Happy day! emmarie Web Design finally has a much anticipated client Referral Program!

Here's the gist: Invite your friends to have their site spruced up by emmarie Web Design and get free stuff and... CASH!

At checkout on emmarie Web Design we now have a little box that allows customers to tell us from where they heard of us. If you refer someone, be sure to tell them to put you in that box, and here's why:

When clients you referred buys stuff from us, you get rewarded!

*Discounts and gift certificates will be redeemable at emmariewebdesign.com 
**Cash will be sent to you via Paypal 
***Rewards will only be issued when full payment has been received from the referred client.
****Rewards are only given for the referred clients first purchase.
*****There is no limit to the number of people you can refer.

And some good news, you don't have to be a current client to refer folks! So grab a button, call your friends, open your mouth, and GET SOME DOUGH!

Edit: I forgot to add that every six months I will draw from all referees from the previous six months and the winner will receive A COMPLETE WEBSITE MAKEOVER. Yup, the whole shabang. For free!

This past week has been so gloriously busy! I have tested my limits, set myself some goals and boundaries, and created some really fantastic things with some reallyfantastic people!

Bella-Blush is a recent project who hired me to create a fancy new logo as well as a one-page informational website. I love it's simplicity. I also updated her blog with some new colors. Everyone should check her fancy stuff out!

Metta Body Mind Therapy recently commissioned me to build a logo for her new therapy business. I just adore this little elephant. He's just too cute!

And... The Pretty Nest purchased a pre-made logo and a matching Etsy set. These colors are perfect together, and I'm in love with her shop, so check her out!

I'm working on several other projects that will be done very soon. When they are, I will share those as well.

As for this referral program, the lovely ladies at SWAG-Apparel gave me the idea when they so generously sent some clients my way. I'm rolling around some ideas and will definitely be making the big announcement soon. And don't worry ladies! I'll include past referrals as well!

Alrighty! I'm off to do my weekly grocery shopping, then a day of rest before tomorrow's projects start. Enjoy the rest of your weekend!

Ciao!

I need a new purse. In all honesty, I haven't carried a purse in months. I hate the things.Hate them. But it's time a be a big girl, get my wallet out of my pocket, and try being a lady for a change.

Great. I just made myself sound like a total tomboy. Trust me, I'm far from it. No one loves dresses and heels more than I. I actually just returned from a shopping trip with Lily with a brand new girly empire waste cotton dress and some super strappy flat sandles. I'm all girl.

I've just boycotted a purse for the past few years because I've been wagging a diaper bag around. I have a kid in one arm, a diaper back on the other shoulder, and no where to put a purse. So, I haven't carried one. However, Lily is old enough that when we are out and about, we'll give her a juice cup and walk out the door with a diaper and the travel case of wipes. The end. No need for that bulky bag any longer. So, I need my bag back.

Which brings me to my mission. Mission: Get a Purse

The Guidelines:

• It can not be super big. If it is big, I will fill it. Then I can't carry it. Then what's the point?
• It will not be leather. I will not carry around a cow. Sorry. I just can't do it.
• No all-black or all-brown. Nothing that is all one color, period, actually. This will be carried almost ever day. I don't care enough about that poop to change my bag every couple of days.
• I want it to look vintage-y. This seasons patters are to die for, at least in my opinion. Loving the small vintage flower patterns and such. So me.

The Options:

First candidate (of course I turned to Etsy) is this bag from thewren. I actually purchased a fantastic coffee clutch from her last summer and I loooove it. So, naturally, she's where I went first. Behold:

Candidates 2 and 3: Both Fossil, both insanely fantastic.

And Candidate #4 is a bag from Kenzie. Several of my all-time favorite pairs of shoes came from Kenzie, its only right I get a bag from them, right?

I'd love to know you're thoughts. And I'll keep you posted on which one steals my heart (and my shoulder).

Ciao!

I am anxiously counting down the days until Alice in Wonderland is released. (10, in case you didn't know.) So, I figured I'd pass the time by sharing some Alice inspired finds.

First, check out these gift sets that VivalaViolette and I have put together. Love them!

Next, checkout this awesome vintage book from britishvintage.

Love these lace cuffs by mademoisellemermaid.

And this awesome ring by andyshouse.

And I'm totally going to print out some of these old school coloring pages for Bug. Or for me. Shh...

Off to dream more about the cheshire cat...

Ciao!

