Flower Pin

Our new lavender zig zag note cards aren't even up online yet, but I just made it's first reincarnation as a Flower Pin and I love it. What is up with me & purple these days? I can't get enough of it.

Toms Shoes

When my sister first told me about these shoes - I thought they were hideous and didn't give it a second thought. Now, a couple weeks later and after seeing her cute little feet parade around in them, I am dying for my own. But of course! now that I have jumped on the bandwagon, they're sold out in my size. I'm too slow! Flip flops in the city are pretty gross on the toes. These would be great though. Check out other Toms Shoes color options here.

ACS: The Official Sponsor of Birthdays

The American Cancer Society has rebranded themselves three times in over 100 years of existence. Last week they rolled out their latest, as The Official Sponsor of Birthdays. I would imagine all of us have been affected by cancer in some way - perhaps not directly - but nonetheless affected. I got the chills watching this ad. It tapped something so real in me. I've always celebrated my birthday with my dad since his birthday is the day before mine. We now even call it Birthday Weekend where my whole family gets together for it. It's one of my favorite weekends of the year, being able to celebrate with my dad and now my nephew who was born on my birthday. I love great branding - but even more when it's for something so very real. Find out more here.

From the Desk Fridays: New Notepads are Live!

Not so much From the Desk as From the Computer, but hey, it's still Friday! I'm updating our website a bit today and the new notepads are finally up! And, you can personalize three of them. The Berry Zig Zag would look amazing with a name in Navy, no?



Have a great (hot!!! and loving it) weekend, everyone!

Back on Coffee

I just finished doing a three day cleanse. WHY do we torture ourselves?! This morning, I'm back functioning on the happiness of coffee. You said it, little coffee cup man.

I recently bought this Nate Duval print for John. Have you seen his work? You must go.

NEW!

A little sneak peek of what's to come...

Castle and Things

I am in love with these embroidered pieces from Castle and Things, found via Katy Elliot while catching up on my blog roll the other day. The bottom one would make a fantastic wedding, baby or anniversary gift - wink, wink.

Q&A with the haystack needle

I recently did a Q&A with Jen from the haystack needle as part of her Green Swap series. Check it out here.

Many thanks to Jen for having me!

Show Time!

I'm off to PA today for a three day shopping event. If you're in the Philadelphia area, check out the schedule and stop on by!

Be back on Monday. Have a great weekend.

New Shop: mac & murphy

I have only been to Charleston, South Carolina once when I was little - but I have been craving a visit down south these days. Maybe it's really a craving for warmer weather. (What is going on with this cold?!) Anyway - mac & murphy is a new stationery store that just opened in Charleston and looks pretty darn cute. I especially love the little back patio where you can sit and write letters. Such a great idea! Grab a friend, buy some cards, sit in a nice setting and write thank yous til your hand hurts. Sounds perfect.

Entrepreneur Week in NYC

I just heard about this great series, Entrepreneur Week NYC, that I thought I'd mention here in case anyone's interested. It looks like most of the events are free, you just need to register. I like the sound of these: Survival Strategies in a Bust, The Importance of Public Relations in Early-Stage Organizations and Founding a Business During or Right Out of College. Check out the lineup and register here.

Hello, Steven Alan

I have fallen for Stevan Alan. I bought a skirt there last fall and wear it constantly. I doubt I'm fooling anyone by switching up its counterparts - it's the same outfit - but I can't give it up. I popped in there over the weekend and am completely in love with what they have in for spring. Shirts with Liberty of London fabric? Who wouldn't love that?! I didn't come out with anything, but I can't stop thinking about these shirts. I'll give it the two-week waiting period test and go back:)

Easter

My brother-in-law has sent this around the last couple of years and it makes me chuckle every time. Happy Friday, Happy Easter.

SJP: Why Don't You...

I recently read Sarah Jessica Parker's "Why Don't You..." list in last month's Harper's Bazaar magazine and loved what she had to say, so I thought I'd share them here. I particularly love her first one:) Okay, her first and second.

• Try, for every 20 e-mails you send, to write a letter, an old-fashioned letter, and post it. Remember how it felt to receive an actual letter or postcard in the mail?

• Keep a bucket filled with candy. Cheap, good candy. From butterscotch hard candies to Bulls-Eyes to spice drops. Pretty cheap per pound, low calorie, and great late at night while working or staying up too late reading or watching television. It will scratch the itch.

• Use your local library. So few people do anymore. And if you are a parent, introduce your children to their neighborhood library. It will give them a real sense of independence to have their own library card and enjoy borrowing books.

