World of Good - Target

I won't even go into how much I love Target. Its pretty much Mecca for me (and I think most moms will agree, a place I can buy myself an adorable new outfit, diapers and ice cream? Yes please). Half my wardrobe comes from there. But I digress. I've decided that its perfectly acceptable for me to wear my yoga pants out and about, as long as I pair it with some cute accessories. My current favs are a nice tee, pretty scarf and some flats. Simple, yet taken up a notch from just a t-shirt and sweats (which I think are perfectly fine for most activities us mamas have to do daily). I've been keeping my eye out for some lighter weight scarfs as its starting to warm up a bit and stumbled across this lovely teal number. Then I read that it is made by artisans as part of the Community Friendly Movement in India. From their website: "CFM, Community Friendly Movement is a social enterprise based out of New Delhi, India whose mission is to create income for its primary stakeholders, artisan communities in rural India, by working directly with the community, reducing the number of levels in the chain, and increasing the sustainable income of the individual. In addition to international marketing support, CFM trains groups on the importance of quality, enabling producers to create high quality, internationally-marketable goods. " Target, I think I just fell a little more in love with you. Teal scarf can be found here.

Some more awesome finds from the World of Good line:

• An awesome tote made from recycled plastic bags in India (great size for trips to the park!)
• Recycled brass bracelet also made by artisans in India
• Beautifully embroidered coin purse, hand embroidered in New Delhi and Gujarat

To check out more goodies from this line go here.

From the Desk of A.J. - Unique Vintage

So I have a wedding coming up in March…and it’s in Palm Springs. What do you think of when you think of Palm Springs? Well…I think of two things…first…the heat (I’m a beach gal…love that I always have a breeze), and I can’t help but think of the old Palm Springs. As in Frank, Lucy and Desi, Elvis and ‘Cilla…all hanging out at their fabulous sprawling homes drinking ‘tinis and living the Mad Men lifestyle we can only fantasize about. (No, not all of the lifestyle…just the fun stuff;)

Anyway…back to the wedding. Well, no one needs to twist my arm to make me play dress up…and I wanted to pay homage to the hot dessert oasis in true old Hollywood style…without driving myself crazy trying to hunt down just the right outfit for just the right evening.

Unique-Vintage. JACKPOT! I ordered the perfect dress…50’s inspired…but something that won’t make me look like I’m wearing a costume. They do specialize in costumes…and they do carry real vintage dresses (ahhh…check out there wedding line…and their real vintage vault for some true works of art:), but they also carry lines that are inspired by the 40’s, 50’s and 60’s. TOO FUN!

What I loved most about this site (they have a real live store, with real live people and stuff in Burbank too)…is their “Project Glamour Girl”. They are donating 20 vintage inspired prom dresses to 20 deserving gals who can’t afford all of the dough re mi you need to acquire “the dress” for their big night out. They need to write an essay saying why they should be one of the 20…and Unique-Vintage will choose the 20 lucky gals. Hello!!!!

So…many a things to love about this site…great place to get inspired for Halloween, or your wedding…and did I mention they consult in hair and make-up too…and not to mention…accessories. I think I hear some fabulous peep toe slingbacks calling my name;)

Find Unique Vintage here.

Here's To Some Good Sleep

It's a cliche to say that parents don't get much sleep. Especially new parents. But cliches are cliches for a reason, and although I'm not a new parent, every once in a while my kids just don't want to sleep. With the storms last week, and a cranky, overtired three year old this week, I just can't seem to unwind and fall asleep. And while my husband is out the second his head hits the pillow, I sometimes need something to wind down. And a nice warm cup of tea is just what I need for these chilly nights.

1. Orquidea Teapot from Anthropolgie.

2. Tea Towel from The Heated.

3. Slumberland Tea from BitterSweetApothecra

4. Orange Blossom Honey from O&Co

5. Monogrammed mugs from Anthropologie.

Cheers!

Happy Weekend!

