LET THE COUNTDOWN BEGIN....

Remember in an earlier post I mentioned some EXCITING news..? Well, this is it!
Polkadotz Shoppe is coming to eBay on February 3rd.
(no Sue, I'm not pregnant...haha!)

Type Boutique Polkadotz in your eBay search to find some of the most AMAZING designs AND designers! You won't be disappointed!

See you sooooooooooon!!!

~~Ann~~

WHERE'S CHLOE...?

I have had a lot of e-mails asking where my little model, Chloe, has been.
Before Christmas she was diagnosed with Crohn's disease. It has taken a toll on her and us.
There were a few options for treatment. Nutritional therapy (tube through the nose) or steroids. We decided both of those seemed too invasive and decided to do a more natural approach. Unfortunately, it did not work for Chloe and we had to resort to the Prednisone.
She took her first liquid dose of Prednisone yesterday and that didn't go too well as she vomited most of it up. We then called the pharmacist and had them prescribe the pill form.
We were able to get that all in her this morning with no problems and it seems she is tolerating it fine.
Chloe is going to be 7 years old in March and is still so tiny. I know she seems big in my auction listing's but she is only 29 lbs. and still wears 3T/4T. We need her to grow and gain some weight.
Please pray for Chloe that this works for her and puts her in remission.


*hugs*
~~Ann & Chloe~~

What's New...?

Sorry I haven't posted anything in a while. I have been bombarded with custom order's so I have been sewing like a madwoman....!!

We have some FUN, EXCITING news to share with you but not quite yet...BA HA HA HA!!
I am SO mean aren't I...?

Hope you are staying warm! I have icicles hanging from my earlobes. It is COLD, COLD, COLD here!!

Tata for now...

~~Ann~~

FDA: Postpone eating products with peanut butter

As many of my readers are mom's with children I thought this would be an important read...

First it was bulk peanut butter shipped to schools, hospitals and nursing homes. Now the concern is spreading.

While name brand jars of peanut butter, on your grocery store shelves, are believed to be safe, we're at the point now where the FDA is warning you should postpone eating cookies, ice cream and other products containing peanut butter until the FDA can get a handle on the extent of this salmonella problem.

Six deaths, including two in Minnesota, are blamed on contaminated peanut butter products.

Kellogg has already recalled more than a dozen of their creations.

And this could be just the tip of the iceberg.

Today Hy-Vee grocery stores, including stores in Minnesota, have recalled some of their cookies and other products containing peanut butter.

And today the FDA said that if you have any products in your kitchen cupboards that contain peanut butter, it would be best not to eat them yet because its unknown if those products contain salmonella.

Salmonella has been found at a plant in Georgia owned by Peanut Corporation of America. That company distributes peanut butter and peanut paste to 85 different food companies. That means the peanut butter may have found its way into a large number of products.

Kellogg has recalled 16 products including Austin and Keebler brand peanut butter sandwich crackers and snack size packs of Famous Amos peanut butter cookies and Keebler Soft Batch Homestyle peanut butter cookies. Click here for more.

Stephen Sundlof, with the FDA, said today, "In terms of food products that contain peanut butter, but have not yet been recalled, we urge consumers to postpone eating these products until further info becomes available about whether that product may be affected. We have been advised by manufacturers that product specific info may be made available within the new few days." So avoid products with peanut butter in them for now and throw out recalled products.

The Hy-Vee recall is for its own brand of products. It said in a news release today that it is recalling its Peanut Butter Cookies, Monster Cookies, Peanut Butter Reeses Pieces Cookies, Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies, Lunchbox Reeses Pieces Cookies, Lunchbox Peanut Butter Cookies, People Chow Party Mix and Assorted Truffle Fudge. Click here for Hy-Vee's website.

As for that jar of peanut butter on your shelf, the FDA says there is no indication that the major national brand name peanut butters sold in grocery stores are linked to this outbreak.

Sundlof says, "Most peanut butter sold in jars at supermarkets appears to be safe."

Click here for the FDA website.

FLY OVER TO IVYLANE!!

We have a sweet little mini launch & GIVEAWAY starting Thursday, January 15th.

This week we have the most adorable Custom Shirred Buggy Halter Top made by Dawn of ella*monde. So appropriate for Spring!


