Paris Birthday Party

Almost a year ago, we started planning my daughter's Paris-themed birthday party...starting with the little Eiffel Tower key chains I bought during our last visit in the Spring. Yup...I schlepped those around for 9 months before finally having the chance to use them! Anyway, this was fun to plan together and I'm excited to share the details with you today. If you've read my blog for any amount of time, you know that I like to create homespun parties that don't break the bank (i.e. parties that don't cost more than $50-100). They are just kids after all! Keeping it sweet and simple is really the name of the game around here.

I debated about invitations for some time...and then I spotted macaron lollies in a recent issue of Donna Hay and knew this was just the idea I was looking for! Luckily, I was able to procure all of the necessary supplies locally. The macaron lollipop invitations provided the perfect excuse for hand-delivery; although driving around for an hour+ with 4 little ones at the end of the day is not recommended...:)

To set the stage for the party, we hung a Paris canvas brought back from Habitat. It was a such a pain to get back to the States, so I was happy to put it to further use! I laid a French linen tablecloth (albeit a little wrinkled despite my best efforts at the ironing board) on the table and added a few {mostly} borrowed Eiffel Towers (thanks Jihan!). The addition of cupcake stands, fresh hydrangeas and a handful of macarons completed the simple centerpiece.

Deciding on what food to serve took about five seconds--les crèpes et les macarons bien sur! We decided it would be fun to make the crepe-making into an activity, which the girls loved. They each donned one of my cooking aprons and went to town with the crepe batter (recipe forthcoming this week). They had a great time doing this and I'm happy my daughter politely reminded me that she was too old for some of the simple, old-fashioned party games I typically suggest. Anyway, once the whipped creme, bananas and nutella hit the table, it was all over! No one, including me, realized amidst the shrieks of delight, that we forgot to eat the cake. It really was all about the nutella--and rightly so!

For an additional activity the girls made their own Eiffel Tower out of sparkly silver pipe cleaners (again, thanks Jihan for the clever idea!). It was the perfect thing to do while waiting for all of the guests to arrive. We enjoyed watching each girl create her own monument in her own way. In the background we played the Putamayo French Cafe cd, as well as a few other French favorites my daughter enjoys. We also put a French spin on Hot Potato, using a miniature Eiffel Tower as the "potato" and the fore-mentioned French music. The girls giggled their way through the game and played it several times in a row. All in all, a successful party--I think it really helped my daughter feel more settled here in Seattle, which is all I hoped for in the end!

all images by Stephanie Brubaker


Update:  A few more birthday party theme ideas have been posted recently.

The $3 Makeover

If you're a woman, then you know how lovely it is to have fresh flowers hanging around your kitchen. But, have you ever thought to put flowers in your bathroom? Well, I decided my bathroom needed some sprucing up and decided to purchase this $3 bouquet of bright-colored tulips at my local grocery store. This simple, inexpensive purchase instantly brightened my day and also created motivation for me to keep my bathroom more clean and tidy. Sometimes it's the little things...

image by Stephanie Brubaker

French Cafe Chairs + a Charming Dollhouse

I had a lot of fun writing posts over at Babble this week--all home-related--because this time of year is the best time to revamp/reorganize. Here are some great tips and sources for things I think you'll appreciate:

I don't know guys...this vintage French-inspired cafe chair has serious potential as a Tolix competitor. That cushioned seat looks straight out of France.

Love the look of custom framing, but hesitant to fork over a large wad of cash? Here's a tip that will save you money.

I found the most charming, wooden dollhouse...with fabric curtains nonetheless...and it was recently marked down to just $45. I'm thinking future Christmas present or perhaps a birthday gift...

Did you catch Sarah Jessica Parker's kitchen in Elle Decor? Remember that awesome, oversized, Italian apple print on the wall? Well, I sourced it :) It would look fantastic in a playroom.

image via PB

Helping Haiti

I think we'd all unanimously agree that Haiti has endured an exorbitant amount of suffering over the last year or two. It's heartwrenching to watch one country be slammed with natural disaster after natural disaster. In particular, my heart goes out to the hardworking women and mothers who make daily sacrifices to try and keep their families intact. I can't even imagine how they must feel.

