Yep, I am out there on Facebook and on Twitter, if you aren’t following me yet…go ahead…I give you permission;)

Not sure how interesting I am, but you just never know!!

As I said before, I am in love with doing all things “mom” and one of those things is being a Lunch Packer.  We do keep the school menu on the fridge and every morning I announce what they are serving.  They end up picking the cafeteria, maybe once a week (usually pizza day!) and the rest of the week, I pack.

I have done a variety of things including pasta, different sandwiches, yummy bagels and a fave…Lunchables!  When I got the email from Mom Central asking if I would review the new Oscar Mayer Lunchables Lunch Combinations, I jumped on it.  We are big fans of Lunchables.  It’s easy for me to pack which gets a big thumbs up. I could pack the SAME thing in a mom made version and get no comments but that yellow Lunchables box gets them so excited, they love Lunchables!

Most days I like to pack a little this and that and I usually save the Lunchables for a day when I am in a hurry.  Just grab it and go.  Previously, I would buy the smaller Lunchables and usually have to add a drink and one more food item to the mix.  But with the new Lunch Combinations, it’s ALL in one. Like seriously takes 10 seconds to pop it in the lunch bag! Love that!

I had my 10 year old try it out, she did a little squeal when she saw it because “that’s the one with the water and the drink packet”…I guess they were the talk of the lunch table before.

(fits perfectly in the lunch bag!)

We got the Ham & American Sub Sandwich Lunch Combination.  It comes with a whole grain bread, lean ham, Kraft 2%  American cheese, Sugar Free Jello-O, Chips Ahoy! cookies (yum!), a bottle of water and Tropical Punch Kool-Aid singles.

She loved her lunch and wants me to get more! Sounds like a success to me!

Super easy peasy lunch for mom to pack + Happy kid = A+ for Lunchables!

I wrote this review while participating in a blog tour by Mom Central on behalf of Oscar Mayer Lunchables and received a sample to facilitate my candid review. In addition, Mom Central sent me a gift card to thank me for taking the time to participate.

I took pics yesterday of some of my new tees, Abby is showing one and April has on the new tween/teen version…but I will have to show a peek of that later;)

2. It’s the 1st day of school!

3.  My sweet husband had to leave today on a business trip but he still made me feel special for my bday:)

4. He gave me a load of lottery tickets (won $18 so far!) and a certificate for a pedicure…woohoo!

5. Happy that I got fun musical cards from the girls

6. Even happier that one of them was an Anniversary card

7. And the other said something about me being old.

8. Because no matter what card they picked out…it would be my favorite!

9. Not thrilled Alex had to leave today but so happy he has a job and I am able to stay home with our girls.

10. We all woke up in plenty of time to get ready and not be rushed today (crossing my fingers for lots more days like that!)

11. And of course that means Mom gets to take lots of 1st day of school pictures!

12. Happy for a picture with my girls…

13. And one with my hubby and the girls…

14. For this sweet girl that’s in 5th grade now, making this the 8th year (including preschool) that I have taken her to her 1st day of school.

15.  Happy she ditched me the moment we went near the school gate because that means she is confident, excited for school and independent.  (…thinking of the positives here!!)

16.  Extra happy that her goal for the year is to get straight A’s.

17.  And happy about this little peanut that is now in 1st grade.  (when did that happen???)

18. Happy for her that her little love interest is in her class…even though she almost choked on her Jolly Rancher when she found out.

19. And that when I took her to her class she was still a little bit shy but sat down in her chair and didn’t come running after me multiple times like she did last year.

20.  Happy the girls go to a great school.

21. And that Abby got a “fashionable” teacher…because she loves to notice things on pretty teachers like how pretty they dress and how they do their hair and make-up. (secretly afraid of what she might say if she has an “unfashionable” teacher! haha…yes these are conversations we have!)

22.  Happy that even though Abby was mostly faking the “I love my sister so much look” that she still makes it look like it so  10 years from now I will get all warm inside when I see this picture…

23. Happy that my mom is driving 4 hours to hang out with me for a few days!

24.  And for all the phone calls and text messages from my friends and families.

25.  And the oodles of birthday wishes from all my wonderful friends on Facebook! (Really loving this!)

26. Happy that I have 7 hours of ME time – 5 days a week – starting today!

27.  Oddly enough, happy to spend 90 minutes taking my time in the grocery store by myself today

28. And saving 90 dollars on my bill!

29.  Oh, happy that my neighbor called and invited me to a birthday lunch!

30.  I turned her down because I was going to pick up the house a bit before my mom got here…but  happy that I decided to write this instead because it’s my birthday and my mom loves me even if my house needs vacuuming.

31. Happy that the phrases “I heart Chocolate Creme Pie” and “Death by Chocolate” are on my menu plan for this evening.

32.  And happy that I found the “light” version of  “Death by Chocolate” because…well…I guess just because it makes me giggle.

33.  And happy that I could easily think of 33 things to be happy about!

The girls went for a swim last night after dinner because it was one of those too hot to swim during the day kind of days.  (not that after dinner was much cooler…it doesn’t cool off in the evenings like it does in California!)  They were being so cute so I ran inside grabbed my camera to get some pictures.  Seriously, in like 30 seconds they went from happy as can be to this…

Yes, one happy kid…other kid…not so happy! April probably accidentally kicked Abby as she was swimming around or something else equally as serious;) Here is a shot from happier times…yes, all 5 friends happy at once! Woohoo!

