Friday Favorite

This Friday I've selected Mustard as my favorite hue.

Featured: Flynn Skirt. Spidermum. Smocked Pillows. Friday. Oil Sunset.

A is for Ava

I often come across prints that I love, but when I stumbled upon Editions of 100, A is for rebel print,  I immediately thought of my daughter, Ava. She is the most amazing human being I've ever known. The true definition of joy. We will be celebrating her 4th birthday on the 30th of this month. On her first birthday I gifted her with this print, The For Like Ever poster wrapped up my feelings in a nutshell. What else could describe the unconditional feeling of love I felt for her? This year she will receive the print above. Is she a rebel? Yes. She is her mother's daughter. Ava is also kind-hearted, beautiful, intelligent, hilarious & adventuresome. The best attributes of her father & I were bestowed upon her. 

My hope is she'll love the framed prints she's been gifted throughout the years, that she'll proudly display them in her home once she departs the nest. If not, I'll be happy to hold on to them for her.  

Facebook

We are thrilled to launch our Facebook fan page. Our goal is to reach a 100 "likes" by Friday, July 1st!
Just in time to enjoy this holiday weekend. We'll be offering an awesome prize to our hundredth fan!

Click on the fancy Beachy print designed by the talents at Lab Partners for instant access to our new & past post & like away!

x Brandy

DIY: painted utensils

This brilliant concept was inspired by the Ladies and Gentlemen catolog. Here is a DIY version for the avid or occasional crafter. These colorful spoons were creatively recreated by Christy, along with step by step instructions.

What you'll need: 

1. Flatware of your choice.
The fancier the better!

2. Metal primer spray paint

3. Spray paint (satin)

4. Painter's tape

5. Saran wrap

Cute + Clever

What's cuter than a mini watermelon? A sliced mini watermelon with a popsicle stick.

Image courtesy of Monkey Choo.

Independence Day

Every American should do these four things on the 4th of July. First, enjoy some quality time with family & friends.  Second, nosh on some amazing Americana cuisine. Third, sing the Star Spangled Banner. Correctly. Fourth, but not least, find a cozy location to watch a fireworks display. My family & I will be enjoying the festivities of Independence Day just blocks away from where the poem, our National Anthem was written by Francis Scott Key.   

As we celebrate our great nation, let's not forget where our freedom comes from. Don't believe all of the stereotypes you may have heard about Americans. Even the ones that are true in general may not be true about specific individuals or a large segment of the population. Free your mind and the rest will follow.......


On that note, God Bless America!  Have a safe & happy 4th of July!

Featured: American girl, magic juice, urban picnic box , stereotypes of America

finders keepers: father's day

Mark your calendars for June 19th and take a browse through our fashionable finds for modern papa's! Show your baby daddy some love this Father's day with our special Finders Keeper picks. These cool finds are guaranteed to put a smile on the man or men in your life. Think of this gift guide as a testament to your man's amazing style & originality. 


For my husband's 1st father's day, I created a hardcover photo memory book filled with highlights of our daughter's first year, along with a sentimental, tear-jerking note. This June we will be celebrating his fourth father's day. 


So, in honor of the man of my dreams. I wanted to spice things up with some fun & quirky keepsakes. Items he could take to the office, show his friends & cherish as a reminder of how cool his baby's momma is. 
If your looking for the ultimate personalized gift we suggest this correspondence. Discount code available on our home page! 


Featured Picks: A. Sass and Peril, B. #1 Dad Trophy, C. Cheddar Money Clip, D. Allot Pocket Square, E. Fisticup, F. Whiskey tasting guide, G. Book, H. Altered Antique Plate, I. Personal Library Kit

zodiac

The May sign of the Zodiac is Taurus and the dates of this sign are April 20 - May 20. The Personality Traits and Characteristics of people whose birth sign fall under the sign of Taurus are affectionate, reliable, ambitious, practical & patient. So, on this last day of my favorite month, I wanted to highlight the gorgeous hues of my birthstone, the emerald. Traditional properties associated with the Emerald birthstone are loyalty, faithfulness and friendship together with memory & faith. This stone holds a special place in my heart, I hail from the northernmost major city in the United States, known as the Emerald City.

On that note, I bid you adieu May. Until next year!




Featured items: 0. ring, 1.dress, 2. shoes, 3. dress, 4. dress, 5. A, 5. B, 5. C, 6. dress,

Just when you thought the brilliant minds at Martha Stewart's craft department had out done themselves, I freaked & immediately started planning a how-to party to recreate these paper lantern beauties from June's Good Things issue. These flower blossom lanterns are a breeze to make! All you need is a basic lantern, tissue paper circles, double-sided tape & scissors and you're all set!

