Cupcakes and Cutlery

Please update your feeds and bookmarks!

2011-12-14T16:04:00.000-08:00

Hi everyone!! I moved over to CupcakesAndCutlery.com and just wanted to remind you to update the link if you have me in a reader or bookmarked. You can put your email in on the new site if you want to read the posts by email! Thanks guys!

Please come and follow me at Cupcakes and Cutlery!

Good bye Blogspot. Hello Wordpress!

2011-11-20T18:59:00.001-08:00

I am no longer blogging at this Blogspot address. Please head over to CupcakesAndCutlery.com!

Sharon

I moved to CupcakesandCutlery.com!

2011-11-16T08:04:00.001-08:00

Um, you guys!!! I've moved my blog over to Wordpress!! Ok, well I haven't but I paid (and by "I paid" I mean my mom is awesome and gave this to me as part of my Christmas present!) someone to move it for me!! I still need to jazz it up with all my graphics and stuff but I think I have to start posting over there now!!!

Go!!!! CupcakesandCutlery.com

Woohoo!!!

2012 Holiday Gift Guide {Coming Soon!}

2011-11-15T14:28:00.001-08:00

I am feverishly working on my gift guide for this year. It is coming together quite nicely but it is quite time consuming. I hope you will check back on Monday to see what I have come up with this year. In case you missed it, you can check out last year's list here. (I still LOVE all those items too!)

Sharon

Asthma sucks

2011-11-14T13:08:00.001-08:00

All my best blogging efforts have been thwarted by this sick kiddo. His asthma is running our life right now and I'm doing my best to stay on top of it and keep him from getting worse. We were up just about every 2 hours last night with treatments and/or honey trying to get his coughs to stop. He is missing his first day of school and he was really sad about that. :( Today he has decided that he is starting a Lego blog and has been building little scenes and taking pictures of them. Looks like I'll be fighting him for the computer even more now. :)

Have a great week!

Sharon

Veteran's Day

2011-11-10T17:23:00.001-08:00

Take a second to thank a Veteran today. Our world would not be what it is without them.

Grandpa John = my dad

Grandpa Don = my grandpa

Poopa = my husband's grandpa

Poppy = my husband's grandpa

And clearly I am not insinuating that the sweet darling between Poppy and Poopa is World War 2, that is my sweet niece about 8 years ago!!

Get involved. Volunteer with Operation Shower.

Sharon

all my new photo goodies are from Pugly Pixel!

Found! DIY Hair Ties by Tera Rae Stephens!

2011-11-10T08:32:00.000-08:00

I have been wanting to buy hair ties like these for about a year now. Not sure why I can't just bring myself to spend the money and save myself from even more broken hairs and this lovely crown of frizz. So I was super excited to see this tutorial on how to make your own by Tera Rae Stephens.

Go Check it out here! Tera is my hair stylist and is super awesome. From getting to know her over the last year or so I know that she is a talented craftress, can throw a mean party and is pretty much a super amazing working mom. I'm really hoping she shares more of those adventures on her blog. We all stand to benefit from that. Show her some love! Oh! And she's doing a giveaway! So hop over and enter!

Sharon

images via Tera Rae Stephens

Inspiration Board Challenge - November 2011

2011-11-09T03:30:00.000-08:00

I don't even know how I "met" Amanda of I Go You Go. I say "met" because although we have been trying to meet in person for a month, we still have not managed to do it. :( If you know her blog, you know that she is a girl of many talents. And although she talks about healthy living and foods on her site I know she can get down with me and some calorie packed dessert treats. And that is why I like her. She seems super fun loving and I hope we can make that meet up happen really soon. For now, she is the next participant for my monthly Inspiration Board Challenge.

In case you aren't familiar with her blog, I'm going to share some of the things I love about it. One of the recurring posts that Amanda does is called Event Envy (under the "party" tag) where she shares awesome parties that she has found around the web. She has such great taste. I always look forward to seeing what new fab parties she will find. I am going to be honest though and tell you I am not fond about her "Workout Wednesday" feature (found in "fitness"). It always reminds me that I'm not working out and then I feel bad and go eat a cookie. But she always wins me back with her shoe love.

And you have to check out this super fun trailer trash party Amanda threw for her husband.

She also has tons of awesome recipes on the site that we should all try to cook our way through. Go check I Go You Go out now!

Follow her on Facebook.

photo via DVF

How gorgeous is this inspiration item? I first saw this Darla top in a DVF catalog and fell in love with the colors. I wouldn't say that green is my favorite color but if you look around at my belongings, especially items to be worn, I sure do own a lot of green...But I love it mixed with a glittery bronze and of course a little black never hurts anything. This color scheme would lend itself so well to any kind of event. I can't wait to see what Amanda comes up with!!! Check back near the end of the month to see what she shares.

Who would like to participate next? Email me, cupcakesandcutlery@gmail.com

Sharon

All photos except the DVF top via I Go You Go

Light up your next event with DPS and The Event Company {Orange County Resources}

2011-11-08T03:30:00.000-08:00

Allow me to introduce you to some awesome companies, DPS and The Event Company. Owned by Anthony Dever, DPS provides sound, lighting and production services which means they help put together some amazing fashion shows, concerts, large corporate parties, and most recently handled the cooking demos with our Queen Bee, Martha Stewart, at several Macy's locations. They are local to Orange County but spread their amazingness to the surrounding counties as well. Check out their blog to see some of the ridiculously cool things they've been up to recently. A few months ago they moved their offices to a new location. They decided to throw an open house for their clients, friends and family and I was lucky enough to attend with my husband.

Sensing that their services would be perfect for the wedding and event industry, they rolled out The Event Company. Providing lighting, cinematography and live music talent, they can totally take your private event to the next level. Both companies work from their new offices in Irvine and the space is truly gorgeous! Totally sleek and chic and just from walking in, you immediately want them to take over and produce your event (I mean, I don't really have any events to produce but you know how my head works, I started trying to come up with things...) They had this gorgeous purple and white dessert table set up in the front room by Cookielicious. It was the perfect, delicious welcome.

The party, coordinated in part by Callie of The Event Company, was mainly held in the warehouse space at the back of the offices so there was this industrial, chic feel to the party. The decor was handled by Larissa of Inviting Occasions and was GORGEOUS! This picture does not do it justice. It was simple, elegant, totally cool with just a few florals. Simply stunning.

The food and bar were done by 24 Carrots Catering and I was blown away. For a hearty appetizer/meal, they had a create your own slider bar. There were bunches of toppings and at least 8 different sauces for you to choose from. This would be a totally fun idea to recreate at home. And for desserts they dazzled with some molecular gastronomy. I'm a wanna be foodie and adore the Top Chef franchise but this was the first time getting to actually try some. You all should have this at your next party!!!!!! So fun! For one dish, they did some sort of an inside out cheesecake pop. Forgive my lack of knowledge on what was actually happening but here is my take. They had some dough balls, dipped them in a cream cheesey/whipped creamy mixture then dipped it some super scientific solution (maybe just dry ice? I'm not a scientist. I just don't know). They came out all frozen and fun. And were quite delicious as well. But my absolute favorite was the Dragon's Breathe Caramel Corn. They dipped a ladle of caramel corn into a very mysterious foggy mixture and then served it in these adorable wood dishes (similar dishes can be found here). Watch the video below of my husband eating it to see why they called it Dragon's Breath Caramel Corn:

Not only was this super fun to eat, it tasted amazing. I wanted to eat gallons and gallons of the stuff but was minorly self conscious of the smoke coming out of my face. They also had a signature cocktail that was super yummy which tasted like and orange creamsicle.

images are mine

I didn't bring a legit camera to the event so these are the photos taken with my husband's iphone. I was absolutely mesmerized by this light ring hanging over the stage. For real. It was perfectly timed to the music and was like nothing I have ever seen. In talking to other party goers I learned that the strings can actually be hung in a number of ways including straight down as a curtain which can then be programmed to display words! Oh the possibilities! DPS seems to be on the cutting edge of not only what is advanced, technologically speaking, but also what is crazy cool.

Anthony had this insanely good recording artist play the party. His name is Jasper Sawyer and I'm so grateful to have been introduced to his music. Everyone on stage was so talented and it was a really great show!

Check out this DJ booth created by DPS. I wish there was video of it, the totally unique ways that it could be customized for an event are crazy. From the colors, words, etc. it can totally sync up with the music and create a really cool vibe for your event. And DJ Kevin Scott could be the best DJ ever. He played a cool mix of music that appealed to everyone at the party. That can be really hard to do when you've got the too cool for school, an older generation and those just looking to dance. But he killed it!

I love when good humans give birth to good humans. We met Anthony's parents at a birthday party for him a while back and they were awesome. You can tell that Anthony gets his love of music from his mom who my husband and I bonded with over new wave music. I adore his sister, Nicole (in the middle in blue) she is absolutely the life of every party. And his wife Courtney (on the end) is such a sweetie (Oh and a talented interior designer. I'm guessing she had a hand in the pretty new office.) Anthony is the real deal. He is so good at what he does, his happiness is infectious and he is a good person. In talking to some clients at the party, they all echoed those sentiments and raved about working with both companies. While some of their services might be too large for your next home party, keep them in mind for your company holiday parties and for the next time you need to throw a concert in your back yard.

Check out the DPS blog for the cool things they have been a part of recently.

Check out The Event Company's blog and lighting gallergy to see some of their wedding work.

Social Media Details:

DPS {Facebook} {Twitter}

The Event Company {Facebook} {Twitter}

Sharon

All images are by Reza Allah-bakhski except the crappy ones noted as mine

Dez and Tam - Orange County Photographers for your Holiday Photos

2011-11-07T03:30:00.000-08:00

If you are looking for the perfect photographers for your holiday family portraits, look no further. Dez and Tam have a special deal for you but you better act fast! In order to ensure that your cards can be printed and ordered, you must book your session for before Thanksgiving. I have worked with Desi several times before and am truly amazed at his skills each time. Remember when he shot my son's 5th bday party?

Most recently, I got to hang out with him when I put together a little local blogger meet up/photo shoot. He is a consummate professional, fun guy and AMAZING photographer. Tammy, his wife, is also a talented photographer. They make a great team although you may not get to meet her at your family session as they just had their second baby boy!!! Yeah for them!

See Lauren leaping? That is how comfortable Desi makes you feel.

I tagged along on the photo shoot to try to learn as much as I could about photography. While I like to take photos, it is a hobby. Some people just get it and Dez and Tam are a few of those people. I can't wrap my head around lighting, but Desi just maneuvred around the park and knocked out amazing photos in no time at all.

Desi knew how to work with each personality to get the best shots possible and used other resources to make the models feel comfortable (I may or may not have whipped out some tap dancing from when I was 8 to elicit some giggles).

This was a super fun afternoon. My favorite part was when Desi would set up and take a shot and then share the image in the viewfinder. It was always absolute magic. Another reason Desi and Tammy are the best people to shoot your family photos is they are also parents. They know how to handle crabby, fast moving children and get the shots, stunning shots of your little angels. Here is a sneak peek at some of the shots taken of my local blogging friends:

by Dez and Tam

Kristin of Meringue Bake Shop - How gorgeous is this picture?! That color is so amazing on Kristin!

by Dez and Tam

Wendy of Wendy Will Blog - Wendy was an absolute natural and got her shots done in only a few frames. I loved her pretty ease in front of the camera.

by Dez and Tam

Lauren of A Fabulous Fete - Lauren's hair was magical in the light and did some really artsy shots with Desi throughout the shoot. I can't wait to see all of them!

So hurry and book your session with Dez and Tam! Email Desi@dezandtam.com.

They are also available for weddings, parties, maternity and any other kind of shoots you can think of. I was beyond impressed with the work he did at my son's party. He captured the details that meant so much to me and our guests enjoying themselves. They are memories that I will always cherish.

I heart Dez and Tam!

Sharon

All images are mine except for the last 3 courtesy of Dez and Tam

Guest Posting on Celebrations.com - Part 3 {Drink up!}

2011-11-04T19:00:00.000-07:00

I've really enjoyed sharing some tips with you guys over on Celebrations.com! Today they are sharing my ways to keep bar costs down while entertaining. Check it out here!

