Thirty-One Thursday: All-In-One Organizer

Hello, fellow Thirty-One enthusiasts! For this Thirty-One Thursday, we're going to take a closer look at the All-In-One Organizer (aka:AIO). So many uses for this jewel.

 I realize this print isn't in the Fall/Winter 2011 catalog... but the AIO Organizer is the same. ;) Embroidered in font style 31.

Everything that was cluttering-up MY side of the bathroom sink... "All-In-One" place. Pun intended. ha!

Perfect for tub toys, bathroom his/her/kids organizers, or a shower caddy for a college student. It's the width of a standard size file folder (12"W x 8"H x 6.5"D... if your brain works that way, which mine, does not), so it's perfect for a "mobile office".

 I have started using this little gem as a Hostess Caddy (*if you'd like to host a party/catalog party, you'll see what I mean. wink wink... nudge nudge). It's perfect for all the information, catalogs, order forms, and party invitations that every good hostess needs.

 It's also great as a first aid station, to keep under the sink in the bathroom or in your car. Also, as a "book shelf" or "movie shelf" for tight/small spaces (think dorm room). 

Warning: The following are some really fantastic gift ideas (if I do say so myself) for the upcoming holiday season. Please, stay calm. Maybe even, do a little stretching. I do not want (and will not claim responsibility for) any injuries, caused by you rushing to the website link at the bottom of this post. There's plenty to go around. No pushing or line-jumping. Consider yourself warned. ;)

***The AIO is a great way to think outside the fill-in-the-blank. Trick-or-Treat bag (*which, by the way, I just ordered for Avery, with "Trick or Treat" embroidered on it... no worries, I'll post pictures when it gets here), Christmas stocking, Easter Basket, or special Birthday Goody bag...thing. These are great for Santa to use when he leaves a stocking at a Grandparent's house.

***Perfect as a gift for a teacher, neighbor, boss, babysitter or "Secret Santa". Fill with homemade holiday goodness, a festive smelling candle, or the recipient's favorite junk food splurge. With embroidery only $7, it's a great way to give this versatile gift, a personal touch. READ: Thirty-One has brought back embroidery on the All-In-One Organizer, due to customer demands request. Also back on the embroidery list: Zipper Pouch, Mini Zipper Pouch, and the Square Utility Tote.

So, like I said, this little guy has a TON of uses, especially for the impending holiday season. Let me know if you have questions. Feel free to email me at hbv0820@yahoo.com if you'd to see a catalog or place an order. You can also view the catalog by clicking HERE.

Happy Shopping! Hope to hear from you soon. :)

 Have a great Thursday!

Goodbye 2010... Hello 2011

I just realized I haven't written since Thanksgiving. THANKSGIVING?!?! It's Jan. 6th. This is unacceptable. So, in this blog, I will try to recap the entire month of December. WARNING: Tons of pictures.

You've read about them in my blog before, but the Harrison's are our very dear friends that live across the street. When Andy was working out of town, Avery & I got in the habit of visiting them... every night. Now that he's home, we've continued with our nightly visits. They love our girl like she is their own and are they closest non-family family that we have.



Howard, Kim, & Avery



Kim's birthday dinner was at the country club, with a surprise appearance by her parents, her niece Ali & her significant other, her aunt, two dear friends, and the Caudill's. It was so nice. Great food, great fellowship, and a few good pictures.

So: Happy Birthday, Kim! We love you!



The Caudill's
2010



Ali & (her) Andy




me & my girl
(she was getting a little sleepy after all the festivities)





December 16th we had another ultra sound for our "little" and everything looks great! We also discovered our "little" is a "SHE little"! I was kinda surprised hearing this. I just assumed boy, because I'm carrying 110% different than I did with Avery. Don't get me wrong, we are very happy! I love the idea of sisters that close in age. My sister is several years older than me, and we never really had a close relationship growing up, so I'm looking forward to seeing how this plays out. :)



She looks a lot like her big sister did at this age. ;)



We always do Christmas eve at my mother's, and this year was no different.



Love her red shoes.



 We had our traditional Christmas dinner with all the normal Harding fixings (my mother's side of the family). Ham (with bread to make sandwiches), hash brown casserole, deviled eggs (yum), baked pineapple, and this dip that my Grandma used to make (that only people with Harding in them seem to like) with Frito's. I was so full I had trouble breathing.

Then it was time to open presents. :)  



Uncle Blake had to help her out quite a bit (much to his delight).




sweet. (rotten) sweet.




Singing in her new chair from her mymoe (which is now what she calls my mother).



I was still having trouble breathing, but it was time to sing "Happy Birthday" to Jesus and blow out the candles on the cake.



Mymoe helping Avery blow out the candles.



Christmas morning was quiet in our house (which I'm sure will be the last quiet Christmas morning in a LONG time). I had to wake the girl up around 9:00 o'clock and it didn't take her long to get the hang of things.

Her first stocking! :)

It took us a little bit to actually make it down stairs to see what Santa brought.

