When I heard about a program from Tiny Prints for bloggers to get 50 free photo cards I was thrilled.  We have never used them before, but their cards look amazing!

Here are a few of my favorites (click on images for links)…

Which one am I choosing? NO IDEA! There are too many I really love.  One thing I really liked about Tiny Prints was the number of types of cards you can choose from.  They have the traditional rectangular and long photo cards, but also adorable tri-fold folding, and round.  You can even get the corners rounded on your rectangular cards.  If you go with one of the traditional cards I LOVE the rounded corner option.  Many of the cards also have super cute printed backs that coordinate.

If you are shopping for cards their current promotion is save 20% off your entire order with the code 20SAVE (ends 11/15).  I will watch to see what their next promotions is and update this post!

What are your tricks for getting a great picture of your family? Do you just pick the best picture from the last year and call it good, or have pictures taken specifically for your cards?

This post will be picture heavy!  I figure if you have a double birthday you need to have double the pictures.

Come along on a journey to Neverland…Here we GOOOO!

This Peter Pan birthday banner was SO cool. Unfortunately I did not get a very good picture of it.

Mama and our little Wendy

Peter Pan, little Wendy, and Tinkerbell

Tink getting her very long awaited pink uke from Unc D. What a special gift!

Party details:

-We kept it small to try to prevent Little Man’s famous phrase, “OH NO! Too many people.”

-Booty for the little attenders included; Crayons and star stickers wrapped in bakers twine (love this stuff), a roll of paper to trace their shadow, and some “Lost Boys trail mix” for the journey home.

-We held it at our neighborhood clubhouse which the kids call the “Birthday House.”

-Little Lady was quite hesitant to wear her Tink outfit.  She was pretty sure she wanted to wear a “Pretty dress.”  How do you explain that mama kicked her pirate booty to keep it all in theme and that it would be most delightful if she would oblige? She paired it with some polka dot leggings and sparkly shoes and was satisfied with the outcome.

-Little Man wore some of our favorite “Saturday Market pants”, his favorite boots, a green polo, a “Peter Pan belt” (that he wore for days after), and a mama made Peter Pan hat (which he still wears daily).

Thanks for coming along!

Before our newest baby was born I was looking through a friends extensive display of family photo cards and baby announcements.  I snuck a peek at the back of all of the ones I liked and realized they were all from Shutterfly.  When baby was born I knew exactly what site to go to.  I picked one out and it sat in my cart for a long time.  I was having a hard time paying full price.  Then, one day I was at Target and saw a lady walking around with a baby registry freebie bag and remembered that they were out when we registered for baby girl (for the 10% registry fulfillment coupon that I never got).  I sent my very sweet hubby over to customer service to see if he could score us one.  VICTORY!  They granted us one.  I was surprised how many great coupons were in it…including a $20 gift card for SHUTTERFLY!!! I was thrilled.  It was a blessing and I could order the cards that I had been drooling over.  Fast forward to now.  Two thirds have been sent, and a few still sit waiting to go out (mainly the ones I don’t have addresses easily accessible for).  I always do this really stupid thing.  I get most of my baby announcements, thank you notes, Christmas cards, etc addressed and finished within moments of the party or event…feel a sense of relief and pride in having them “done”…and forget to do the rest for WAY TO LONG.  It is embarrassing and strange.

When Shutterfly announced that they would be giving free Christmas photo cards to bloggers I was thrilled.  Once again I can get my first choice cards for a steal!
Here are a couple I am loving:

The two are in the “Flat Photo Card” section and are currently 20% off are between 32 cents and 71 cents depending on which one you choose and how many you purchase.

Find it here

Find it here

My favorite style of cards are the “Flat Stationary Cards.” These go from about $1.03-$2.39. They are printed on a heavier type of paper rather than photo paper and some of the designs are just a bit more stylish than the photo cards.

Find Flat Stationary Cards here if you want to splurge.

If I can get my act together we will be attempting a round two of our Christmas photo shoot.  You just can’t let matching Gymboree outfits that you ordered the second the black Friday went live (with a coupon of course) go to waste. It would be a crime.

I will let you know how it turns out.

The deals seem to be increasing and its the perfect time for me to start getting more posts up.

Here are a few of my favorite deals out there right now.

Are you in charge of the fruit salad?

Get 50 cents off certain Dole products with this coupon.  If it goes on sale and your store doubles this should be able to score some FREE fruit. If you go to the link it is currently on the first page. This coupon will probably reach its limit soon. You can print two per computer by hitting the back button as soon as the first prints.

Other coupons.com coupons I think are definately worth printing:

$1 off (one) Special K Blueberry cereal

55 cents off any Challenge Dairy product

$1 off (2) boxes of Ronzoni Smart Taste pasta

$1 off Good Earth tea

There are also some other great cereal coupons, some Pillsbury coupons, and even some Hasbro toy coupons.

Things to remember on your next shopping trip:

Keep your eyes open for great deals on baking ingredients during the holidays and stock up!

Also, If your family enjoys eating some Thanksgiving favorites throughout the year (like stuffing, cranberry sauce, olives, etc), be sure to stock up this week when they are on sale!

Last 4th of July 5 mo.

Playing like big kids!

Still so cute, but almost imposible to capture in a picture together. Exactly 17 mo.

It is so fun to be able to compare what they looked like at the same time last year during different holidays.  We went to the beach for the day on the 3rd, went to a BBQ with friends on the 4th, and a quick trip to Portland on the 5th.  We hung out with family, and had lots of special play times together just as our little family. We had a perfect holiday weekend (with the exception of one 30 min screaming session on the way home from the beach at 11:30….but who could blame her) and hope yours was wonderful too!