Caramel Apples

It finally feels like fall (at least for a moment). And to celebrate we're going to make caramel apples this weekend. I've never made caramel apples before, but I've definitely eaten more than a few. Hudson has been begging for months to make caramel apples. I promised him that we'd do it before his sister comes. I'm still searching for the perfect recipe for first-timers like us, here are the options thus far:

Simple, Easy and Microwaveable.

Classic, yet a bit more complicated.

Dainty and ladylike.

Family-friendly.

It should be an easy choice, right? Family-friendly and easy/microwaveable are such no-brainers. But I want ours to taste just like the ones at Disneyland. Those are good, no? Or maybe they just seem amazing because they're from Disneyland. (I'm pretty sure a root canal would seem better at Disneyland). Nonetheless, I'll keep searching for the perfect recipe. Good thing it's only Wednesday...I've still got time to find the perfect recipe. Any tips? Have you ever made caramel apples at home before?

Photo from Sweet Cakes.

Preschool Awards

I believe there are angels here on earth. They're in the shape of preschool teachers. After being the "classroom mom" yesterday and witnessing the amazing, positive, wonderful woman that is Miss L, there's only one word to describe her: angelic. I think that any person who willingly teaches children in the 3-5 year age range (and enjoys it!) should be guaranteed a special place in heaven.

I definitely don't have the patience or grace to deal with a dozen preschoolers at once. But I do have a list of items that make handling my one preschooler much, much easier. So with no further delays, I'd like to give a shiny gold star to the following:

Inspector Hector, Dirt Detector

Any soap that makes kids want to wash their hands is well worth every penny.

This stuff has magic color-changing beads that make the soap change colors after you've scrubbed long enough. And it smells yummy, too.

P.S. It's available at Target.

Old Navy Elastic-Waist Cargos

I can rest easy knowing that if nature comes a-callin' while he's away at preschool, he'll be able to make a quick, easy pit stop with elastic-waist pants. No buttons or zippers to stress out about, and much more stylish than his old grey sweatpants.

Melissa & Doug Floor Puzzles

Great quiet time activity; and he feels so good about himself when he does it all by himself. Our current favorite is the Solar System Puzzle.

Clif Kids Z Bar

For that mid-afternoon energy low, I always keep these on hand. They actually taste pretty good, and they're packed with nutritious things to give him the extra boost he needs. Plus, they're the perfect in-the-purse snack: compact, individually wrapped, and more crumble-resistant than goldfish crackers.

Cloudy With a Chance of Meatballs

It seems a little backwards that we have to buy our kid a book to get him excited about a movie. But H is a little fearful of the movies (too loud, too scary, too dark, etc.) But this book has made it into our nightly bedtime rotation. It took some convincing, and a big bag of popcorn, but Hudson made it through the whole movie. If you haven't seen it yet, we all enjoyed the movie. It makes for a perfect family weekend activity.

So, what are your secrets? I'm always looking to expand my arsenal. Have a great Tuesday.

Excuses

Since I'm trying not to complain this week (see below), just consider this an observation: the last month of pregnancy is not fun. I'm not quite feeling like myself this morning. After I deliver Hudson to gymnastics class, edit my brother's English paper, and make some popcorn for the neighbor girl's birthday, I hope to return to my blog this afternoon to hand out some Preschool Awards. On a positive note, it rained early this morning. I love rain.

Photo from here.

Positive Thoughts

Maybe instead of dreading Mondays, I need to look at it as a new start; the proverbial "blank slate." Not only that, but I think every week should begin with some positive thinking. Here's a good list to live by...or at least to focus on this week. This week, I'm going to try to complain less, be more positive; and to help others more willingly. Do you have any self-improvement goals for the week?

image here.

Pretty Things

So today's post is a whole lot of random stuff. I'm going through my "pretty things" file and sharing all these lovelies that are just too good to keep for myself.

Aren't these evian bottles designed by Paul Smith absolutely spectacular?

This might just be the solution I need to start drinking more water.

Photo via Lovely Package

I know we've all seen these gorgeous Penguin Classics dozens of times.

But I love them. And I want them all.

Photo via Design*Sponge

I've had a real thing for Party Poms as of late.

I just ordered some to hang over Baby's window seat.

Can't wait to see them in person.

Image via Party Poms.

Um, is this not the coolest wedding photo (and couple) ever?

Image via we heart it.

I know I saw this photo (and the original source) somewhere, so if you know where it's from please let me know.

The whole bib necklace/statement necklace phenomenon was kind of lost on me for a while.

But I think with a great pair of jeans, and a perfect white tee, even I could pull this one off. Maybe.

Photo from Anthropologie.

