Ric Rac Balloons

Love this take on regular balloons--using ric rac in lieu of curly ribbon. If you really want to liven things up, hide lollipops inside and use as a party favor!

P.S. I saw a sizable ric rac selection at Whimsy Cottage in Holladay. They also carried the large ric rac, which is fabulous too. You couldn't use for this project really but it would be fun to find another use.

Special Boxes

When I was little, my parents started saving keepsakes in an old tomato box. We called it my "special box". Each of my sisters had their own special boxes too. I can't remember if we all had tomato boxes though...girls? Anyway, I can't tell you the joy that comes when, as an adult, you sift through old drawings, report cards, pictures, trophies, clothing, etc. and slowly remember the "good ol' days". It almost makes you feel like your life has come full circle in a way. All of a sudden you feel more connected to the "old you"--the child in you.

I'm continuing the tradition with each of my own kids. Right now their special boxes are heavy plastic containers that were on sale at Home Depot last year (I'd do tomato boxes if I could!) Inside the boxes are pictures, particularly adorable drawings, notes, cards, etc. I try to remember to write the date in tiny letters somewhere on the keepsake; or just attach a post-it indicating the date of creation and any other tidbit of information that might be interesting in years to come.

I hope that someday my kids will find the same happiness in their "Special Boxes" as I've found in mine.

Here are a few things going in our special boxes this month (from top left going clockwise):

1. a little package she made for me out of the blue one day

2. a piece of paper with the French flag, the Eiffel Tower, and a sack of baguettes (she's not excited to go to France or anything!)

3 & 4. the napkin and note on my placemat the morning she made breakfast for us all last week

Terrarium Remix

I accidentally over-watered my last batch of terrarium plants and subsequently sent them to a watery grave :) But, the good news is that I kill plants much less often than I used to, so as long as I'm in the "black" (meaning I keep more plants alive than kill), we're good.

This is such a fun and easy project--creating one's own terrarium. I posted about it here in more detail. All you need is a glass vessel with an opening at the top, some polished river rocks, and 3 small plants. That's it! Try to choose plants that enjoy the same amount of water to increase their longevity.

* I bought the amber polished river rocks at Pottery Barn b/c I love the color so much but I've seen cooler toned rocks at Big Lots and the like as well.

{found}

...this handbag, in black and cognac (not green, sorry) at the Banana Republic outlet in Park City for $46 (down from $168). A great find for a sweet-lookin' leather handbag.

Call ahead to find out the day's promotions, i.e. additional 30% off sale items. You never know what you'll find...

Simple Sidetable

Check out this charming little table, and only $69! You could place one in your living room, kid's room, your room or in a sitting area. It's an inexpensive way to add color as well.

You can check them out here.

San Francisco...with Kids

I clipped this article from Cookie magazine awhile back. It's a keeper if you ever visit San Francisco with your kiddos in tow. It's so nice that a few magazines (Cookie, Conde Nast Traveler Family) do so much "legwork" for us families so we don't have to waste a lot of money trying to figure out how to enjoy our family vacation :) Because most of us know from experience that family vacations, (while worth the effort in every way), aren't always true vacations :) A few tips here and there go a looooong way.

Click here for the full article.

Warm Woods

I finally found myself in a place where I could sit down and relish in my latest Domino magazine. As I tore pages out to slide into my design binder, I realized a pattern taking place. I'm very attracted, it appears, to warm woods...especially warm woods with creamy backgrounds. It makes me want to gradually move out my dark woods and reinvent my style a little.

Just a Mom? Whatever.

I love this quote obtained at a Career Mother's retreat a few years ago:

"Just a mom?" There's no such thing. Motherhood isn't a second-rate occupation. It is a career that can maximize your talents and strengths to their fullest. Look past the surface of mothering - the endless tasks and frantic pace - to the incredible skills required to raise your children while nurturing your marriage. The truth is clear: You're a professional in one of the most dignified, demanding, and rewarding fields any woman can find."