Available in Custom Sizes 12 months to 8 girls

All YOU need to do is go to our Ivylane "FLY" Listings and choose your favorite! Come back here and post a comment. You will automatically be entered to win one of Dawn's Buggy Halter Tops. A random winner will be chosen on Monday, January 19th.

Click our Logo below to see ALL of IVYLANE's Listings!

BRRRRRRRRRRR!!!!!!!!!!!

This morning we woke up to -18 with a -28 wind chill. But hey, it warmed up. It is now -15 with -27 wind chill.
It's days like these I am glad I work in the home. Speaking of work...BYE!

FIRST PHOTO SHOOT for Farris & I

Introducing Farris...
WoW! Let me tell you, we had quite a photo shoot. We have so much to learn but I do love how these pics turned out so I thought I would share them with you. I don't think they turned out too bad for my first ever photo shoot. I am looking forward to the next shoot with Farris. She is the cutest little model even if she does have little accidents on my props...hehe!!

AN ANGEL WAS BORN....

My niece, Christy, had her baby today. She was born at 5:03 pm. 6 lbs.1 oz. and 19" long.
This is an amazing story...When Christy went and had her usual labs they did the fetal alpha protein test and the usual bloodowork they do when mom's are pregnant.
We were sad to find out that she tested positive for a "defect". Christy went through the amniocentisis and it still showed something wasn't quite right. Never did get an answer...so needless to say there was worry by all about the pregnancy.
Now, 9 months later she has arrived and she is PERFECT!!! Hmmm, makes you think twice about the accuracy of those tests doesn't it?
"God doesn't make mistakes"
What is her name? Well, Mom & Dad haven't decided yet. But I will let you know when I found out.
Congratulations Christy & Nathan! and you, little one, welcome to the world!!

~~Ann~~

NEW PAPER PRETTIES!!!

What an exciting day yesterday! The loooong awaited scrapbook store opened at 10:00 am.
You see, my sister, would rant and rave about this FABULOUS scrapbook store in St. Paul. I never did make it there. I didn't have time or was unable to go with her that day...
THEN, much to my amazement, the store decided to move...HERE in MY town. YIPPEE!!
Oh how my sister and I would count the days to the opening of the NEW scrapbook store.
We made plans to meet up in the scrapbook store parking lot at 9:50 am.
(I made sure I saved a little stash of money so I would be able to buy whatever my little heart desired)
I was so anxious I could barely sleep the night before...I was up until 2 am. When I awoke it was 9:28 am....EeeeeK! I overslept!! I had exactly 22 minutes to get outta bed, brush teeth, do the make up and hair and get dressed....RuNNNNNNNNN!!!!
Good thing the store is only minutes from my house. I was a little late...I made it there by 9:55 am. There was sis, (un)patiently waiting, in the parking lot.
9:58 we started heading to the doors ready to knock out whoever got in our way...HAHA!!!
There, we were greeted by Rhonda the sweet store owner.
"Oh my gosh! Look!" "Oh no...Look over here!" "Ooooh Ahhhh!" The store is BEAUTIFUL!!
So many pretty things to look at and touch. My sister and I are touchers....we have to "touch" the paper....LOL!!!
Well, I did behave with my purchase. Just a few papers, a new stamp and some cute metal frame embelly's. Well, I only behaved because she didn't have all of her Tim Holtz stock in yet.
Now my sister on the other hand did make a larger purchase than I did. As a matter of fact she was so excited about the new store that she ended up having to go to the hospital later that day. YES! REALLY!! She was in the ER and in a room within one hour. She thought it was the big one....she was having a heart attack. Come to find out it was a panic attack (thank you God, I need my sister). She needs to release some of the stress in her life. Now how is she going to do that when her daughter (my cute little niece is going to the hospital tonight to have her baby girl). HOW EXCITING!!! I CAN'T WAIT!!!
The actual GRAND opening of the store is next weekend and you can bet I will be there...hehe! (if not sooner). But for now I will be hanging out close to the hospital. I will snap pictures and share them with you when I can.

HBTM IS FALLING IN LOVE!! COME SEE OUR VALENTINES LISTING IN OUR ETSY SHOP!