Have a beautiful weekend! xo

Foggy

This morning, I woke up to the most glorious sight: thick grey fog covering the entire canyon. Since it's bound to burn off soon and then be about a million degrees this afternoon, here's a little collection of pretty grey things to celebrate the misty, cool, grey-ness of the morning.

This ring perfectly captures the cool, misty feeling of a foggy morning.

I've had a thing for little flower jewelry lately.

Urban fog scarf? Yes, please.

Another fab look from lookbook.nu. I never cease to be amazed.

I'm always on the lookout for a good hoodie.

Not to mention, it's the perfect thing to wear on a foggy morning.

I hope you all have a wonderful day. And here's hoping that the fog sticks around for a bit!

(To see image sources, just visit the link in the description below individual image).

Business Cards

Such a tiny piece of paper; yet if done properly, it will leave a huge impression. Here are a few that have caught my eye lately.

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For image sources, click on the stars below each image. And have a Happy Wednesday.

P.S. Thanks for all your kind comments about my photos yesterday. :)

Brace Yourselves

I'm sure you've noticed, but I'm not big on sharing pictures of myself. But yesterday, I did a maternity shoot with my friend Ashley. She's amazing! And I'm so happy she would go to all the trouble to take photos of us. I'm feeling brave at the moment, so brace yourselves to see me at 35 weeks pregnant:

Our day was such a fun adventure. Our boys (she has two, I have one) are best buddies, so we took them along for the ride. It started out with a flat tire in Golden Gate Park, where numerous kind strangers offered to help. I hope good karma catches up with all those nice folks. Then, before our shoot even started, Ashley pulled her son's tooth. She's a woman of many talents. :) After things got back to normal, we spent the rest of the afternoon romping about the city taking pictures. My favorite moment was avoiding a crazy dog-walker lady as we tip-toed around the Sea Cliff neighborhood taking photos on people's driveways and doorsteps.

If you want to see the rest of our shoot, check out Ashely's blog. And if you're in the Bay Area, you should definitely hire this girl...she's fantastic!

Little White Lies

Over the weekend, I was flipping through some family photos of the last month. I came across this one and it made me laugh. We cut Hudson's hair a few weeks ago. A task we all truly dread. It takes all three of us. B does the cutting; my job is to immobilize Hudson while simultaneously offering comfort; and Hudson's job is to cry and carry on and get as much hair in his mouth as possible.

When it was all over, he turned and looked in the mirror and burst into a fresh batch of tears. I asked him was wrong, and he said, "I don't like my new haircut. It's not so beautiful." As I stuck him in the bath tub to wash off all the hair, I told him that his new haircut would make him run super fast. He stopped crying immediately. As soon as he tested it out, he loved his new haircut. Now he tells me everyday how much he loves his new Super Hair.

It got me thinking of all the little white lies parents tell to comfort a child; or simply to make their own lives easier. Confession: the other night when I was sick of playing Mario Party with him, I turned off the wii and told him that the remote was out of batteries. I can't tell if this makes me a bad mom, or just a smart one. What's your stance on little white lies? Do you tell them to your kids, or do you remember your parents telling them to you?

We Have a Winner

I realize this photo has nothing to do with winning a giveaway, but I just like it.

Congratulations to the giveaway winner: Addi! {I'll be in touch with you soon about when you can expect to receive the loot}.

And I hope you all enjoy the last few hours of the weekend...mine has been just perfect. I'll be sad when it's over.

Don't Forget

The winner of my birthday giveaway will be announced tomorrow. You still have time to enter. Have a great weekend!

{photo via audrey hepburn complex}

Candy Coated Kitchen

So I was working on an entire post about adding pops of color into your kitchen decor, when I came across this photo. None of the other photos I'd collected even compared to this one...so I'm just going to dwell on it for a moment. If this were my kitchen, I'd never leave the house. When we started renting, I resented being stuck with all-white walls. But now, I'm loving the chance it gives me to decorate with color. But back to the point: how adorable is this kitchen???

Photo from nom, nom, nom via Delikatissen.

If you know the original source, please let me know.

Obsession: Suede Boots

Sorry for the late post this morning. I know my days of sleeping in are running short, so I'm taking advantage of every minute that I get.

Everywhere I look these days, fall fashion is beckoning--nay, taunting me. Just a quick zip through Antropologie the other day left me with a post-pregnancy wish list as long as (or possibly longer than) Hudson's nightly "reasons not to go to bed" list. And then there's all the gorgeous things I keep seeing around blogland. Sigh.

Since my feet are the first thing to return back to normal size, a pair of great fall boots is a high priority. Just a moment perusing Piperlime left me with several lovely choices:

Everyone needs a great pair of brown boots. And these have a hidden wedge for an extra boost.

Grey suede? So versatile. And that little fold would let some colorful tights a la Kate Spade peek through for just a hint of color.