In case you missed them, see all the posts here:

Part 1 {simple diys and ways to jazz up your decor with things you already own}

Part 2 {a dinner buffet, easy dishes that everyone will love}

Part 3 {A budget bar, how to stretch your drink dollar}

Sharon

photo is mine

Guest Posting - Fashion Inspo Boards!

2011-11-03T19:36:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited! I was asked to put together my first fashion inspiration board based on a fictitious (well, fictitious for me anyway) High School Reunion at a local bar by Amanda of I Go You Go. It was certainly a challenge but I think I picked looks that I would actually wear and that fit my style (although I am not sure that comes through in my standard issue jeans and oversize t-shirts that I wear on a day to day basis...) Go check out my two looks here!

Sharon

image courtesy of I Go You Go

October Inspiration Board Challenge - Final Board

2011-11-03T03:30:00.000-07:00

Remember this Mini and Maximus shirt? Yup, it was the inspiration piece I sent to Taryn of Formal Fringe to create a mood board for.

Taryn says:

I know this is a kid's t-shirt, but I can't help but imagine it being worn by a playful women on a milestone birthday, worn tucked in to a glimmering sequined skirt. The glitter and glam carries into the whole fete through metallic details on escort cards, plates, envelopes and even in the drinks! The decor of the room is neutral, weaving tones of gold, copper and silver with modern black and white. It's the perfect state to crown her the official V.P. of Fun for the night!

Photo Sources:

Metallic china patterns, Martha Stewart Weddings
Netural Tassle Garland - CONFETTISYSTEM
Mojito with edible glitter - Fashionably Bombed
V.P. of Fun t-shirt - Mini & Maximus
Metallic Sequined Bell Skirt - J.Crew
Black and white lounge - Rue Mag
Golden feather envelopes - Furze Chan
Metallic graphic escort cards - Martha Stewart Weddings

Thank you so much, Taryn for putting this board together! I love your idea of pairing the Tee with a gorgeous, shimmery skirt. And those metallic stars in the drink are making me SO happy! This would also make a rad New Year's Eve theme. I wish I had the energy to throw a blow out party for the last big holiday of the year.

Can you believe it is November already!?! Let the Christmas shopping commence! I heard Christmas music while shopping at Michaels today and I didn't hate it...

Guest Posting at Celebrations.com - Part 2 {Food}

2011-11-02T11:52:00.000-07:00

In case you missed it, yesterday I did a guest post over on Celebrations.com about fall entertaining and ways to keep the costs down as we head in to the holiday season. I focused on decor, materials and ways to jazz up already owned items. Check it out here. Then pop on over to see Part 2 that was shared today. I share how I created the buffet menu (above photo) that is both delicious and totally affordable. Part 3 will be up tomorrow!

I'm so glad I could share these tips with you all via Celebrations.com. Happy holidays!

Sharon

Guest Posting on Celebrations.com! {Fall Entertaining}

2011-11-01T14:06:00.000-07:00

In case you hadn't heard about it over on Pizzazzerie, Sterling Vineyards is hosting the "Ultimate Hostess" contest. The first challenge was to create a party for friends including the wine for no more than $75. I love a challenge so I decided to see what I could put together. I was super happy with the overall party I designed (note: should there be a party girl episode of Hoarders I will surely be on it...). BUT turns out that due to some dumb California law, I couldn't enter the contest! So instead, I decided that I would share tips on entertaining on a budget with you via Celebrations.com. Check out part 1 today and then check back there tomorrow for part 2!

Head over to Celebrations.com now to check out the post. And let me know what you think of the party!

Sharon

all photos are mine.

Holiday Hot Apple Cider {aka Wassil, aka Radtastic}

2011-10-31T03:30:00.000-07:00

This is a family recipe. And by family recipe I mean I'm sure it came off the back of a can or cookbook at some point and we've adopted it as our own. Not maliciously, I assure you. But you know how things go, you pass them around through the years and recipe credit gets diluted. Regardless, this recipe SCREAMS fall to me. It smells amazing while it cooks on the stove, it is sweet and spicy and is absolutely perfect on a crisp fall day. This is the perfect party beverage as it serves about 16 (in 1/2 cup portions). Hmmmm, today is Halloween and although it is still 80 degrees during the day, I think trick or treating, while sipping on some of this cider, will be just delightful.

The ingredients are simple and readily available. You will need:

-6 cups apple cider or juice (try to find something with the fewest ingredients and with the best natural apple taste. You don't need a ton of sugar because you will be adding a bit of honey)

-1 cinnamon stick

-1/4 tsp. nutmeg (if you live in South Orange County you must go to Savory - amazing, fresh spices)

-1/4 cup honey (this honey from Ace Hotel New York is made on the roof of the hotel! So cool!)

-3 TBSP lemon juice

-1 tsp. grated lemon juice

-1 can (18 oz.) unsweetened pineapple juice (2 1/4 cups) (Notice I have 3 small cans as my store didn't have a big can)

-orange slices (optional as garnish)

In a large saucepan, head cider or juice and one cinnamon stick to boiling; reduce heat. Cover and simmer for 5 minutes.

Uncover and stir in remaining ingredients except orange slices. Simmer 5 more minutes. Serve in a punchbowl. Float orange slices if desired.

Then grab your favorite mug and fill her up. This republican mug was from Fishs Eddy and is no longer available but this "Tea is for Losers" mug would also be a fave.

This hot apple cider recipe is my delicious! After it is cooled, store the remaining cider in the fridge and heat up one cup at a time as needed or return to the stove to reheat the whole batch. I'm not well versed in my liquors, but something tells me there must be the perfect spirit to add to this. Any suggestions?

Sharon

all photos are mine

Da Na Na Na Ghostbusters!

2011-10-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

Ahhhhh-yeaaaaaahhhhhhh! Tonight I am taking my oldest son to see Ghostbusters in a movie theater. He's BEYOND excited! He will be wearing his Ghostbusters Halloween costume and we will be eating Stay Puft Marshmallows. He is obsessed with this movie (well, really only the part where the Marshmallow Man blows up!) and I am so excited that he will get to see it in an actual theater. He cried when I (stupidly) mentioned that the actual car from the movie was going to be at one of the screenings in Los Angeles and he wasn't going to see it. This will be a family affair, with both grandmas, one cousin and my husband and I in attendance. Who would have thunk this movie would be back in theaters?! Huge thank you to Auntie Mouse for telling us about it!!

Sharon

{Almost} Wordless Wednesday - Nerd chic

2011-10-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

I am very particular about my eye sight. Or lack of. I wear contacts during the day, but at night I pop on my glasses and veg out in front of the television. It is how I relax and it is one of my favorite parts of the day. But what happens when your glasses snap in half when you are washing them right before you were going to put them on? Well, first you cry because all you want to do is watch the RHofNJ. Then you have your hubby try to help you tape them back together with hot pink washi tape. It did not work, by the way. But luckily I found a back up pair of glasses to get me through until my Warby Parker's get here to try on.

Sharon

image by me.

For Your Party Giveaway Winner!!!

2011-10-25T08:41:00.000-07:00

Congrats to Miranda!!! You are the winner of the For Your Party giveaway. Please email me your shipping info so I can have the company give you all the details on how to obtain your winnings (cupcakesandcutlery@gmail.com)!

Thank you SO much to everyone who entered!

Sharon

A little gift for a bride to be (and teacher too!)

2011-10-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

My son started kindergarten this year. Surprise! I'm a room mom. The two kinder classes at the school do pretty much the same activities so the room moms work together and meet with both teachers to plan events. I haven't gotten to know the teachers really well yet, but I wanted to get the other teacher a little gift for her birthday this past week. She has an upcoming wedding so I thought one of the cute wedding themed nail polishes by Essie would be perfect.

I wrapped the polish in some black and white polka dot tissue paper then grabbed some supplies and wrapped the rest of it up cute.

While the gift was inexpensive, it was perfect to let her know that we were thinking about her on her special day. Sometimes it doesn't have to be the price tag of a gift but the thought. I hope that she had a great birthday and know she will make the most beautiful blushing bride on her special day.

Sharon

Acquired Taste Art Show at Cal State Fullerton

2011-10-24T03:30:00.000-07:00

I am super excited for this coming Saturday! There is a pretty rad art show kicking off at Cal State Fullerton (class of 1999 baby!). The show is called Acquired Taste: Food and the Art of Consumption and is all about food, how we consume it, what we consume and how it consumes us. The show is curated by Alyssa Cordova and Heather Richards of Sixpack Projects.

But here is why I am SO excited about it. This will be the first time I get to see any work by my idol Jennifer Rubell (art installations/social commentary using food, best selling cookbook author {seriously - this is one of my all time faves!}, hotelier...) in person. I'm not going to get all stalky and gushy in this post, I'll save that for later. This post is about the upcoming show. There are 13 different artists being featured and I can't wait to attend and learn more about their work!!!

The show starts Saturday, October 29 and runs through December 8th. The opening reception (Oct. 29) is open to the public and along with the what is sure to be thought provoking and hunger inducing art there will be a bunch of other interactive events. A cooking demonstration by chef Jonathan Dye will feature recipes he created based on some of the work in the show. There will also be a participatory mural art project, and a lecture by artist in residence Gregory Stewart. As if that wasn't enough, Delilah Snell of Backyard in Jar will be there in her vintage Volkswagen van, hopefully selling her ridiculously delicious preserves! I'm such a fan of her products!

Don't miss it!!!

Acquired Taste: Food and the Art of Consumption

October 29th - December 8th

Begovich Gallery at California State University, Fullerton

800 N. State College Blvd., Fullerton, CA (just north of Nutwood Ave.)

Opening Reception is October 29th, 2011 from 5 - 8 pm.

Sharon

image via Sixpack Projects

I'm on Hostess with the Mostess!!!

2011-10-21T03:30:00.000-07:00

image by Jackie Culmer

Since starting my blog, I have always wanted to be featured on Hostess with the Mostess. Until earlier this year, I thought that the larger party sites scoured the webosphere to find the coolest party and prayed they would find mine and think they were awesome. Duh. Then I realized you can submit them for review. I'm so glad I submitted this party thrown for my friend, Erika because today my dream comes true. I'm on Hostess with the Mostess!!!!!! I already shared the party photos here but please go check them out again!

This party only looks as good as it does because of the incredibly talented photographer, Jackie Culmer and the pattern and printables created by Jenny of Hank and Hunt {download here!}.

I have always admired Jenn who IS Hostess with Mostess (well, I mean she has staff now but she started it...) and look forward to watching her continue to grow her business. I am honored to be on the site! Yeah!!

Sharon

Baby Gourmet Giveaway {Winner!!}

2011-10-19T12:21:00.000-07:00

A big congrats to Julia of Fat Girl Trapped in a Skinny Body who won the Baby Gourmet samples! Email me so I can get your address and discuss your review post! CupcakesAndCutlery@gmail.com!

Thank you, everyone for entering!!! And if you haven't entered yet I am giving away some custom party goods from For Your Party! You can enter that giveaway here.

Sharon

photo is mine

AllSaints Spitalfields - The Coolest Kids Clothes are Back!

2011-10-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

Remember my post from a few months back?! I was telling you all about these kids clothes and how I had just bought some and they were wicked awesome and the day the post went up the clothes were no longer available on the site???? WELL! I just happened across the same brand, AllSaints Spitalfields, for sale on Zulily! The selection seems way bigger (and different) than when on the companies own site and the prices are still totally reasonable. Seriously if you have cool kids and you like to dress them in the best, these are for you! The fabrics are soft and plush and the styles are super cool and edgy. The sale is through Friday, October 21 so hurry! Stock up on Christmas gifts for your friend's cool kids! Stock is pretty limited so shop fast!

And as if my endorsement wasn't good enough, the brand got a shout out on last night's Rachel Zoe. It seems baby Skylar had a closetful of AllSaints waiting for him when he got home from the hospital. And the AllSaints site has some of the kid's clothes back as well!

