Monday, November 30, 2009

MELISSA AND DOUG GIVEAWAY!




Our first giveaway of the week is sponsored by CSN Stores which is not only a great source for all types of toys made to inspire imaginative play, but also a wonderful source for nursery furniture.

This is the perfect giveaway to fill in your holiday toy shopping! Everyone knows and loves Melissa and Doug products, a trusted name for quality toys that you can feel good about giving - no sounds, no gadgets or gimmicks, just really fantastic toys that stand the test of time.

Included in this giveaway are these four great Melissa and Doug products!






To enter, simply leave a comment on this post. You can earn additional entries by becoming (or being!) a Facebook fan of Pumpkin Petunia, posting about this giveaway on Twitter or posting about this giveaway on your blog. Please leave a separate comment for each additional entry and include a link to your blog post or tweet. Giveaway ends on Friday, December 5th at midnight EST. Prizes will ship directly to winner from CSN Stores.

Good luck!

For more great gifts, don't forget to take advantage of our Cyber Monday sale on personalized silhouette prints!

CYBER MONDAY SALE!! $10 SILHOUETTE PRINTS



Thought I'd have some fun and join in the Cyber Monday frenzy! So for today only, until midnight PST, all Personalized Silhouette Prints are just $10!!! (that's a savings of $6 per print!)



These prints make great gifts for the teen who loves sports...




...or music. Or Guitar Hero!




Or the budding little artist in your life.

Tons of designs to choose from to suit any personality and interest. Each print is personalized with a name and is available in your choice of many colors. Don't miss out on this great deal!

Sunday, November 29, 2009

IT'S GIVEAWAY WEEK!


{Image via Fifi flowers. You must check out her beautiful work.}

To kick off the official start of the holiday season, it is giveaway week at Pumpkin Petunia! We'll be giving away great prizes all week long to help you get a jump start on (or finish up!) your holiday shopping. Check back Monday afternoon for the first giveaway and trust me, it's a good one!


Monday, November 23, 2009

EVERY PICTURE TELLS A STORY



Having trouble getting that "perfect" Holiday card photo? Well, you're obviously not alone and to prove it, here are some of my personal photo shoot rejects.


But have you ever noticed that it's the "rejects" that really capture the spirit of the day?


All the funny, serendipitous moments?


So before you dress up your kids yet again and drag them out for a retake, take another look at the photos you have.



Because the silly one...



The one that shows their personalities in all their crazy glory...



May just be the ONE.


OK, maybe not this one.

Wednesday, November 18, 2009

HOLIDAY CARD TRENDS FOR 2009




Sending out a big thank you to strollerTRAFFIC for checking in with me on this year's Holiday Card trends! Go here to see what's hot for 2009!

Monday, November 16, 2009

THIS IS MY MESSAGE TO YOU (OO - OO)



Watch this and feel the stress melt away. Works every time.

Thursday, November 12, 2009

LAST DAY FOR 20% OFF!



Now is definitely the time to take action on ordering your Holiday Cards. I know it doesn't seem like an urgent matter, but these things take time and you need to address and stamp all of them and the post office gets very busy this time of year...

Not convinced? Well, would a nice little discount motivate you? Order your Holiday Cards from Pumpkin Petunia this week and receive 20% off IN ADDITION TO any quantity discount that your order qualifies for!

So don't delay, order your holiday cards today! Simply email me and I will set up a special order for you to receive your discount. I apologize for the extra step of having to email, but the shopping cart is set up in a way that makes it difficult to offer a discount on top of a discount. But I promise to make the extra step quick and painless and this way, we'll get to touch base right away to discuss your order.

Discount expires at midnight EST Friday, November 13th. Pricing, with discount, is as follows:
1-25 Cards: $1.60 each after 20% discount
26-50 Cards: $1.48 each after 20% discount
51-75 Cards: $1.36 each after 20% discount
76 - 100 Cards: $1.28 each after 20% discount
101 + Cards: $1.20 each after 20% discount

Wednesday, November 11, 2009

THANK YOU VETERANS

This post is republished from November 11, 2008


Veteran's Day is the perfect day for my children to think about and honor their grandfathers, both Korean War Veterans. Discussions and assemblies at school peak their curiosity and their questions are the perfect opportunity to ensure that the memory of these two men live on in their grandchildren.