If you're looking for a reputable organization, to which you'd like to donate funds for rebuilding Haiti, then the PADF is a great place to start. I've found their staff friendly, helpful and easy to work with; also, 100% of your donated funds go directly towards the relief effort (vs. those who use a portion of donated funds to cover admin expenses). This is a great "gift" to present that person in your life who either 1. has everything, or 2. cares deeply about world/environmental issues.

There is a powerful photo essay you can watch online here--but keep in mind there is sound accompanying the photographer's slideshow. So, if you're at work, maybe watch it when you get home tonight...

image by Patrick Farrell for The Miami Herald

Real Life Home No.2

When I first saw images of Maria's new kitchen, I did a double take. Her kitchen is absolutely gorgeous! It could easily grace the pages of House Beautiful or the like. Can you imagine cooking and baking in such a lovely setting? Oh man, I was swooning. What I wouldn't give to sit down on one of those handsome bar stools and eat a slice of Maria's Pear Galette, whilst admiring the details of this massive renovation. It's official...I will never, ever tire of pretty, white kitchens.

If you missed "Real Life Home No.1", you can catch it here.

images by Maria Lichty

Ikat Paper Napkins

Ever since Caitlin posted pictures of her home from the Emirates Home shoot, I've been dreaming of those pretty ikat napkins on the table. Between the elegant pattern and the spicy colors, they instantly dress up a neutral background. And since I'm all about neutrals with pops of color, I've been on the hunt for something similar ever since.

Yesterday, at a local grocery store, I spotted inexpensive, paper napkins that are a close resemblance to those on Caitlin's table...thrilling! (you can find them online here). Any of the 3 available colorways would be stunning additions to your next dinner party or casual gathering with friends.

image via Emirate Homes via Caitlin Wilson Design

Roasted Beet Salad with Chevre, Hazelnuts + Fennel

I've been craving beets like crazy...it's probably a sign of some kind of vitamin deficiency as beets are one of the most nutritional foods around. This salad incorporates all of the ingredients I love to eat alongside roasted beets! If you've never given beets a try, you should start with this simple, delicious salad. Served with a crusty roll, it's truly the perfect, healthy lunch!

I'm talkin' about it over at Zupas today...come take a peek if you'd like.

image by Stephanie Brubaker

Ballet Flats for $13 + other Pretty Things

Now that ALT is over and my heels and dry-clean only clothing have been put away, it's back to reality. Oh, but it was worth it! While I was attending ALT, I wrote some Babble posts I thought you might want to peek at...here they are:

I recently spotted the sweetest Valentine's Day book for kids (and it's on super sale!). I love the illustrations and the clever storyline.

If you don't want to shell out $150 for Repetto ballet flats from Paris, you'll appreciate these $13 versions.

Attention all Japanese Tape owners: you need this to prettify your desk. Plus, it's useful.

One of my favorite grownup European labels goes kid-friendly. Think Stella McCartney meets H&M.

image via Repetto

Souleïado French Linens

The two times I've attempted to stop by the Souleiado boutique in Paris, it's closed; and I'm forced to admire the lovely shop whilst pressing my nose up against the glass. Luckily it's right across the street from a yummy boulangerie/patisserie so I usually console myself there :) One of these days I'll have better luck I hope. I love their pretty patterns and am determined to somehow incorporate them into my daughters' bedroom--they are so girly aren't they? That yellow colorway has me dreaming of sunny days in Provence today (it's gray and rainy here...).

