Early Christmas Gift

Christmas came early for me this year. I received an order from a Jessica Claire a few weeks back in my shop. I thought...noooo~~ THE Jessica Claire? OMG I think it is! I literally had to pick up my jaw that was on the floor that moment. For those of you who know Jessica Claire, need I say more? For those who don't...you must get to know her via here. Her work is beyond any vocab. As I might have mentioned before...I have this obsession with photography. She along with many other talented OC photographers might just be why. When I'm not working on my orders, you can find me perusing local photographers blogs checking out some amazing photos.

So, my Christmas came early this year when I got an order from her and as if that wasn't enough, she showcased some photos of her orangekisses poms in her lovely home on her blog. My jaw might just be permanently dislocated by now.

Happy Turkey Day!

Black Friday Cyber Monday

We desperately need a TV. Since we moved into our new apt recently, we decided to get rid of our heavy, big 32" square thing that would have taken up 1/4th of our bedroom and get a nice flat screen we can actually lift and not bump into when we walk from the closet to the bathroom. Having a full time job, I work on my orders during evenings~nights. My usual day: get up at 7am after snoozing half a dozen times, shower, COFFEE, commute 20 miles, work 8-10 hours in my cubicle, commute back another 20 miles, dinner, open mail/check emails/pay bills, work on my orders while watching TV in our living room. I agreed to my husband's request that I'd stop working at 10pm. That hasn't really worked out quite well because once I get started on something and I'm in the "zone", I can't stop! I blame all this on TV. Not only am I working because I'm "listening" the TV (and I say listening because I cannot technically "watch" it while working on poms), but I'm "listening" the TV because I'm working. I tell myself, I'll stop when this show's over, and then the next show, and then the news...you get the point. So...if we had a TV in the bedroom~~problem solved! I would stop working when I should and before my fingers fall off, get ready for bed and fall asleep while watching TV. Having one TV just stinks. It forces me to stay outside working when I should be inside getting my beauty sleep/E!News.

So this brings us to the upcoming Black Friday/Cyber Monday. We have been searching online for Friday's deals on TV and have also saved up the funds needed to make this overdue purchase. I have never shopped on a Black Friday. I know, can you believe it? I have however done the crazy "get up at 2am and wait in line for the new Wii outside a Sears in freezing cold" before. And it was not fun. I vowed to NEVER do anything like that ever again. So, should I wait at 3am outside a WalMart or Target this Friday to save maybe 50 bucks on a TV? I should mention that I have work that morning at 8am. Is it worth it - the sleep deprivation, the cold, the wait, the competition and race to the electronics aisle as soon as the doors open? Lets not forget I will be about 9lbs heavier from the Thanksgiving dinner just 7 hours prior!

There is one place you can get great deals without waiting in the cold at 3am! Etsy! This Friday and throughout the weekend, you can get up at 10am, not brush your teeth, stay in your warm PJ's while partaking in Black Friday Cyber Monday deals. The shop has some deals too so check it out! You won't have to elbow anyone while you shop!

Free Shipping...$3 poms...3 free poms...hooray!!Stay tuned for my Black Friday TV update...maybe I will be brave enough.

Happy Thanksgiving!!!

I'm an addict...

I may need some sort of an intervention. I know I haven't hit rock bottom yet because I'm not in the denial stage. I don't deny it - I'm an addict period! That Starbucks Peppermint Mocha is just so damn delicious and addicting! My worried husband called me at work yesterday asking if I had a problem and needed help...because I had stopped at Starbucks everyday for the past 2 weeks according to our online bank records he was looking at. Now he's not one to keep me on a financial leash or anything. If anything, I'm the frugal (ok fine maybe "cheap"!) one in the marriage. He's never been one to stop me from buying something, because I've always been good about it...until November/December rolls around and Starbucks starts selling their Peppermint Mocha!! I just about lose it then. $4.50 every weekday for 2 weeks = $45.00! Yes, I need help, I replied to my husband.

Then what do I find this morning at Albertson's? Tada~~~

I tell you - God does intervene!!! Now, it's not exactly Starbucks PM but you know what, it's pretty darn close...close enough for me to stock up on these suckers for like the next 4 months so I don't go through the withdrawals. And 1 bottle of this costs less than 1 Starbucks PM! God bless the folks at Coffee-mate!

Thanksgiving is less than a week away! Have you set your dinner plans - who/when/where? Hope everyone has a safe, warm, happy Thanksgiving and Black Friday...I'll be at work..boo for me.

cheers!

The Winner is...

Thank you & lots of hugs & kisses to the readers that participated in the OK giveaway! The lucky winner of the 3 Piece Set is.....Lauren Verity!! Congratulations Lauren!

I couldn't agree more with all of you that the only thing I wish for this Christmas is special time spent with family and hopefully we can all watch what we spend during these hard times! It has been a rough year all around for us also but I know we can only go up from here! :) Thank you all again for leaving your precious comments! Have a happy week!

