Hand-carved Animals

Don't you just immediately want to touch and pick up this little guy? Hand carved with the grain of the wood taken into consideration, this would be a beautiful shower gift or birthday gift for anyone in your life. And just in case you don't know an elephant fan, there are birds, giraffes, deer, sheep and foxes.

Find these and other gorgeous toys at Romp.

From the Desk of A.J. - Daily Inspirations

*picture from TCM photo gallery

So…I am a work in progress. Most importantly…I’m the first to admit it. Another word for this is…we are not all perfect.

I spend my days growing, sometimes in directions I really don’t want to…but I am growing and learning and when I grow up…I want to be…not perfect…just happy with my imperfections…and being 37…I am well on my way:)

I found this website a bit ago…and what I have found the most pleasurable is their daily inspirations. I get little short quotes everyday from writers, poets, philosophers, actors (my fav being the other day…Ruth Gordon “Courage is very important. Like a muscle, it is strengthened by use.". ..or Groucho Marx “ I, not events, have the power to make me happy or unhappy today. I can choose which it shall be."). Love the quotes…and these two just mentioned…are my kind of philosophers:)

Everyday Health is the site, but they have their daily inspirations as a sub-site (is that a word?)…love, love, love it. They give me little tid bits of healthy life styling…which is what I struggle with the most…especially chasing down a 1 year old (gulp). Reading the little blurps about choosing the life you want to live helps me not speed through the fast food drive through ‘cause it’s “easy” and when I do happen to throw in that big hunk of butter into my “healthy” oatmeal in the morning…I don’t kick my self all day long about it…I start again…a little better everyday… "I’m baby steppin’…doing the work…I’m not a slacker”…another quote from a great philosopher (Bill Murray in What About Bob) :)

Exercise, recipes, fabulous quotes…and not all in your face about it. Just a little something here and there for you to read and let marinate…as you are on your way to a happier, better you…which makes for a happier, better body, mind, and soul… and who doesn’t want that??? :)

Find Everyday Health here. Click on the register link, and you will be able to sign up for the daily inspiration emails.

Canditto Photo Collector

File this one under "Why oh Why Wasn't This Around When I Was Getting Married??" I love elegant solutions to life's little annoyances, and this nifty contraption is just that. Trying to get pictures from everyone who was at your wedding or party can be like trying to wrangle toddlers in a candy shop. I waited months for pictures to finally make their way to me, and I'm sure there are tons of pictures I've never gotten to see. The Canditto solves this problem. It is a little device you can rent for any occasion. As people leave the party, they simply insert their memory cards into the device and it downloads all the pictures that they have taken in the last eight hours. At the end of the night you are left with two flash drives filled with all the pictures. Brilliant! You keep the flash drives, and mail the device back. I think its such a great option for bride's who may not be able to afford a professional photographer, and definitely a better solution than those disposable cameras (have you ever seen a nice pic from a disposable camera, really?). You get quality pics, instantly. Up to 4,000 of them! I love this idea.

Rent a Canditto here.

Happy Weekend!

TGIF! Its the final countdown for Ms. A.J. and I's big birthday bashes, I'm sure she's just as busy as I am stuffing goody bags and putting the final touches on everything. It's such a bittersweet thing, your kid's birthday. They obviously need to grow up and the parties are fun, but a part of me will always be sad for the baby they used to be. It doesn't help this year too that my baby will be three! THREE! She's practically an old woman. ;) If you're not too busy with birthday parties this weekend, here's some links to things that are making me happy today:

• Penny Lou's Nursery - via Ohdeedoh, such a sweet, happy nursery (and I just love her name!) I love how they hung their pennants in the corner!
• Let's Panic About Babies - hilarious site created by one of my favorite "mommy bloggers" (Alice Bradley of Finslippy) with another funny writer, completely tongue in cheek "advice" for pregnant and new mommies. Seriously, you'll laugh out loud.
• from Filth Wizardry - "Squiddlies" a culinary treat you could only really appreciate through a four year old's eyes. One part hot dog, one part spaghetti, its a meal you're little ones can help make. My picky picky eater can not wait to make this.

