Childhood 101

*an awesome DIY treehouse made from branches and wood scraps

With summer getting closer and closer, I've been rounding up some good activities and ideas to keep my littles busy and happy. I stumbled upon the Childhood 101 blog and have loved everything about it. Great ideas for activites, awesome art projects (with an emphasis on making art, versus crafts). I can't wait for summer to try out all their great ideas! Check it out for yourself here.

Its Pool Time!

Its finally starting to warm up around us (we've had a few false starts) and for us that means its the beginning of pool season! I'm surrounded by a ton of great pools and all summer long me and the kids make the rounds. I hit up the lagoon last week and my friend admired my trusty summer wristlet. I love that thing. I can slip my pool key/pass, phone, and a few bucks for the snack bar in there and throw the whole thing in my bigger beach bag and not have to worry that my stuff will get wet, sandy, or lost. Its also really nice to be able to grab just that small bag when we have to run to the restroom or anywhere else and not have to pack the four hundred pool toys we had to bring with us. There's a TON of cute options on Etsy, here's a few I found:

1. The Errand Runner by Kerri Ann Handmade, $32 - This one is a small and super efficient way to carry just the essentials.
2. Cell Phone Wallet by Cucio, $19.95 - Another small and efficient one, I like the snap on this one and the leatherette handle.
3. Pleated Wristlet by LiReca, $20 - This is closer to what I usually carry. A little bigger, so there's room for chapstick or other small items you might need (and love this print! so cute!)
4. Wristlet by Noonew, $9 - Super super cute and you can't beat that price! And right now they are running a promo of buy three get one free! Wristlets for all!

Happy Friday!

*Find this print here

Happy Friday! After spending the morning helping out in my son's class all I have the energy for is to giggle at this print. Check out his other prints, they are all hilarious.

Hope you have a great weekend, we'll see ya next week (barring the rapture or zombie apocolypse, etc.)

DIY Jewelry Organizer

*Sorry these pics aren't the best, its a gloomy day here so not a lot of natural light to be had!

I've always struggled to find a cute, practical way to store my necklaces. I had a cute big hook for the wall, but my necklace's always got tangled (and I always seemed to want the one in the very back). Jewelry boxes were never big enough for my bigger necklaces, and the jewelry rarely actually made it back into the box. More often then not my necklaces ended up spread out on my dresser or bathroom counter. Not exactly ideal. Then I went to my parent's house and found that my dad (Mr. Martha Stewart himself, seriously, I should just start a post of the week of various projects he does) had made my mom a jewelry organizer with an old frame, some sheet metal for screens and 's' hooks. Simple, easy, cute. I immediately demanded one of my own and asked nicely that it be an oval shape if possible. As usual, good old dad came through. Now all my necklaces have homes, and it looks adorable on my bathroom wall (the rest of my bedroom/bathroom is fairly gender neutral, leaning towards masculine, so I love how this ornate frame juxtaposes that). I can move the hooks around to accommodate longer necklaces, and my earrings can hang on it too. Perfect! :)

Order of the Week - Family Tree

Order your own here or here!

Happy Friday!

Heard these guys on KCRW this morning and liked the heavy eighties feel of it. Deep down inside A.J. and I are just eighties goth girls so this band is right up our alley. Grab your eyeliner and rock out.

Have a great weekend!!

Order of the Week - Family Tree

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.

You can find the Large Heart Family Tree here and more options here.

Gingermelon Patterns

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.

Find these and more adorable patterns here.

*she's soooo happy she's free & can have a margarita*

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!

New York City Map

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.

Find it here.