I'm really excited to check out Glass Cathedrals at Unique LA next weekend. Lisa Swerling creates tiny worlds inside shadow boxes to hang on your wall. I have an affinity for tiny things to begin with (who doesn't? everything is cuter tiny size!) and I love the juxtaposition of the tiny figures in their "big" worlds. And it looks like she does custom pieces, thinking one would be an awesome anniversary present for The Husband...(shhhh..)
Pre-sale tiks are on sale now! Not only do you get a price break when you purchase pre-sale tiks…uh…you also get a ticket to the OC fair. Yep…that’s $21 bucks of fun wrapped up in $8…it’s a summer win win.
Come say hi, we'll be grooving to some great jams (alwasy the best music at these shows) and pimpin' our fab jewelry;)
Dear ________________,
Welcome to the “Sticker Club”!
Please send 1 pack of stickers to the person listed in the #1 spot below. Next move my name to the #1 spot and put your name in the #2 spot and send it to 6 friends.
If you can’t do this within 6 days, please let my mom know. Otherwise, it’s not fair to all the others who are participating. Within 2 weeks you should receive 36 packs of stickers! It’s a load of fun and exciting to see where all your stickers come from! On top of that…it’s always nice to get mail!
Good luck and thanks for participating in the “Sticker Club”!
Your Friend,
#1 #2
To the parent: If you can, please take time out of your busy schedule for this cute project with your kids. It’s worth it to see their smiles when they open their mail. We have included a blank letter for you to copy (before you write on it). Make 12 copies, 1 for 6 children you are sending it to, and 6 more so you can include a blank copy for each of them. You only need to buy 1 pack of stickers to mail to child #1 below and 7 stamps total, in other words, the project is cheap and easy…have fun!!!!
It’s amazing how much you forget in 2 years. Add regular forgetfulness to baby brain mush and its amazing you can get out the door with keys, bag, & oh yeah…kiddos.
Boy Wonder numero 2, at times, makes me feel like a rookie mom. Not only is every baby different (soooo different!) but trying to remember what comes next in sleeping patterns, floor exercises, toys, teething, & eating…well…its like you’re the newbie mom again. Yes…it makes it exciting and new-but frustrating and challenging to be perfectly honest (I know ya feel me mamas!).
The point I’m getting to. Its intro to new solids in our house right now. Top that with my lil man has super sensitive skin and is allergic to a few things already…I’m extra careful of what I’m giving him. I love that you can get organic baby food just about everywhere…but nothing compares to the feeling I get when I can make it from scratch in my favorite appliance right now. I love to cook…and cooking for lil man is the best. What I forget is what to cook.
Here we go. Simply Baby Food Recipes. Fantastic blog with not only instructions, but for me…it triggers inspirations for new foods and food pairings. Love that she breaks down her recipes into categories like picky eaters and popsicle recipes (boy wonder numero 1 and I have already tried the yogurt & cantaloupe one. YUM!), just to name a few.
A lot of the recipes and tips are pretty basic…but when you are coming to the table with a baby brain…basic is just what you need:)
Super cute paper company (if I haven’t said this before…I love paper-stationary, real books, etc.) that makes everything from place mats to cupcake stands (check out their wishing tree…such a great idea for birthdays, showers, anniversary parties). I love how simple their designs are…but as they say…simple so you can add your own creativity to them if you want. They’ll give you a few ideas with your purchase…or you can use just on their own.
Loving these place mats above that include stickers so your kiddos can customize. Actually I can see the Hubs customizing his own to be honest;) Boy Wonder #1 loves helping me prep & set the table…he’ll be all over these place mats!
First shout out of the summer show…Hello Hanna!!
It’s Friday and the first weekend of summer so to me that means partake in a summery beverage of your choice. On the menu this weekend…Sangria.
I’ve tried many different recipes (yes, I’m a 39 year old wino-and proud-don’t judge;). The one that I prefer is the one without the added alcohol, so you can actually taste the wine. I love this one below, simple, refreshing and you can still cook (or tend to children) if you have a glass. I was in line at the market a few years ago and a cute little old lady a la Mrs. Roper was behind me. She simply stated “Oh honey-are you making Sangria with all that fruit and wine?” I said yes and she gave me the absolute best tip ever. Instead of adding any club soda or sparkling water and ice cubes…make your ice cubes out of sparkling grape juice and add those to your pitcher. Not only does your Sangria not water down…you don’t need too much sugar...love it.
4 Tbls. Sugar (to your liking)
1 cup water
1 bottle red wine (since we’re not adding all the hard stuff to it…make it a decent bottle…nothing too fancy-just something that is tasty to begin with) I love this one
1 orange thinly sliced
1 lime thinly sliced
Any other fruit you wish & however much you want-strawberries, pears, pineapple, etc…
Dissolve sugar in water in large pitcher. Add wine, fruit, & grape juice cubes. Stir until cold. Pour into glasses making sure everyone gets their fruit serving for the day;)
Happy Summer!