Need an invite to Zulily - click here.

While you are there, check out these other rad sales (ending soon!)

Erin Condren - Custom stationery

Book Boutique - including Calef Brown's Famingos on the Roof on of my family's favorites!

Mason Cash - Amazing English bakeware and serving dishes

R&R Games - including a super cool Igor Monster Making Game

Truly Sanctuary - RAD t-shirts! (grandmothers, if you feel the need to buy clothes for your grandkids but are unsure if they are cool enough for your fashion forward family members, these shirts are perfect! Kid friendly and design minded = the best of both worlds.)

Sharon

Images via Zulily

Pumpkin Faced Oranges with Cloves!

2011-10-18T03:30:00.000-07:00

Did you ever make clove studded oranges for Christmas when you were little? We did. These might be two of my favorite smells in the world. When my boys started asking to carve our pumpkins, I kept telling them no, that it was too early. Too many years we cut in to the pumpkins, making adorably spooky faces, only to find them all moldy and gross before Halloween. So in order to have them feel like they were making pumpkin faces I decided to give them oranges and cloves.

Here is the very detailed tutorial:

Get an orange and some whole cloves. Shove cloves in orange in any face or pattern you want. Enjoy.

And the kitchen smells amazing when you are done. I will let you know that these lasted all of 5 minutes with my boys. They have some sort of inner driving force that prompts them to take apart anything they just finished making.

Don't want faces? You can create any kind of pattern or polka dot look from the cloves too. I call this one Charlie Brown's shirt.

For some reason I decided to google and see if anyone else had already done this craft AFTER I did it (duh). And of course there are others. Check them out for more inspiration here and here.

Sharon

all photos are mine.

For Your Party {Giveaway!!!}

2011-10-17T10:11:00.000-07:00

I am just about ready to be lost in all kinds of party planning. November through February are an entertaining whirlwind for me. I've got 11 family birthdays, 3 holidays and whatever else I dream up to work on for the blog. While we don't throw all out parties for each of these birthdays we like to do something special for each person. What I love about For Your Party is that you can get custom napkins or other party paper items printed (in totally reasonable quantities) to help celebrate a special occasion without breaking your back planning an over the top gala. Who wouldn't be excited to show up to a dinner in their honor and find a napkin, coaster or stir stick created just for them?

For Your Party knows that you all have a lot going on this time of year and are giving away an awesome set of party goods to one lucky reader.

Giveaway includes:

*50 Stir Sticks - For Your Party offers 3 styles/shapes to choose from and graphics and design are totally customizable.

*50 Printed Coasters - 4 styles to choose from. Winner can customize the look to suit their party needs.

*50 Printed Cocktail Napkins in any color with customized message.

Winner can personalize the products with any choice of color, over 70 fonts, tons of shapes and message copy. Or choose one of their ready made designs, all of which are super cool! Take a minute to look around their site and see some examples, this will give you a ton of ideas of what they are capable of doing.

Don't have any parties coming up? Create something special for your family's Thanksgiving dinner.

Photo Sources:

Trifle, wine glasses (my photo), glitter pumpkin and flowers, turkey breast

Stir Stick, napkin and coaster were created by me using the For Your Party site which is super easy to use to customize most of their products any way you want.

Or use one of their "vintage inspired" themes for an upcoming baby shower you have to throw.

Photo Sources:

Popcorn, cake stand, garland, mint tissue ball, green and white tissue pinwheel, drink, baby shower game card. Umbrella napkin, stir stick and candy favor box created on the For Your Party site.

The possibilities are virtually endless.

To enter, leave a comment on this post telling me what event you will use the custom goods for. I will choose one winner, at random. Will accept comments until midnight, Monday, October 24, 2011 and announce the winner on Tuesday, October 25, 2011.

Follow For Your Party on Facebook for a 10% discount on your order!

Follow them on Twitter and check out their blog for more ideas on how to use their awesome products!

Sharon

Photos of winning items care of For Your Party

Stopping to Smell the Legos

2011-10-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

Taking the day off to play with the boys. Lots to post about next week though so come back! And if you really need to see more Lego pics, you have to see this blog. Ah-maz-ing photography and funny captions but you'll need to scroll down a few posts to see the good stuff.

Sharon

photo is mine.

Baby Gourmet Organic Baby Food {and Giveaway!}

2011-10-13T03:30:00.000-07:00

There are all kinds of reasons that reviewing this baby food appealed to me. While I don't have baby food eaters at home any more, I am in love with this product and company and wanted to share it with all of you. Baby Gourmet is a new baby food product that has launched in Walmart stores nationwide and I can't wait to tell you why I love it.

GIVEAWAY: I will be sending samples to one commenter (see more details at the bottom of the post)!

With our first son, I was still working and the idea of making my own baby food made me want to cry. I didn't know about "whole" cooking and quite frankly didn't care. But when we were diagnosed with food allergies at 1 years old, I became very aware of all the harmful stuff we were introducing to our bodies, whether it was from pesticides or even just preservatives. When my second son was born, I did make a lot of his baby food. But the volume of produce I had to buy, prepare and smoosh was a total time sucker. I felt like I was trapped in the kitchen. And when we left the house, I always used jarred foods because I couldn't wrap my head around having to thaw the food somewhere or if I was keeping it at the right temperature. If these pouches were around when the kids were little, I would have absolutely tracked them down. And while my second son doesn't have any food allergies, I knew that a whole foods diet is what I wanted to give the kids. I know the top right picture is a little small but basically the packages show everything you could want to know and want in a baby food: organic, unsweetened, no dairy, egg or lactose, no nuts, BPA free packaging, gluten free.

The company was started by Jennifer Broe because she wanted something better for her kids than she was finding in stores. Aside from the quality of ingredients she wanted to feed her kids, she actually wanted it to taste good also. She tastes every batch to make sure she likes it and understands the variance in flavor that vegetables can have. This product is straight from her heart to our homes. She began selling her baby foods at local Farmer's Markets but the demand grew and so did her business. The growth led her to the shelf-stable packaging which actually helps to create a healthier product. The flash cooking process is quicker and maintains more of the great nutrients in the food itself.

The re-closable spout makes feeding on the go a snap. For smaller babies, just squeeze directly on to a spoon. For older kids, they can squeeze it right in to their mouths. I asked a couple of the cutest babies I know to give these a try so I could review them.

Our first taste tester is little baby C. This adorable guy is my neighbor and he is just about 5 months old. How darling is his face!

Baby C's mom loved the idea of this food. She loved that it tasted good and that the packaging was super easy to use. Since it has been a while since I have fed anyone baby food I asked her how it compared. She said this consistency was thicker than the standard food on the market and that you could tell it was made with real fruit (he tasted the apple cobbler flavor). I am pretty sure he really liked what he was eating as his little feet never stopped kicking.

Next up is my buddy, D (why, yes, that is his older sister in a wrestling mask in the background). He is about 10 months old and he likes to eat.

D took to the Roasted Squash and Fruit Medley like a champ. I didn't taste this one but from the content looks and how much he ate, I think he really dug it.

My 2 1/2 year old has been riding me since these arrived at my house to let him try them. So finally, I relented. I gave him the stage 1 Juicy Pear and Garden Greens. I quickly tasted it before handing over the package found it was sweet, with just the right amount of tartness, and although you could taste the "greens" when it hit your tongue, by the time it got to the back of you mouth, they were completely blended with the pears and made a delicious bite. My son does not eat. I mean, I'm sure he does but almost always, I take away a plate from meal time that looks very similar in size to the one I put down in front of him. I am going to go find these to supplement his meals with. He thought it was a snack but what he was getting was pure wholesomeness. While I am not trying to revert my son to baby food, I am trying to get him to eat a more well balanced diet.

So the final consensus for Baby Gourmet...a toddler thumbs up! Although their store locator info doesn't seem to be completely input yet, these meals are available in Walmart now. Go find them! There are 3 flavor options for each of the 3 stages of food.

If you are interested in trying these out with your own child leave a comment telling me why you want to give them a try. I will choose one person to receive samples and and write a review for the blog. (You do not need to be a blogger or professional photog to win - the post will be sent via email with photo attachments). Must live in the United States. Will take comments until midnight, Tuesday, October 18, 2011.

"Like" Baby Gourmet on Facebook

Follow Baby Gourmet on Twitter

Sharon

all photos (except photo of Jennifer Broe) by me

*I was sent samples of the baby food to try but the opinions are mine, my son's, the babies and toddlers featured as well as their mothers. We can not be bought. At least not with baby food. Will accept other inquiries. :)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-12T09:22:00.000-07:00

I decided to add in a Wordless Wednesday post after reading Angry Julie this morning. I've already said too much (it is supposed to be wordless after all). But I have been feeling like I've been on the computer too much lately so yesterday after school, I took the boys to the Irvine Spectrum for a ride of the carousel and ferris wheel. They split an Izze soda and we walked and basked in the PERFECT weather. Happy Hump day, peeps.

Sharon

photo is mine.

The Boden Winter Collection Catalogue is Delightful

2011-10-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

How great is this photo from the Boden Winter 2011 catalogue?! I saw it in the mailbox this afternoon and just had to share. I love how they took an iconic photo and modernized it with their great clothes and amazing mixes of pattern. And you must check out their online work as well. I am in love with the raw concrete and brick walls mixed with party dresses and lights! And then check out the little girls party dresses. I am dying for that sequin tutu! Any sewers want to make one in my size? I have only bought a few gifts for other people from Boden, nothing for myself, but am consistently dazzled by the styling of their catalogues. You should subscribe! Tons of inspiration!

Sharon

photo is a scan of the Boden catalogue

Kid's Halloween Books with Great Graphics

2011-10-11T03:30:00.000-07:00

So this afternoon I volunteered in my son's classroom. There was another mom in there as well so I had a quick second to glance through the Scholastic order forms. I was delighted to see some books with great graphics, humorous stories and Halloween themed (even though I don't enjoy it. And seeing as both my kids are having afraid-of-the-dark-issues right now, I picked these books because they appeal to my aesthetic.) Here are some of my faves:

The Hallo-Wiener {by Dav Pilkey}

My oldest son was a hot dog for his very first Halloween so I was especially drawn to this book.

Oscar is a dachshund forced to wear a hot dog costume on Halloween which he does begrudgingly but in the end saves the day from some kind of peril. "Oscar proves that he may be short on height, but he's long on heart." HA!

Jeremy Draws a Monster {Peter McCarty}

Similar to Harold and the Purple Crayon, Jeremy draws and the images come to life. After drawing a monster who demands that Jeremy do things for him, he realizes that while he can get lost in his drawings and the solitude it provides, he would also like to experience real relationships with other kids and without this bossy monster.

Stinky Poetry: Halloween {Elizabeth Krych}

This book comes with scratch and sniff stickers that the kids have to put in the proper spot throughout the story. I am not sure what smells they are and seeing as it is a Halloween themed book, I have to assume some of them might be pretty rank. But I love kids poetry books and think the colors and graphics from the cover are outstanding!! This was available in the Scholastic catalogue I found in the classroom but I couldn't yet find it on Scholastic's website. :(

Welcome to Monster Town {Ryan Heshka}

What happens in Monstertown when the son goes down? This book will tell you all about what the different people found in town do for work and what else goes on there. A little bit of humor, creepy but cool illustrations. Probably best for older kids. Again, this was in the Scholastic brochure, but not on their site.

ABC Spook Show {Ryan Heshka}

When I was researching the book above, I also came across this ABC book. Sort of a dictionary of creepy (G is for ghouls...) From the sample pages I could see, this seems a little darker than the previous book. And for some reason I think Jenny would love this book. Do you remember her zombie party from last year?

Vunce Upon A Time {J. Otto Seibold}

I LOVE the Christmas book 'Olive the Other Reindeer' so it is no surprise that I was drawn to this book by the same illustrator. This story is about a vegetarian vampire who loves candy. But he is afraid to trick-or-treat on account of the scary humans. It is a non-scary story about overcoming fears and I am pretty sure this one will be delivered to my house shortly.

