The Scrappy Life

Ok, we might as well accept it. Snow is on it’s way, and a good bit of it, too. This means school will be out, kids will be home and will need constant entertainment (because freezing your tush off outside is only fun for so long). Below are a few full-proof ideas to keep your kids entertained long enough for you to have at least one cup of coffee in peace. 

1. Bake! Cookies, cupcakes, cake (if you’re feeling wild) - kids love to get their hands dirty. 

2. Have a fashion show & photoshoot - because who doesn’t love dressing up?

3. Build a fort - then play the clean up game 

4. Hot Chocolate + a movie 

5. Have a dance party 

6. Play a board game 

7. Have a “Make your own pancake” station with different toppings

8. Create and solve your own puzzle 

9. Make an obstacle course (with safety in mind)

10. Get a head start & make homemade valentines for Valentine’s Day

Welcome, 2016! Who else is excited about a new year and a fresh start? As we hit the ground running with 2016, resolutions are undoubtedly on everyone’s mind. First, let’s nail down the actual definition of resolution:

res·o·lu·tionˌrezəˈlo͞oSH(ə)n/

noun

1.a firm decision to do or not to do something."she kept her resolution not to see Anne any more"synonyms:intention, resolve, decision, intent, aim, plan;

The idea of a resolution is great. Any step we take to better ourselves in any way, is a step in the right direction. We’re often focused on making resolutions about changing something about our physical appearance or swearing off a certain food/drink (looking at you chocolate and wine). This year, we should all focus on resolving something deeper, that could have a greater impact on our overall wellness. For 2016, I’m focusing on accepting that I cannot and will not be the best at everything (because how exhausting does that sound)?  That isn't a cop out or an excuse to not give everything I do 100%.....hear me out. My instinct is to always 'over' achieve and I'm not satisfied if I don't.  Just realizing this was an accomplishment in itself and now that I have the inside scoop on myself, it is time to rejoice in small victories (and even failures) regardless!  My other resolution is to say NO (to things I don't want and shouldn't agree to) and YES more to the things I should (vaca....here I come!).  

So, maybe my 3 resolutions aren't a right fit for you, but here are a few more friends have shared with me.  If you have some, tell us what they are!

1. Start each day with a positive mindset 

2. Spend less time focusing on the past and future, focus on the present

3. Stop complaining (we love this one)

4. Put the phone down and go outside 

5. Give more compliments 

6. Say “I love you” more

7. Rekindle old friendships

8. Talk less, listen more

9. Stop being so hard on yourself, you’re all you’ve got!

‘Tis the season for giving, receiving and holiday partying! Holiday parties are by far the best parties of the year, and if you’re one of the brave souls who takes on the daunting task of planning on of these soirees, you deserve a hug (or a really awesome hostess gift). We’ve compiled a list of gifts that won’t break the bank and hostess’ are sure to love. Happy hosting!

1. North Carolina Stemless Wine Glass - $4.95 @ Swoozies

2. Striped and Neon Pink Heart Phone Case - $20.00 @ ban.do

3. Voluspa Suede Blanc Candle - $16.00 @ Nordstrom 

4. Kate Spake Travel Coffee Mug - $18.00 @ Nordstrom

5. Monogram Ball Ornament - $11.20 (on sale now) @ Nordstrom

6. Plaid Scarf - $20.00 @ Nordstrom

7. Stone Stud Earrings - $8.00 @ Nordstrom 

8. Camel Knit Initial Hat - $13.00 @ Lolly Wolly Doodle

9. philosophy Shampoo, Shower Gel & Bubble Bath - $18.00 @ Sephora

Date night’s (or days) are God’s gift to relationships. There is no better way to wash away the stress of the week than going out, or staying in with your loved one. Whether you’re having date night/day weekly, or monthly, you’ve probably gone on the same date at least 100 times. Dinner & drinks, dinner & a movie, etc., it’s time to spice it up people! We also know that staying in probably sounds most appealing after a long week of work and running after little ones but we challenge you to get out there and try some of our “Update your Date Night” ideas.