Here's a lovely picture guide to get you motivated!

Happy Crafting!

Free Easter Paper Dolls

If you've ran out of crafts or games, and your sugar levels are back to normal. Grab some scissors, locate the nearest printer & let your imagination run wild! These adorable paper cut outs are guaranteed to put a smile on your face. Designed by the talented & lovely Sarah Jane, of Sarah Jane Studios. These little numbers are loads of fun & a great source of entertainment young and old alike.

You can download the feature above HERE. For more dolls, and more clothes, you can go HERE.


Happy Easter!

15 Must-Haves for Traveling With Toddlers

When traveling with your most precious cargo, you can never be too prepared. Taking your tot into the friendly skies can be a stressful experience depending on your child's temperament and destination of your flight. Getting ‘there’ can be half the fun or half the battle. It all comes down to how prepared you are. Either way, I've compiled a list of my top 15 don't-leave-home-without travel items. These 15 products are guaranteed to help you and your toddler travel more comfortably. Most importantly you'll be keeping your child safe & entertained!

Set your child up for success! Allow them to sit in the window seat & as your flight progresses, explain what is happening and where you are in your flight. Don't expect perfection, talk to your child about what they can look forward to. Explain the importance of following instructions and discuss airline rules & etiquette, before, during & after your flight. Manners are a life lesson & should be apart of your toddlers daily routine. Throw in a couple of fun toys & books for redirecting behavior and interact with your child to ensure close parental attention. Remember to stay calm! If you are relaxed there is a better chance your tot will follow suit.

Happy traveling!

1. keep those puckers moisturized! 2. our daughter's favorite stowaway. 3. bring extra comfort from home. 4. backpack or duffle? you decide. 5. potty covers are a must! 6. the wipe down. 7. go-to garment. 8. ouchies & boo boo's 9. travel card or passport? 10. cabin pressure 11. durable reading material 12. proof 13. made to frame 14. proper crayons 15. pack snacks!

Our charmingly modern, Visage

We are proud to present our first minibook design suite! Now available for your customizing pleasure here!

Send the news of your impending nuptials to your favorite humans with this charming save the date minibook card. Include your compliments to this announcement with your day of details. The stylized silhouette and modern typography will surely make a statement.

Don't believe us? Read what the lovely Anne, of City Sage had to say!

Design shown: Visage

Paper, Plastic, or Something Better?

As adults & parents to young members of society, it is our responsibility to educate our youth.
We've teamed up with one of our favorite eco-brands, Kids Konserve to introduce, infuse and inspire individuals & families with modern reusable products in honor of Earth Day 2011.

In our home we show discipline & dedication to living sustainably through our actions. Our philosophy is that through responsible consumerism, proper waste disposal, knowledge & respect, we can achieve great balance. Earth Day is a day that is intended to inspire awareness and appreciation for the Earth's natural environment. With more than 1 million plastic bags ending up in the trash every minute, taking reusable bags to the store is one of the easiest and most effective ways to reduce your carbon footprint.

In January, Kids Konserve introduced the 2011 Eco-Resolution list. They adopted the 5th "R"- REMEMBER; reinforcing the mantra of reducing, reusing, recycling and reconstituting.

Throughout the year Kids Konserve will be giving helpful tips and suggestions to make it easy to implement the R's into your daily life. Join us in making a difference to our planet for the generations to follow.

We will be gifting 1 waste-free kit to one of our lucky readers!

The kit will include.....

1 Stainless steel beverage bottle
2 – 8 ounce 304 grade stainless steel containers with leak proof plastic lids
1 Food Kozy™ - reusable food wrap for sandwiches, cheese, cut apples and more
1 100% cotton cloth napkin
1 recycled aluminum name tag
1 recycled cotton lunch sack

To enter, please visit our Facebook page & tell us how you contribute to sustainability. Also, check out Kids Konserve on Facebook!

Winners will be announced on April 1st. (no joke!)

1st birthday invites & gifts.

Hoorah! Hoorah! The elephants go marching one by one to announce your little one's big celebration. These birthday invitation are perfect for any themed event.

Featured items......

Invitation: Calf
Pointelle Booties: Flora and Henri
Tooth Fairy Kit: Notion farm
Elephant: Tiny Warbler

new birth announcements & registry must have's!

These little rattles will cause a ruckus over the birth of your baby. This modern birth announcement will highlight & showcase how adorable your little bundle of joy is. One of

my favorite items in my daughter's keepsake pile is her baby book. Swoon! My advice for

all new parents is to do your homework & choose your registry items carefully.

Featured items..........

Announcement: Tres
Baby Boot: Flora and Henri
Crib: Duc Duc

Rattle: Timbur

Baby Book: Binth