Archive for the ‘holidays + celebrations’ Category
November 1, 2012
Pretty scary around these parts last night, as you can tell. Melanie and I were in tears laughing about how ridiculous it is to try to get little people to wear costumes. Forrest was the most open to the whole thing. He makes a pretty good bear, don’t you think?
Luciana and Dashie were on board for approximately 10 minutes.
We even made it to a few houses for tricks and treats, which made me feel better since Dashie had to miss the Halloween festivities at school. Still has a nasty cold. Poor guy.
Look at me posting two days in a row!
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
April 10, 2012
Oh, look! More flowers. I swear I’m not secretly trying to become a florist. But we put together this super cute shoot for 100 Layer Cake in my backyard a few weeks ago, and I got to play with flowers again. Which is always fun. Also, there’s a whole mess of awesome stuff on sale in the shop right now. Just sayin’.
And Scott got a cute photo of bebé #2 for me. See? So much better with the belly shots of late.
Here’s a peek at the shop…
Poufs (in like 6 colors) for $118! Wedding blankets! Indian bedspreads! Plus tons more in the Pop-Up Shop right now. You know you need a pouf. I bought the brown one. So excited.
(Party photos by Scott Clark)
labels: flowers + greenery, holidays + celebrations, house + home
April 5, 2012
I meant to post these 3 weeks ago, after my mom’s surprise party, but you know how it goes. I picked up all the flowers from the Flower Market downtown, and the gold vases at Moskatels. It was so so fun, though I figured out that you really do have to get there earlier if you want to have a go at the really special stuff.
Just a little something pretty for Thursday…
And of course a gratuitous photo of Dashie playing trucks with his pal Judah, whilst the adults drink wine and eat cheese.
labels: flowers + greenery, holidays + celebrations
March 15, 2012
It’s been a while since I shamelessly promoted the Pop-Up Shop over here, hasn’t it? With all of you beautiful mommies planning parties for your bebes, and baby showers for your friends and sisters, I figured you guys might love the pretties from Potter & Butler as much as I do.
BONUS – they’re on sale in the Pop-Up Shop until tomorrow eve. I’m probably going to have to stock up on pommy decor for the next few years.
Yet another compelling reason to have a girl this time around – I can plan parties that involve poms and fringe and delicate flowers and teeny cakes and things. Also the clothes. I mean, obviously.
Sale closes Friday at 6PM Pacific… but the cutest things might sell out before then.
labels: buy handmade, holidays + celebrations
March 14, 2012
I was tempted to skip the birthday part altogether this year, I admit. We’ve had so much going on in the last week that it just seemed like one more not totally necessary thing to add to our list. BUT, I’m so glad we decided to have a little party after all. Dashie had fun, the bagels were delicious, the day was warm. And I made my first ever cake. Success all around!
Of course, it ended in mountains of new trucks. But what are you going to do? (Give the old ones to Goodwill, if you’re me. Ooops.)
His party last year included far more preparation and decorations, but that just wasn’t in the cards this time around.
And the cake recipe? Oh, um, yeah. Divine. Rave reviews from party goers. Shall I post it? I think so. Stay tuned.
labels: baby + kids, holidays + celebrations, our family
January 4, 2012
How about a big post recapping the last few weeks? THEN I’ll really start posting again. I will.
We had a long and relaxing trip to San Diego for Christmas. Spending time with the whole family, at three different houses, and seeing friends we haven’t in a long while. Mostly I have pictures of Dashiell in his pajamas, but no one ever ties of those, right?
Early Christmas morning. He still loves to push things, more than anything else.
Adorable bear slippers from my parents (“bear shhhooos”), rivaled only by these Hanna Andersson buckaroo PJs from Brock’s mom (on super sale, btw!).
Someone spent all of Christmas day in his PJs. And found real bulldozers (boo-dah-dah!) near Brock’s dad’s house.
We got to spend a little time with this muffin, and her mom and dad. Though I was horribly sick and couldn’t hold her. Which sucked.
A gorgeous evening at the beach with Brock’s bro turned positively gloomy in the space of 10 minutes when a monster fog bank rolled in. It was kind of neat.
Dashiell loves this mushroom bowling set from our friend Carol. He doesn’t even care about the bowling part yet. Lining up the mushrooms in a row is plenty good.
Making Molly’s red lentil soup with lemon, after having it for lunch at Jora’s house last week. It’s so simple and delicious, and a big hit with Dashiell. Will be part of a weekly rotation for a while, I think.
And now we’re back, enjoying soups and homegrown broccoli and watching the winter flowers from the kitchen window, and looking forward to all the possibilities for 2012. I love this time of year. I used to find it sort of sad and depressing… so much quiet after a month of festivities and all. But now I find it more inspiring than ever. Definitely already been to the Container Store, already cleaned out toys (aye the influx of toys at Christmas!), cleaned out drawers, piled up things in the garage to craigslist. I’d love to have all of January each year just to get things in order.