Again, I haven't read any of these but was drawn to them for their graphics and story concept. If anyone has read them, I'd love to hear your thoughts! Now, if you would, please tell me what your kids are going to be for Halloween, I'd love to hear. Do you dress up too?

Maybe I really am starting to like Halloween. After all, it took me about 30 years to like guacamole.

Sharon

October Inspiration Board Challenge - The Participants

2011-10-10T03:30:00.000-07:00

I feel like I am back on track for my monthly Inspiration Board Challenge posts. Phew! I had a few off months during summer, but it is back and I'm super happy to welcome Taryn from Formal Fringe!

I don't remember how I came across her site but the more I go through it the more I love it!

This just might be the perfect grown up party theme of all time! Especially New Year's Eve, am I right? The graphics are perfect and the colors, I mean... Oh yeah and these are free printables. Go download them now and invite all your drunkard friends over!

If you have read my blog for any amount of time, you know that I hate Halloween. But there is something about the Nightmare Before Christmas that I just love! Never seen the movie, just love the design style of it and I'm a total sucker for black and white stripes. How rad is this dessert buffet that Taryn put together!?! See more here.

And if you didn't like her already, you simply must check out her recipe and printables for Bacon Salt!!!! Go make it! Then send it to me!!

I have to say the more I read her site and check out her photography, writing and fabulous finds, the more I want to hang out with her. I told my bff, whose name is coincidentally Taryn, that I had a new friend with the same name. She was worried that I might toss her aside like yesterdays news. I assured her that since my new friend T lives out of state that she would safely continue on as my bff. But I'm really not so sure. Taryn of Formal Fringe is kinda rad. I hope the other Taryn doesn't read this.

See Taryn's Portfolio (its amazing!)

Follow her on Twitter

Like her on Facebook

And now for the inspiration item that Taryn of Formal Fringe (wow, I probably really confused everyone by discussing too many Taryn's in one post) will create a mood board for:

I couldn't get the photo any larger, but I think you get the idea. This kids t-shirt by Mini and Maximus (my fave line for kid's t's) is the coolest. From graphic design to pocket placement Mini and Maximus takes this basic white T and makes it extra cool. This company elevates kids design by using up and coming artists for their t-shirt graphics as well as having some super cool kids design some too. This is my favorite line for kids shirts and my boys always get compliments when they wear them. And while most shirts are uni-sex, some of the girlier designs tempt me in to trying for a baby girl (dear family, I am in no way suggesting that we are trying to have another baby. I am more than happy with my two boys. Sometimes I wish they would let me put a big old flower headband on them or a tutu, but I'm not chancing a final score of mom 1: boys 3).

I am so excited to see what Taryn will come up with for this. I love doing this challenge every month because I know what I my parties for the inspiration pieces would look like, but I am always surprised, in a very good way, by what the other bloggers come up with. Be sure to check back at the end of the month to see the finished board! And in case some of you are as crazy as I am and starting to think about Christmas shopping, be sure to check out Mini and Maximus for the cool kids on your list. While some might balk at the price, they always have a sale section and show up on The Mini Social (if you are not signed up you simply MUST do it now. I always do a ton of holiday shopping from this site. Amazing fashion, toys and gifty items!!) from time to time.

Mini and Maximus blog

Follow them on Twitter

Like them on Facebook (100 fans away from a rad giveaway - hurry! Go!)

Have a great week everyone!!!

Sharon

I wish the rain looked like this

2011-10-06T03:30:00.000-07:00

Rain + me = lazy.

Wasn't it just 85 degrees two days ago? Where did this rain come from? I would like it to go back to there PDQ. Walking my 5 year old to and from school in the rain is no biggie. Walking my 5 year old to and from school in the rain with a 2.5 year old is drink inducing. And I'd like to give a straight up middle finger to my allergies that are wrecking my program. So there. A very negative post for you all today. Hope you are enjoying the weather, feeling good and otherwise not as crabby as me.

Happy Thursday.

Sharon

Image Source: artist - Mathioloe, work is called Color Blind

Found Via: Another Nicole who found it via Pinterest via here

Washcloth Ghost Tutorial From Camp Spooky

2011-10-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

My readers who are local should go check out Camp Spooky for themselves. But for my readers who are out of town, you too can create these adorable and super easy washcloth ghosts. They are cheap to make and would be the perfect activity for a kid's Halloween party.

Supplies needed:

Washcloth (could also use felt, scraps of fabric, old t-shirts, even a napkin as long as it is fairly tough)

Cotton balls - just a handful per each ghost

White yarn - string or rubberbands would also work

Markers to embellish them

SO easy! But really cute!

First, lay out your washcloth, fabric, what have you in front of you.

Next, place a handful of cotton balls in the center of the washcloth.

Next, cut a small piece of white yarn. Gather the washcloth around the cotton balls and tie off with the yarn.

Of course if you were going to have the kids embellish them, you could have them draw on the washcloth before you added the cotton balls, or once it is complete so they could add a face, etc.

I know I just shared the link last week for my Halloween ideas from last year, but here is a similar craft I did with fabric and styrofoam. I have to say, the cotton balls would be WAY cheaper!

Thanks again Knott's Berry Farm for a fabulous event at Camp Spooky!

Sharon

all images are mine.

Snoopy's Costume Party at Camp Spooky

2011-10-04T03:30:00.000-07:00

Me (in pastel jumper) and my sis with Snoopy - circa 1984. Boom

I grew up in Orange County pretty close to Knott's Berry Farm and went a lot. But I have never ever been to Knott's during their Halloween Haunt. I hate Halloween. It's the Vegas of holidays. I don't understand why, just because it is a "holiday", that it is ok for children to be shown dismembered babies, zombies with blood coming out of their eyes and way too many "naughty" nurses. All in the name of Halloween. This wouldn't fly in March. But in October, allowed. Plus I am a sissy and don't like surprises or to be scared. In high school, when my sister and all my friends were heading out to Halloween Haunt - year after year - I wouldn't even ride in the car with my mom to drop them off. Even the drop off point was too close to those made up monsters. So Knott's is not the first place I would think of to take my kids for Halloween fun. BUT I was recently invited to check out Snoopy's Costume Party at Camp Spooky (get it! How cute is that!) so I decided to give it a try. Besides, at 8 o'clock in them morning, how much evil could there really be? Monsters have to sleep too, right?

It seems like there are very few places where kids can wear their costumes now, aside from trick-or-treating. Knott's encourages the kids to come dressed up. The Snoopy's Costume Party event is such a cute idea. Every Saturday and Sunday in October, for the regular price of admission, your kids will be treated to some extra special activities in Camp Spooky (does not include any food or drink).

My mom and my youngest son were my dates for this fun VIP event. To start the morning off, we were treated to breakfast at Lucy's Lunchbox. I don't think they usually serve breakfast, but the restaurant is cute and you can have birthday parties here if you choose to celebrate in the park. And characters roam around while you are there. How fun are those kid's meals? They are served in a really cute plastic lunch pail that you can take home with you.

Camp Snoopy, I mean, Camp Spooky is decorated really cute. You can tell that there are some decorations meant for the super scary Halloween Haunt but for the most part, they really make an effort to keep the area kid friendly.

After breakfast, we checked out all the rides in Camp Spooky. Because we got to go in before the park was open to the public, we were pretty much the only people on the rides. Which is awesome since my son has zero patience for lines. We were the only people on the first 5 rides we went on. All the ride operators were SO nice. They always asked him if he had a good time and wished us a good day. I'm sure they were not happy to be up early just for us, but they were awesome. Fun fact: My sister once worked as a ride operator in Camp Snoopy...

One of the fun activities the park offers just for Halloween is trick or treating. They provide this cute map when you enter Camp Snoopy, along with the bag, and there are stops throughout where you can get candy. One stop was Dum Dum suckers, which delighted me because my allergic son can eat them.

How cute are these washcloth ghosts?! Tucked just inside the entrance to one of the rides, there were two craft stations set up for the kids to make their own ghosts. They put out markers for the kids to personalize them with faces, scribbles, whatever. They were even willing to make them for the kids if they were too small. I loved this! Be sure to see the separate "how-to" post on this!

I'm sorry. But my son is THE cutest thing on the face of the planet. That face gets him whatever he wants. Sorry, family. This one is spoiled and rotten all because of me. And that face.

We somehow skipped the other maze and purposely skipped something called "Creepy Crawly Cave" (listen, I will do Halloween for my kids if I have to, but I'm never going to be down with bugs) but we had fun in Haunted Harvest. I must have asked both people working there 30 times if it was scary. They assured me it wasn't and they were right (aside from a kind of sketchy one eyed scarecrow near the end that I glanced at but held it together for the sake of my child - and it he didn't even flinch at it so...) I ADORE the Charlie Brown movies that come on TV around each holiday especially The Great Pumpkin. One of my favorite things about this maze was all the character cutouts throughout. So cute!

I highly recommend bringing your kids to Knott's for Camp Spooky! We had a blast!

The temperature steadily rose while we were there prompting my son to abandon his fleece costume. When we were done with Camp Spooky, we decided to walk around the park to see what has changed since the last time my mom was there (years!).

Aside from a few very creepy clown heads decorating light poles, crazy big fake spiders and evil pumpkin men hanging off buildings, it is still safe to walk around the rest of the park in the day time. In fact, how cute is that bone wreath? I decided to further spoil my son with an Icee that was almost as tall as he was. And my research shows that I am the only person who wants a funnel cake before noon. Because NO one was selling them. I had to settle for the lady holding a fake one. It was not tasty.

We had a blast at Knott's and more specifically, Camp Spooky! A huge thank you to Knott's Berry Farm and GIGASAVVY for putting this together and hosting my family for the day! I love being able to share things with my kids that I shared with my mom growing up. And Knott's is a place we know and love.

Sharon

all photos are mine

*Disclosure:

I was given entry in to the park for myself and a few guests, treated to breakfast and given cowboy hats for the kids. My opinions can not be bought, though. They are all mine.

September Inspiration Board Challenge - The Final Board

2011-10-03T03:30:00.000-07:00

It is that time again! I'm so excited to share the final board for my monthly (I say that loosely) Inspiration Board Challenge! Danielle did not disappoint with her board. She created her board for an afternoon bridal luncheon.

How rad are those purple shoes!?! And that dress?! I have to have it! Dear Santa...

I love how she worked in all the colors in such fun ways. Loving the blue cocktails for a fun pop of color without going for the obvious in linens or decor. Super subtle and awesome. Yup, this board turned out so great!!!

Big thank you to Danielle for participating!!!!!

Photo Sources:

The dress - The perfect Stella McCartney dress for the luncheon

The shoes - The must-have sandals for the occasion Christian Louboutin Purple Straratata Glitter Platform Sandals

Party Invitation - Mod Medallion Pocket Invitation

Gold Party Favor Box

Dessert Cupcakes - Fuchsia cupcakes

Pink Centerpiece with candles - Centerpiece

Party Coasters - Horchow

Cocktail Drinks - Hpnotiq Cocktails http://www.hpnotiq.com/recipes/index/8

Purple Cocktail Ring - Used as Napkin Ring

Sharon

Cool coloring from best kid's magazine ever!

2011-09-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

Do you know about Anorak Magazine? It is from the UK and it is awesome. I stumbled across it at a Barnes and Noble a few years ago and pick it up whenever I see it, which isn't often. The stories are clever and funny (and quirky thanks to English slang and terms that we aren't aware of) and the graphics are out of this world. Its cool, kid appropriate and a great learning tool for teaching kids about other parts of the world.

I came across this coloring page they did for H&M and thought it was rad. The download is 3 pages of awesomeness and I'm sure that your kids will love it. You can download it here.

And for sure check out their newer mag for younger kids, Ploc. The graphics are vintage-inspired and totally drool worthy.

Check out more fun stuff on their blog.

Subscribe to the magazine here.

Follow them on Twitter.

"Like" them on Facebook.

Sharon

images via Anorak

Allergen Free Krispy Treats: perfect for parties and sports teams!

