From The Desk of A.J. - Goorin Bro Hats

So being that it was my son’s first ever Easter…I was completely fixated on having him wear just the perfect outfit. I’m talking about the cool, tough, rockin’ kick ass boy outfit…with a hat. I found an “it’ll do” outfit…because as The Hubster says…”the boy makes the outfit…the outfit doesn’t make the boy” (his code for…we are not hitting every children’s store in SoCal just to find what will end up being jeans and a shirt for triple the price) and we went on our merry way to his first ever Easter egg hunt. It was a fantastic day and yes…he sported his tie and hat and looked like a Little Rascal…and mama was happy:)

I have a thing for hats (fondess memory of my Grandpa was him wearing his Fedora everyday rolling is own cigarettes in his garden…later in my life he smoked a pipe…but always had his fedora on…always:))…actually all things nostalgic that I fear are being lost…or replaced by something new and tech-ie. Stationary…with that the art of a letter. Typewriters…not necessarily the actual thing…but the sound…I loved that sound (I remember sitting in my grandmothers guestroom and playing on the typewriter for what it seemed like hours). Albums…again, with that the music store I talked about earlier. Anyway…the list can go on and on. I am a flea market, antique store junkie…I can spend hours upon hours in or at them and am happy as a clam. So the hat thing…started buying them at the vintage shops flea markets etc…along with purses and some jewelry many moons ago…and I can’t help but think that one day these things that we have lost or replaced somehow will return. Me wanting my boy to wear a hat and tie on Easter Sunday is an example of how I want to bring these said things back (Although I am known for wanting to bring back a lot of things…like the saying “drats”…how great is that word?). And I passionately screamed out loud after a really great movie “Let’s bring back the clap!” which left my sister and Bro in law sunk in their seats (dirty birds). Luckily, for me, some other people want to bring some things back as well….

Goorin Brothers Hat Makers. You may or may not have heard of them. They have been around since oh I don’t know… 1895! They are bringing back the HAT!!!! As I was searching through this World Wide Web for the perfect Easter hat I stumbled upon the fact that now…they make children’s hats. Maybe they always have…but I’ve only had a child for 8 ½ months so this is all new to me. Anyway…I love their hats…for me and my babe. It’s a family company that is now…however many generations later… committed to preserving the art of hat making and style. They combine classic styles with an edgy twist…for both adults and children. Not to mention the names they give…The “Potsie” the “Darla” and don’t forget the “Bonaduce Jr.” if you can’t appreciate these names…you just made me feel old. They have fantastic stylish hats for all ages.

So…order online (they have great sales) or check out which stores carry their goods…and if your in LA or San Fran…you can check out their shops live in person

“Wear a Goorin hat and you can tell your story without ever having to say a word.” –Goorin Brothers.

Sounds like it was written on a typewriter doesn’t it?

Find Goorin hats here.

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.