Smartclock starting

I'm just about to start making my first standalone device..horray! It will be much more like a standart digital room clock, but with a big digits and mp3 playback ability.
Few mins ago bought a vs1011 decoder in neat SOIC package. Always like soics as thay may be soldered even when engeneer is drunk! That will be a core of audio board part. Generally I am willing to make a three boards:
Core CPU with usb host
Audio board connected to speakers (yes, stereo!)
Seven segment displays driver board
This separatiion will give me more chanses to finish clock successfully as I will make and test functional parts one by one.
Today after some plumb fixes at home will start designing a board layout. See ya!