My father served in the Navy and was very proud of his service to our country, completing his tour as a decorated hero. I have always been proud that he continued to serve this country throughout his life as a champion of workers rights, long after his years of Naval service were complete. A legacy that I strive to live up to every day.

His love of country led him to enlist in the Navy and after spending those years at sea, his love of the ocean led him away from his midwestern upbringing to Boston. Whenever we asked him why we did not live near our cousins, whom we missed dearly and looked forward to visiting every summer, he would always reply: "This is the place to be. If it weren't, we wouldn't be here." and as a young girl, that answer seemed more than sufficient. Of course now, I cannot imagine living more than a short ride to the beach, so I guess he was right. Every time in these two years since his passing that we head down to the National Cemetery where he was laid to rest, I am in awe of the beauty of the site. Despite the sadness that the cemetery represents, I am always glad that it exists as a fitting and worthy tribute to those who have given so much for this country.

My father-in-law, also a veteran of the Korean War, enlisted in the Army. I cannot begin to comprehend the horror that he must have experienced during his service. I just know that it affected him deeply throughout his life. His courage and experiences during the war earned him more medals than I have ever seen, other than those displayed in museums and galleries. To have these medals in our possession is a great honor and a reminder that much was given on behalf of this country. We took the medals out of storage to display in my son's room when he was still a toddler. When my own father saw the medals, he was deeply moved by the honors received by the man he never met. He said that he would like to be the one to prepare the medals for display in the case that we purchased and we of course said yes. To see my father take the time to properly highlight each medal in the case with such thought and care made me realize what a precious piece of our family history was being created. My son is slowly coming to understand the valor and sacrifice that this piece represents. That is likely the greatest legacy that could ever be handed down from two grandfathers to a grandson.



Tuesday, November 10, 2009

HOLIDAY SHOPPING WITH KATE


Kate Spade is having a Sample Sale just in time for the holidays! So many great deals on some beautiful items.



How cute is this dress?





I love this beautiful flower pendant. This would make a beautiful gift at a great price.




The perfect bag for holiday shopping.

I think I would wear these earmuffs every day. They are just so fun and happy (and warm!).

Monday, November 9, 2009

DON'T DELAY! (WITH A DISCOUNT INCENTIVE)



Now is definitely the time to take action on ordering your Holiday Cards. I know it doesn't seem like an urgent matter, but these things take time and you need to address and stamp all of them and the post office gets very busy this time of year...

Not convinced? Well, would a nice little discount motivate you? Order your Holiday Cards from Pumpkin Petunia this week and receive 20% off IN ADDITION TO any quantity discount that your order qualifies for!

So don't delay, order your holiday cards today! Simply email me and I will set up a special order for you to receive your discount. I apologize for the extra step of having to email, but the shopping cart is set up in a way that makes it difficult to offer a discount on top of a discount. But I promise to make the extra step quick and painless and this way, we'll get to touch base right away to discuss your order.

Discount expires at midnight EST Friday, November 13th. Pricing, with discount, is as follows:
1-25 Cards: $1.60 each after 20% discount
26-50 Cards: $1.48 each after 20% discount
51-75 Cards: $1.36 each after 20% discount
76 - 100 Cards: $1.28 each after 20% discount
101 + Cards: $1.20 each after 20% discount

Monday, November 2, 2009

I ♥ FACES "BALLOON" PHOTO CHALLENGE



Well, I think I'm on a roll with these I ♥ FACES challenges! I hadn't thought about entering a photo two weeks in a row, but couldn't resist the balloon challenge. Remember this photo from Peanut's Pretty Dress Party? It was the end of the day and she was completely exhausted, but held on to this balloon as if she were grasping one last bit of birthday excitement. As long as she had her balloon, her day would not be over. When she finally crashed, she was still hanging on to a perfect day.



A WITCH, THE TOOTH FAIRY AND A FOOTBALL DUDE WALK INTO A BAR...



Just kidding, it's my kids going trick or treating. Gone are the days of themed Halloweens for me. No more Beauty and the Beast, Peter Pan and Tinker Bell, Prince Philip and Sleeping Beauty. But to be honest, I have a lot of fun watching them express their own personalities through their costumes. Who knew?


And I still have my little Peanut to force my opinion on play dress-up with. Although, this Tooth Fairy idea is all her. I wanted her to be a witch like her sister. I guess I'm not ready to let go of the matchy matchy Halloween just yet.


So how was your Halloween? Link up in the comments to show photos of your ghouls and goblins!