*my daughter napping under her 'brella

Its been a crazy week in our hometowns! Lightening, thunder, rain, rain and more rain and even a tornado. I've been battling a clogged street drain that lead to my car being halfway under water and makes me look out the window every five minutes to make sure its not flooding again. Luckily, I have amazing neighbors who all flock outside when the rain starts getting real bad to clear out the drain, knee-deep in frigid water, while I try to keep my three year old from jumping in. My son's school was flooded leading to school being cancelled. But we had a grand 'ol time taking a walk in the rain and jumping and wading through giant puddles and have consumed copious amounts of hot chocolate. Being a home body, I quite enjoy the excuse to not go anywhere, but its starting to wear thin and I'm looking forward to getting out this weekend.

Speaking of, if you want to get out of your house this weekend, why not check out City Labs? Its inside, you'll be cozy watching the rain from the awesome views at the Marketplace, and you can maybe get yourself connected with some amazing organizations (btw, go here to see the list of all the participants!). Stay dry* and safe this weekend!

*Or don't! Take a walk in the rain, jump in some puddles and come home to some hot chocolate... :)

From the Desk of A.J. - City Labs (Community Service Fair)

So the need to give and give until you can’t give no mo is everywhere. Of course the devastation of Haiti and its beautiful people are first to come to mind right now. The earthquake is one of many things that kind of make you take stock in what you have. Your health, your job, your family, the roof over your head and the food you get to put into your mouth and your children’s mouth every few hours. There are many people and places in need. A list can begin with Haiti and end right here in SoCal…with many a people and places in-between.

The creator (uhm and new favorite person in our Pinky Swear lives) of Unique LA design/gift show has done it again.

This Saturday, January 23rd. from 11-4 pm City-Labs Los Angeles will be hosting a community service fair. What’s that you ask? Well…think of it as a cross between a too cool for school mall of non-profits with the design gift show Unique LA did and throw in a little favorite new hipster lounge…oh and some super cool free workshops. I know…a lot of crossings…but to sum it all up…it’s a definite to do for your Saturday:)

OK…here’s the 411. 50 non-profit organizations will be on hand to talk with you and let you know how you can help. With the economy being the way it is…all non-profits have suffered just like the rest of the people in this country. City-Labs has gotten them together for one day so they can show their stuff and get YOU off your booties and give where you can…either by your time, your skills and oh yeah…your moolah works too.

A $5 suggested donation entrance fee not only gets you into the fair…it gets you a free drink and a raffle ticket. There will be food (of course), in house DJ, and some pretty kick ass workshops. Craft for a Cause is going to be packing up some food boxes for the hungry…while there will be a workshop from The Lazy Person’s Guide to Going Green (uhm…I think that was written for me).

So not only are you doing a good deed just by donating that $5 bucks…think of how much great karma you are creating when you extend yourself to one of the 50 organizations. Good karma…is always a good thing;)

Find more information about City Labs here.

GOOD Magazine

*Picture taken from this GOOD article

I'm an avid reader. And when I say avid, I mean, its kind of a problem. I'm known for devouring a 300 page book in one night, and I go through magazines in under an hour. I can't get enough to read. And with the slow decline of the magazine industry it seems every time I turn around another one of my favorite magazines goes under (RIP Domino & Wondertime!) My husband and I received our first copy of GOOD magazine awhile ago, back when the subscription fee was "whatever you felt it was worth." I forget what we paid, but whatever it was, it was worth it. Every issue focuses on a new issue (the education and "slow" issues are some of my favs) and all the articles are thoughtful, and well written. The design and illustrations are also amazing, seducing my more visual, graphic-designer husband away from his precious Dwell. Now there is a set subscription fee, but whether you choose to pay the $20 or the $50, all of the money goes to a non-profit orginization. GOOD is run by "a collabaration of individuals, business and non profits pushing the world forward."

Check out the GOOD website here for a peek into articles and what GOOD is all about and if you want to really get to know the people of GOOD meet them at City Labs, a community service fair happening this Saturday (the 23rd).

Order of the Week - Love!

Interested in a Heart Tattoo necklace for you or someone you love? Give us a ring or email us about one here!

From the Desk of A.J. - Give a Day, Get a Day

It’s a New Year, which means new commitments (not saying the “R” word here…’cause I don’t stick to them and I hate labels…well, except for the pretty clothing ones;).

