I need to join m.m.a.

… also known as Miz Mooz Anonymous

Normally I only visit New York twice a year for the gift shows, however this year we’re showing at the National Stationery show.

I’ve never visited my favorite shoe shop in May and boy-oh-boy do they have a delicious selection of summer styles.

And so many fantastic colors…

… and dainty details.

It was so hard to choose – but I limited my indulgence to just one pair this time.

…til mid-August Infinity Shoes.

flower pot pie… oh-me, oh-my

What a perfect treat for a garden party!

funny stuff from flight of the conchords

Steve and I needed a good night of laughter and these two boys from New Zeeland were the perfect prescription.

We had the opportunity to see them live in Ann Arbor last Saturday at the Michigan Theater.  A review reads, "Remember in college – or high school, whenever – when there were those two guys who always managed to make everything funny? They may not have been varsity captains, but if they were at the party you knew you would have a good time.

Jemaine Clement and Bret McKenzie, also known as Flight of the Conchords, have made a career out of being those guys. And last night, at their sold-out show at the Michigan Theater, everyone at the party had a good time.

"I feel like we really got to know you, Ann," Clement said, addressing the audience, whom he had asked if he could refer to as Ann instead of Ann Arbor. "Like we’re all friends now, like we’re just hanging out."

This little diddy is pretty catchy too – I love how it’s filmed.

in memory of samson

Sadly, on the same night of Girl's Night Out, Steve & I were delivered some horrible news. 

Ironically, for no reason at all … I watched Rob Bell's 'Rain' video earlier that day, not knowing a very strong thunderstorm was headed my way.

In recent weeks, Samson hadn't been acting like his normal self.  After a few trips to the vet, he was diagnosed with Acute Leukemia (the worse kind that chemotherapy can't even really help).

He was only 2 and half years old.  Our hearts were broken.

Not knowing how to cope with my first loss of a pet, I started art-journaling about all the wonderful things Samson had brought into our lives.

Even though his life was cut short, it was packed full with fun.

One of his first flirts with fame is when he graced the pages of The Daily Tribune to help promote our pampered pooch photo contest.

We collected loads funny pet photos that we used in our handmade frames.  It's safe to say, Samson's mug has been in numerous gift and pet stores across the United States.

Being the proud dog parents we are, he also showed up in our Christmas cards…

… and even one Easter Bully card.

He was a man about town – strutting his stuff at the Robina Rhapsody …

… and making a Halloween appearance at the Rochester store a couple of times.

He didn't attend any prestigious dog modeling schools, but he did a fine job showing off some of our funny pet items.  He was even featured on the popular Rare Bird Finds blog.

He also helped raised over $2000 in the 2006 and 2007 Humane Society's Mega March.  (and was star struck by Mr. Jay Towers of Fox News 2)

But what I'll miss most is him following me wherever I went.  I loved when he just sat on our home office couch and watched me work on the computer (which was quite often).

And he loved his Friday afternoons at our design studio.  He was happy as a clam riding the lower level of our order pulling cart…

… and getting into other various things.

We love you Samson.  You'll be missed dearly but your spirit and zest for life will always live in our heart.

girls night out – a dog-gone good time

Loads of ladies stopped by both our stores last Thursday to have a little fun and support a great cause.

This year, 10% of our proceeds from the evening was donated to the Michigan Humane Society and I’m proud to say we raised $230!

And did you also know that we also donate $1 for every pampered pet frame we sell throughout the year?  So far, we’ve sold 158 of them!

Supporting a great cause has never been so fun.

… til next year.

have plentiful purses? you need pouchee!

Meet Anita Crook of Simpsonville, South Carolina.  Four years ago she received a trendy handbag from her oldest son and even though she loved it, she knew she would never use it because it had no pockets inside.  She thought, "If only I had a way to stay organized and change purses"  She looked in stores and websites but found nothing that satisfied her and that’s when the pouchee idea was born.

Before long, she was discussing her idea with a friend who introduced her to a purse designer who shared a name of a manufacturer and pretty soon she had 2000 pouchees coming from China.

Once they arrived she didn’t know where to begin.  She thought, "Why am I doing this?  I could be home ironing, cleaning toilets… I’m way too old for this stress"  But over time more and more stores bought them and business was booming.  Now Anita’s 60+ years old, marketing, selling, shipping and having a ball… organizing women, one purse at a time.

These sweet little organizers make it super easy to swap purses in a second but they also work great in diaper bags, beach bags, gym bags, briefcases, back packs and airport carry-ons.

The outside pockets are perfectly sized to hold things like…  pens, sunglasses, phone, credit cards, keys etc…  The inside has plenty of room with 3 dividers plus a zippered pocket for personals.

We carry the beige and black pouchee online.  They retail for 23.50 each

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In Town Magazine – spring summer 2008

Our pretty pink sustainable bag makes the cover.

Our wedding survival kit is also featured.

we’re all in this together

… love these lyrics by Mr. Ben Lee

A review reads, "Awake Is the New Sleep blends singer/songwriter folk and catchy pop with subtle hints of Americana and a dash of electronic experimentation. And it doesn’t waste any time before setting the mood. It’s the kind of album that’d be right at home oozing from the headphones of some searching soul meandering through the snow-covered Manhattan streets, pondering life’s strangeness and the broken hearts of the past. A soft pain permeates the music, but welling up is a quiet hope; there’s healing in this record.

With Awake, Lee has become a writer so adept at communicating his personality through song, that it’s easy to feel like you know him after just a few listens." -Steve LaBate

happy cinco de mayo

Steve & I had a little impromptu Cinco de Mayo party this weekend and we asked our friends to bring a dessert if they so desired.  To my surprise, our good friend Curtis showed up with these tasty little morsels that he made himself!

I love my husband, but his idea of cooking is melting cheese over tortilla chips in the microwave… so needless to say I was pretty impressed with Curtis’ themed treats.

margarita mini cheesecakes

1 (14oz) condensed sweetened milk
1 (8oz) cream cheese softened
1/4 cup tequila
1/4 cup triple sec
6 oz frozen limeade concentrate
Tostida scoops
Whipped cream

Combine condensed milk with the softened cream cheese. Stir in tequila, triple sec, and limeade. Spoon 1 tablespoon in to tostida scoop. Chill for at least 2 hours.

Top with whipped cream when ready to serve.

Partido Feliz!

green mary-janes by groundhog

I had a chance to peruse some of the shops in Rochester recently and found these sweet green mary-janes from Shoetique.  They’re super comfortable and cute to boot!

After googling the groundhog soles I found out they’re also green (if you know what I mean)

And aren’t these strappy ones and clogs hip too?