional brand name, council member, or individual.

Registration is free, flyers are free, information is free.

Educating ourselves and each other on the positive economic impact

of supporting local businesses is priceless.

We are excited to be a part of this project,

both as a business and as individuals.

We hope you are too.

Taco Tuesday

One tradition that we love celebrating is

Taco Tuesday!

With family and friends joining us

it's a great and easy dinner.

And what goes oh so well with tacos?

Margaritas, of course!

Here are some of our favorite marg invites:

invitation by Inviting Co.

invitation by Stevie Streck

And if you want a great margarita

visit Bethenny Frankel's website

for this recipe.

Here's to traditions.

We'll drink to that!

Our Mountains

We are back together here in the mountains of Colorado.
Amy has been here all along

and Erin is finally back here
for a short visit.

Somehow mountains continue to play a roll in our lives.
Physically and symbolically they keep popping up everywhere.
Life is a series of peaks and valleys.
Wednesday is hump day.
Over the hill.

This quote really sums it up for us:
"I should be content to look at a mountain for what it is,

and not as a comment on my life." - David Ignatow

Well, these mountains are beautiful.

It's as simple as that.
It feels good to be home.
For now.

Oh Happy Day!

As you read this we are at a wedding.

Or about to be at a wedding.

Or recovering from the wedding.

Either way, it's a great day.

We love the bride & groom

and we are so honored to be a part of the first day

of their marriage.

So here is a little blessing for our friends Mere & Matt:

Now you will feel no rain,

For each of you will be

shelter to the other.

Now you will feel no cold,

For each of you will be

warmth to the other.

Now there is no loneliness,

For each of you will be

companion to the other.

Now you are two bodies,

But there is only one

life before you.

Go now to your dwelling place

To enter into the days of

your togetherness

And may your days be good

and long upon the earth.

- Apache Wedding Prayer

We'll be sure to post more wedding details soon - stay tuned!

A Spare Button

We were in a rush.

The train was leaving the station any minute

and the present was not wrapped.

A quick check of the wrapping supplies

turned up some packing paper...and nothing else.

Our inner creative diva had failed to stock up on her own stationery store supplies.

But we rallied and rescued the package with a little homemade touch.

Some string and ribbon scraps together with all those extra buttons we've never used

turned this package from a dud to a stud.

Our Favorite Friends

They are furry.

They are approximately 20 inches tall.

They are our favorite little friends at Express Yourself.

We love our Jellycats.

From the cat with the longest tail ever

to the pink elephant

and the curious monkey.

We've spotted them at aquariums in Connecticut

nurseries in California

and on airplanes soaring over America.

They are loved by everyone, everywhere.

Greenery

We know, today is tax day.
You either have to part with a lot of greenor you might be lucky enough to get some in return.
Either way, we love these green frames sitting on our shelves.
We love them so much, we might just frame our tax return.
Ha, not!

So long 2008

We really love our Snow & Graham calendars.

So much so that we still had it hanging on our wall.

It was a 2008 calendar and it's April...time to move on.

But we didn't have to separate from our love for last year completely.

A quick visit to the dollar store presented us with some great 8"x10" frames

and an opportunity to create some art for our kitchen and bathroom.

We simply cut out the images, framed and hung.

So 2008 can live on in a more timely fashion.

Monday, Monday

Monday. Oh what a day.

The start of a fresh week, but another day back at the office.

Spend some spare time nurturing your inner Picasso (or Pollock, whatever)
at this site.

Drag the mouse around.
Click to change your color.
Press the space bar to clear your masterpiece.

Paint on!

Hop To It!

image: kate spade announcement available at Express Yourself

With the Easter holiday upon (most of) us

it finally feels like Spring is here.

Such a beautiful time of year.

But bunnies and chicks are more than a holiday icon,

they are cute reminders of the other little peeps in our lives.

Babies!

These invites and cards work well for this coming weekends celebration

as well as for birth announcement elations.

How appropriate in this season of

rebirth, rejoice and renewal.

images clockwise from top left:

Crane & Co. Ducky Notes

Inviting Co. Easter Eggs

Checkerboard Floppy Bunny Announcement

Inviting Co. Bunny Invite

all available at Express Yourself

Bunnies really do come out to play at this time of year.

Now hop to it!

Spotted!

Guess who Amy ran into (literally!) outside Express Yourself in Basalt this afternoon?
None other than William H. Macy!
That's our celebrity news of the day...
photo from Mai Le on flickr HERE

If only this was the real thing...