99 Red Balloons

This shirt makes me happy just lookin' at it. It makes me wish I had really tan legs so I could wear short shorts, this shirt, and some Keds. Love.

Find at Built by Wendy.

For Peep's Sake

Although I should be downstairs cleaning up the aftermath of Easter instead I find myself upstairs perusing the Internet for ways to dispose of three hundred pounds of marshmallow-ey goodness.  Now I know there are two camps when it comes to Peeps.  No, make that three.  You either hate them, love them, or come from the school of "a good Peep is a stale Peep."  I personally subscribe to the last.  And whether you like them or not there's a good chance you've got a couple on hand now that the Easter bunny has visited.  I thought I'd look around to see if there was something I could make with them, and came upon this masterpiece.  My favorite camping treat mixed with my favorite Easter treat??  Hello snack of my dreams.  While looking at the recipe I notice she credits the recipe as being from a book called Peeps: Recipes and Crafts to Make with Your Favorite Marshmallow Treat by Charity Ferreira.  So I clicked on the to the Amazon listing for that book.  And lo and behold, my friends, you can plan a whole Peep day!  

Once your done eating your Peep treat, you can read your favorite Peep book while listening to your favorite Peep's Sing Along cd.  

Then you can take a walk to the park and paint in your Peep coloring book.  

And don't forget your Peep lip balm!

Ok I'm done.  Just be thankful I didn't include one of the hundreds of dioramas people have made with Peeps...

Find S'meeps recipe here (where, by the way, it is "Peep Week")

Sublet Clothing

I like the basic idea behind wearing sustainable, eco-friendly clothing, but frankly most of the time eco-friendly clothing consists of some fugly burlap skirts and organic tees. Not that I'm against an organic tee, but I need a little more in my wardrobe than that. Thankfully, its getting easier and easier to find more attractive eco options (not to mention more and more main stream chain stores carrying eco lines).

I'm drooling over these loverlies over at Sublet Clothing. They make simple clothes, but with interesting shapes and small detailing which make this eco friendly line the kind of pieces you grab when you don't want to think about it, but want to look good. And since its all made from sustainable material in the good 'ol US of A you can wear it over and over totally guilt free.

Isn't that yellow dress perfect for Easter!? Find the collection here.

From the Desk of A.J. - SPA WEEK!!

Calgon take me away......

Remember that old cheesy commercial? I remember thinking as a child..."what's the big whoop about a bath?"

Flash forward to now...wife...mom...business owner...I can't stop thinking about taking a bath...in a big jacuzzi tub...with fantastic oils and stuff..and rose petals...and do not even think about forgetting the candles. Calgon take me away is right:)

Spa week is here!!!! What you say? SPA WEEK IS HERE!!!!!!! Tons of cities around this glorious U.S. of A. are celebrating the pleasure of a spa day. Celebrating?...more like trying to get newbies addicted to their treatments...but so what...we benefit either way you look at it. So...spas sign up for spa week and offer some of their best treatments for $50...did you hear that...$50!!!!! For most of the treatments...that's, like, half the price. You have your choice of several different spas...little ones in the tiniest of tiny strip malls to Spas at resorts like the Hyatt in Huntington Beach. Yep...$50 bucks...you can't beat it!

April 13th-19th is the chosen week this month...call now...because they book up fast. Treat yourself...you and your loved ones will be happier for it...and besides this beats the heck out of a box of Calgon or Mr. Bubbles any day of the week.

Call your local spa or for more info you can go here.

Happy Weekend!

As far as I can recall, we have nothing planned this weekend. But I may be lying to myself. But if its true, and the weather stays like it is today I plan on doing nothing but vegging out and maybe crafting a little. I ran across this egg dying kit on a really cute little online store I like, Mahar Dry Goods. They use old silk ties to wrap around the egg, and the pattern of the tie gets transfered onto the egg. It makes for some pretty sweet looking eggs, but I was certain someone out there had posted a How To so I could create my own kit. And the internet did not fail me. Oh I love thee, Internet. The picture above is from the "how to" I found on a blog called Our Best Bites. And delightfully not only do they outline exactly how to make the eggs, it happens to be a pretty awesome little site filled with yummy looking recipes I'm dying to try out (like this dressing, and these cookies). Its down to earth food from down to earth gals, and while I aspire to greater things, is right up my alley since I am a lazy and unimaginative cook.

If you try to make these eggs, let me know how it turns out! And I'll be sure to post after we try it. This weekend might just be spent tie hunting...

Tie-Dyed Eggs (or Silk-Dyed Eggs) How To is here.

Red Ruby Rose Clutches

I was totally going to write about something different today, but I ran across these this morning looking for a birthday gift, and haven't been able to think about anything else! I'm obsessed with about ten of them. She has over ninety different purses! Someone tell the Husband that my birthday is in eight days and that bird purse might just get him lucky...

Wouldn't these be so pretty for a wedding? As the bride or a guest! I love the lining in all of her clutches.

And I love these for jeans and top days (well everyday if you're like me). Both could be dressed up or down. And the lining! I'd be happy every time I opened my purse with lining like that...

Find these loverylies and more at Red Ruby Rose.

From the Desk of A.J. - Date Night!

Date Night. . . remember those? When I was younger I would literally start the "what am I going to wear" plan on Monday, or whenever I hung up the phone with whomever. . .so make that Thursday. . . night. . . late night. Aaahhhh boys.

Now, with a kidlet, my husband and I have a date night maybe once a month. We have to try and plan around Auntie's, Uncle's, Grandma and Grandpa's social schedule (can we give a shout out to all of those relatives that baby-sit for free!!!) but we make them happen. Its good for your marriage, makes you a better, more sane parent and allows you to feel. . . adult. A normal human being on this planet Earth.

A little din din, a great glass of wine, a movie, comedy (here's $25 bucks, make me laugh!) a play, a concert, maybe even a sporting event (for the hubster) or even just perusing through a Barnes and Nobel or music store (remember those?! I miss my Tower Records and Music Plus, Licorice Pizza, anyone? anyone? I will dive into this much deeper in the future, its something I'm just not willing to let go of). All of this and not wondering if you need to change a diaper. . . did he drop his favorite toy, does he need his cereal puffs, is ho going to let me finish this meal, or is he being too loud for the table next to me. Our boy is sweet and well behaved, but you know what I mean.

Don't get me wrong, its not like you actually forget about them. Oh no. You and your partner in crime will actually spend the whole evening talking about them. Your children are your life, end of story. And no other person will indulge you and actually want to contribute to the conversation just as much if not more the that person you share them with . But going out and talking about you children when they are not around to interrupt you is. . . priceless. . . and much needed.

Enter Goldstar. I signed up to this website over a year ago and I have not been disappointed yet. The site has special offers from comedy to concerts, plays sporting events, you name it, its on there. They have special offers that can sometimes be half of the normal price! Sometimes it may be a little late notice, but its because either the concert opened up more seats after the stage was arranged or they do not have a full house on a Thursday. Either way, it's great for date night. Besides, since they offer such a great discount on tickets and events, you'll have more money to shop with. And buy all that pretty PinkySwear jewelry you want (shameless plug).

So, if you need to get out the house and have some adult conversation about your child/ren and what they have done during the week, what better way to do it than during intermission at a playhouse? Especially a playhouse that doesn't entail you pick up afterwards??

Sign up (for free!) on Goldstar here.

*Picture above is from an offer Goldstar has right now $19 for a ticket to Tchaikovsky's The Sleeping Beauty (normally $38) Just what your husband wanted to do this weekend!!