Souleiado bedding is available in the US here.

image 1 - Japan Lovely Crafts / image 2 - rakuten / image 3 - World of Quilts / image 4 - Maison de Kristine

Comptoir des Cotonniers + Les Soldes

It's that magical time of year in Paris--Les Soldes! Yup...two times a year the city goes on sale and January marks the first time in 2011 that Parisians and tourists can pick up stylish pieces at a discount. These sales are mandated by the government and while the dates are different each year, they are typically in January and July (view 2011 dates here). My favorite stop for clothes, Comptoir des Cotonniers, is on their second round of markdowns and I only wish I could be there to pick up yet another striped top for my closet. I admit it...I'm addicted.

image via Comptoir des Cotonniers

Vintage Antlers

One of the things I love most about my sister's home is the way she cleverly mixes new with vintage. Her "new" and Craigslist finds flow together effortlessly. One accessory she is most proud of are these vintage antlers picked up at a local thrift store. If you're on the hunt for something similar in your home, I think these are a great find. Someone needs to snatch 'em up!

p.s. you can view more images of this "real life home" here.

image by Stephanie Brubaker

In Our Home by Guest Blogger Katie Goodman

Guest blogger, Katie Goodman of Good Life Eats, share with us some of her favorite household accessories...I'll admit I'm prone to anything styled with a little Sophie La Giraffe! Thank you Katie for sharing with us your delicious recipes, gorgeous photography, and sweet spots in your home:

"Decorating our home has been such a process. We started with the family room and kitchen area since we spend the most time there. Then onto the kids room. Then the office. And now, we’re finally making some progress on our room after being in our home close to five years. I’ve made some mistakes. Purchased things I regretted later. Or things I really liked, but didn’t hold up. I think we all do that. But there are some things that I really love in each of the rooms of our home. Earlier, I shared with you some of my kitchen favorites...so now onto my children's rooms--those were my favorite to decorate!

I absolutely love the bedding in Madeline’s room. Pottery Barn off of ebay for a fraction of the price. So cheap and so cute that I bought two sheet sets and two quilts knowing that we’d keep it for quite a while. We mixed and matched the Abby sheets with the red and pink Allie quilt.

One of the prints on the wall in Logan’s room is an Alphabet Name Print from Penny People Designs. Every time I walk in the room it makes me smile. I love the paint in his room too much. I think it’s something that will grow with him and match many different scenarios. We picked a chair rail design with Ralph Lauren Evocative Sunshine on top and Ralph Lauren Adirondack Blue on the bottom. The blue is the perfect navy without being too dark or too blue.

Logan recently asked if we could decorate the kids’ bathroom upstairs. It wasn’t something I’d planned on, but we did have a Target gift card we received as a Christmas gift. After a quick trip we settled on an adorable whale shower curtain (it's no longer available at Target, but it looks like Amazon carries it). We weren’t really into the accessories, but the shower curtain was super cute and went with this Ocean Alphabet print."

Best of Salt Lake City

In honor of the Altitude Design Summit taking place this week, I want to share some of my favorite stops in Salt Lake City. And speaking of ALT, I'm super excited to be attending again this year...it will be more relaxing to be just an attendee and not worry about speaking on a panel this time. Although, admittedly it will be strange to be stranded downtown and not have the chance to visit friends I miss so much. Anyway, I'd love to know if any of you will be in attendance...let me know if you are!

Favorite Eats + Treats

Franks Pazzo Vita - This is where men like to lunch; it's downhome Italian cooking at its best. Everything is homemade and the portions are large. A bit off the beaten path, it's truly a hidden gem.

City Greek Express- The best little gyro ever. Order the gyro (traditional) and Greek Salad for the optimum experience. The location is random, but if you don't mind feeling like you might be on the wrong side of town, you're good to go.

Fresco Italian Cafe - a tiny restaurant tucked away in a residential neighborhood that is very romantic. We ate there every year on our anniversary. Great memories and great food!

Blue Star Juice + Coffee - the fresh-squeezed juice and housemade breakfast sandwiches presented quite the temptation for me--I could've eaten there every morning. Try the Sharon Jones and Breakfast Quickie :)















Les Madeleines - this is both a favorite "eat" and "treat". My favorite treats are the Carrot Cake Cookie Sandwich and the Meyer Lemon Tar. My favorite savory item is probably the Wagyu Burger--usually burgers don't do much for me, but this one is stellar. And it's on brioche :) Don't forget to try the Lavendar Lemonade too!

