Rummaging through some old photos, I came across an old personalized birthday card I made a few years ago. It was similar to the safari themed birthday card (based on Handmade by Odette's original) I had made earlier in 2012. I had fun putting it together and using foam dots to add dimension. I also lightly inked the edges and slightly curved the palm tree leaves for added depth. The monkey is one of my favourite cuts on the Cricut Create-a-Critter cartridge. I even used it in my son's fifth birthday card and turned it into a magnet!

Pssst! If you're a crafter like me and need quality lighting, or even if you just want to beat the winter blues, I have a Verilux HapplyLight Natural Spectrum Energy Lamp up for grabs. Open to US and Canada!

Finding the right gift for kids can sometimes be like looking for a needle in a haystack. You know it exists but the search can be painstaking. I know most kids like toys and the latest gadgets but, unless I know it is an item on their wishlist, I may end up taking the more practical route. Clothes, accessories, art supplies or other consumables, for example. Or I might lean towards a more personal gift that still has a practical twist. I recently discovered a local store here in Toronto that offers a myriad of unique personalized products for kids. Blankets for baby? They've got 'em. Artwork for the nursery? Sure thing! Personalized school supplies? You Name It Baby!

In all my years as a mother, I have never before seen so many one-of-a-kind personalized gifts for babies and kids all in one place. I'm telling you, the selection is endless! In fact, I think it has multiplied since I last hopped onto their site. If you head on over to younameitbaby.com, be prepared to drool over the incredibly adorable hooded animal towels or the luxurious Egyptian cotton bath towels that can be personalized with a monogram or a child's name. They even have plush sports pillows, stuffed animals, beanbag chairs and stools that can be personalized as well. Of course, the teacher in me headed straight for the Cool For School section. We're talking personalized notebooks, school folders, journals, place mats, story books and even clipboards. It's like a teacher's dream come true!

If you have school-age kids, you can appreciate how useful it is to have your kids' names on all of their belongings. For my kids, it's seems to be the only surefire way to ensure everything is returned home. Last month, You Name It Baby kindly sent over a set of personalized school items for my son. This is included a lunch square, a backpack and a sports water bottle, each with his name on it.

After checking out the selection of kids' bags, my son opted for the Navy Grey Collection and a space rocket themed water bottle. We even had the option of picking out the hair and eye colour for the boy's image on the water bottle. There are also ten different embroidery fonts to choose from. It was hard to narrow down which one we liked best but we ended up going with the Kidz font. The material of the bags is quite durable and the lunch square has ample space in it for a big kid's lunch. I really like how the school bag has padded straps, a padded backing, a large front zippered pocket and side pocket, a padded tablet/laptop compartment and a side pouch that's perfect for a water bottle.

A Cherry on Top - Handcrafted Creations is owned by a personal friend of mine, one who is very creative and talented. Her name is Brenda and we have known each other for about three decades now. She is the mother of three beautiful children and yet somehow manages to work full-time and fulfill custom ordered stainless steel hand stamped jewelry, crocheted items and more. The fact that she was up and about within a matter of days of giving birth to her third-born simply reinforces my belief that she has super powers. The woman doesn't stop. Check out this adorable pumpkin hat she made recently: 

The holidays are fast approaching and I couldn't be more excited. It is the perfect time to spend with family and friends. It's a time to laugh, a time to cuddle, a time to make memories. We have already taken the kids to see Santa and have their picture taken, which turned out great, might I add. But when I look back at photos from Christmases passed, a part of me feels a hint of sadness knowing that my kids will never be this small again. Their tiny hands have become more dexterous and their feet are growing at an alarming rate. Oh, how I miss holding my son when he was a wee lad sucking on his two fingers. Or cradling my first-born as I sang her a lullaby before bedtime. As I wipe away a tear or two, I can't help but feel a sense of regret that I never took the time to make a nice little imprint of my children's hands and feet. I look at how big they are now and find it very difficult to recall how small they once were. This is why I am eager to share with you all of the wonderful ways you can preserve these memories through Memories Made. 

This year, my daughter is in grade one and is therefore required to bring a lunch to school. While we have every intention to respect boomerang lunch efforts that are being made at school, it becomes increasingly difficult to continue those efforts at home when your daughter never brings home her reusable containers and water bottles. No, wait. I digress. She does bring them home. Eventually.

One of the handiest tips I could offer a parent of a school-ager is to stock up on personalized labels and use them. On everything. I have gotten into the habit of sticking labels onto new items as soon as I get home, whether they are water bottles, school supplies, or clothing. You see, my daughter has a tendency to leave things at school since she needs to rush at the end of the day to catch her bus. But having all of her belongings labeled is reassuring since I know they will make their way home sooner or later.