Jill Savage

Happy Mother's Day!

Spring Bag

Sometimes it's nice to have a fun little bag for those non-children-attending lunch dates (meaning diaper bag stays home!). Sadly, since those types of lunches don't happen as often as I'd like, spending a minimal amount of money is key.

That's why I picked up this smaller scale hobo bag in a flash from here. The $10 price tag can't be beat!

the Beauty of Swapping

I love swaps...any kind will do.

I swap meals with one of my neighbors weekly and I participate in a weekly project swap with one of my sister-in-laws. It's awesome! Let me elaborate.

Swapping meals is a beautiful thing--at least Kate and I think so. It's not for everyone but if you have a nearby friend who's game, go for it. We find it doesn't take a lot of extra time to double a recipe and we enjoy being exposed to different cuisine and of course, a night off!! One week I bring Kate's family a meal, the next week she brings me a meal, and so on. It's a great system with just the right amount of commitment.


My sister-in-law Tiffany and I are both first-time homeowners and are experiencing (for the first time) the struggle to maintain a remotely orderly household. More space means more junk. As our families expand, responsibilities increase, and life becomes busier than ever, we find we have less time to keep the "junk" in order. Ironically though, this is the time in our lives when we can really benefit from being a little more on top of things.

So, Tiffany and I take turns weekly lending a helping hand. One night per week I help out at her house and then the next week she comes to mine. Often we can't begin until 8:30 and 9 p.m., but we {try} to keep it to 1.5 hours so we're not up too late! During our "project time" we take on things like organizing closets, folding laundry, putting together a playroom, cleaning out cupboards, wiping baseboards, hanging pictures, and finding things to sell on Craigslist. Really anything goes, as long as it helps us feel more satisfied and on top of things in some small (or large) way.

So grab a friend and get swappin'!

Here is a "before" and "after" shot of my lazy susan cupboard we tackled last week. Between the two of us it only took a manageable time of thirty minutes! Now that's my kinda gig.

Menu for the Week

Some days it's hot and some days it's cold. I tried to come up with a menu suitable for the change in weather. Cozy food for some days, and grilled up goodness for others. What else is a girl to do?


Pork Souvlaki, baked pita crisps, Greek salad

Spicy Garbanzo Bean & Turkey Sausage Soup (cut the jalopeno content in half if you have kids), toasted Beehive White from Great Harvest (any toast will do though!)

Herb Roasted Chicken, potatoes, salad, baguette

Barefoot Contessa Cheddar Corn Chowder (had to use up the last of my Costco corn!)

Cauliflower & Ham Gratin (a natural hit last time we made it so here we go again!), steamed broccoli, baguette

I've Joined...

...the Etsy posse.

Click here to view my little etsy shop. Putting this together was a lot of work, but so much fun. I'm so happy to share my finds with you!

Enjoy~

xo
P.S. Ya'll gave me waaaay too much credit but it was sure fun reading your guesses. Maybe we should do a cookie exchange? :)

Lemonade...Just Right

Lately I've felt a little like Goldilocks...except instead of looking for the perfect bed, I'm looking for the perfect lemonade recipe. I gave up and decided to create my own:


Classic Lemonade

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup boiling water
1 3/4 cups fresh lemon juice (about 8 ripe lemons)
5 1/4 cups water

Stir together sugar and 1/2 cup boiling water until sugar dissolves. Stir in lemon juice and 5 1/4 cups water. Chill. Serve over ice with lemon slices or wedges and maybe some mint as an extra garnish.

Makes about 8 cups.

Vintage Fern GIVEAWAY

Since it is the week prior to Mother's Day, how 'bout we let the spoiling continue?!

Amy of Vintage Fern (another talented "etsy'er") is offering up a delicious ensemble of vintage-inspired goods that is sure to make your week! Included is a fabulous bag, three fabric-adorned blank cards, and an appliqued dishtowel. I am a HUGE fan of her cards and go through them like water. I also buy the dish towels often because they are such a fun gift--something you might not buy yourself but something you'd love receiving. I've never bought a purse (yet) but my friend has and she loves it! I think they look just like those cute bags at Whimsy but for half the price.