The Mod Mobile

Kid's and messy cars are so synonymous that its almost a cliche at this point, but oh boy is it true. To be totally honest I was never one to have a spotless car, but when I added one baby and then another to the mix...the mess was taken to apocalyptic levels. There's just so much stuff when you have kids, and when you get out of the car you're holding the baby, and the diaper bag, and the sippy cup and trying to wrangle your toddler out of harm's way. The last thing you want to do once you successfully make it inside is to go back and pick up that mess. Its gotten a little easier now that they are a bit older and both can walk to the front door unassisted, but there is still that mountain of trash, toys, mail, etc. But I'm trying. And I'm hoping when these little babies get to me, it will that much easier for me to do. Cutest trash cans for your car ever! And I love that they can hook on the back of my seat, enabling my kids to toss their own trash. These ingenious bags also use those little plastic doggy poop bags, so emptying them is just a matter of grabbing the baggies and tossing 'em in the trash. And come cold season the visor tissue holder will be amazing, no more digging through my purse every thirty seconds or trying to grab the tissue box from under the car seat (so dangerous I know). And finally, with over fifty different fabric choices, you're sure to find one that you fancy.

Find these and more at The Mod Mobile.

From the Desk of A.J. - Heavenly Hostess

Everyone’s a fan of I Love Lucy (and if you’re not…what the??). One of my favorite things, most definitely, is her clothes. I remember falling in love with her faces…and her clothes. I remember thinking…when I grow up…I want to dress like Lucy. Seriously. Never mind the “in” thing were Dittos and jumpsuits (gee…here we are again with that). I just remember seeing her all dressed up in hats, gloves, heels, and looking fabulous…always. Even when she had to clean the house and cook up a storm for Ricky and the Mertzes. Here, close your eyes and picture what she’s wearing when she’s serving them dinner…do you see it? Do you?

An apron. Not just your run of the mill apron…I mean an apron that makes your outfit…well…stylish…and wearable when you entertain.

I love to entertain (maybe I got that from Lucy too). When I’m prepping…I wear aprons…mostly ones that I have bought at Anthropologie (they have super cute ones)…my favorite being a white one with red cherries all over it and ribbons…why…BECAUSE IT REMINDS ME OF LUCY!!!!.

Anyway…my points take a while to get to, I know, I’ve been told that my whole life…but here's my point. I have never been able to find an apron worthy of the Lucy ones…with the exception of a few I have found at flea markets…but those are vintage and un-wearable…because they will probably tear during the putting on process. But walking around Orange Circle this weekend…I just about screamed in excitement ("just about" really meaning…I did scream).

Heavenly Hostess (here’s the point). A beautiful shop and label created by business savvy lady Cynthia Wadell…who also sells wholesale so you can buy her goodies at many different locations across the U.S. The shop…beautiful gorgeous things darling…that would be great hostess gifts…b-day gifts…any day of the week gifts for someone you love or yourself (because you love yourself). Best of all…she makes these amazing aprons for entertaining…and they are Lucy worthy…GORGEOUS!!! Silk crepe, satin, bridal beading…you name it…they truly are wearable works of art. Perfect for the bunco party/wine tasting/holiday party/dinner with you and your Hubster’s Fred & Ethel…any of those things…or if you’re like me…perfect for a Tuesday taco night for crying out loud. I’d be happy wearing these lovely aprons any day of the week.

Check out her website and I guarantee you will drool over these lovelies…not to mention…she does mommy and me sets…oh yeah…perfect for me and my little Ricky:)

Find Heavenly Hostess here.

Tea for Two

I'm back! I made it through my crazy week, and I have a ton of stuff to share. I just discovered Shinzi Katoh's online shop while looking for bento boxes and was totally sucked into the site for over an hour drooling over everything. I'm ordering bento boxes for my kiddos for school next year (trying to reduce my plastic baggy usage, I hate those things!) and I'll probably share the boxes soon too, but how ridiculously cute are these "Tea for Two" teapots?? My little ones love hot chocolate (or lemonade now), especially when I let them pour it themselves. These are just so sweet and I also love that there are several that are gender neutral, since my little guy loves hot chocolate nights just as much as my girly girl (although I don't really think he'd care either way, pink is his favorite color). Such a great gift for the kiddo who has everything. Heck, such a great gift for anyone! I know several grown women who would squeal at the site of these (myself included). Annnnd it comes in this adorable box:

Find the Tea for Two sets here.