Wreath Galore

It's such a welcoming circle. It's just a circle, really, but it exudes such warmth and happiness. Oh what a circle can do!

As you can tell, I just love this time of the year. The crazy blinking holiday lights around the town center down the street, the jumongous tree up for sale and showcased at Costco, and all the WREATHS you see in the neighborhood! Isn't it funny how the simplest things in life bring such joy? It's just a circle! This circle does wonders around this time of year. I am still trying to convince the hubby to get one (a spectacular one - any one of the ones below will do!) this year. Wish me luck. ;)

OK (orangekisses) was recently featured in the Etsy Blog by Alison at TeenAngster and along with OK was this beatiful circle by The Chic-Adee Shop. I just had to check this shop out! Look at these. I mean just look! Aren't they the cutest darn circles you have ever seen?? They blow any fancy wancy wreaths at Costco or even Pottery Barn out of the game! You can just stop looking for your wreath this year right here at The Chic-Adee Shop. Please Santa~ (and the good Lord) make the hubby one day very soon (like tomorrow) wake up with the enlightenment that a whimsy wreath will be perfect for our little apt door! Then my door will kick any neighbor's door's ass this year!

Which one is your favorite? I personally love that snowball one in the middle, and the pink one on top...and the three pears....oh hell they're all just so darn cute!

Dinner Party ideas

Have you scheduled all your holiday parties yet? If not, I'm sure they'll hit you like a train real soon! Your weekends will be packed for the next few weeks to come, but who's complaining? This is the best time of the year! It's time when friends and family share their stories, recipes, gossip, and heart, and we're allowed to over indulge on that pumpkin pie with extra whipped cream on top! I've been married a little over 2 years now and have yet to host a Holiday dinner , and to be completely totally whole-heartedly honest...I'm hoping to buy as much time as I can until the year comes when I do have to host it. For one thing, I am no Martha Stewart in the kitchen. I only dream to be. In fact, I just watched my absolute fave Ina Garten cook up a mean mac&cheese on TV, and I just adore and admire her but have never dared to cook up anything mean in my life. I think I still need a few years of tasting my MIL's turkey & stuffing before I can attempt at one of my own. I really don't mind doing the tasting for now.

Here are some great dinner party ideas that inspire me to host a Holiday dinner sooner or later (later than sooner). As long as someone else does the cooking, I'll do everything else. And here are some 'everything else' that get me excited about the holiday parties! Above: Dinner with Friends by TummyMountain

Above: The Four Seasons Mini Cushion Ornament by
baileydoesntbark

Above: Thanksgiving Placecards Tags by TwoPoodlePress

Above: Brown and White Striped Conversation Starter/Ice Breaker Favor Box by afabulousfete

Above: butternut yellow napkins by margotbianca
Above: Homespun Lavender Pears by
HandMeDowns
Above: Latte, Hot Chocolate and Cream by
Fairyfolk

Above: Pink hearts Christmas ornament by
DancingJellybean

Above: Customized Wreath by twoinspireyou

100th Sale

Today orangekisses hit its 100th sale mark! Yay for 100~!

Thank you times 1 million to my wonderful customers!

What's in store for orangekisses? Can you smell it? The HOLIDAY season is here! It is my favorite time of the year! The leaves turn brown, the heavy winter sheets & blankets come out, I have to bundle up on my way to work at 7am (yes, even here in sunny OC, it gets cold!), and Starbucks now serve their holiday cups! The shop will soon feature some great Christmas ideas you and your family will really enjoy. Hope you see you in the shop then!

**P.S.: To celebrate the 100th sale, I am offering a free 3 Piece Pom Set like the sets you see below (any colors of your choice) to a lucky reader who leaves a comment about what your Christmas wish is this year!! Winner will be announced next Monday 11/16!

The More the Merrier...

Orangekisses poms were recently used during a family photo shoot celebrating a family's 6th child's first birthday. The Schendl's family photos were shot by an amazing photographer, Keith Cotton from Peoria, Illinois. Keith's wife contacted me for help with the pom pom arrangement for this special shoot. My jaw dropped when I checked out Keith's work on his site! I have a secret obsession with photography. I can sit for hours checking out breathtaking photos. Keith's work just blew me away!

Aren't the Schendl's just the cutest family you've seen? :) I love how the pom poms are perfectly coordinated with their wardrobe! These photos just made me smile. It really exemplifies the good 'ol saying - the more the merrier! My husband and I are excited to start a family of our own when the time comes, and a beautiful family like the Schendl's really makes me want a large family, too! Especially around this time of the year, there is no better gift than a big family to laugh and celebrate with.

Thank you Keith & E for the amazing photos & feedback and a special shout out to the Schendl's for showing off the warmth and beauty of "family"!

Hope everyone had a safe and sweet Halloween! Check out the shop for special offers on a white piece set and free shipping on 20 piece set! The Holiday Season is here~!