new things

I'm excited, I'll be adding these custom address stamps (in a variety of styles) to my Creative Nest Design offerings! More info to come soon. Want one now? Email me at elhajs@aol.com, otherwise you will have to wait until I roll out my debut of Christmas cards and more. So excited!

not always equal

Sometimes generic brands can be just as good as the name brands. But lately I am finding the exceptions to where it's not! Here are two of my recent discoveries.


1. Equaline Foaming Hand Soap is not equal to Dial Foaming Hand Soap - the generic Equaline never foams right and comes out watery





2. Target up & up Continuous Spray Sunscreen is not equal to Coppertone Continuous Spray Sunscreen- the Target brand sprays out like a water-hose and is so greasy. My kids hate it.





Sometimes name brand is better!

things i'm selling to buy a new purse

As of right now I have 1 day and 16 hours until my ebay auction ends. I only have one watcher on one item. Blah! I won these in a celebrity gift basket.


New Maru & Friends "Maru" Doll. 21” all vinyl doll for play. Retails for $110.00, starting bid $80.00. Doll and accessories included: long sleeve shirt, vest, skirt, tights, underpants, hat, and matching purse with boots. Hard cover storybook and Certificate of Authenticity. Doll sculpted by award-winning collectible doll artist, Dianna Effner. Made from the finest materials and tested for safety for children 3 years and over

Liz Lange Natalie Diaper Bag in green. Comes with a carry-all case inside, but did not come with the changing pad or bottle holder. Has a detachable strap. Retails for $200, starting bid $125.

I haven't put this bag on yet, but it's my current l.a.m.b purse. I bought it for around $400 over two years ago, it's still in great condition but has been used. I honestly still get compliments on it everywhere I go. Planning on selling it for $75. I'm only parting with it because I need something even bigger (this is great size with lots of room) to throw all my crap in for being a mom of 3 (I can't believe that I'm going to be a mom of 3-crazy!).

Something old and something new

This post is about two favs. My first fav is my washing machine. Something you should know about me, I put everything in the washer. I have washed heels (not leather), seat cushions, dry clean only items and more. Things I'm unsure of I just put in the "hand wash" cycle and off it goes! Of course I always do so with the knowledge that it might get ruined, but I've never been disappointed. However, on a side note, please do not wash things and then have them get ruined and be mad at me. It's all at your own risk. A second fav, old things. Okay I actually don't like old things. I'm not even a clean person and I'm not good with old dirt or filth. So when my parents told me to either take the old Cabbage Patch kids home or they were toast, I hesitantly said okay. I was thinking in my mind, there's no way Piper is playing with my 23 year old dolls. But..... we washed them and all their accessories and they are CLEAN! They look great, and I am so excited to have them back. One of them freakishly reminds me and Mark of Michelle Duggar, that woman who keeps having kids and is at 18 now, but Piper doesn't know so it's okay.

My fav Christmas pictures and my fav presents

I hope you had a great Christmas...here are some of my fav photos from our celebration!

Family photo on Xmas Eve

Brody seeing Santa's presents Christmas morning

Piper and her $14.95 wooden doll house

Brody trying to lovingly put his arm around his sister Christmas morning.

Below are the fav gifts we received this year, you never really know until you open them and try them out!

Dancing Brobee from Yo Gabba Gabba! We expected this to be our least favorite.

Abby doll from Pottery Barn Kids, it's as big as Piper though

Williams Sonoma's Peppermint Bark, Mark's favorite

Play Town wooden doll house, got it at Toys R Us on clearance for $14.95. I love it!

Gingher sewing scissors from my mom, the Cadillac of scissors

Joseph Abboud men's socks from Mark's mom found at Nordstroms Rack

Horton Hears a Who! DVD- we had such a good time watching on Christmas and it kept Brody's attention the whole time. A tough feat!