Salud!
The boy wonder is turning 3 next month (it’s flying by waaay too fast!). I think I’m pretty lucky so far…he hasn’t become completely obsessed with anything yet. He loooves everything. He loves garbage trucks, constructions trucks, airplanes, cars (both fast and slow…really doesn’t matter), pink & purple sparkly things (he's secure with his feminine side, as are we:), dinos and trains-just to name a few.
One of his favorite things to do is take a train ride…just like every other kiddo. So when thinking about his 3rd birthday theme…trains were it. Believe me…I know the day is coming when I wont have a say in picking the theme to his party (or anything else right?) so I cherish these days-big time.
So…here I go again. I began looking for non Thomas the Train party décor. He likes Thomas…but doesn’t love Thomas, so to me that meant “look for something different and impossible!”
Hello trainparty.com!! I fell in love with this sight. Everything you can think of for a train party…all under one cyber roof. Best of all…they had Thomas but not only Thomas…actually, a lot of non Thomas. Our theme is old west vintage trains…and yep, everything from vintage train toys & whistles to train cookies, lollipops, costumes and décor. This site mixed with my party throwing obsession ideas…boy wonder & friends are sure to have the best time this side of the tracks.
Summer is fast approaching, as is the repressive heat. Escape it this year at the bowling alley! Apparently summer is the slow season for bowling alleys, so in a huge nation wide promo tons of alleys are taking part in the Kids Bowl Free program. Kids bowl free, up to two games a day all summer long. And there's an option to buy a family pass for $24.95 for up to four adults to bowl all summer as well. Such an awesome deal! Find a participating bowling alley and more information here.
My son's class already gave his teacher a big teacher appreciation gift and have collected money for an end of the year gift as well, but I like to write his teacher's a heartfelt note and add a little something to it. She's taken care of my son all year long, I feel like just a little something to express my gratitude is the least we can do. Here's a few DIY ideas and some small tokens to buy:
I finally got my act together and pulled together some pictures of our recent orders! Here's a sweet Family Tree with birthstones and initials. I'm so envious when familys have awesome birthstones! I love this combo. 
I was totally going to post about something different this morning, but then my sister sent me an email with a link to this shop and its all I can think about. I'm dying to get my hands on these patterns! So. Freaking. Cute. One of these guys would be the cutest little gift for a shower. Or heck, for life in general. I just want one to sit on my dresser and I'm a grown woman.
Since I am the and I quote”token Mexican” half of Pinky Swear Designs, we feel it’s my duty to do today’s post about Cinco de Mayo.
First…I’d like to preface this post that I am the and I quote again “the whitest Mexican ever” and the “worst Mexican ever”. I’ve been told on occasion that I need to learn to speak Spanish (I know the bad words, slang words, and bad slang words). It’s not my fault. I blame my parents;) It’s something I’d looove to accomplish one day (after going to culinary school, owning a restaurant, an event party planning biz, and owning a little vineyard in France). Bottom line…I am one of the new generation of Mexicans and damn proud of it. I am proud of where my roots sprouted from 3 generations ago and how they made their way all the way up the coast and landed in Surf City USA;)
So…today in honor of The Mexicans tossing those French out ( I do so love the French!) of their tierra (that’s land to all of you non-Spanish speaking;) I’d like to share what we’re all really on the quest for today. Yep…the best margarita evah (can I get an Ai yai yai!!)!The El Paso Chili Company Key Lime Margarita Mix
I used to pick up this mix at William Sonoma way back in the day…but Wills and Son started making their own mix (which is good…but not fantastico) and now…we have to order it online. Its sooo worth it…add a little Hornitos Tequila (the smoothest and tastiest), fresh lime with salt and you are on your way to a muy bueno time. We’re having ours with my quick guacamole (avo’s, garlic, lime, salt& a little Cholula hot sauce) & chips.
Happy Cinco de Drinko peeps…may you toast the latino culture today (who am I kidding...toast them whenever and where ever you can)!!
Salud!
Short and sweet 'cause I'm a busy girl today (only five days to Mother's Day people!!). I'm totally obsessed with basically every print L'affiche Moderne ever puts out, but this new one of NYC is the one I'm currently smitten with. I have good friends and family who live in NYC and for some reason my son has always wanted to go there (at the ripe old age of 3 he declared that when he grew up he'd move to NYC and make signs). Love the colors, love the little details.
While we may be two mama's in the suburbs and Kate a soon to be a princess we know deep down in every girl is a party girl just waiting to happen. If we were BFF's with Kate (which we know we would be if only we'd met!) we'd thrown down an epic bachelorette party for her, full of Kir Royal Martinis and general naughtiness because if anyone needs a night of pure craziness and getting wild it'd be a future princess (we hope she's able to get some fun in with all this scrutiny!) From top left:
4. Princess Leia- I grew up wanting to be Princess Leia. She not only was a princess, she got to hang out with Luke and Hans and fight evil with a light saber…and she was the only chick in an all boys movie.