• Empty out your purse twice a week, tossing all coins into a mason jar, an old coffee can, or a strange-shaped and not particularly practical porcelain jar. It’s wonderfully surprising to discover what can accumulate. You can give the money to charity (always feels good), and it’s grand to do in the spring when charities are not on people’s minds.

• Cook or bake something outrageous that you are convinced will be impossible. The advantage of this endeavor is that it can actually get you cooking more meals at home. Once you are triumphant with the absurdly difficult, a meal for yourself or your family will seem like a cakewalk (so to say). And it can be a great money saver.

• Walk more. It simply feels great. And for those who have an “allergy” to working out, it’s a great way to get the blood moving. If you are feeling extra adventurous, try putting some speed into that walk.

• Read the editorial page of your local paper. It introduces you to opinion and can be terrifically provocative and perhaps a great motivating force for you to get involved in your community, regardless of your political ideology.

• Get eight hours of sleep, though I never do.

[image and copy from harpersbazaar.com]

work work work

Sorry for the lackluster (and Debbie Downer) posts so far this week. I've been really distracted by both my Marcy:( and some changes going on over here at L&H (more on that another time). I'm up to my eyeballs in work & catching up on work. Upside: the magnolia tree across the street is in full bloom and my obsession with it has convinced me I need to incorporate it into the 2010 calendar. Perhaps May?

Update on Marcy

Turns out Marcy is actually "Yodi" and is a Presa Canario, not a pitbull. Shockingly, she does have an owner - a guy who trains guard dogs. Somehow the dogs got out. I don't quite understand it myself - that's why I plan to find out why these dogs were so underfed, smelled more than they should, and seemingly had not been to a vet in a very long time. Case is not closed, but I wanted to update you, since we no longer have her here.

Marcy

If you live in Brooklyn, you know the street Flatbush Avenue. It's 4 lanes of cars whizzing by and going through red lights. Last night, John & I (and a handful of other concerned passers-by) found two dogs walking across this crazy street - no id tags, no leash, no owner in sight. The cops at the police station across the street said they'd take them to Animal Control right away - a sure death sentence for these abondoned guys.

We have become serious dog lovers in the past three years - the kind I never thought I'd be. The baby voices, the oh-it's-okay attitude when our 70lb beast thinks she's fit for a lap, the need to defend her "energetic" behavior. I adore & love my dog like nothing else. So I cannot even begin to imagine the person who abandoned this girl & her mastiff companion. And I could not do the same last night. We brought her home, fed & bathed her. We call her Marcy - short for St. Marks, where we finally able to catch up to her. I know she looks a little scary, but it didn't take long to find out that this girl is sweet as pie and is just really scared - and rightly so - she has scars around her nose and her ears have been clipped. I'm trying to get in touch with no-kill shelters today to see about a home for her. In the meantime, she's with us. If anyone has any suggestions or tips - I'd love to hear them. This is my first rescue - and I'm not sure I'm doing this right.

From the Desk Fridays: new notepads

When we were thinking about the 2009 National Stationery Show & all the editing we're doing with our product line for it, the one product I really wanted to push was our notepads. I am a notepad freak. I use them all the time. And I think our customers agree. So we decided to stick with the pattern style - and I'm loving the four new ones we just got in. We're rolling them out next week, but I just couldn't help but give you a little sneak peek. Two are from an oldie, but a goodie, and two are brand new - one of which was designed by a super-talented artist. Stay tuned for next week's debut.

And the winners are...

Congratulations Amanda & jane! Please email me at: liz@lindaandharriett.com with your address so I can stick these in the mail.

Thanks to everyone for participating and to Simon & Schuster for providing the books!

Snail Mail

I saw my friend Lizzy last night who had come up with the best 30th birthday gift for her sister: 30 days of care packages. How amazing is that?! I LOVE getting mail - mail sent with love, that is - not mail sent from conEdison. There is just no simpler or more genuine way to say I'm thinking of you. And 30 days of it?! Well that would just be heaven. Lizzy summed up my feeling of snail mail perfectly yesterday.

I love this block-printed paper that Shannon from rifferaff came up with. (Check out her new packaging for her handmade soaps, too!)

Inspiration: Children's Books

I'm working on my Big Ideas Small Studios collaboration piece for the NSS this year - which is all about nursery rhymes (stay tuned for more on this) and am feeling so inspired by the childrens books that Julia Rothman features on her blog, Book By Its Cover. She has a Children's tab that is full of gems for the little ones. Shown here are images from A is for Rhinoceros, alphabet cards by Julie Morstad, and An Awesome Book.

[images courtesy of Book By Its Cover]