Oh, that ruffle! Fabulousness lies in the details, am I right?

I've always had a thing for footwear with bows. It just screams sweetness.

So what's the first thing on your fall wish list?

Alphabet Prints

Besides a good chocolate cupcake, and a day without swollen ankles, nothing makes me happier right now than a colorful alphabet print. The only problem is choosing which one the kids (read: I) need the most. Luckily, they each have their own room, so I only have to narrow it down to two. Here are a few topping my list at the moment:

from ModernPop

from StephanieFizer

from luckypaperie

from ModernPop

from one shy mouse

Which is your favorite?

2 Years & A Giveaway

My little shop is two today! And to celebrate, I'm offering free shipping on all purchases made in my shop today. So stop in and pick up a little something for yourself. Or someone else. ;)

And to make it a little more exciting, I'm giving away a HUGE selection of goodies (A $50+ value) things from my shop, and new, never-before seen items. There's so many, in fact, I'm not going to bother photographing them...you'll just have to trust me on this one. You have three chances to enter:

1. Leave a comment here. It's as simple as that. Just make sure I have some way to contact you if you're the winner.

2. Follow my blog. If you're a follower (thank you!) simply leave another comment saying "I'm a follower."

3. For a third entry, blog, tweet, or otherwise promote the giveaway. Then leave a comment here saying that you did.

The winner will be chosen randomly, and will be announced on Saturday.

{Photo from Kara's Cupcakes. I just learned about the new mobile Kara-Van...and it made my day. If you're in, or near San Francisco, definitely do not miss the chance to binge on a few scrumptious cupcakes.}

Shop Update

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend. I recovered from my insane week by having a low-key, relaxed weekend with my two favorite guys. Just what we needed around here. Now that things are getting back to normal (for now), I'm finally adding some new stuff to my horribly neglected shop. Here's a quick sneak-peek:

Halloween's not much of a card-giving holiday; but I do know a few grandmas and aunties out there who love to spoil the little monsters in their lives. Not to mention that Hudson fell in love with my new friend Gilbert the Ghost. He loved him so much that we had to make some special cutouts for him to take to bed.

And a couple new versions of an old classic...all done up in new, snazzy colors.

Then there's a simple, bright thank you card. This one can also be ordered as personalized stationery.

These items and some not appearing here, will be posted in the shop throughout the day, so stay tuned. Oh, and tomorrow's my shop's 2nd birthday. Hooray! I'll be celebrating with free shipping and a giveaway! Have a Happy Monday.

Ugh.

It's been one of those weeks. I haven't even had time to think straight...let alone get together a decent blog post. I'll be back Monday after I get my act together. Have a great weekend!

{image here, via we heart it}

Two More Recipes

Here are two more recipes that I promised to share months ago...but I'm just now getting around to it. Anyway, they're both pretty tasty and pretty easy, too. Plus, they're good warm-weather meals. Even though summer "officially" ended over the weekend; temperatures are still hovering near the nineties. So any meal that can be prepared with a minimal amount of heat is a big winner in my book these days.

Summer Strawberry Salad

Ingredients:

Baby Spinach

Romaine Lettuce

(I usually just do one bag each, and I'm done) But if you prefer to cut your own, it's about one bunch of spinach, and one head of Romaine.

1 granny smith apple, chopped

1 red apple, chopped

1 1/2 cups sliced strawberries

1/2 cup dried cranberries

1/2 cup grated parmesan cheese

Dressing:

Add right before serving.

2 Tbsp. lemon zest

2 Tbsp. lemon juice

2 tsp. mustard seed

1/2 cup sugar

1/3 cup oil (vegetable, olive, or canola)

Mix all dressing ingredients together and toss with salad right before serving. Top with 1/2 cup sliced toffee almonds.

Asian Pasta Salad

1 lb. Pad Thai noodles or Linguine

12 green onions, cut on angle

1 large red pepper cut, cleaned, julienned

1 large carrot, peeled, julienned

1 cup sliced almonds

1/2 cup sugar

Cook noodles until al dente. Rinse with cold water to shock. To caramelize almonds, put sugar in pan on medium heat with almonds on top of sugar. Heat until sugar melts then stir sugar and almonds together. Remove from heat and spread on waxed paper to cool.

Dressing:

1/2 cup brown sugar

1/2 cup soy sauce

1/4 cup vegetable oil

1 tsp. ginger

2 Tbsp. rice vinegar

2 Tbsp. sesame oil

Whisk until mixed.

Combine dressing with vegetables and almonds and toss with noodles. Garnish with green onions.

So I should have shared these recipes at the beginning of the summer. Better late than never, right? Have a great Wednesday. Today's the first day of preschool. Keep your fingers crossed that I don't cry harder than he does. :)