So…with these new commitments…I always add to them the high hopes of making myself a better person at the end of it all. I think that’s safe to say…and a nice way of saying…I’m getting older and wiser:)

I know, living is SoCal, we are getting the daily reminders of the fantastic new volunteer incentive that the Disneyland bunch are throwing our way. Their tag line this year (last year it was get in free on your b-day…which is brilliant…’cause who goes to D-land by themselves???), is give a day…get a day.

So…being the net surfer that I have become in my gulp, make that double gulp, late thirties…I had to check out the site and see how they are going to get thousands of peeps to get off their booties and volunteer their time.

Clicked a simple link off of the main Disneyland site, entered my zip, and there I had it…1,242 options to volunteer…all in SoCal.

I always want to volunteer…its one of those things that has been on my “commitment” list every year since I volunteered back in school. I love the feeling of volunteering. Heck I love the feeling when I donate a really great bag of unused too small for me, tag still on the label bag of clothes. I can’t imagine what it would feel like if I actually got to do something on a regular basis and integrated it into my life and my family’s lives. That being said…I am committing right now to take Mickey’s offer…and not just for the free pass (uhm…I’m an annual passholder…as many of us around here are;). I found tons of programs I want to do. Shelters for women and children, Working Wardrobes (hey…I love to shop and what a great way turn my habit into something needed!), Boys and Girls Clubs, beach clean up, after school programs…you name it…its on their site. Disney makes its super easy too…just fill out an inquiry; the organization will get back to you within 5 days and you will go from there. Did I mention you can filter your search and pull up organizations that are kid friendly too? As in…you can take your kids (if they are old enough…I don’t see the boy wonder hanging out in an office helping me put together outfits…hey but maybe the food bank…hummmm).

So…2010…I tack another thing to do on my to do list. A long list of life’s to do’s counts for a full one. An hour here…and hour there…those hours add up...and with that…the good deeds will get done. It’s a small world after all (sorry…it was screaming at me to write it!).

Find more information here.

Mudpuppy Magnet Sets

I put this Monster Magnetic Set on my son's Christmas list quite awhile ago. I knew he'd love the monsters, and I loved the illustrations and just thought it was an all around cool toy, different from all of his other toys. Imagine my surprise when we came across the illustrator at Unique LA! I was really excited to see all his other work (all awesome!) and it was just cool to meet the guy behind a mass produced toy like that. Mudpuppy (and another one of my other fav companies, Eeboo) use really awesome illustrators, giving everything a pseudo handmade look to it, or at the very least, toys that just look different from all the rest. My mother-in-law got both these sets for the kids, and they've loved them. We went out to eat the day after Christmas, and they made the perfect restaurant toy. And since then they've created massive scenes of princess destruction and monster/princess marriages (depending on whose directing the scene) on our fridge while I cook dinner. And with sets with everything from a ballerina to robots, you're sure to find one for your little one. A toy that looks great, promotes individual play time, and is an easy clean up? Yup, I'm a fan.

Find the monster set here and the princess set here.

Order of the Week - ID Bracelet for Lulu

Isn't this so sweet!? We loved making this one. It doesn't hurt that Lulu is an adorable name, but we really love that this client went with the large and small font. Lulu's birthday is on the back too, making this a super sweet and special present.

Want your own ID Bracelet? We make them in all sizes! Check them out here and order them here!

Nest Pretty Things

We're back! Hope your holidays were loverly and restful. Not sure mine were restful, but at the very least we had a blast and got some important work done (life changing things, like cleaning out closets and finally fixing that one broken drawer).

I've been a fan of Nest Pretty Things for a while now (and my poor sis has had one of these wreaths on her wish list for what seems like years! One day, lil' sis, one day!). Everything she does is just very sweet and a little bit retro, but never feels precious or too saccharine. And now that my three year old has decided that she loves/is/will be a ballerina, I'm even more drawn to the adorable fairy crowns. So sweet and ethereal! And I might just need this locket ring... ;)

Find Nest Pretty Things here.