My favorite and most memorable Christmas memory is going through my stocking with my mother. Santa brought our stockings into our rooms while we were sleeping. Once we woke up, my sister and I would yell at our parents to come look. We'd sit on our beds and show them each and every single thing he brought us. Then, we'd race down the stairs, where my grandparents were waiting for us by the Christmas tree. My sister was usually the "gift passer-outer", and we would take turns opening so that the givers could enjoy the look of surprise/excitement on our faces as we first laid eyes on our new favorite things. 

I'm hoping these can/will become Caudill traditions. This year, it looked like this:

She really didn't know what to do with herself.



Brought everything she could carry over to show me. :)



 I've never been able to spend a nice, quiet New Year's Eve with my husband, and probably never will. Guess that's what I get for marrying a musician. Therefore, I don't have any fun, cute pictures of us surrounded by friends, puckering up for our kiss to bring us into 2011. But, that's OK. I think I'll still keep him. ;)

Merry Christmas & Happy New Year to all of you!

(I know... I know... I'm a little late, but just go with it!)

Happy Turkey!

Hello & Happy Thanksgiving to my faithful followers, all 15 of you. I haven't written in awhile, and I'm not really sure why. I haven't taken pictures in weeks, and I'm blaming this creative drought on the pregnancy (which is a pretty lame excuse, but I couldn't think of another one).

Avery woke up this morning at 5:45 and was NOT a happy camper. I'd like to say this is unusual, but it's been the norm the last week or so. I miss my happy, sleepy-eyed girl who slept until 9:00. Maybe she's just getting more of her mom's "do not talk to me until I've been awake for at least 30 minutes" personality and losing her dad's "it's a great day, let's get to work" personality.

We hosted Thanksgiving dinner again this year, and it was our first time fixing a turkey. We're more of a ham family, but this year my husband wanted to fix a turkey. He didn't just fix the turkey... he showed that turkey who was boss.

It was awesome! What was on the rest of the menu you ask? I made broccoli casserole, corn, green beans, rolls, and asked a friend (who loves to make pies) make a chess pie (notice: 4 out of the 5 things we contributed to the festivities are "made" by either opening a can, preheating the oven, or making a phone call. ha!). My lovely mother brought her infamous sausage stuffing (my favorite), sweet potato casserole (always a crowd favorite), cranberries (which have been on our table in the same pretty blue dish for 4 generations now), and two pumpkin pies. Andy's mother brought mashed potatoes & gravy, more cranberries, baked beans (per Andy's request), an amazing peanut butter pie (Andy's favorite), and brownies. And last, but certainly not least, Sara (Andy's sister) brought some delicious deviled eggs and red velvet cake (Andy's other favorite).

[exhales] We had entirely too much food, which everyone knows, leads to entirely too many dishes (which my mother-in-law and husband ended up doing. ha!).

After dinner, we all wobbled uncomfortably into the living room for some nice fellowship & football.

Happy Thanksgiving! I hope everyone had a wonderful day spent with those the love.

July 4th Weekend

     Happy 4th of July! I know, I know... I'm a couple days late, but better late than never... right? Our weekend kicked off with a Saturday evening at Central Park, where Andy was playing music. My husband is an outstanding pianist. Phenomenal. Seriously. I love listening to him play. When a few of my friends found out that he played, which took awhile (he never "toots his own horn"), they said he looks more like a drummer. Hmmm... I wonder why? Could it be the tattoos?

  

Waiting for the show to start.

   

Hot Husband

Watching Daddy play.

Sweet baby girl

     Sunday, we grilled out with our dear friends & neighbors, the Harrison's. A low-key evening with lots of love and laughs. We are so blessed to have them in our lives, not to mention across the street, and they treat our baby girl as if she was their own (and I wouldn't have it any other way). Avery and I go visit them almost everyday (and I'm sure that they wouldn't have that any other way).

     Monday, was a lazy day for the Caudill's. We didn't do much of anything. Andy threw some burgers and dogs on the grill, and Avery tried some "big girl" bananas. LOVED them. She was a sticky mess and wasn't in the mood to get wiped off, so she's a "banana-face" in the following pictures.

    

YUM

New car Moe got for her.

BEEP! BEEP!

I love her big brown eyes (and her banana-face).

Summary: We had a wonderful weekend with family.

Have a great day!

Memorial Day Weekend

Thursday evening, Julia and Jonas (our dear friends from northern KY) came for an overnight visit. Jonas was a complete angel.

Avery... not so much. She was fine earlier in the visit, but as the evening wore on... Let's just say she got a little moody. She had a great time playing with his toys, but whenever he got close to her, she lost it! It's time I got her around some more kids. Play groups, here we come.

Saturday, I went to pick up pictures from our session with Julie Thacker, and my car decided to break down right in front of her house. Lovely. Andy was able to get it back to out house, but the part won't be in till Friday. So, it looks like Avery and I'll be cruising around in my Grandma's car.

I love the weekend. I love long weekends. The Caudill's weekend always start on Thursday (my husband works four 10 hr shifts), so some might say we have long weekends every week. However, the past two have been "extra long", (I've had Andy home 4 days, instead of 3) which has spoiled us. I guess it's back to the normal routine after today.