2011-09-28T03:30:00.000-07:00

I'm totally a soccer mom. The season started a few weeks ago and we have the best team ever. We may not win games (we aren't supposed to be keeping score anyway - so there) but the families of the players are awesome. We have the most amazing team mom, Chris W. She has kept all of us organized and set up a cool Shutterfly account to post info and photos from the games. We have two kids with severe food allergies on the team which can make treat time pretty hard. Seeing as she has a gluten allergy herself, Chris set out to find a snack that all the kids could eat. What she found was this recipe for allergen free krispy treats. My son (allergic to milk, eggs, peanuts and tree nuts) has been able to eat these but that is only due in part to his ability to eat soy. For those kids with even more allergies, this recipe uses oil instead of margarine! And what kid doesn't love a krispy treat?! This is the perfect snack recipe to keep on hand for your kid's parties (chances are there are going to be kids with food allergies - there are 4 the kinder classes at our school alone) and for after sport snacks. They tasted exactly the same as "normal" krispy treat.

And to jazz them up a little more, check out what Kim of Celebration Shoppe did to her krispy treats!

Thank you, Chris, for being the best team mom ever!!!!!

Ingredients:

10 oz. (40 lg. or 4 cups miniature) marshmallows

2 tbsp canola oil

1 tsp vanilla

6 cups Rice Krispies cereal

vegetable cooking spray

Instructions:
Spray microwave safe dish with vegetable spray. Add oil and marshmallows and heat on high for 2 minutes. Add vanilla; stir to combine. Microwave on high for 1 minute longer. Stir until smooth. Add cereal and stir until well coated. Press mixture evenly in 13" x 9" x 2" pan coated with cooking spray using wax paper or spatula coated with cooking spray. Cut into 2" x 2" squares when cool.

I generally don't let my son eat something that someone else made. But I felt confident that Chris had the cross contamination thing under control. And held my breath for good measure. And he was fine. And all the kids loved them! So when in doubt of if there are food allergies present, make these! I am so grateful that the rest of the mom's on the team have also tried to accommodate the boys with allergies. I know that they may not outwardly show you their gratitude, but I can tell you it has rocked O's world to be able to eat what everyone else is eating. HUGE!

Sharon
photos are mine. recipe found here.

Trader Joes Frozen Peach Pop Champagne Cocktail

2011-09-27T03:30:00.000-07:00

You. Guys. So I decided to see what would happen if you paired Trader Joe's Frozen Peach Pops ($1.99 for 6!) with champagne. What I found is the most delicious, simple, inexpensive cocktail, perfect for your next party. If you haven't had these pops on their own yet, you totally should. They are made from real fruit and are delicious!

As most party guru's will tell you, when using mixers with champagne, you don't need to splurge. I have about 7 bottles of Korbel leftover from a recent party so I decided to grab one to test this recipe out. Since, as with most of my recipe testing, was done before dinner time, I assure you that I poured out the rest of the bottle. No dinners were harmed in the making of this recipe.

So grab a bottle of whatever champagne you prefer. Grab a box of the Trader Joe's Frozen Peach Pops (they also come in strawberry but that flavor wasn't that great when mixed with champagne). Grab a glass and a spoon.

Add one whole peach pop to your glass of choice (I've also been told that the champagne does not really require a flute, it is simply to showoff the bubbles better but won't change the taste in any way). Top with your champagne (or sparkling wine, I know, I know, Korbel probably didn't come from the Champagne region of France). Give it a little stir with your spoon. Here is a little trick I learned when I had to make fountain drinks at Ruby's, to keep the bubbles from spilling out over the top of the glass keep the spoon in as you pour and pour against the spoon. Works for root beer floats and will work for your champagne cocktail too.

The longer the peach sits in the champagne, the better it tastes. And there are real bits of fruit in the pops which you will be able to see more clearly as the peach mixes with the bubbles. I love this because you can set these frozen pops out on a bar in a cup and let people add them as they want them. Because they are frozen they will stay pretty darn cold for a while and won't dilute the champagne as they thaw either. Sometimes, I delight myself. Now if you'll excuse me, I have a peach pop to finish. You have to guess if it is on its own or mixed with champagne.

Sharon

all photos are mine, all mine!!! mwah-hahah!

Reminder: Halloween doesn't have to be scary

2011-09-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

Since I am behind on my posts for Halloween this year I thought I would remind you about what I did last year. I have always disliked the spooky side of the holiday. So I decided to focus more on the "boo-tiful" side of it and keep it nice and light. I was originally inspired by the "boo" stickers on these amazing butter crunch treats by POP Candy. And incorporated elements from Paper and Cake as well. See the full, original post here.

Sharon

DIY Painted Napkins using Izze Soda Bottles

2011-09-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

Here is my tutorial for making painted napkins using an Izze soda bottle. This post perfectly sums up my crafting abilities and process. Generally when I create a tutorial there are tears, laughter and lots of little hands running away with stuff needed to complete the project. This was no exception. I often find myself shaking my head and thinking, "what the heck am I doing." But at the end of the day I enjoy it so that is why I put myself through the crafting insanity.

My family loves Izze sodas. This is the only soda my food allergic son has ever known and it is a product that I feel really good about. I always have a few cans (not bottles, the are glass and for those of you who know me I am risk and mess averse so the thought of having to clean up broken glass and a sticky soda mess if one potentially breaks is almost too much for me to bare. No, I do not have a therapist yet but it has been suggested by several people) in the fridge as an extra special treat. If you read the party blogs, you have certainly seen Izze sodas at a bajillion parties thanks in part to their great taste, natural ingredients and fantastic colors. But I decided to get creative with the bottles and see what I could come up with.

First you have to drink the soda. Both boys really enjoyed this part. Next, gather your supplies. I was given a set of cloth napkins by my mom in law when she was cleaning things out. This was great since I messed up quite a few in a quest to figure out how to do this project. This really, ridiculously easy project. That my brain just couldn't get right. For instance, these are napkins. If you don't want to through them out after one use you are going to want to use fabric paint. The above paint is not. It may or may not have come off in the washing machine. This was one step above the washable Crayola paints that I had my oldest son do this project with first (yeah, I'm a bonehead). The little white cup is a wax coated paper cup from a package that I bought via Oriental Trading Company. These little cups are awesome and everyone should have these around for crafts. For real.

The idea is really simple. Dip the bottle in paint and stamp it down on the fabric. Since the top and bottom of the bottle are different sizes its like having two stamps in one. AND if you didn't take the bottle cap off and empty the bottle first, you could also use the bottle cap as a stamp which would probably create more of a full painted circle instead. But I didn't try this. And it could get paint around where you want to drink from later on...Please note that my son has no shirt on in an effort for him to not get messy. And he only dropped the bottle once (it did not break, yeah!).

Now, here is where my brain really let me down. I don't use paints a lot in my crafts so I didn't realize how thick and stiff some of the circles might end up (even after running them through the wash to see if it would soften them up). So, say you decide to wipe your mouth with your amazingly designed cloth napkin. You probably don't want to end up with cuts on your face from the stiff paint. The first and second picture show napkins with pretty scratchy paint circles. The last picture shows what happens when you decide it makes sense to add water to the paints. Too much water. Actually, this last option could have turned out cool had I added even more water and created a sort of watercolored effect. And chose paint colors that were hideous.

This gold napkin was the final and most perfect napkin. Although there were a few rough spots, they certainly wouldn't scar your guests. I decided to add water, little by little until I came up with a consistency that wasn't too watery but wouldn't dry hard (how's that for vague). The pattern I did on this napkin was sort of like an extra large chevron pattern. I didn't get a good shot of the whole napkin though. Maybe it got a little bit of soda on it before I could take that shot and maybe, just maybe that frustrated me and I threw it across the room.

I also love the Izze logo. It's so bright and cheerful. I decided to take the bottle, when I was done using it to paint the napkins and paint the bottle itself. I didn't take off any of the stickers, simply used a few coats of white spray paint, taking care to cover the logo so it would stay vibrant pink. Then I dipped the bottle in a little watered down gold paint.

I'm totally not the most artistic person so I know that there are so many other patterns that these bottles can create. But I do like taking things and using them in a new way. I hope this inspires you all to think of ways to reuse your Izze soda bottles. As for the soda, I'm thinking I have a great idea for how to use some of them in a cocktail. Shucks, more recipe testing...

Follow Izze on Facebook and Twitter and read their blog!!!

Sharon

All images are mine.

*I received Izze product to review for this post. But as I said before, this is something that we always have in our house. I support this brant. They are awesome. And that is MY opinion.

The soundtrack to your next party

2011-09-20T03:30:00.000-07:00

You guys know that I love music. And my parties are often planned around the music that I want to play. It is where I draw inspiration for the colors and the mood and sometimes the overall theme of a party. While I love to put playlists together (selfishly mostly for myself, not my guests) sometimes, I just want to take a few pieces of the entertaining puzzle off my plate. My go to for party playlists is Grizzly Bear Modern. This husband and wife blogging team based out of Los Angeles put out amazing downloadable music for your enjoyment.

The 24 means that there are, yes, 24 different mixtapes for you to choose from. They are all about the same length and I would recommend downloading about 4 of them to cover the majority of your party.

I have not gone through every single one of the mixes but they feature a ton of new music and bands you might not know about but also sprinkle in some oldies too. Take volume 21 for instance, it features some of my fave newish stuff by Sleigh Bells and Washed Out but also Elton John, The Beatles and a little Rusted Root for good measure.

You simply must download volume 24 for the James Black and Bon Iver track. I'm seeing Bon Iver tonight and I'm ridiculously excited.

Be sure to read the rest of their blog also. As there logo says, talk about way more than just music and their style is berserk. Which means I love it.

Now pick a playlist and throw a party.

Sharon

all images from Grizzly Bear Modern

September Inspiration Board Challenge - Welcome to Oh, How Posh!

2011-09-19T03:30:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since I've done the inspiration board challenge. Sometimes, life just gets in the way you know?! Well, this month (half month? whatevs) the participant is Danielle of Oh, How Posh! Her website is a great resource of entertaining tips, delicious recipes and so much more!

How cute are these free printables? She's got a whole section for them on her blog. Don't miss it!

Like Oh, How Posh's facebook page here.

Follow Oh, How Posh on Twitter here.

After my friend, Heather, so graciously lent me a ton of her Stella and Dot jewelry for a recent blogging conference, I couldn't get this necklace out of my head! I love the colors of the beads and thread and the mismatched metals. I love that it is messy but still classy and can be worn with so many things. I felt like it was a really great inspiration piece to design a party board off of.

Like Heather's Stella and Dot Facebook page here.

I can't wait to see what Danielle comes up with!!!!

Check back at the end of the month to see!

Sharon

Photo of lemonade printables via Oh, How Posh. Picture of necklace is mine, all mine.

The Healthy Cowboy Kitchen - Tasty, healthy food

2011-09-15T03:30:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited for my friend, Katie! She started her own company, The Healthy Cowboy Kitchen, making, healthy, unprocessed and totally yummy foods and you can now find her at Farmer's Markets all over Orange County! We tried her popsicles for the first time today and you HAVE to try them! They are coconut milk based and amazing! Miles tried the Summer Peach with pieces of raspberry and cinnamon (which added the most subtle and perfect flavor!). I tried the Cantaloupe Mojito (no rum, darn :). So here is the deal. It was simply phenomenal. It was refreshing, and because it is made from nothing but ripe, REAL fruit, the flavor was out of this world. The fresh mint added the most pleasant herbyness and I think I could have stood there and eaten them all day long. Except that they were starting to melt and Miles was totally sticky and I have an aversion to messes. But seriously if you have kids, you need to take them to get these popsicles. Delicious and a great way to introduce them to natural foods. She also sell Spicy Bean Burger Patties which I don't know too much about so you should probably track her down and ask her about them.

Her Roasted Corn Salsa was crazy good. It was seasoned just perfectly and was really flavorful. She has the magic touch with cumin, which can easily go from "Oh, hello there. I'm cumin. Pleased to make your acquaintance" to "Come here. I'm about to punch you in your throat." I finished this container and immediately got sad that I didn't buy more for the rest of the week. It was THAT good.