Date Ideas: 

-Pottery Class

-Bow & Arrow Shooting

-Take in a ballet (if you can convince him)

-Wine tasting

-Football game (if you can convince yourself) 

-Go on a hike

-Cooking class 

-Make your own sushi

-Drive-in Movie 

-Kayak/paddle board

-Go camping (even if it’s in the backyard)

-Run (or walk) a 5K

-Build something (so many fun DIY furniture ideas out there)

-Go to a museum 

-Take a painting class 

Today, I sent Bella off to school for Career Day. She chose to be a Fashion Designer (which I loved, of course)! She was dressed to trendy perfection with her Fashion Design Sketch Portfolio. How cute does she look?

Our Career Day brainstorming got me thinking about what I wanted to be when I grew up. My parents tell me I wanted to be a brain surgeon or a cosmetologist (two very opposite ends of the spectrum). This just goes to show you can never predict your future! See what other Lolly Wolly Doodle employees wanted to be when they grew up below and tell us what you dreamed of being!

Amy (VP of Product & Design): Nurse

Brittany (LWD Merchandiser): Cheerleader

Jordan (Product Manager - Supply Chain): Pro Baseball Player

Alex (Senior Web Designer): Astronomer 

Kayla (Planner): Buyer

Jena (Photographer): Librarian 

Am I the only one who loves fall because of the fashion? Sure, summer is great but you can really showcase your style in cooler weather when more clothing is necessary. I am a sucker for a cardigan + blanket scarf combo, but my huge fall fashion guilty pleasure is booties. I want, scratch that, I NEED them in every style, shape and color. I’ll post a few of my favorite booties below, because everyone should have a solid bootie line up in their fashion arsenal. 

Tom’s Grey Felt Shine Boucle Women’s Leila Booties - I couldn’t love these more

Sole Society Justina Cheetah Dot Booties (100% need)

Sole Society’s Hollie Heeled Bootie

Seychelles Garnet Booties 

Shop our favorite turquoise and mustard items on our website! 

Fall is such a magical time of year. The leaves turn beautiful shades of reds and oranges, the air is crisp and pumpkins are everywhere and in everything (no really, EVERYTHING). Thanks to Starbucks and their Pumpkin Spice Lattes and Trader Joe’s pumpkin-flavored products, my obsession is full-fledged. Whether you like your pumpkin in coffee cup, on a plate or on your skin (see Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Body Butter) there is a pumpkin product for you. See below for my favorite pumpkin products (cue Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream).

1. Ben & Jerry’s Pumpkin Cheesecake Ice Cream 

2. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Bagels

3. Chobani Pumpkin Spice Blended Greek Yogurt

4. Pepperidge Farm Pumpkin Spice Milano Cookies

5. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Waffles

6. Nestle Coffee-Mate Pumpkin Spice Coffee Creamer

7. Philadelphia Pumpkin and Cinnamon Cream Cheese (for your pumpkin bagels)

8. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Macarons

9. Trader Joe’s Pumpkin Rolls with Pumpkin Spice Icing (um, yum)

10. Planter’s Pumpkin Spice Almonds

11. Nabisco Pumpkin Spice Oreos

12. Food Should Taste Good Harvest Pumpkin Tortilla Chips (jury is still out on this one)

13. Boom Chicka Pop Pumpkin Spice Kettle Corn

14. Pumpkin Spice Peeps

15. Pumpkin Spice Latte M&Ms

Halloween is such a fun time for kids and adults alike. Carving pumpkins, creating costumes and of course, having a perfectly valid excuse to gorge on every candy under the sun. It’s so easy to justify eating the “mini” version of your favorite candy, but even those add up quickly. I read a pretty troubling article recently that divulged the amount of exercise you would have to engage in to burn off one piece of candy, and it was honestly terrifying. I won’t get into numbers because I don’t want to ruin your day so instead I’ll provide you with a few “healthy” alternatives to your favorite candies. **Not all will be recommended by your dentist**

1. Twizzlers (-50 calories & 0 grams of fat for two pieces)

2. Tootsie Roll (50 calories & 1 gram of fat for one piece) 

3. Jolly Ranchers (70 calories & 0 grams of fat for three pieces) 

4. York Peppermint Pattie (165 calories & 3 grams of fat for one piece) 

5. Dark Chocolate Hershey Kisses (190 calories & 12 grams of (good) fat for nine pieces)

6. Haribo Gummy Bears (130 calories & 0 grams of fat for 17 pieces)

7. Jelly Belly Jelly Beans (100 calories & 0 grams of fat for 25 pieces) 

8. Smarties (25 calories & 0 grams of fat for one roll of smarties)

9. Brach’s Candy Corn (140 calories & 0 grams of fat for 19 pieces) 

With the holiday season upon us, travel will undoubtedly pick up for everyone. While celebrities make hopping on an airplane look flawless, the rest of us would prefer to be galavanting around the airport in pajamas. While the pajama option is preferred, the rest of the world may not appreciate my ten year old “I <3 NY” shirt as much as I do. But don’t worry, I’ve found a few ways to sneak comfort into your outfit without looking like you just rolled out of bed. Below are a few of my comfy must-haves while traveling!