Tin Angel Cafe - Funky lunch spot with great food. Good location too.

Dolcetti Gelato - The owner says it's the only gelateria in Utah that doesn't use gels. I'm sure that's why I like it so much better than anywhere else. The last time we were in (a few months ago), they had a killer batch of pistachio gelato. "They" say you can judge how great a gelateria is based on their pistachio...






















Antelope Island - technically not in SLC, but pretty close. I love Antelope Island--it's a beautiful oasis and unlike anything I've seen. It feels very remote despite the fact that it's 35 minutes from downtown.

Favorite Shops

Sundance Catalog Outlet - Aaahhh...the birthplace of my Tolix chair set :) While you don't see many Tolix chairs there anymore, you do see many other fantastic French-industrial-esque pieces. It's a must-stop in my book!

Decades - Best vintage shopping in SLC. And if you have small feet (i.e. size 6 or under), then you're in luck. I've spotted vintage Salvatore Ferragamo heels there for just $30. City Greek Express, mentioned above, is across the street so hit them both at the same time.

Koo de Ker - Affordable fashion in a funky neighborhood. Plus, Kyong, the owner, is a doll and is fun to chat with while you shop! Be sure to stop by Hip & Humble next door too.

Cactus & Tropicals - Who knew plant shopping could be so therapeutic? It's really quite an experience. You walk in...the air is warm and humid...classical music is playing...and the sound of water falling calms you. I loved updating my terrarium here.

Roots - The place to look up when you want to send flowers to someone with modern style. Occasionally they have great home accessories too.

Xpedx - This is the mother of all xpedx stores. Truly. They "test" out product here and therefore the selection is incredible. Great prices too.

image 1 via Strassenreise / image 2 - via Anna Jones Photography / image 4 - Stephanie Brubaker

Life Changing Advice

Some of the most poignant, joyful, life-changing experiences in my life have taken place as a result of heeding to these words. Really, if you want to make big changes in your life, the words contained in this image present a great place to start. Plus, with the exception of the advice to "travel", every one of them is free; meaning, there is no reason anyone of us can't incorporate these mantras into our own lives. And with that, I bid you a happy weekend!

important update: you can buy this poster here...wahoo!

In the Kitchen by Guest Blogger Katie Goodman

Since these days the kitchen has become more like my office, I find myself spending a lot
of time there. In fact, it’s probably the room in the house that I can most easily be found.

Exchanges like this are frequent in our home:

“Mom, where are you?

“In the kitchen!”

It’s only natural that I would have many things I love in that room. And there are
certainly many more than this list, but I thought I’d share a few of my top, top favorites
right now.

In the kitchen I’m loving:

My microplane and its many uses. My favorite kitchen gadget.

This Homemade All-Natural Moisturizing Kitchen Hand Scrub that I keep under my sink.

This adorable K is for Kitchen Alphabet Print

Collectable Vintage Ovenex Pans

Dishes from Anthropologie (these are one of my favorites to use in food photography)

The gorgeous lighting that enables me to take all the photos on my blog.

My iPhone docking station. Chores are so much easier with a little music in the
background.

What are your favorite kitchen things?






















And of course my kitchen wouldn’t be so fun without my family. That’s a given. I love the laughter, craziness, eating together, and art projects that take place here. And for a small moment of indulgence…the things that I’m not loving today:

My tiny pantry and the colossal mess.

Do all moms feel this way? Today it feels like I just can’t get ahead. I made and
photographed some Triple Chocolate Banana Muffins while Madeline entertained herself
with anything she could get her hands on. I laugh at the number of times I think “should I
even bother?” Probably not!

images 1 - anthropologie / image 2 - paper finger / image 3 - real cool store

Katie's Top 5 Favorite Recipes of the Moment

Katie has a million recipes on her blog--her "Recipe Index" is chock full of dishes and desserts you'll want to add to your repertoire. You should take a peek!