The Shady Dell

Time travel…its something I think we all think about now and then…right???

Well I do…not for real…its not like I have my DeLorean out back and am waiting for Jim from Taxi (yes…I just dated myself…again) to come and whisk me back into the 1950’s. Oh but a girl can dream right???

I love everything old…I think I’ve stated this before. So when I read about, hear about, see about or whatever about something that is old and being taken care of like it’s a priceless jewel as it deserves to be taken care of…I’m hap, hap, happy.

A few years ago I got married and had my make up done by the coolest of cool retro 50’s style chick…but she wasn’t one of those obnoxious 50’s styled chicks ya know? She was just a true gem of a gal and we gals ( mom, me, sister) all fell in love with her. Anyway…long story short…she too was getting married and was going on her honeymoon to Bisbee Arizona. Wait…what??

Welcome to the Shady Dell. As you step foot onto this lovely trailer park (yeah…you heard me), you step back in time. Actually you are forced back in time and it’s oh so swell.

Eleven vintage “sleeping establishments” (I can’t say trailers…because there is a boat in there…oh yeah…fabulous and a tricked out bus). Anyway…all are refurbished to their original state and they have added a few new amenities like martini glasses/shakers (see where I'm going with this?)…and some really fab leopard rugs in a few. Each come with a working kitchen, plates, utensils…front lawn and lawn chairs so you can take in the view. Some have rat pack music playing, some with phonographs, magazines and books of the time to get you in the correct decade mood. All have different “themes”…but one common thread…they all pay homage to the good ol’ days.

Dots Diner is a hop skip and a jump located within the park and it was built in Kansas City back in the 1950’s…did her time working in L.A. on the corner of Ventura and Topanga Blv. (hey, don’t judge a gal for doing what needs to be done to put food on her tables)…then made her way by trailer in 1996 to the Shady Dell where she is happily grilling up burgers, fries, & shakes.

So…what a great place to visit right? Not only do you help out the Shady Dell with its yearly bills…you get to have a nice, quiet, relaxing vacation, you get to help preserve all things old that I fear we are going to lose, and you get to step back in time…without the fear of messing your hair up during warp speed zones.

Book your trailer here.

Royal Steamline Invites and Blog

I DO…love these invites!!!!

As the other half (btw…I call her Lo…but she never gives her name… shhhh) of this shop/design/hip mommy/baby/all things artistic and blog worthy blog previously stated, we here at Pinky Swear are party planning fools. We love, love, love to plan a party…we even dream of parties to plan before they even happen…or knowingly know will never happen. But to dream is free…and free dreaming is always a good thing.

As I search high and low for inspiration for any one of my endeavors (after the jewelry line…I plan on hitting it big with my sister in the bakery department…see ‘foodie” blog) that I choose to do in the present or future, I find all kinds of beautiful artistic imaginative goodies that I have to share. This is what I found a few weeks ago…and lo and behold…had a cousin ask where he and his fiancé could find some great wedding invites that were more them…as in not your run of the mill flower-y foofy-Marths-esq(no offense M.S.) ones.

Royal Steamline. Can I just say…after seeing these puppies I sighed and immediately started planning the re-newel of my wedding vows (relax Hubster…we’ll wait a few more years)…with reception, dress, etc…all revolving around these invites.

Think… Edward Gorey /vintagey macabre/Edgar Allan Poe-esq…but all beautiful and amazingly artistic…combined with this amazing look of Victorian lace/birds/butterflies/old school rock and roll. I know…it’s hard to explain…but just look at them…GORG!!!!!

You can use their site template to create your own wedding site that matches your invites…and they have what their inspiration was on the design for each set…its so lovely to see the train of thought that goes behind something so artistic…lurve that.

Best thing of all…private company which usually equals personal…love that you walk away with something that is not mass produced (just like a certain jewelry line that we all know and love). All these things combined…tell me you won’t want to pull a Seal and Heidi stunt and want to renew your vows every year on your anniversary?

Find Royal Steamline here.

Mad Housewife Wines

Was cruising through World Market’s wine section the other day and stumbled upon a funny label. It was on special…so any wine on special is one I can not pass up (can we give a shout out to whoever was the genius that created the “six pack “ bag o’ wine shopping bag? HELLO!!!!)being the true adventurous wino that I am.