She also sells 3 kinds of energy bars. RAW energy bars. I'm not a follower of the raw diet. It frightens me a little. But I really wanted to try these. She makes a sort of Orange/Cranberry version, a Lemon/Ginger version which I am kicking myself for not sampling and this Lime/Coconut version that I would marry if it was legal. While I try not to have nuts in the house due to food allergies, I just had to try this. Lime might be my all time favorite flavor (sorry basil) and you could see the lime zest throughout this bar. The flavor was amazing (totally running out of adjectives, I know! And I don't think sounds will translate well via type so I'll add an extra exclamation point to drive my point home)!! Forget Luna bars, these are the thing for me. I'm not sure what the shelf life is but if I can just get enough to get me through to the next Farmer's Market, I'll be okay.

Find Katie and her Healthy Cowboy Kitchen at these Farmer's Markets:

{Tuesdays} Irvine Farmer's Market at Irvine Historic Park

{Fridays} Rancho Santa Margarita

{Saturday} Laguna Beach (may not be there every day as she fills in when people can't make it)

(sorry these are the best links I could find!)

Katie works from a kitchen out of Laguna Canyon and I'm so impressed with her whole operation. These popsicles would be a perfect treat for your next kid's party! I love to support small, local businesses and this one is for such a great cause, YOUR health! Read Katie's story here and become inspired. She'll be updating her blog again as soon as she gets in to the swing of things but you can check out a post she did for me {here}.

Way to go, Katie!!! So proud of you and all that you stand for.

Sharon

all photos are mine.

Shaken Basil Iced Tea

2011-09-14T03:30:00.000-07:00

I go through flavor phases. Right now I am totally in to basil. Yes, I'm still thinking of that basil gimlet from San Diego. I tried to make one and it just didn't turn out right. But I still want that basil flavor. I figured that I shouldn't continually try cocktail recipes all day long so I decided to boost my regular iced tea. I've been adding basil to my iced tea for a week now but decided that shaking it might make it even more perfect. I was not wrong.

I made the iced tea in my Keurig and I use the Celestial Seasonings Unsweetened Black Iced Tea. I do not like my tea sweet, but I am sure you could also use one of the presweetened teas available. Just don't make me drink it or I'll gag. For those of you that don't have a Keurig, I'm so sorry for you! Just brew your tea however you usually do and then watch the sales so you can buy yourself one because they are awesome.

Add some basil to your cocktail shaker. I used about 5 leaves. I could have even put a few more for an even bolder basil flavor. I added a smidge (what? That is not a technical enough measurement for you?) or a tablespoon or so of iced tea and muddled the basil. Yes, that is an ice cream scooper that I used to muddle. If you don't know what muddle means, it means to gently smoosh the basil to release the oils. Add the ice to the shaker, add more iced tea. Then shake what your mamma gave you. Pretend you are in the movie Cocktail with Tom Cruise. I've never actually seen that movie but it sounds like there are probably drinks in it. Am I right?

This was also my son's first photo shoot. In the middle of me taking pictures of the ingredients, he walked up with what appears to be a mini car motor of some kind and started saying, "click." He is hilarious. I think I am going to have him be a regular contributor.

This really did turn out so good! It was amazingly refreshing, had a lovely basil flavor and made me feel a little fancy. This would be awesome to serve to guests. It is a nice way to take something kind of ordinary and make it special.

Plus I saw this at the store a few weeks ago. Magazines are never wrong. Your welcome.

Sharon

All photos are mine.

Lowe's Creative Ideas...and me

2011-09-13T03:30:00.000-07:00

Some of you may have seen this on my Facebook page already but Lowe's recently posted this video they did at Blogher 11 where they had some bloggers talk about creativity.

SEE THE VIDEO HERE (I couldn't figure out how to shrink the movie file size to work on blogger so you can check it out on the Lowe's Facebook page) Did you remember to "like" them?

I wish they would have passed out some ritalin or xanax or something because I am quite twitchy. But this was a super fun opportunity. Did you catch my roommate (Blogher roomie, that is) Amy, at the top of the video?!

They've got a lot of fun holiday projects coming up so stay tuned!!! And be sure to visit the Lowe's Creative Ideas website for more fun tips and ideas!

If you haven't yet signed up for the free Lowe's Creative Ideas magazine do it {here}.

Sharon

Video and still taken from video courtesy of Lowe's Creative Ideas

A manly dessert table for Daniel Tosh!

2011-09-12T03:30:00.000-07:00

So a few weeks ago I got a really fun opportunity to help decorate a dessert table. Kristin, of Meringue Bake Shop, was contacted to do a dessert table for Daniel Tosh, as in Tosh.O, as in the funniest m effer on the planet who you feel bad about liking because he is so politically incorrect that you feel like just by liking him you could lose your job or have to go to confession. She called me to brainstorm ideas and of course I had to worm my way in to actually doing the table.

Here is the adorable Kristin and her husband, Lyle, in the background. Besides being awesome, she makes the most amazing desserts. Lyle and Kristin are big fans of Daniel Tosh and I was super excited for her to get a chance to do a fun table for him. The table was to be for the wrap party, as it was the last night of his nationwide tour.

Kristin pretty much let me go to town although I always checked in with her to make sure that she approved of all the elements since her name was on the table. We found that great striped fabric from IKEA and used a lot of wood, cement and natural elements for the decor. Jenny of Hank and Hunt recreated the stripey pattern for us digitally so I could use it for tags, signs, etc. Have I mentioned how rad she is? How cool are those white porcelain succulents that Kristin found?!

MMMMMMmmmmmm. Kristin's salted caramel cupcakes and Push Cakes are one of my favorite flavors she makes. Ridiculously tasty.

Macaroons...yum! I was not a fan of chocolate covered marshmallows as a dessert table feature until I tasted these. Whatever chocolate she used was exceptional and she coated that with graham cracker crumbs. Yeah. So good. Let me take a moment to tell you about the mini pies. These mini pies haunt me. They are the best pies that I have ever had. And I want them all the time. For real. They are made by hand and I wish that I could send these around the country so everyone can taste them. Push Cakes are always a show stopper and I am sure they were very well received. And although I have never met a crispy treat that I didn't like, somehow Kristin manages to make them even better. If you haven't used Meringue Bake Shop for your party treats yet, you need to. You will NOT be disappointed.

Thanks for letting me be a part of this super fun experience Kristin! Even if we didn't get to meet him.

Sharon

All photos mine

First day of School!

2011-09-08T03:30:00.000-07:00

Today is our first day of kindergarten!!! I'm nervous and excited and sad and happy and a whole mess of emotions all rolled in to one. We are so proud of our little guy. Just wanted to share a few videos of him that have made us smile over the years.

Caution: The first video contains spit up. If you are easy to gag, maybe do not watch it all the way through.

We wrote and sang this song as part of our family Christmas card when Oliver was about 1 1/2 years old. He loves watching it and thinks he is kind of a musical genius based on how well he played the cow bell.

And this is the video invitation to his 3rd birthday. I can't believe how little he looks and sounds here. It is crazy how fast they change.

And that is it. No videos of him as an older kid. And absolutely NO videos of our youngest son. I wonder if there is a way to go back and create some so he doesn't feel unloved...

Happy First day of School Oliver! We love you!!

Sharon

All videos were created by my husband.

Neon and Neutral Party {So Glad You Were Born!}

2011-09-07T03:30:00.000-07:00

You may remember that I entered a contest a while back in an effort to win treats for a party I wanted to throw for my friend, Erika. I didn't win, but decided to throw the party anyway. It can be really hard to figure out a theme for an adult birthday party. So I went with a color theme instead. I am beyond grateful that the amazingly talented Jackie Culmer, photographer extraordinaire, said she could come and take some pictures before the guests arrived. If you haven't checked out my post of one of Jackie's parties from a few days ago, go see it now!

{See the original inspiration board for this party.}

Along with the color scheme, I decided to use the letter "E" all around to further personalize the event for the guest of honor. I was able to make large letters for big visual impact while still being able to keep the costs down by purchasing small sheets of Styrofoam and conning one of my best party resources (my dad) in to cutting them out on his saw. A few coats of spray paint were all they needed. We also reused some plywood from a previous party to make some of the smaller ones. And instead of calling it a birthday party, I decided to instead use "So Glad You Were Born," which is directly inspired by Shanna Murray's poster on Oh Happy Day.

These are my girls!!! Love them. We are very rarely in the same place altogether (Kayla, second from the right lives in Texas) so to have a photo with them was very special. The birthday girl, Erika is on the end on the right and Taryn, right next to me (in my fave $10 H&M dress - I can't quit you!), was ridiculously gracious in opening up her home for us to use.

This is my favorite party to date. I know I say that about all of them but this one was ridiculously fun and personal. I created little vignettes around the party space of all the things she loves or that remind us of her. And they all had to fit the color scheme because I am that OCD. Erika is a woman of Christ so I decided to share that with a neon yellow cross (which would look kind of awesome hanging in a home I think). She is also a lover of the 80's so I created a custom "cootie" catcher in her honor. Under the flaps were 80's dances that she had to do when she landed on them. We only pulled that out after all the guests were gone and it was just closest friends. Although she would have done it with the party in full swing. That is why we love Erika. For other pops of color I used tall cylinder vases filled with neon pink 'Easter Grass' (I'm calling it that because I have no idea what that stuff is actually called...) and topped it with an air plant. In other areas I put flowers in empty glass jars I had collected and spray painted on stripes in neon yellow and pink to jazz them up.

Erika loves office supplies and spreadsheets so what better way to show that than with spray painted calculators and erasers.

Yes, that is a neon pink fondue pot. Thanks for asking. And check out the bling on those skates! I did NOT do that, btw. All Erika! She is full of child-like wonder and joy and so I asked her if I could borrow the skates. I put them along side some bright yellow bubbles and we were all set.

It was literally one hundred bazillion degrees that day so we kept food crazy simple. Pretzels and kettle corn were set out for a little snack and we had a company come and set up smoothies and funnel cakes. I am not at liberty to say which company we used as they were quite awful and I don't want to recommend them to anyone. But I will say, they may have been a screaming deal, but you get what you pay for...

Anyone interested in a sugar cookie bake off? Because Taryn has the best recipe. And she will go to blows over it.

I wanted a way to share some photos and mementos from Erika's life and needed a simple way to display them. I found these two really large frames at a thrift store and used cording to wrap them. Anyone else a Fanadu (meaning you have an irrational love for the disco movie Xanadu)? No? Just Erika, then?

I borrowed some photo albums and memory books from Erika a few weeks before the party. I pulled out some of the best treasures I could find, including her DMV written test from when she was 15, report cards and school photos, scanned them and then using neon colored zip ties attached them to the cording.

We did two versions of a guest book for her. The traditional writing of sentimental message on a card sort as well as a personalized plate. You can find the enamel paint pens at your local craft store. I had really wanted to do something like that since seeing Lauren's tutorial.

I really love how these books turned out. I spray painted them and created silly book titles that also represent the guest of honor. And now I need to give a huge shout out to Ms. Jenny of Hank and Hunt. She came up with the cool pattern you saw around the party on pennant banners. She created the banner that hung behind the pool that lead to the look of all the other signage at the party. And to top that off, she created water bottle labels and cupcake flags. Boom. And guess what?! She is going to share them with you! Jenny is the best!!!

{Download printables from Hank and Hunt.com}

Huge thank you to Jackie Culmer for taking such amazing photos. I can't wait to work with her again! Huge thank you to Kristin of Meringue Bake Shop for creating a really fun splatter paint cake (of which I promptly forgot in the fridge) and cupcakes. My parties would not be complete without my father and his super talented skills. Thanks, dad! And of course thank you to Taryn for the use of her house and for helping me with some of the crafting. Oh and to you, spray paint - you're my heart. What would I be without you?