Right now some of Katie's favorite recipes are the following...if you've never tried any of her recipes, I'd say this is a great place to start:

Coconut Chicken Curry Soup
Cranberry Pecan Pumpkin Tart
Indian Butter Chicken with Basmati Rice
Open Face Roasted Vegetable Sandwiches on Rustic Rosemary Bread
Healthier Whole Wheat Waffles

Roasted Brussels Sprouts

After spotting some incredibly fresh-looking brussels sprouts at our local grocery store, I decided it was high time I gave brussels sprouts a chance again. And, I'm so happy I did...I would make them again in a heartbeat!

For a complete {but very simple} tutorial on creating delicious brussesl sprouts for your family, feel free to peruse my latest post for Zupas.

images by Stephanie Brubaker

Welcome Katie of Good Life Eats

Do you remember those yummy-looking pumpkin cinnamon rolls I mentioned around Thanksgiving? Well, you are in for a treat, my friends. The talented Katie Goodman--creator of that scrumptious recipe--will be hanging out here this week, sharing her favorites with all of you. By the end of the week you'll be wishing you were Katie's next door neighbor...heaven knows I do!

I love Katie's blog for a few reasons...1. she's down-to-earth and totally unpretentious...2. she is a mother and so her perspective on food is right up my alley and 3. her recipes and photography are delicious! It's everything you'd ever want in a food blog and I am positively amazed at all she accomplishes. She is one busy bee, that Katie. So, loosen those belts and give a warm welcome to Miss Katie of Good Life Eats.

Here is a little ditty on Katie, in her words. I'm sure many of you can relate to her circumstances and at the very least to her reasons for blogging:

Eric and I married eight years ago. Within three years I found myself living in New Mexico, a place I never imagined I’d live, and caring for a newborn baby boy. Life was totally new and different and without a network of friends, I spent much of my “free time” either on the computer searching for the next delicious recipe I’d make, or in the kitchen preparing it.

Another child later, and like many moms I found I was desperate in need of a creative outlet so I could reconnect with a part of who I was before children. I signed up for a blogger account and started sharing my recipes and attempts at food photography. Logan started full-day kindergarten this year and Madeline stays home with me 3 days a week. When I’m not busy with a curious three-year-old who often thinks she’d prefer being a kitty cat, I’m busy developing recipes, photographing my latest creation, writing blog posts, and taking freelance food jobs on the side.

If food is your thing, head over to Good Life Eats to get your fill of recipes and food photography!

Stay tuned for Katie's top 5 recipes of the moment...welcome Katie!

images 1,2 - Naturally Sweet Photography / image 3 - Katie Goodman

Claudio Corallo Chocolate

Last night my husband came home with a scrumptious treat for me--a brown bag from Claudio Corallo Chocolates holding a decadent oversized macaroon that was unlike any other I've tasted. I ate it quickly...too quickly...but I couldn't help myself. It was exquisite!

So...I looked up Claudio on the web and it turns out he has an amazing story. With his wife and 3 kids, he lived in a beach hut on a remote West African island, nurturing cocoa and coffee plants on his plantation. Exotic cocoa plants dotted the island, thanks to monkeys who developed a taste for the plant and happily spread the seeds across the rainforest. And now we can reap the benefits at his sweet, little chocolate shop right here in Seattle. Non-locals can take advantage of his online presence here. Yum!

p.s. you can read more about Claudio's story in a letter he wrote. I'll be thinking about this all day...incredibly inspiring.

images 1, 3 - Claudio Corallo Chocolates / image 2 - NYT

The Perfect Pencil Skirt + a Modern Aquarium for Under $30

Playing a bit of catch up this week and realized I hadn't shared a bunch of my latest posts for Babble this week. Here are some pretty things and great deals I think you might enjoy knowing about:

There's been a lot of 2011 calendars circulating the web as of late, but this is my favorite one. The color saturation is awesome (images above are also from the same press).

If you haven't jumped onto the iPhone bandwagon due to price, now is the time to jump over. It's an amazing phone and it's now only $50. In fact, I just bought one for myself this week after my kids accidentally busted up my old one :(

The black pencil skirt we should all own...and it's on sale for under $30. Ah yeah.