Mad Housewife Cab Sav…took me by surprise. The Seattle Washington label (but made with Cali grapes) wines have been around for a few years…but was new to my taste buds. Any funny label (this one…50’s styled housewife with cat eye glasses holding a pink spatula…need I say more?) will catch my attention…so it definitely did its job and the price was $6.99 to boot. Remember rule numero uno in the wine world? A great bottle doesn’t need to have a big price.

As I put the bottle on the counter the manager proceeds to tell me “that wine is really good…just remember to let it breathe for a half hour and it will taste even better”. Love that…so did it and happy to say…my glass of vino that night with the Hubster’s home made 4 cheese pizza (the secret is in the sauce…maybe one day he’ll let me write about it) was a delightful feast.

Their mailing list is fun…have been receiving little blurps and such about their blog and they even have a gear and recipe link for bottle pairings…and don’t forget….for every case of White Zin that they sell…they will make a donation to support breast cancer research and prevention…LOVE THAT!!! I’m not a fan of White Zin ( I know…I’m a snob)…but always try & have some in the house just in case someone new comes over and wants some…now I’ll be sure to buy theirs:)

I can honestly say I am not a mad housewife…but am a new fan of it…and if it makes my vino loving taste buds do the happy dance…then I’m a very happy girl:)

Find Mad Housewife at World Market or check out their website here.

This Week Brought to you by The Desk of A.J.

I have a crazy crazy week ahead of me, so Ms. A.J. has been kind enough to take the blogging reins for the week (thanks again!!) She has some fantastic finds, so keep checking back for all her fabulousness! Talk to you next week, keep cool in this heat!

Picture by Irene Suchocki. No, I'm not going to Paris, just dreaming about it...

Happy Weekend!

Its that time again, the weekend is finally here!! Ms. A.J. and I just happen to both have July babies and just happen to be throwing parties for said babes on the same day. So we are in full blown party mode. Because we can't just buy invitations at Party City and be done, oh no. We gotta get dirty. We love all the little details, the cupcakes, the favors and the decorations! No, we're not those people, who get a ferris wheel and a zoo for our babies third birthday, but we like things personal, a little different, and of course a little handmade.

I thought I'd share the invites I made for my little "pixie's" birthday. My kids have always had totally custom invites because they are lucky enough to have a graphic designer daddy. I sketched a fairy, The Husband re-drew it in Adobe and then I handmade tiny envelopes with tiny invitations inside (my little one is obsessed with all things tiny, hence her party theme of a "pixie picnic"). After my sixteenth tiny envelope I questioned my sanity, but my daughter's reaction made it totally worth it ("Awwww!! Is this for me? It's so sweeeettt!! Isn't it sweet? Dank you Mama!")

When I'm not dreaming up more tiny food items I can make for her party I may round up the gang and head over to L.A. to go to the Renegade Craft Fair, it looks like tons of fun! Check it out here.

Unearthen

So I'm pretty picky about jewelry. So picky we had to start our own line of jewelry to get the stuff I wanted to wear (Pinky Swear Designs? You may have heard of it?). Its not often I see a piece and say OMG, how awesome. But hi. This necklace is made from the spent casing of a 9mm bullet and a crystal. OMG how awesome. Each crystal is chosen for its properties and they claim "the stone with the right properties for your needs will inherently attract you." I'll agree with that if you needs are to look awesome. Oh and it comes hanging in a wood box with its own little environment and a "suede covered booklet detailing the properties of the crystals." My nerdy design heart just went pitter patter.

Find Unearthen necklaces here.

From the Desk of A.J. - Jezebel.com

*This picture has nothing to do with the website

I don’t know about you but sometimes a day/week/month/(year?) has flown by and I feel I am “out of the loop”. Lately…that seems to be happening more and more. I don’t know if it’s because I’m getting older, or because I’m busy playing halvsies to a new business or because I am a mommy of a very soon to be 1 year old. Ooooh *lightbulb*… it’s because I’m doing all of these three things simultaneously. My life is very full and the more I have on my plate…the harder it has become to keep up with the daily ins and outs of music, news, art, celebrity gossip…family gossip….you know…the everyday to day goods that make you, well, you. Ok…well me, me. I love these things listed above…they make me, well, happy me.