1. SWEATER: An oversized sweater is a MUST. The thermostat on an airplane can be so unpredictable. Even if you aren’t cold, a sweater can double as a pillow. 

We love this Wrap Sweater from Ann Taylor Loft (currently 40% off) 

2. SHOES: Whatever you do, don’t leave for the airport without a comfortable pair of shoes. You never know when you’ll have to make a 40 yard dash to the next gate. 

Tom’s Gunmetal Leather Jutti Flats 

3. SCARF: A scarf is a flying necessity. It is the best way to shield yourself from the person next to you that is having a coughing fit without being rude, plus, they’re crazy comfy. 

4. LEGGINGS: If there is ever a time it is acceptable to wear leggings as pants, it’s while traveling (you’re sitting most of the time anyway, right?)

5. CARRY ON BAG: Perfect for stuffing your purse in so you only have to carry one bag onto the plane (and you can avoid paying another $25 in luggage fees).

If you’re like me, you can’t go into a drugstore without coming out with two or three things you hadn’t planned on buying. Hey, it’s not our fault, they just make it too easy! I’ve made it my mission to find all of the must-have beauty products that work like a dream (or at least like they cost more than $10). Below are a few of my favorites that I’ve found thus far, check back for updates as I continue on my drugstore product journey! What are your favorite drugstore beauty products?

Not Your Mother’s Double Take Dry Finish Texture Spray ($5.99 @ulta)

Maybelline Instant Age Rewind Eraser Dark Circle Treatment Concealer ($8.99 @ulta) and worth every penny!

Olay Pore Minimizing Cleanser + Scrub ($7.99 @target)

Real Techniques Powder Brush ($9.99 @ulta)

Garnier Fructis Full Control Anti-Humidity Hairspray ($3.49 @walgreens) perfect for stubborn frizz!

Milani Matte Delizioso Pink Blush ($5.99 @walgreens) 

Maybelline Fit Me Matte + Poreless Foundation ($5.50 @walmart) the BEST drugstore foundation there is, trust me!

Maybelline Color Sensational Blissful Berry Lipstick ($5.50 @target) the only shade of lipstick you’ll need for fall. 

OGX Shampoo Renewing Moroccan Argan Oil Shampoo & Conditioner ($7.49/each @walgreens)

Rimmel London Natural Bronzer ($4.99 @ulta)

I am totally a member of team-DIY Projects. I think being able to create something with your own personal touch is great, and let’s be honest, saving money doesn’t hurt either! With Halloween just around the corner, I wanted to share some of my favorite DIY Costumes for you and your little ones that are easy to construct and even easier on your wallet. Have you guys tried any of these? What are your favorites?

1. Raining Cats & Dogs: Umbrella with Cat/Dog Cut Outs + Raincoat + Rain boots 

2. Bad with Names: Devil horns + Name tag stickers

3. Hot Air Balloon: Laundry Basket + Ribbon + Balloons

4. Ladybug: Red shirt/dress + Black construction paper circles 

5. Where’s Waldo: Red and white striped shirt & hat + glasses 

6. Skeleton: Black shirt and pants + white duct tape 

7. Bag of Jelly Beans: Clear trash bag + Multi colored balloons + Ribbon

8. Baked Potato: Cardboard box + Aluminum foil + Cotton balls + Yellow construction paper

9. Morton Salt Girl: Yellow dress + Umbrella + Morton Salt 

10. Donut: Donut pool float + Rollers for sprinkles 

11. Holy Cow: Halo + Black top/pants + White inserts 

Heading back to school is hard on your little ones but equally as hard on us as parents. As if deciding what to cook the family for dinner wasn’t enough, add the task of creating five lunches a week to keep your child’s belly full and mind powered at school.

Below you will find several full-proof lunches that are easy to create, easy on the wallet and that your kids will love!