Amy uses only vintage fabrics and she really has an eye for what looks fabulous. I don't know how she does it but somehow she mixes and matches seemingly effortlessly. Needless to say her etsy shop is one of my "favorites".

You can find Amy's goods at every Art Market. In fact, one is coming up this next weekend--May 9th and 10th at the Sugarhouse Park Garden Center. Click here for details. Don't leave without one of her baby onesies either--they make the perfect baby gift. Her prices are very reasonable as well, which makes it easy to stock up :)

P.S. You must check out her Pocket People Home on her blog! It's the most pimpin' (lol) doll house EVER :) Click here.

P.P.S. This is not the surprise.


Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 7 days to enter this giveaway (closes Wednesday, May 14th).
- Make a comment on THIS POST to enter.
- One entry per person please.
- All anonymous comments will be ignored.
- The randomly chosen winner will be announced Thursday, May 15th.
- Winner must respond by Saturday, May 17th to secure prize.

Making Me Happy This Morning

Pastry Classes at Les Madeleines

My favorite bakery in Salt Lake is finally offering pastry classes!

Les Madeleines is the place to go if you care to enjoy an authentic croissant, a mean chocolate concoction, and/or a good sandwich for lunch. Everything is high quality and super delicious. I could seriously eat there every day. I'm so happy Romina (Best Pastry Chef in Utah according to SL Mag) is finally offering pastry classes. An FCI graduate, this gal has lots of secrets to share I'm sure!

Basic Info (if you'd like additional details, click here)

Saturday classes: 3:00 pm – 5:00 pm
Tuesday classes: 6:30-8:30
Cost: $50 per student.
Address: 216 East 500 South, Salt Lake City *

Classes include recipes; demonstration and some hands-on instruction; samples of everything made during the class...yum!

May 17th – CROISSANT & DANISH

May 31st – PÂTE À CHOUX

June 10th - CUSTARDS and other creamy desserts

June 21st – TARTS AND GALETTES

* the new location is a bit random but worth seeking out.

Something is Brewing...

...any ideas?

Hint:

Interior Fix

Do you live in the Seattle area? Do you also need a little help adding some color, some visual interest to your living space/s? (honestly, who doesn't?!)

My ingenious and entrepreneurial sister Cher just started her own business...complete with business license, business cards (done by this talented gal), and a few clients on the docket. It's called Interior Fix and I am super excited for her!

Her mission statement is to "to provide a comfortable, interactive experience for homeowners wanting simple design advice that achieves maximum impact. My unique approach combines cost-conscious, do-it-yourself home improvements with enhanced space use to create big changes in your home."

She's done a sweet job renovating her Doris-Day home (as she fondly calls it) and I've had the pleasure of taking in all the amazing transformations myself. Let's just say lots of oohing and aahing took place. You can see some of the pictures I took here.


She charges a super reasonable per-room fee (125 - 1 room; 200 - 2 rooms; 250 - 3 rooms) to create a detailed design "recipe" that gives specific advice about furniture placement, color schemes, home improvements, etc. and then discusses the design with the client. All the client needs to do is go pick up the prescribed list of "ingredients". If the client desires a little extra help with implementation, Cher will also pitch in for a reasonable hourly fee. If I were a client, I would definitely take advantage of all the talent wrapped up in this amazing woman. She can install light fixtures, fix plumbing, paint, design, wallpaper, organize, and help with shopping if necessary too. Talk about talent!

Basically, she's there to help walk you through with the entire design process as you discover your ideal style and how you want to live. It's that simple.

So if you need a fix...an interior one that is...contact Cher here.

