Wednesday, April 13, 2011

DIY: Easter Egg Garland, Inspiration and Sweets

With Easter coming quick, I've found some really fun posts for DIY projects, party inspiration and sweet dessert ideas.

I love to make seasonal garlands with my kiddies to hang up in my office. I found this super-creative Easter Egg Garland that I can't wait to do! It's practically free, easy and requires some patience (which is exactly what we're always working on!). This DIY tutorial can be found at Modern Parents Messy Kids.






As for Easter gatherings with family or friends, there's no reason to have a plain or boring celebration. Here are a few fabulous inspirational parties/table settings I found at one of my favorite sources, Hostess with the Mostess.

A Fresh & Modern Spring Table

Chic {and Affordable} Spring Bunny Theme

Modern "Easter Has Sprung" Party Theme
Also at Hostess, I found some great inspiration for Easter desserts and treats via Martha Stewart.

I have been dying to make "flower pot" cupcakes. These look so simple and so cute!

Cupcakes rolled in coconut?? Yum! These are ADORABLE, can't wait to make them!

I actually made these in cupcake-form for a baby shower last year. Check out my post here. 


xo

Sunday, April 10, 2011

"Romeo, Don't Pee On Your Sister.."

The last couple weeks have been pretty interesting with our new little Coco! She's an absolute meatball and I'm totally in love. Just looking at her squished little face makes me laugh out loud, plus her "Little Diva" attitude makes it that much more entertaining. Romeo and Coco get along SO well.. even better than I expected! It's been a total blessing that Romeo is not a "barker" and we're really hoping Coco won't be either. So far, she's pretty quiet, aside from the random "MEEP!" when Romeo isn't giving her the attention she wants. She's been doing this hysterical sound when they chase each other around.. It seriously sounds like a half gurgle/half alien sound. Makes us laugh really hard!

They play together and pass out until the other one wakes up and initiates more playtime. It's really cute! Coco totally acts like a "little sister" too. Romeo will jump on the couch and antagonize her from a place she can't reach, and they'll steal each other's toys and treats. He will get a mouthful of food and drop it right in front of her to share. He even does this thing where he will hold his favorite raccoon toy in his mouth and let her grab on, so he can take her for a little walk around the apartment. So funny!






One of the most challenging things about our new little one is, oh yes, potty training. It was definitely a process with Romeo, but after hard work and persistence, he is one of the best-behaved pups I've ever seen. There's been a couple of times where I've caught myself saying to Justin, as I clean up another accident, "Augh, I don't remember Romeo being this bad!" just for him to respond, "Are you kidding?? Romeo was way worse!"

It's been interesting in the mornings especially.. I multi-tasked as it was with just Romeo, but now with both of them, it's become much more of a juggling act! Instead of taking them out one at a time in the morning, I have challenged myself to take them both at once. It has to be entertaining to watch, as I simultaneously try to manage both of them to "Potty! Potty outside!" I swear, every time I have done it, I have laughed out loud to myself. I picture the marionette-puppet-scene from The Sound of Music.




{Major apologies for such bad quality cellphone photos!}

In the craziness of trying to strategically coax them both to do their 'business', I'm trying to keep them from playing and twisting each other's leashes together and around me into a big tangled mess. Sometimes, I really do wonder if they do it on purpose.. running around and around my legs to see how long it would take me to get out of it. The other morning, I had to yank Coco's leash just in time to pull her out from under Romeo's lifted leg, ready to do his thing. I couldn't believe he would have actually pee'd on her if I hadn't saved her! Good grief.

I'm sure I'll have more stories for you soon.. Ha!


xo

Wednesday, March 30, 2011

Soundtracks: Happy Little Tunes

My list of favorite soundtracks continues...

I remember the first time I saw Dan in Real Life.. I remember thinking, Start it over! I wanna watch it again! It's one of the cutest movies, with an absolutely amazing soundtrack! Most of the music is done by Sondre Lerche and his voice goes hand-in-hand with the tone and overall feel of the movie. This one always puts me in a good mood, for sure.

Dan in Real Life
Featuring: Sondre Lerche, Regina Spektor and A Fine Frenzy


I really wasn't sure what to think of Where The Wild Things Are when it first came out in theaters. I know it's crazy, but I never read it when I was a kid. Honestly, when I first saw a trailer for it, I was creeped out by the big, weird-looking animal things and I didn't wanna give myself nightmares. Justin and I finally watched it when it came out to rent and I think I liked the soundtrack even more than the movie! Karen O from Yeah Yeah Yeahs composed the entire soundtrack with Carter Burwell and a group of kiddies. Even the song "All Is Love" was nominated for a Grammy as 'Best Song Written for a Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media'. I thought it was done really well. 


Where The Wild Things Are
Featuring: Karen O and The Kids

xo

Saturday, March 26, 2011

A Baby Shower Inspired by the Jungle

When my friend Tiffany (and old roomie) told me she was expecting, we screamed for a good 5 minutes straight. Of course, some of my first thoughts were, "YEEEE!! BABY SHOWER!" Plans for my jungle-inspired baby shower began months and months ago, after she found out she was having a boy and wanted to decorate his room with a "jungle theme". I really wanted to design my own invitations, since usually I can do it pretty reasonably. I began looking on Etsy for ideas, when I hit the jackpot when I found The Invitation at a shop called Inspired Designs. They do a lot of fun, different invitations, etc, and their jungle-themed invites were absolutely perfect. I picked my favorite and also ordered the matching toppers/favor tags. Samantha was unbelievably helpful and accommodating.. They were perfect. I printed the invites and tags at Bellis and mounted each one to corresponding cardstock (greens, blues, red, yellow, brown) . I added a little twine, for texture. Love!




I spent some time visiting with Tiff's mom to discuss details and I began planning away! As usual, I couldn't have finished everything alone (I guess I could, but it would take me 10x longer!). Lots of help from Tiffany's mom and friends -- Gina, Becky, Trish & Jen!

I decided to do a fun, animal print & colored flag garland, plus a leaf garland to create a "jungly" feel. Tulle poms and some other jungle-inspired details really seemed to create a fun little party!








I found some plain, wooden letters at Hobby Lobby and wanted to do something fun spelling "baby". I originally pictured them, wrapped with twine or leafy, but I ended up painting them yellow, and using my x-acto knife to cut matching animal-print letters to cover them. For the baby onesie clothesline, I originally planned to do 7 onesies, each with a letter to spell out the baby's name, "Charlie". After thinking things through, I decided to do the 3, with a "Charlie" banner above Tiffany's seat.



Favors were white chocolate-covered oreos.. I made them for the first time, and the process was quick and easy, just like the chocolate-covered pretzels. I had to tie the cute tags I ordered onto each one, saying, "Thanks for swinging by!" The "wisdom tree" I made was jungle-inspired, where guests left notes of wisdom or advice for Tiffany. She loved it!







Make your own "Ants-on-a-Log" and Veggies

Fruit with Cherry Fruit Dip

Chicken Salad

Deviled Eggs

Peanut Butter M&M's & "Cookies n' Creme" Pretzel Buttons


{I also made those fun little red pedestal trays!}

Chocolate Chip & Coconut Muffins with Whipped Butter



Feta & Artichoke Tarts



Coffee Punch

Lemonade

Cake was ordered from Strossner's - Raspberry Lemon. Delish!!


Becky, Gina, Me & Tiffany


Tiff and her mom, Tina

Baby games!




So happy for you, Tiffany and Andy! Definitely one of the most memorable showers I've been apart of!

xo


Jungle Images: clkr.com
Invitations: Etsy Shop, Inspired Designs
Fonts: kevinandamanda.com
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