1. Ants on a Log (Celery + Peanut Butter + Raisins)

2. Pepperoni & Cheese Rolls (Croisant Dough + Pepperoni + Cheese + Bake)

3. DIY Lunchable (Deli meat + Cheese + Crackers)

4. Peanut Butter & Jelly “Sushi” (Tortilla + Peanut Butter + Jelly + Roll & Cut)

5. Cold Pasta Salad (Noodles + Veggies + Cheese + Olive Oil)

6. Hard Boiled Eggs (Eggs + Salt + Pepper) 

7. Hummus Plate (Hummus + Celery + Carrots + Pretzels for dipping) 

8. Turkey & Cheese Roll Ups (Turkey + Cheese + Honey Mustard for dipping)

9. Deconstructed Tacos (Pre-made Beef + Tortilla Chips + Cheese + Lettuce)

I am so excited to be featured in the October 2015 edition of Good Housekeeping! There have been so many amazing stops along my journey and this is just another to add to the list!

By the way...have you guys looked at Good Housekeeping lately? OMG, you won’t believe it if you haven’t!  I remember the magazine quite well growing up because my mom was a big fan and I guess I always thought of it as “My Mom’s” magazine. Seriously, that couldn’t be more wrong (and not because I am now “my mom” LOL).  It is truly full of fun, fashion and amazing articles that are so trendy and relevant that I am now addicted.  

The “Facebook Fashionista” feature showcases fun questions that talk about my journey from mom and amateur seamstress to mom and CEO.  Lori was so fun to work with and we had such a great time during the interview that I hated to see it end.  Truly, such an honor!

Good Housekeeping dubs what we’ve done here at Lolly Wolly Doodle as “Career-spiration” and I hope that others see it as that as well. After reading this article, I hope you’ll be more inspired than ever to tap into your intuition and run with it.

Below is a small snippet of the article but go grab a copy of the October 2015 issue of Good Housekeeping and tell me what you think!

We caught up with our Lolly Designers, Jackie and Erika, to get an inside scoop on what’s currently trending and what we can expect in the coming months. 

One huge theme: Florals 

I’m in love with several floral patterns in a multitude of designs for women and girls. These are the perfect patterns to transition from summer into fall while keeping your outfits bright and playful.

Life is full of guilty pleasures. For some, it’s shoes and for others it’s handbags but for me, it’s crack. Don’t sound the alarm too quickly, I don’t mean actual crack. I’m talking icing filled donut hole “crack”. 

There is a small, locally-owned bakery here in Lexington, N.C., named Fancy Pastry Shop and they are completely to blame for my momentous donut hole addiction. 

Fancy Pastry produces these melt-in-your-mouth icing-filled donut holes fresh daily and trust me when I say, they can make even your worst day, seem better. 

During a run-through of a daytime talk show panel I was a part of, we somehow got on the subject of guilty pleasures and naturally, Fancy Shop popped into my mind. The next thing I knew, I had my eyes closed as I was trying to verbally describe the taste of these mouthwatering donut holes to the other panel members. Of course, no words could ever do them justice but my passion for the donut holes was clear.  I had a panel of 5 people in LA ready to hop on the next plane to little ole Lexington, NC just to indulge in my addiction:)

A wise man, Charles Eames, once said, “take your pleasures seriously,” and I seriously LOVE these donut holes. 

...so why isn’t there an “S” on my chest?

Recently I have found myself taking a more in-depth look at what kind of story the contents of my life tell to an outsider looking in. Would a stranger be able to identify the most important characters in my story and what I value the most? And more importantly, what happens when you remove yourself from your own story, and you don’t like what you see?

They say if you want to know what someone values the most, look at the pictures on their phone. However, I find that what we value the most can be found in what consumes one’s mind, time and energy. 

God, family and business are the three starring characters in my story and are ultimately what consciously and subconsciously consumes my mind. Sometimes there can be a fine line between passion, obligation, business and personal values. It creates an equation that frequently seems unsolvable, a real balancing act and finding the strength to solve it often has to come from a faith much bigger than myself. 

Life is about compromise, right?  I find myself giving ‘Brandi’ pep talks and asking ‘how hard are you willing to fight for something that you believe in’?  Am I the only one that does this?  (Please say no even if I am:))  The answers aren’t always obvious and is there even a ‘right’ answer out there?  I read something today that I hope helps you as much as it did me.....