Sharon

All photos by Jackie Culmer

Kids Can Rock Too - Rad Rock from Your Musical Library

2011-09-06T03:30:00.000-07:00

I got a new car a few months back. It came with Sirius XM which I adore. For a while, I got away with listening to XMU, First Wave or Alt Nation. But one day I made the grave mistake of changing it to the kid's station, Kid's Place Live. I don't actually hate everything about it. In fact, some of the music they play is actually good. But do you know what it is like to talk to a young child on the phone? Pretty painful right? Yeah. Well, they have several call-in type shows on that channel. Why oh why?! But my son, who is obsessed with Ghostbusters heard the theme song on the channel one time and now he's afraid if we change it, he will miss the song. I bought him the song on Itunes, but nothing beats hearing your fave song on the radio.

Here are some of the gems we found through Kid's Place Live mixed with a bunch that I love. I am pretty free with what I will let my kids hear (curse words can be prime teaching moments) so listen to the songs for yourself before trusting my judgement. I had to put my son's other favorite song on there because we listen to it at least once a week, Iggy Pop (he dances just like Iggy, btw - it. is. awesome). These songs are not for bedtime and are pretty much just all around fun. Use it at your next kid's party or just in the car on the way to school.

Are you ready to rock!

A few more songs that playlist.com didn't have that you need to check out are:

Up Up Up - The Givers (free download - holler!)

Gotta Keep on Trying - The Not Its (so one of the singers from this band used to sing in a band called Velocity Girl that I loved in high school - totally cool and the website is rad, rad, rad)

Surfer Turtle - Cat and Bird

Princess Racer

The Donkey Song (love love love)

The Ballad of Peter Pumpkinhead - XTC

Don't dumb down your kids music. Share the greats with them. The Beatles, The Beach Boys, whoever your favorites are chances are your passion will be contagious and your kids will love them too.

Sharon

Three Little Birds Adorable Bob Marley-themed 3rd Birthday Party by Jackie Culmer

2011-09-05T03:30:00.000-07:00

Maybe it is because my family is infatuated with Rastamouse ever since we saw it on YouTube last week. Maybe it was because I had a very brief phase where I wanted to dreadlocks, wore a lot of red, yellow and green and bought incense (from the swap meet) in high school. Or maybe because it is just freaking awesome but I had to share the most adorable kid's birthday party that I came across the other day. Not only is Jackie Culmer a kick-ass photographer (I will be sharing the pics she shot at my neon and neutral bday party on Wednesday!) but she also rocks the house with her party design.

This is absolute perfection for me. The theme is totally original, casual and cool. The graphic design is crisp and fresh.

It is the perfect balance of kid and adult friendly and is styled without being fussy or too themey.

And what music inspired party would be complete without a cd favor? I want one!!!

Check out the rest of the party on Jackie's blog, The Silver Spoon and Paper Plate. And check out what she did last Halloween while you are there here, here and here.

She knocked my socks off with the photos she took for my party a month ago, can't wait to share!!!

Sharon

all photos via Jackie Culmer

Easy Cinnamon Honey Apple Dip - Perfect for Back to School!

2011-09-01T03:30:00.000-07:00

I didn't start liking honey until this year. But my kids, I'm sure most kids, love it. It wasn't until I had a bowl of Greek yogurt with honey swirled through at King's Highway that put me totally on board. And lately I have been absolutely craving it. I found this recipe in my recipe file and decided to give it a shot. DELICIOUS!!! And like most things that I make, super easy! I think this is best when eaten with green apples, but I'm sure any color would work.

This recipe was from a Woman's World Magazine dated 5/3/10. Yes, I realize this may not seem like a magazine that I would normally read but sometimes I am privy to my husband's 90 year old grandmother's discards. And remember I am really 80 years old on the inside...

Here are the ingredientses. Sorry, I'm totally into Real Housewives of New Jersey right now. Does anyone else freaking love that show like I do? I pray that Teresa will say ingredientses every episode. It makes me so happy. My youngest son was all up in my program. He loves lemons and was trying to slow my roll by stealing it. Aside from the lemon, the recipe is made up of pantry items that you should pretty much always be able to have on hand. This would be a great dip for drop in visitors, providing you have the apples (you could probably even get away with not having the lemon). And it takes about a minute to make.

Recipe:

1/2 cup honey

1 tsp. grated lemon zest

1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp. cardamom

pinch of ground sugar

apple slices

Combine honey, zest, cinnamon, cardamom and ginger. Serve with apple slices. Boom. Done.

The first time I made this I used the full amount of cardamom. The boys weren't thrilled. It was a little too "spicey" so this time I used about 1/2 that amount. Much better. The boys LOVE it now! We may or may not have had this twice today. It's got to be better for you than caramel, right? {note to caramel: Please don't be afraid that I will no longer enjoy your sugary goodness on my green apples, I just need a break for a little bit. It's not you, it's me. And my thighs.}

Go make it. Right now. So yummy! I think this would also be awesome over some homemade vanilla bean ice cream. Or maybe even used to sweeten tea or apple cider. Hmmm, kind of seems like it might be the perfect treat for fall.

Sharon

all photos are mine, yo

Ruby's Studio DVDs: The ABCs of raising a good human

2011-08-31T03:30:00.000-07:00

I've told you about some of the great finds from my trip to Blogher but this DVD and the company behind its creation is probably my favorite. In this crazy mixed up world we live in, so much focus is placed on academics and how well kids do on school testing. The Mother Company knows that it is more important to raise good humans. But how do we, as parents, do that?

This first video of Ruby's Studio, in what I hope is a very long list, focuses on feelings. Through Ruby's guidance, the kids learn about feelings in a variety of ways. From art projects, discussion, animated stories and music, the kids are taught not only what different emotions are but also ways to express them. When I showed my kids this video package and said we were going to watch it, they were not interested. I mean, where were the trucks and legos? I put it in to watch by myself, but after just a minute or two, both of my boys came over to watch. Both boys were quiet. As the show played on, I laid down my youngest to change his diaper, much to his dismay. He looked right up at me and said, "I'm frustrated." HA! I wasn't sure, at 2 1/2 years old, how much he would pick up. But obviously he was getting the message. A few minutes later as I sat on the couch with my oldest son, I turned toward him to see if he was enjoying the DVD. As if in answer to the unspoken question, he said, "I'm happy." I thought the DVD and calm pace would not interest him (he's a rocker through and through) but it absolutely did.

Watch the trailer!!

Cute! Right?! What caught my eye initially at their Blogher booth was their design aesthetic. Clean, modern but with whimsical touches, it was something that I was glad to share with my kids. There is no need to sacrifice good design just because it is a kid's show. And they certainly haven't.

The 45 minute DVD is made up of small segments. From group discussions (none of the kids are scripted to ensure honest answers) to animated music segments the message is reinforced throughout. I especially loved the 'Garden Theater' with this adorable family of snail puppets. The shot above is from my TV screen. The words on the bottom are from the 'Pop Up Parenting' option. With that feature on, corresponding information for the parents pops up to further explain the emotional development of the child and other tidbits that might help us to make better parenting decisions. It is awesome.

And how freaking cute is Ruby, played by Kelsey Collins??? Does she remind anyone else of the adorable Emily Henderson? As a host she is sweet, caring and likable. And her hip, vintagey style is child appropriate and fashionable at the same time. Similarly, the overall design of the set is pretty awesome. The set is kind of like a big loft with exposed brick and vintage touches. An alcove with a ceiling covered with all white, different sized paper lanterns is totally whimsical and cool. A discussion area is amazing with bright colored designer chairs. And the music is totally kid friendly without being too cutesy. This is very important to me. I feel like children's music should not be dumbed down for the kids and this is not. Job well done.

I really liked this DVD, available for purchase through their website or at Whole Foods. The Mother Company also has an amazing newsletter and website full of helpful parenting information. Be sure to check it out. I'm so glad that I got a chance to meet this great team at Blogher. I wish them huge success!

And also look for more DVDs to come out later this year!

Sharon

Last 2 pictures are mine, all others from The Mother Company

Allsaints Spitalfields rocks your kids back to school

2011-08-30T03:30:00.000-07:00

Both of my sons have really long hair. My oldest son doesn't want to cut his (even a trim) before school starts because he thinks he won't be a rockstar with short hair. I know that isn't true but trying to convince him otherwise is quite a task. So when I found these really awesome kid's clothes at Allsaints Spitalfield (most of them on sale), I knew we had to get them. With these clothes on, no one could could accuse him of not rocking.

And while you are there, why not pick up a great gift for yourself. You've got to go back to school in style too. If my husband is reading this, I did not buy anything for myself. Promise. Wink.

*****NOTE! As of the day of this post, the site no longer carries kids clothes! Wish I would have known that because I would have ordered WAY more! So the name of this post is now, "My Kid is Totally Cooler Than Your Kid." But you can still buy the scarf!

Sharon

All photos via the Allsaints Spitalfields website

The Food Allergy Cookbook - Entertaining your Special Guests

2011-08-29T03:30:00.000-07:00

Food allergies are totally on my mind right now. My oldest son, the one with multiple food allergies, is about to start Kindergarten. I have high anxiety for how the teacher and school will handle them. I've been emailing with the school nurse and she was able to calm my nerves a bit, but until we actually get started and get in the swing of things, I don't think I will really be able to ease up. Finding out about my son's allergies at age 1 was a life changer. When I was asked if I wanted to review the cookbook, The Food Allergy Cookbook: A Guide to Living with Allergies and Entertaining with Healthy, Delicious Meals by Carmel Nelson and Amra Ibrisimovic I said absolutely. I am always looking for recipes my son (and the rest of my family) might enjoy.

These ladies learned of their food allergies a lot later in life and had to relearn how to cook for themselves with little help from doctors. Although a lot of the recipes in this book are off limits for my son due to his egg allergy, I have learned how to adapt recipes to make them work - often with great results. Most of the recipes featured are free from the top allergens so if you are comfortable with your own allergies and how to modify a recipe when necessary, this would be a great book for you. This book is also perfect for the sympathetic hostess who is looking to be able to readily accommodate guests with food allergies.

Not only does this book share individual recipes for main courses, side dishes, desserts, etc., but also includes full menu suggestions for holiday cooking and entertaining. The only downside to this book is the food photography. Not all of the photos are as appetizing as they could be. But I certainly might just be spoiled by reading With Style and Grace daily.

My favorite part of this book is that it is not dumbed down or simplified. There is a variety of gourmet or ethnic themed recipes just without the usual allergens. Aside from the recipes, the book also contains kitchen tips, suggestions for traveling with food allergies and also dealing with the medical community who may or may not be well versed in living with allergies. This book was a labor of love for the two authors and I am grateful they took the time to do it.

Buy the book from Amazon.

Sharon

All photos are mine

I was sent a copy of the book for review. All opinions are mine.

I've never been camping but I think Suburban Camping is the only way to go

2011-08-26T03:30:00.000-07:00

I have never said this before, but why, oh why don't I live in New Jersey? I'm so jealous of my husband's relatives who live there! And it has nothing to do with the shore or juice-head gorillas. It has everything to do with this adorable company called Suburban Camping Co. Oh, and I totally love his family too, but I may love them even more in one of these tents.

Suburban Camping Co. is basically an event planning company that sets up little (to quite large) backyard campouts. That is SO perfect for me. I have never been camping and know that I would appreciate all the amenities of my home found just feet away instead of the middle of the woods. There are different themes you can choose and you can even add on an outdoor movie component to your set up! Just check out their site to see all the gorgeous vintage pieces they use!

Hello Girl's Night Out-Doors! Barbie chandelier anyone?!

So here's the deal. You need to go vote for them in Daily Candy's Start Small, Go Big Contest. They are a finalist in the "Home" category and they need your votes. If they win, they will win a trip to New York City to attend an "academy" and have a chance to get advice and encouragement from some business heavyweights {Jonathan Adler and Stacey Bendet to name a few!} I know all of my entrepreneurial ladies know the benefit of something like this so do your part to help another small business out.

You can vote for them once a day and voting ends in 20 days! It literally takes seconds to vote. Winners to be announced September 16!

I really can't remember how I came across this company. I am sure that I saw it somewhere but I can't, for the life, of me, backtrack to it...If you already posted about them, please let me know so I can give you credit!