Winner of Rachel Anne Jewelry GIVEAWAY + Special Offer

Not only does one lucky girl receive the necklace of her choice, but we all receive an excellent discount too! As a special Mother's Day offer, Rachel is offering a free pair of earrings with every purchase of $30 or higher. Yeah! How fun to own a necklace or two complete with a matching pair of earrings. To take advantage of this offer, make your purchase by Saturday at midnight. I'm off to purchase mine....what a deal!


Without further adieu:

The lucky girl is:

Susan, who said, "Katie Necklace 16 inch gold plated with pearl bow. This necklace is perfection - pearls, a bow, simplicity and flare - yet classic! Katie needs to adorn my neck!"

Susan, please email me your contact information by Thursday at midnight so we can get that "Katie necklace" to you as soon as possible!

Many thanks to Rachel Anne Jewelry for sponsoring this giveaway! Talk about gorgeous accessories!

Organizing Tip #10

Clean your car weekly.

Because my daughter's kindergarten has "curb service", the teachers are seeing the inside of my car on a daily basis. You'd think this would be motivation for me to keep it clean every day to avoid embarressment but somehow I still show up most days feeling like a mobile trash can. It really is amazing how junk accumulates in a car. Kids like to save everything...at least mine do!

This organizing tip is really for me. I'm making a goal to be better about maintaining my car and keeping it clean. Last night I spent a good 30 minutes vacuuming it out, throwing out trash, wiping the dash & other surfaces. It felt soooo good to tackle this little project. I am setting a goal to clean my car weekly. As I get better at it, I can see it only taking 15 minutes at a time and that does not feel like a major committment so I hope I can follow through. Only time will tell...

If you want to make it more fun, turn on the car and play some music while you wipe down those car seats :)

Oh, and if you are feeling really ambitious, check out this idea for organizing your car's trunk. Consider it a form of emergency preparation!

Recap

#1 Make your bed each day
#2 Clean out your closet (take out everything not worn in past 12 months)
#3 Clear off kitchen counter tops (remove anything you don't use 2x weekly)
#4 Clean out your car
#5 Unclutter your mind--start writing thoughts down right away to relieve stress
#6 Find ways to organize in one minute or less (purse, drawer, etc.)
#7 Place a pretty dish on dresser tops and nightstands to collect jewelry, loose change, and pocket paraphernalia.
#8 Gather up recipes and clipped magazine pages and throw them all into one accessible binder for easy meal-organizing.
#9 Sort mail immediately...preferably over the trash :)

Last Day for Rachel Anne Jewelry GIVEAWAY

Today is the very last day to enter the Rachel Anne Jewelry GIVEAWAY. If you haven't signed up yet, do so on this post. Good luck!

You can view her entire Etsy shop here.

She Made Breakfast

The other day our little family awoke to a set table complete with breakfast. What a surprise! Sweet little E. "made" it all by herself; the poor thing even cut three fingers trying to slice fresh strawberries :(

She made little notes for each place setting and even remembered to include a bottle and munchies for her baby sister. We were all very touched!


...and speaking of making breakfast. I think this idea is the cutest Mother's Day gift ever! Perfect for that out-of-state and out-of-country Mom. We have both around here.

Hot to Trot

Okay, so it's really called the "Hot Springs Maillot" but I think it's hot-to-trot too :) What a fabulous suit! Oh let me count the ways:

1. modern design is very of-the-moment yet the sash makes it classic too

2. halter style top is feminine and flattering whether you're an A or a D (at least I think so!)

3. graphic design hides body flaws and draws your eyes to the design, rather than your "muffin top" (an Amy D. original)

4. coral sash holds in the muffin top

If only the price were say, a hundred bucks cheaper? Maybe it'll go on sale and we can all snatch up this pretty li'l thing.

Because Sometimes it's Nice to...

...fore go the pb&j, quesadillas or Annie's organic mac n cheese in favor of something more adult--something more like what you used to eat during your corporate job lunch pre-staying-at-home with the kids :)

I made a double batch of this and delivered a little lunch to a few locals. Honestly, I needed a pick-me-up that day and doing something like this made me feel a little better.