{Image Credit: My Nifty Life}

I ran across these fabulous printable planner pages the other day and I'm a little obsessed. They're perfect for helping an incessant multi-tasker like myself stay on task and keep my thought organized. So, I though that I would share. Be sure to visit My Nifty Life and tell her she's grand!

Ciao!

Right to Left:
Modular in Seafoam - Limited Template
Serendipity - Limited Template

Two more premade boutique templates were posted yesterday! I'm on a role! Also, I'm starting a new blog design for Eileen Photography today. AND I think I might start on my first wedding website template today. We'll see how that goes. Haha! I always expect way more productiveness than I can actually muster.

Ciao!

{Photo Credit: MyRecipe.com}

I looooove Mardi Gras. It's probably my favorite holiday. David and I lived in Mobile a few years after high school and Mardi Gras is probably bigger than Christmas. Little-known fact: Mobile, AL was actually the birthplace of Mardi Gras. Not New Orleans. (See, you learned something today!)

So, though we don't live in Mobile anymore, Mardi Gras is in my blood. Our grocery stores sadly don't sell King Cake (and I DON'T bake), but I can make a mean meal of Red Beans and Rice. And jambalaya (I'm not even going to mention last week's brain fart). So, in that spirit, I'm going to share a red beans and rice recipe that's not very unlike the one that I use. This recipe is from Emeril from FoodNetwork. Enjoy!

Ingredients

• 1 pound dried red beans, rinsed and sorted over
• 3 tablespoons bacon grease
• 1/4 cup chopped tasso, or chopped ham
• 1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions
• 3/4 cup chopped celery
• 3/4 cup chopped green bell peppers
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
• Pinch cayenne
• 3 bay leaves
• 2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
• 2 teaspoons fresh thyme
• 1/2 pound smoked sausage, split in half lengthwise and cut into 1-inch pieces
• 1 pound smoked ham hocks
• 3 tablespoons chopped garlic
• 10 cups chicken stock, or water
• 4 cups cooked white rice
• 1/4 cup chopped green onions, garnish

Directions

Place the beans in a large bowl or pot and cover with water by 2 inches. Let soak for 8 hours or overnight. Drain and set aside.

In a large pot, heat the bacon grease over medium-high heat. Add the tasso and cook, stirring, for 1 minute. Add the onions, celery and bell peppers to the grease in the pot. Season with the salt, pepper, and cayenne, and cook, stirring, until the vegetables are soft, about 4 minutes. Add the bay leaves, parsley, thyme, sausage, and ham hocks, and cook, stirring, to brown the sausage and ham hocks, about 4 minutes. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute. Add the beans and stock or water, stir well, and bring to a boil. Reduce the heat to medium-low and simmer, uncovered, stirring occasionally, until the beans are tender and starting to thicken, about 2 hours. (Should the beans become too thick and dry, add more water, about 1/4 cup at a time.)

Remove from the heat and with the back of a heavy spoon, mash about 1/4 of the beans against the side of the pot. Continue to cook until the beans are tender and creamy, 15 to 20 minutes. Remove from the heat and remove the bay leaves.

Serve over rice and garnish with green onions.

Happy Mardi Gras! Have a glass of Burgandy!

Ciao!

Top to Bottom, Right to Left
Retro Chic - Unlimited Template
Bollywood - Unlimited Templated
Sassy Sweets - Limited Template
Modular - Limited Template

I have finally began listing my premade boutique website templates! Yay! Here are my first 4, with more coming!

Ciao!

Happy Birthday Baby Bug! Boy do we have a day of fun planned! Can't wait! Eek!

Ciao!

FINALLY! emmarie Web Design is ready to go! There are a few little tweaks and smaller listings that have yet to be put up, but all-in-all, it is ready! It's only taken me about a month. Ha!

So, emmarie Web Design will offer clients some really great web design packages, along with lots of fantastic add-ons to give you a fancy-pants website. I specialize in boutique templates, but will also be dipping my skills into some informational sites, and someday even wedding and graduation announcement websites. One step at a time.

I also plan to offer a couple of premade templates, though customs will be my focus.

If you've been thinking of getting a website, come check me out. To begin, prices on packages are highly discounted, so get them while they're cheap!

For more information, check out my About Me page, my Payment Plans page, and 14 Reasons to Choose emmarie Web Design!

Also, don't forget to check out my portfolio for previous designs!

Ciao!