Dashiell has spent the last two weeks learning literally like 200 words. It’s amazing. Everyone says that one day it just clicks, but you think… huh. I don’t see that. And then one day all the sounds come together and your baby is talking. Putting two and three words together even (though they’re a little garbled much of the time), and it’s so neat.
Here’s to hoping that we all have a big year. See you soon. Promise.
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
December 23, 2011
Things are, I’m relieved to report, pretty much ready. Minus the packing of clothes, and stuffing full of the car, and heading south for the week. But the STUFF is wrapped. And finally it’s feeling like Christmas. I swear one year I’m going to start planning in like October and be totally ready by like the beginning of December so I can just enjoy the build up.
Favorite mini project of 2011 – gold glitter polka dot gift tags with gold & white baker’s twine. A last minute inspiration that makes every present seem so much more fancy!
Making these orange butter cookies… they are simple and divine.
The toffee. 4 batches later. Glad that’s done with.
Jams and pickles ready for giving. Soooo glad I started these in August.
The wrapping corner… though most of the paper has taken a beating from Mr. D.
And a peek at a few presents. It’s sooooo satisfying to have them wrapped up 2 full days before Christmas. I want everything in my life to be done two days early. Wouldn’t that be amazing?
Merry and happy whatever you celebrate. I hope you’re spending the week away from work and with people you love. We’re going to hit the Wild Animal Park, maybe the Birch Aquarium, the Cal game at the Holiday Bowl (totally a tourist on that excursion, but friends are going and you know), Fidels, probably Robertos… the list goes on. And lots of time with family and friends.
labels: holidays + celebrations
December 19, 2011
Oh, hello! Major apologies for lack of posting. It’s a crazy time of year, as you all know, and I’ve been trying to make it as un-crazy as possible. Which means some things have to be put on hold, one of which happens to be the internet. I’m at my computer all day doing work and after dinner I just DON’T want to be there anymore. At least right now.
I think I’m in the middle of internet fatigue. There are sooooo many cute ideas and photos and blogs and shops and things that it’s becoming overwhelming and instead of trying to manage all of that in my brain, I’ve sort of just checked out. BUT Christmas is nearly here! It’s usually such an ideal time to be showing fun projects and recipes and things! Alas this year I’m bowing out. But I did want to check in and say HI I MISS YOU ALL AND THIS BLOG, and share a few things going on around these parts before the big weekend is here.
Persimmon pudding and English Toffee have already been made and eaten and made and eaten again. The tree is up, ornaments have been broken more times than I care to admit. Presents are being wrapped. Chickens and gardens and being neglected. Parties have been attended (thankfully we’re done with those. OMG. 5 last weekend alone). Cards still need to be addressed, more presents need to be wrapped… and purchased. Bags need to be packed. Tamales need to be ordered. Salsa needs to be made. Photos need to be printed. I have so many lists going, I’m not even sure where to start.
Here are some nice things I’ve come across so far this year in my shopping:
Hay neon tea towels, from A+R in Venice.
Muji silicone ice ball maker (for perfect Manhattans)
Lovi birch cards that turn into ornaments.
Organic farro in bulk from Bluebird Grain Farms.
Foodzie marketplace and artisan food monthly subscription baskets.
A shiny reversible clutch.
And some non-gifty things that I’ve loved over the last few months:
These birth photos from Brooke Schwab. I think I might need them for myself.
Cooking from Heidi’s new-ish cookbook.
Making pizzas from Blake’s dough once a week. (I love storing it in the freezer!)
Farm Made. Looks intriguing, right?
So much going on with work and family and new, ahem, projects for next year. I’m hoping to be back to posting soon. Maybe I just need a break from EVERYTHING over Christmas for a while. Or maybe I just needed to post once so I can get back in the swing of things.
Hope you’re all doing well and being festive and merry and all of that.
labels: holidays + celebrations, musings
November 1, 2011
My little farmer last night. His first trip around the neighborhood, eating his loot as he goes.
The most genius thing: houses that have little kid appropriate treat options! So thankful for those people. Goldfish were dinner last night, I’m a little ashamed to say. But we had lots of fun seeing all the other people dressed up, so totally worth it.
Look how much he’s grown in a year.
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
October 10, 2011
Friday we went the pumpkin patch… twice. And then again on Saturday. And when we ran by one on Sunday, we nearly had to stop due to orders from our little boss.
It’s apparently the greatest form of free child entertainment ever invented. Who knew?!
Dash and I happened on one at the feed store on Friday morning where we’d stopped off to pick up chicken food. And it was such a hit, I decided to take him to the one at the nursery by our house in the late afternoon too.
Now every time we pass a pumpkin patch he points and yells and all but demands that we stop. It’s pretty cute. Also really awesome that a pile of squash can entertain a small human for over an hour.
I had an idea to open a pumpkin patch with a BAR. So the kids can run around climbing on pumpkins and the parents can drink beer and wine. Wouldn’t that be so perfect? Man, the Germans have it right with the biergarten, don’t they?
labels: holidays + celebrations, our family
