Social media fueled magazine for Washington D.C. Suburbs

“He sees you when you’re sleeping, he knows when you’re awake, he knows if you’ve been bad or good so be good for goodness sake.”  If you didn’t know what this line was referring to it could sound like a creepy stalker’s got your number.  Have you ever wondered, though, how Santa knows these things?

Let me introduce you to Elf on the Shelf.  Maybe you’ve heard of him, maybe you have him already, maybe you have no idea what I’m talking about, but Elf on the Shelf should become your next holiday tradition.

The other day I was enjoying a coffee in the park when I saw a little guy take a tumble and scrape his knee.  I cringed as I watched and was reminded of all of the times my children fell when they were younger. As a parent, there’s not much worse than the feeling of helplessness when all you can do is offer some ice, a snuggle and to kiss the ouchies away.

When I think of fall I think of (what else?) pumpkins, apples, jumping in the leaves and drinking warm cider.  There’s some nostalgia about fall activities and traditions that I like to celebrate year to year.  Something else that I’m very nostalgic about are books that I read as a child and when I saw the new Amelia Bedelia books written by the late Peggy Parish’s nephew, Herman Parish, I was charmed.  The picture books, written for children 4-8 years old include Amelia Bedelia’s First Day of School, Amelia Bedelia’s First Valentine, and my personal favorite, Amelia Bedelia’s First Apple Pie.

Call me sentimental, but I just recently got my children’s school pictures back and I teared up as I compared the new pictures to the old and saw how much they had grown since last year, the year before and so on.  Then, as I set the pictures aside for scrapbooking, I realized that I really need to get more organized on that front.

While I adore all of the intricate and creative things that you can do with a scrapbook page, the truth is I just don’t have time to sit down and design, cut, paste and assemble the memories.  That is why I am so happy that I’ve found grade level keepsake books from Penny Laine Papers.

The books range from preschool to fourth grade and include 24 pages for you and your child to record memories from each school year.  Each book also has photo sleeves that will hold 20 pictures and 2 pockets that allow you to store keepsakes from the year.

If you and I take the time to record memories in this simple to use, low-maintenance keepsake book, it will provide enjoyment to both us and our children years from now as we reflect back on the past: the hairstyles, the fashion, the friends made, the lessons learned, the teeth lost and the projects completed—including that scrapbook!

What’s your forte?  This fall, drinking tea is mine—Tea Forte that is.  No doubt about it, it’s been an uncharacteristically cold and dreary fall and there is nothing better than wrapping up in a blanket and cuddling up to a hot cup of tea at the end of a drizzly day.   The best cup of tea that I’ve ever experienced is made by Tea Forte.  When I say “experience” I really do mean that it’s an experience.  The ritual of preparing and drinking tea involves all of your senses: touch, smell, sight, sound and of course, taste.  Tea Forte has reinvented the way we experience tea.

With all of the rain we had last month there were days when I didn’t want to leave the comfort of my home, yet didn’t want to listen to the complaints of bored children.  There is only so much TV that even a child can stand to watch and of course old toys don’t spark their excitement.

So, I was delighted to discover an array of at-home craft projects by Alex Crafts.  There is a plethora of kits that appeal to both boys and girls. The projects hold their attention until they are completed and then they have a finished product that they can play with.  My son’s favorite was the paper airplane kit.  My budding aviator was able to custom-craft his flying devices from various paper designs and stickers.  The best part was that he was able to learn different folding techniques that he could duplicate on his own.

We Americans sure are hooked on our caffeine.  How many times have you read someone’s status on Facebook that referenced how much they love coffee, how much they need coffee, or that they want a coffee iv drip?  It’s certainly a love affair that we have with our cup of Joe.

Now that the fall season is almost here people are jumping for joy for the return of fall flavors to the coffee shops.  Pumpkin spice latte anyone?

Karate, piano, soccer—oh my!  Now that school is back in session, so is the endless amount of activities to keep coordinated.  Not only am I constantly running the kids from here to there, I am responsible for keeping track of which day to send my child to school in spirit wear, which day the fundraiser money is due and a host of other bits and pieces.  And, I’m a working mom to boot!

One of the best ways that I’ve found to keep organized is using a personal agenda by momAgenda.  The handheld book allows me to pencil in appointments, jot down reminders and keep track of my lists of things to do for up to 17 months!  The calendars run from August 2011-December 2012, giving me plenty of space for keeping future events organized.  The week-to-week format allows you to enter the schedules of four family members.  The year’s holidays are also listed, which comes in handy when you are making plans for vacations or long weekends.

This book goes well beyond the means of your typical personal agenda.  There is a favorite websites section; room to take personal notes on books, movies, fashion and music; vacation planning layouts and a party planning section.  Instead of having a million pieces of paper with scrawled notes littering your desk, you can keep everything in one handy book that can come with you wherever you travel.

The agendas also come in flashy colors like turquoise, fuchsia and giraffe which make carrying them even more fun.

Now’s the time to get organized and your eyes could probably use a rest from that electric device that you are fixated on all day.  The momAgenda may just save your sanity.

New teachers, new friends, new year—how about a snazzy new lunch bag and stationery to round it out?  It’s hard to believe that in a week or two we will be bidding farewell to summer and sailing into a new school year.  As we slowly turn the pages of the calendar, I lament over all of the things I said I would do this summer but gave into the slower pace of the season and didn't cross all the items off my to-do list.  On the flip side, I love being in our stores this time of year because we are stocked with new fall items from one of my favorite designers, Vera Bradley!

Just in time for back to school I have come across the most charming products from Clairebella.  Stylish and personalized, these items make the perfect gift for the Greek college goddess or new sorority pledge.  They have just about every accessory that a college gal could need, including cell phone cases, coaster sets, desk planners, luggage tags, plates, water bottles and so much more.

I'm really lovin' the cell phone cases!  They are made of a durable plastic that really holds up to the wear and tear of being jostled around in a bag and the design is heat printed so it will not rub off or fade.  This stylish gift is functional and will last.