Attention all Petit Prince fans, the sweetest, most beautiful pop up book is now available...swoon! This would make the perfect baby gift for a boy or girl, don't you think?

Since January is all about de-cluttering, why not rid the fridge-front of all random magnets and use these instead? I have them and love 'em. I really enjoy how they clean up the space.

A modern residence for that cute, little goldfish of yours. Design aficianados will be so happy to have a budget-friendly option that doesn't come from Petco.

I know it seems like they should be easy to find, but attractive storage baskets are actually few and far between in my opinion. However, I really like these a lot and they aren't nearly as expensive as similar counterparts.

I think these outdoor rugs are perfect for my patio because they are both lovely and inexpensive--my favorite combination!

Menu of the Week

Alrighty...here is a round up of last week's meals and some notes regarding the recipes, should you be interested in making some of these meals too. Have a lovely day!

Homemade Pizza (Potesto, Margarita, Salami), Salad with Dijon Vinaigrette, Cherry Crumb Cake - "potesto" pizza uses fresh pesto sauce, thinly sliced cooked red potato and Gouda or Mozzarella cheese. By the way, using fresh mozzarella makes all the difference in the world (Costco is the least expensive place to purchase this). We've treaded in pre-shredded-dried-out-mozzarella territory and it isn't pretty...or delicious :) Still working out the kinks on homemade pizza sauce...I'll keep you posted.

Vegetable Fried Rice, Steamed Broccoli, Grapefruit - my husband is the expert fried rice maker in the house and he is notorious for not using a recipe :) However, this version seems pretty darn close, sans the ginger.

Roasted Chicken with Lemon, Garlic & Herbs - always a comfort food favorite. Treat yourself to an organic, free-range chicken--it's a lot juicier and tastier than its conventional counterpart. I'll admit, after watching Food, Inc., I am more interested in consuming less meat, and then only eating organic, free-range meat when I do. I realize everyone has different feelings about their personal food consumption, but operating this way makes me feel healthier and more socially responsible.

Vegetable Beef Soup with Whole Wheat Toast, Salad - the original recipe for this soup is just vegetables. I typically add 1/2 pound grass fed ground beef. This recipe needs quite a bit of seasoning, but I like it b/c it's healthy and it freezes well. I don't think most things freeze well, but this one does. It's nice to make a lot of it and then just have it on hand to use at a moment's notice.

Easy Polenta Toss (see below for recipe), Green Salad, Fresh Pineapple and Pomegranate Seeds - I liked this a lot more than the polenta recipe I made a few weeks ago. I think it's because I spent less on ingredients and so my expectations were lower. Also, the amount of polenta in this toss wasn't overwhelming.

Polenta Toss
adapted from a PCC Marketplace recipe

1 large onion, coarsely chopped
3 bell peppers (use different colors like red, yellow and orange)
2 TB olive oil
1 pound pre-cooked polenta roll, cut into half moons
2 mild Italian sausage links, casings removed
1 can black beans, rinsed and drained
salt and pepper to taste
grated cheese (I used the bagged, grated cheese I use for quesadillas and grilled cheese)

In a large cast iron skillet, heat the olive oil on medium heat. Add the sausage, using a wooden spoon to break up the links. After a couple of minutes, add the onions and peppers and saute with sausage for 3-5 minutes, or until softened. Add polenta and black beans. Gently toss until polenta and beans are heated through. Use the back of a wooden spoon to break up sausage. Season with salt and pepper. Top with grated cheese.

Discounted Restoration Hardware Lighting

This light fixture was one of my favorite things in our previous home and I so badly wanted to recreate a similar look here in Seattle. It's truly the perfect chandelier as it carefully rides the fence between modern and traditional. But the price was holding me back--and even during the "Friends and Families" sale it was still out of my budget. Realizing this was disappointing, but I was determined to figure out a way to procure this fixture for our new space.