I used up all my remaining bags and boxes from Christmas & Valentine's Day so it's time to head to Xpedx and pick up more paper goodness! Love that place--it's the least expensive place to pick up gift bags, tissue, mailers, take-out boxes, and fun gable boxes too. They also carry the American Craft line of wrapping paper, tissue, ribbon, tags, etc. and it's pretty darn cute.

More Kitchen Love

That's just what I'd want in my dream kitchen--big, tall, open windows. and lots of them!

Weekend Deals

Here is a summary of weekend deals and steals that I am aware of locally:

Campo: Everything in the store is marked down at least 30%. Tailored clothing and designer jeans are all 50% off original prices. The pickings are slim but if they have your size in something you love, you're in luck with that hefty discount. They have six of these metal Prague chairs marked down to $149 each. Aren't they fabulous? You could use one for a desk chair or use the set of 6 for dining chairs.

Whimsy: $10 shoe sale through the weekend

Banana Republic outlet: Additional 30% off sale items and their sizable sale section makes it worth the 25 minute drive from SLC.

That's all I have...feel free to comment about any great deals you know about!

the Look for Less Part Deux

I'm so thankful that lovely gal over at Making it Lovely posted about these cute (and comfy too according to reviewers) wedges a la "Tarjay". I was there for my monthly visit (a sweet reward it is) and did not see these at all...maybe because they are "new"? My favorite part is the cone wedge heel. SO cute.

So anyway, what color? Yellow? White? Black? Better go take a peek at my summer stuff and see what I already have on hand. This price point is totally budget too. Yeah for us all :)

May Day

My neighbor shared a sweet tradition with me today.

When she and her siblings were little, her Mom would help them gather flowers and deliver them to friends and family on May 1st....May Day. She has fond memories of this Spring tradition and included me in this year. All of these lovelies are from her own garden...talk about a green thumb! (mine is more "brown") I think it's such a fun tradition--for both adults and children alike. I'm not a gardener like she is so I'd likely end up buying a few large bunches of tulips at Costco and then dividing them up into pretty bunches. My children could be in charge of delivering the little bunches to people and even contributing to the "gift list".

Next May!

Christmas in May

I read once about a celebrity couple (was it Garner/Affleck?) who had one wish for their child: to be silly. I'm sure it's a lot easier to be carefree and silly when you employ a nanny, housekeeper, personal chef, and a personal shopper to take care of the daily and sometimes mundane :) But, that does not mean it can't be done by us non-celeb folks, right? We can be silly too...in our own kitchens...while we are doing our own dishes :)

Today is May 1, 2008. We woke up this morning to snow falling from the sky. Rather than be blue about this development, we decided to relish in the "silliness" of it all. We put on the Christmas playlist (Ella Fitzgerald's "Let it Snow" is playing now), did a little dancing and singing, and perhaps we'll even do a good deed for each family member to really get into the Christmas spirit! We'll see how the day flows...


Go ahead, be silly today. They don't know your dance moves aren't cool anymore!

Before we know it these silly days will be long gone :( Enjoy it while it lasts!

One of Each Please

Love these kitchen finds in the latest Crate & Barrel "Best Buys" edition. And let's be serious, have you ever seen a more fabulous cake stand?

Rachel Anne Jewelry GIVEAWAY

Last weekend I cruised Etsy like State Street on Saturday night. I was yet again amazed at all the local talent. If you haven't used the local search engine, you must try it!

Rachel Anne is one of those talented locals and just barely opened an Etsy shop to showcase her stylish accessories. I love the jewelry in the Rachel Anne shop because it is feminine, beautiful and features unique details. Even though every piece is handcrafted by the shop owner, it is amazingly well priced. I love the way she combines tiny {and authentic} pearls with different versions of gold chains. Some are more classic, some more modern, but all are lovely. There is certainly something for everyone. I think the 24" pearl necklace (and it has nothing to do with the name I promise!) or the pearl bracelet would make perfect Mother's Day gifts. The sentimental nature of jewelry and the simple designs of these pieces make them sure to please. She'll even ship directly to the recipient for a timely arrival!