There was a time when I could sit down and read my “U.S. Weekly” as I like to call it (I’ve called it that for years and just a few years ago The Hubster actually read the mag cover and said “Hey…this is US Weekly…not U.S.” “It’s my world news dude…back off). And watch “the news”…which really was my Entertainment Tonight/Extra/TMZ whatever. No more my friends…no more.

Jezebel…not just a fabulous movie starring the lovely talented Bette Davis…a website that I found a bit a go that has everything previously mention above…all in one nice little link….or should I say big link? Beware…it can be overwhelming the first time…so baby step it…there is a lot of goodies in this puppy.

Celebrity, sex, fashion…you name it for women. Love that I can go to this site and get my fill of celebrity gossip (posted daily…but check out their Wednesday Midweek Madness for a lumped week’s account of what and who is doing what and whom), articles, TV interviews & clips, world news ( real world news…they use Getty images…so along with their world news are amazing beautiful photos that go with), and they have a quick link to Gawker Artist which is my new favorite curated online artist community (site that features all media artists….so awesome!).

Love, love, love, this site and the writers who put this lovely big nest egg together…witty, smart, fashion-ey, gossip-ey, glorious women with a bit of bad taste humor…just my style, perfect for nap time, and when I’m through perusing it…I feel me again and sooooo in the loop:)

Find Jezebel here.

Picture from here.

Mincing Mockingbird

This little guy greets me every morning as I come down the stairs and is the last thing I see when I leave my house. When I stop to look at it I always smile. My sister and I fell in love with these prints awhile ago (she owns the same exact print). I fell in love with the expressions on the birds face, but when I read the title's of the prints I was officially their number one fan. This lovely blue bird print's title is "Will You Please Put Down That US Magazine And Listen To Me." Doesn't that make the print that much better? Isn't the bird's expression absolutely priceless now? Even thought the title is not actually on the print I know what it is and that's enough for me to get endless enjoyment out of it.

Some of my other favorites:

To Often Guilty Of Yielding To Suggestibility

There Is Nothing To Fear But Fear Itself - And The Neighbor's Cat, Jingles McFiggins

It Is Folly To Assume My Awesome Lies Dormant

Find these prints and many more here at Mincing Mockingbird.

From the Desk of A.J. - Listography

Lists…I kind of have a passion for them…it may be the paper thing…but now…I even do them on the computer…in different colors and fonts…I think I just said too much.

The Hubster and I had date night last weekend and while we were waiting for our movie (Away We Go…go see it!!!), we cruised through our B & N and I stumbled upon something that left me and my list happy brain…oh so happy.

Listography…a journal..kinda…list happy lovely couple put their first Listography journal out in 2006. Since then they have grown into a blog and website offering list ideas and all around fun tid bits to read.

I love to list…anything and everything. Can I say I’m a lister? OK...I'm terming it now…I’m a Lister! From my daily things to do to of course groceries, errands, and forget it if I’m helping out or throwing any sort of gathering. As a matter of fact…cleaning out the book shelves a few weeks ago I found a list I made many moons ago that I had of places I wanted to see and do before I die. Happy to say I have seen and done some…but I think I’m beyond experiencing the Iditarod (seriously…what was I thinking...me on a sled...pulled by dogs...with no Starbucks or Peet's in sight?) This book and blog gives you the tools and thrill of doing the lists for FUN (for those of you who think listing is not so fun…wha- wha???).

Suggested Lists:

What you’re saving for your senior years (my sister and I want to hand out free candy at See’s …oh the many people you can make happy in one shift!)
Bands I’ve seen (oh…this list is awesome…I used to go out…like out, out)
Music that reminds you of your childhood or that your parents listened to. (This list is probably really close to what my list of music would be today)
People you’ve lived with (I’ve been lucky…great roomies all the way)

And they have a Listography journal for Kids:
-If I could be friends with anyone who would it be?
-Things I like to do with my family.
Lots of ideas and pages to fill!!

Fun stuff and in a sense…you can just fill in your listography and that probably would be your autobiography…but in a nice, clean, easy to read well, list. What a great way to start off your summer…ooooh…just thought of one…favorite things about summer…ooooh your top 10 favorite summers…you see where I’m going:)

Find Listography here.