I decided to pop onto Ebay and lo and behold, I found a brand new RH fixture for $150 less than its retail price. And that included shipping! This particular ebay shop has a fairly substantial stock of brand new Restoration Hardware items including bathroom hardware, bedding, window treatments, and of course light fixtures. However, there are a couple of other stores on Ebay that offer brand new Restoration Hardware lighting fixtures at a discount. I hope you find yourself a little treasure too!

image 1 - Restoration Hardware / image 2 - Stephanie Brubaker

1-11-11

Today marks a very special birthday for this little gal--just look at that date! We keep telling her a birth date like this won't happen to anyone again for over a hundred years. She thinks that's pretty awesome :) Oh my goodness time is passing far too quickly...

image by Rebecca Mudrick of Darling Art Photography

Favorite Cookie Resource

Today, over at Zupas, I'm talking about my favorite cookie cookbook as well as my top 3 recipes. It would be a fantastic addition to any growing library!

You can read about it here.

images by Stephanie Brubaker

French White Bedroom

Something pretty to look at this morning...

I'm not sure why I'm drawn to white spaces--perhaps it's the fact that it's so unattainable right now? I mean, I do have 4 little kids and even though we're a washable-crayon-using and no-shoes-in-the-house kind of family, things still get dirty. It's inevitable...and it's okay. But I still dream of white--a lot of it--and this is one gorgeous space.

image via Marie Claire Maison

Party Planning + Paris Memories

Since three of my four kids have back-to-back birthday months (around the holidays nonetheless), I find it essential to plan their party themes in advance. This allows me to create a better party for my child and spend less (it's those last-minute purchases that kill the budget). Right now I'm helping my daughter put together her Paris-themed birthday party...we've been planning it for a year now. As I put together ideas, I'm daydreaming of our experiences there--including a crazy driving tour of l'Arc de Triomphe. Those 3 minutes were truly some of the scariest in my life! Imagine about 10 lanes, all unmarked, with several turn offs. To be honest, I was thankful to have survived.

Today's party prep task is deciding what the "pin-the-__" game is going to look like. Pin the beret on the French schoolgirl? (she did after all attend school in France) Pin the French flag on the top of the Eiffel Tower? If you have any clever ideas, I'd love to hear them!

image by daddy-o

Japanese Recipes + Decadent Chocolate Cake

Looking for food inspiration in a place you've never visited before? Give this Japanese website a go. It's a bid hodge podge, but there are some real gems mixed in there. Think of it as a TJMaxx of recipes and images :)

My friend made us this {sinfully} delicious cake before we moved away from SLC and let's just say it made an impression. It's absolutely decadent and looks beautiful as well. But you're probably wondering what to do about the minor issue of not reading Japanese, right? Well, thanks to Google translation, you should be able to access this goodness fairly easily.

Have a fantastic weekend!

image via cookpad

Classic Children's Clothing for Ten Dollars

I can't keep it to myself...Olive Juice Kids (my favorite stop for kid's clothes) extended their $10 Outlet Sale through today. Typically, this is the only time I allow myself to shop Olive Juice and I'm always so excited to procure gorgeous, soft, classic clothes for my kids. You cannot beat these prices or the bang for your buck.

I shared all the details over at Babble yesterday--happy shopping!

p.s. both of these cute little numbers are included in the sale!

image via celebrity babies

Melrose Market

Our first two months here in Seattle were pretty difficult, and some days I just needed to find a happy place to wander about for an hour. Enter: Seattle's Melrose Market. I'd read about it in Sunset and thought it sounded right up my alley. In one tidy, little space you'll find a sandwich-maker, (I lived off the Eggplant Swiss at Homegrown during the month of December!), cheesemonger, butcher and florist; which, is coincidentally a mini produce stand as well. Also available at Melrose Market are housewares, fresh baguettes and the chance to dine at the lovely Sitka & Spruce--a restaurant so delicious it's entirely full on weeknights. Next door to the market is a rockin' record joint for those of you who love a little vinyl. In all, it's a wonderful place to visit if you want to experience some amazing food options in a relatively small time frame.

Melrose Market
1501-1535 Melrose Ave
(in Capitol Hill)

image 1 - Sitka & Spruce / images 2-6 Stephanie Brubaker