To celebrate her grand opening, she is offering up one piece of jewelry to one lucky winner. It can be for you, for your Mom, for your sister, for your aunt, or for your grandmother. You pick! How does that sound for a pre-Mother's Day giftie? It wouldn't be a bad idea to order something for your Mother now and then if you win the giveaway, you can keep something for yourself!


To enter the giveaway, please peruse the Rachel Anne Etsy shop and choose your favorite piece of jewelry. Tell us why it's the perfect choice for you. The lucky winner will receive whichever piece of jewelry she mentions in her comment.

Giveaway Guidelines:

- You have 5 days to enter this giveaway (closes Sunday, May 4th).
- Make a comment on THIS POST to enter. Make sure you include the information outlined above.
- One entry per person please.
- All anonymous comments will be ignored.
- The randomly chosen winner will be announced Monday, May 5th.
- Winner must respond by Wednesday, May 7th to secure prize.

Good luck narrowing it down to one piece! :)

Herb Crusted Salmon

I made this fantastic recipe from now-defunct Blueprint mag {insert sobbing} last night and loved it. The best part? it's so easy! The recipe calls for cooking the salmon in the oven but I'm not a huge fan of stinking my house up with any kind of fish, so we grilled it in an aluminum "tray". This recipe is a true crowd pleaser; my kids gobbled it up so fast I'm not sure they even noticed the shock on my face. Although, L. did tell me I was nice and pretty during dinner so I'm thinkin' this recipe is pure magic!

Instead of serving it with the roasted lemons I served the salmon with roasted potatoes. For some reason I love eating fish dishes with roasted potatoes. They seem to compliment each other well. Throw in a simple garden salad and some fresh fruit and voila, you have a meal nice enough to serve company...and you didn't even have to slave all day in the kitchen either!

Click here to view the original recipe.

Note: For those of you not familiar with panko (the recipe calls for 1/4 cup), it's a Japanese style breadcrumb. I must say I highly prefer it over our American version. Panko is light, flaky and of the perfect texture in every way. You can find it in the Asian section of your local grocery store or at an Asian market (in SLC try Oriental Market on 7th east and Southeast Asian Market on 9th south).

Grow Your Own Herbal Tea

I know this is planning ahead a little bit but...

Cactus & Tropicals, my favorite indoor oasis, is hosting a free "Grow Your Own Herbal Tea" class on June 21 at 10:00 a.m.

Sign up by calling 485.2542 x102. Reserve your spot now for this free! class.

P.S. If you join their "Garden Club", you'll receive postcards, coupons, and a birthday present too!

Let the Entertaining Begin

Once the warm weather hits (around here it seems like it'll be forever snow), let the outdoor entertaining begin! I love these two fun outdoor party ideas from the latest PB catalog--conjured up by those talented stylists no doubt (I've seen their trucks, their goods, and watched them work their magic). Talk about a fun job, no?

I love the toothpicks with a label wrapped around them indicating the type of sandwich. So easy! I also love all the fun drinks complete with floating garnishes. I'm so ready for Summer to arrive. Heck, I'd even take Spring at this point. Hear that snow? Hail? We want you both out.


* If you're in the market for a pretty, less expensive drink dispense, head to Crate & Barrel's site. They offer one up for half the price of the PB version.

Orange Drop Cookies

The other day I felt a little nostalgic for my teens. Kind of weird I know. But I wanted to badly to listen to the Judybats, hang out at Village Thrift with Kandell & Co., have a sleepover with Ali, and feel the humidity of a Ohio summer on my skin.

Here I am, fifteen plus years later, a mother of 3 and dealing with some considerable responsibilities (aren't we all?). It's overwhelming at times and perhaps that's why I found myself wishin' for the good ol' days :) Do you ever experiences waves of nostalgia too?

I consoled myself by making a cookie I enjoyed as a teenager. It's been YEARS since I'