When I grow up, I want to have a big ol’ fancy pool but until then…this $200 beauty will do! (Did I mention this is the 2nd year using it…so really it can be a $100 a summer pool….)

I decided to make this my new home for blogging. I had, let’s see…3 blogs total and Facebook and I just got overwhelmed and quit updating all of them. (well…except Facebook because I am totally addicted to it!) Now that this place is pretty (or at least pleasing to me!) I will do all my updates here. A little Tote and Tee action, my own crafty shares, family pics and well anything else that I pull out of my sleeve.

All posts need a pic, right? My baby girl turned 6 this month!

As the page grows, I plan to use it to do giveaways and special promotions.  It’s so easy to use!

I just wanted to announce a big change here at Tote and Tee.  Eek, a change! I am a little nervous but also VERY excited!  Starting this Wednesday, all the items you see on the website now will no longer be available at all times.  On Wednesday morning when you come to the website, you will see only 4 featured items on the front page.  Those 4 items will be the only things available for the week.  Every Wednesday morning there will be new items.

I am excited to bring a new feel to the site and be able to rotate my items for sale more often.  I plan to have lots of new things to offer, some old favorites and fun accessories! I even have some themed weeks and guest sellers coming in the future.  It is my hope that the new format will keep things fresh and fun for you and me too! I love Tote and Tee and wanted to find a way to make it work for me but still keep it going.  I am a busy mom and since I do 95% of the work myself still, I needed to come up with a plan to limit the products I make but still have it be a fun place for you to shop!

With these changes, I am also limiting the amount of special orders that I take.  I am going to offer “custom” or special requests once a month as one of the featured items.  I will always give a weeks notice before I put a “custom” up as a listing.  This will give you time to figure out what upcoming events you may need a tee for.

I am hoping that the changes will be fun for you too and I will strive to keep Tote and Tee a cool place to shop.

And don’t forgot, if there is something listed on the website that you have had your eye on…please get it now! The changes go into effect on Wednesay morning of this week.

Thanks and please email with any questions, suggestions, thoughts and hugs!

Your tee shirt making friend,

Amy

www.toteandtee.com

Twitter is hmm, how do you explain it. Basically you sign up for an account there and you start following people you are interested in. You will see everything the people that you follow say and everyone that follows you, will see what you say. The fun thing about this is you only get 140 characters per “tweet” so it’s a quick way to do a little chit chat.

I have found that it’s a great way to socialize while I am still busy doing work. I work from home and don’t have much interaction with anyone other than oh my hubby, kids, grandma, UPS man…you get the drift. I can’t remember when I signed up but in that short time(some months) I have managed to find over 1000 amazing people to follow! Everyone from fellow business owners, old friends, bloggers, PR folks and I am even following Shaq and Lance Armstrong!

One amazing group of women that I am jazzed to be connected with now through Twitter are the following list…they all own online Children’s stores and you can find them on Twitter! If you are on Twitter or just signed up, you might want to check out this fabu group of ladies and follow them. If you aren’t on Twitter, you should click around on the website links and maybe you will discover a new store or 2 to shop at!

@MyPreciousKid - www.mypreciouskid.com

@lovebugclothing – www.lovebugclothing.com 20% off 1st order with code FIRST

@bizziemommy – www.lalababyboutique.com

@tresfun – www.littleedesigns.etsy.com

@SuperMomz – www.supermomz.com

@mumby – www.mabel.ca

@fabrichound – www.sweetgirlboutique.com

@funfelt – www.funfelt.com

@twinklingtees – www.twinklingtees.com

@Babology – www.babology.com

@Momdot – www.bambinaballerina.com

@vusova – www.vusova.etsy.com

@katjapresnal – www.skimbaco.com

@jaybirddesigns – www.jaybird-designs.com & www.mypinkzebraboutique.com

@princesstimetoy – www.princesstimetoys.com

@isewcute – isewcute.etsy.com

@divineclothing – www.divinelittleduds.com

@alexcaseybaby – www.alexcaseybaby.com

@emihill – www.georgietees.com

@pitterpatte – www.pitterpattercreations.com

@polkadotpatch – www.polkadotpatch.com

@bfmwear – www.bfmwear.com

@SweetDreamsDes – www.sweet-dreams-designs.net

@babyfabulous – www.babyfabulous.com

@katjapresnal – www.skimbaco.com

@hippostoes – www.hippostoes.com

@PMKU - www.happypandababy.com

@jussar – www.jusshardesigns.com

@monkeytoeshoes – www.monkey-toes.com

@oopdoo – www.oopdoohug.com

@momfluential – www.francie-pants.com

@fundoodies123 – www.fundoodies.com

@bamdesigns – www.bamdesigns.etsy.com

@marinasmom – www.myprincesscloset.com

@loveseptember – www.loveseptember.etsy.com

@zadyball – www.zadyball.com

@OnTray2Go – www.ontray2go.com

@glamajama – www.glamajama.com

@ashleeallen – www.nonnyandboo.com

@moomettesgram – www.moomettesmagnificents.com

@thatrobguy – www.thatbabydvd.com

@blessednest – www.blessednest.com

@africanABC – www.africanabc.com

I started this list awhile ago and have made many new connections since then. If you are a “Children’s Store owner that Twitters” just leave a comment here or DM me on Twitter and I will add you! (If we are BFF’s and I didn’t add your twitter name, don’t feel bad…I am lacking a few brain cells for now while I get through the holiday rush, just let me know!)

Oh, and if you want to find me and follow my ramblings you can do that at http://www.twitter.com/toteandtee