GO VOTE!

Then follow them on Facebook!

And check out their blog too!

Sharon

All photos via Suburban Camping Co.

Serve Ciao Bella Sorbet at your next cocktail party!

2011-08-25T03:30:00.000-07:00

You guys know that I had a makeover by Mom's Fashion File, right? (said sarcastically and with a wink). I'm not trying to rub it in to those that didn't win, or brag about how fantastic I looked "after". It was an amazing opportunity on so many levels. I met many beauty experts and successful professional bloggers but it really came down to the amazing group of sponsors they put together including those from their Secret Style Suite party. The absolute highlight for me (and not just because it contained alcohol that I required before the fashion show) were the cocktails created using some of the Ciao Bella Sorbets. (Remember I posted a brief snippet about them about a month ago?) Absolute cool fantasticness and you SO totally need to set up a bar at your next party.

Ciao Bella uses all natural ingredients and delicious, bold flavors and is a favorite of my family. I am dying to try the Peach Ginger Sorbet though, so if anyone in Orange County runs across it can you let me know! I look at every market I visit and have yet to find it!

Follow Ciao Bella on Twitter and Facebook!

Here are some recipes for you to try out. You will not be disappointed!

{peach ginger margarita}

1/2 pint CIAO BELLA Peach Ginger Sorbet

1/2 pint CIAO BELLA Lemon Zest Sorbet

1/2 cup lime juice

1 cup tequila (white or golden)

1/4 cup Cointreau

Ice Cubes

Optional: salt for the rim

Place all ingredients in a blender and pulse until smooth. Pour into a margarita glass with a salted rim. Add more ice as needed.

{wild blueberry lemon drop} I heard RAVE reviews about this one

2 oz. citrus vodka

1 oz. Cointreau

2 oz. lemonade

CIAO BELLA Wild Blueberry Sorbet (very soft)

Optional: sugar for the rim and CIAO BELLA Lemon Zest Sorbet

Combine all ingredients into a cocktail shaker with ice and shake vigorously. Pour into a chilled martini glass with a sugared rim. Garnish with a small scoop of Wild Blueberry or Lemon Zest Sorbet!

{blood orange sparkling sangria} This is the one I had...PERFECTION!

One bottle sparkling wine (can use white or rose)

1/2 cup Cointreau

1 pint fresh raspberries

1 pint strawberries (cleaned and cut in to small pieces)

CIAO BELLA Blood Orange, CIAO BELLA Prickly Pear Sorbet or CIAO BELLA Peach Ginger Sorbet (all good options)

Pour wine and Cointreau into a pitcher. Delicately add fruit and ice. Pour into glasses and garnish with CIAO BELLA sorbets.

{pickly pear bellini}

Sparkling wine (prosecco, cava or champagne)

CIAO BELLA Prickly Pear Sorbet

Optional: fresh fruit for garnish, CIAO BELLA Blood Orange Sorbet or CIAO BELLA Raspberry Sorbet

Pour the sparkling wine into a champagne flute leaving plenty of room at the top. Slowly add a small scoop of the Prickly Pear sorbet to the glass. Be mindful as it will likely foam up over the rim of the glass. Cheers!

Go try it. Now.

Sharon

Top 2 photos by Amy Winkelmann for Cupcakes and Cutlery

Bottom 2 photos by Bella Diva Photo (see more shots of the Ciao Bella Table from the party here)

Mission Accepted! The Secret Style Suite Party by Mom's Fashion File

2011-08-24T03:30:00.001-07:00

Not only did Mom's Fashion File put on an amazing day of makeovers for 12 of us very grateful bloggers, but they also through a party that night as well! The view was stunning from the Elevation Suite at the Hard Rock Hotel and everyone came dressed to impress. There were delicious cocktails using Ciao Bella Gelatos and Sorbets. There was an area showcasing the newest Stokke products (love, love, love the designs!). There was a bright and cheery candy bar courtesy of Plum District and yummy drinks from Trop50. Those adorable ladies at the top right are the amazing crew from Mom's Fashion File. And the lovely ladies near the bottom right are some of my fave OC ladies, Jen of Tiny Oranges and hair expert, Tera Rae Stephens.

Speaking of Plum District, have you signed up yet? I know there are a ton of deal sites out there but Plum District is fast becoming a favorite of mine. You already know how it works, you get an email sharing deals in your area, but what makes Plum District extra special is that their deals are geared towards moms. I have bought several deals already and have been tempted on dozens more. And the website is just really pretty. And that goes a long way with me.

I got a few more minutes with Cheryl at the party but still feel I need more time with her. She's freaking funny. And there is my sweet Amy (and of Operation Shower). I did get to pal around with her at the party and she helped me calm my nerves about the fashion show I had to take part in! Yup, a fashion show. Um, I may come off extroverted but I really don't like the spotlight (which you probably aren't buying because of the amazing amounts of photos I've posted of myself lately - but its true!)

The top left is me trying to act natural, like I always twirl around on a pink carpet in front of a huge group and camera lights. Cut to super fake smile, trying to be casual and charming while pretending that no one is looking at me. And finally the group shot (or group shot where I looked cutest but half the girls are cut out) of the rest of the makeover winners. And scene. Sigh of relief. It took all of 2 minutes but had my heart racing.

At the end of the party, these amazing woven bags were handed out courtesy of Plum District. They were filled with goodies like Johnson and Johnson products, coupons and recipes for Ciao Bella and so much more!

It was the perfect way to wrap up the awesome experience that was my makeover. If you missed that post, go here!

Mom's Fashion File is a collaboration of bloggers who are moms, are cool and know their stuff. If you aren't a regular reader, you should go ahead and start now. They are like your cool best friend recommending the best items for your family.

See the full makeover gallery here.

See the full party gallery here.

Sharon

All photos by Bella Diva Photo

Non-Toxic and Amazing Colors: What more could you want from a nail polish!

2011-08-23T03:30:00.000-07:00

I am in love with Scotch Naturals nail polish. I've seen it in a few magazines but never had the opportunity to try it out before. Little did I know that my fingers would also be getting a make over from Mom's Fashion File. Ginny, who IS Scotch Naturals, was on hand to do the manicures. This polish is water based and totally non-toxic! As is the remover. How cool is that? {If you missed the makeover recap go here}

While Ginny dressed our digits, I got to talk to her about the company. Now I don't know exactly what her background is, but she is all science-y and stuff. She talked of formulas, etc. Of course I pretended to play along like I knew exactly what she was talking about. :) As I mentioned my fingers were painted a beautiful, sparkly black but I was kind of silently trying to talk them in to this amazing Navy shade. These polishes are perfect for pregnant women and anyone looking to keep all those yucky toxins away from them and their fetus. Oh and EVERYONE else too.

Now I don't want this next part to come off too shallow, but it is the colors that really put this line over the top for me. Sure I appreciate her concern for my health, but love that I absolutely don't have to sacrifice my style over it. The colors are so saturated and gorgeous. When I mentioned this I was told that because of the natural ingredients and pigments they use, the colors come out very brilliant. And you know that I am a party blogger at heart and you can bet your hangnails that I am going to be using their site for color inspiration for upcoming parties and designing. Go to their website to check out their full range of colors. I just know you will love them too!

And I don't have little girls of my own, but I will certainly be buying their Hopscotch Naturals line for many a gift in the future. First of all, how perfect is that name? How cute is the packaging? And what an awesome way to teach youngsters about what they are putting on and in their bodies! Find out where to buy Hopscotch Naturals {here}.

You can plug in your zip code to find a store in your area or purchase straight from their website. If you are in Orange County, it looks like Seed People's Market in Costa Mesa is your best bet {ps, they have a baby/kids section with great gift items!!}

I'm so grateful to Mom's Fashion File for that makeover experience! They put together an amazing group of sponsors!

Follow Scotch Naturals on Twitter and Facebook !

Sharon

Photos by Amy Winkelmann for Cupcakes and Cutlery

I was not paid for this post. I was given a Scotch Naturals nail polish after my manicure but the choice to post about this brand was all mine. And I love them.

I went to Blogher and all I got was a full makeover! {by Moms Fashion File!}

2011-08-22T03:30:00.000-07:00

Yikes. That is a very big picture of my face. Thank goodness it is the "after" photo from the awesome makeover I won from Mom's Fashion File. You may remember my {entry post} from a few months ago. From that, I was one of 12 bloggers chosen to receive a full makeover while at Blogher. After winning, I filled out questionnaires about my sizing and style preferences but really had no idea what to makeover day would be like. I was told to report to the penthouse suite at the Hard Rock Hotel at 4pm on the Saturday of Blogher. Um, OK! And as with just about all of my other Blogher related posts, I dragged sweet Amy along with me to photograph the adventure. I should also note that I just really enjoy spending time with her. I heart that girl.

Immediately off the elevators was this wall of Sid and Nancy and hoped that I was going to get a little rock and roll for my makeover. My core is rock and roll but my exterior is generally a little more album alternative/ easy listening.

via

This is my "before" shot that all participants were required to take before the metamorphosis began. Wow. Photographs really are great for showing you what is really going on. I had no idea that those shoes looked so much like slippers crossed with swim fins (although I got compliments on them at the conference, holler) and the uneven leggings was unintentional. Oh and hey, there is a toilet in the shot. Hello, commode.

This angel is Bethany of LA Stylist Mom. She IS rock and roll. If I had to pick one person that I would want to totally copy cat their style, it would be her. I was so excited to work with her and be cool by association for a while. You guys, she's, like, a legit stylist. And she had her work cut out for her.

Follow Bethany on Twitter.

First I was sent to hair. The darling girls from San Diego's Detour Salon swaddled me in a smock and set out to give me beachy waves. But hold the phone. Do you know what they used? A straightening iron! I had accidentally created a wave in my hair once with my straightening iron but have never been able to duplicate it again. She did my whole hair in about 10 minutes. Done. And super cute!! I want to note that I did try this on myself the very next weekend and it went awry... I must have missed a technique that is needed to achieve the pretty, slightly messy curls. The really fun part of getting my hair done, though, was getting to try out the new Windows Phone. The rep showed me all the cool features, like One Note and how you can open and edit Windows-based programs right from the phone. Then she let me play around with it. I even played Angry Birds for the first time! The drag and drop screen was really fun and I loved that the home page looked like color blocking, so hot for fall!

The atmosphere in the salon was really fun. Plum District was a big sponsor of the party Mom's Fashion File was throwing later that night and provided waters for the makeover day. Yummy sparkling wine was available although I did not partake due to not having eaten a meal since dinner the night before {I had read prior to coming to Blogher that it was hard to get in actual meals, but I though no way. It was true, even I skipped meals to try to fit it all in. That is not to say that I didn't hover by the Jimmy Dean booth for several samples that morning} How yummy does that cake ball look? The suite was super swanky. I hoped they would take their time getting me ready so I could pretend that it was my hotel room.

With my hair done did, it was time to get styled! I was ushered in to a bedroom and the fun began. The Loft provided this purple wrap dress for me to wear {totally got to keep it!}. Instead of using the matching tank, Bethany used the Yummy Tummy tank for a little touch of black. But what shoes...I tried on several pairs and ended up with these black heeled sandals by Dr. Scholl's. I kid you not, could be the most comfortable heels I have ever worn. And I kind of can't wait to wear them again. You know how the balls of your feet usually kill the next morning after being out on the town the night before? Nope, my feet felt great! And then I learned why Bethany gets paid for what she does. We could have just tied the belt around the back, or even to the side. No way. She tucked and wrapped and made it resemble an Obi belt. Cool. Add in the gorgeous metallic flecked infinity scarf and my outfit was complete. On to accessories. I took off the Stella and Dot jewelry I walked in with (thank you again, Heather!) and Bethany began to complete my look with a stack of Stella and Dot bracelets and wraps provided to us for the night. With the leather, studding and snake bangle I kind of rounded the corner to rock and roll. I looked cute. Outfit complete! I wished that I had had a slip, remember that I am 80 years old on the inside, but I loved the overall look. So fun!

Let me take a moment to also mention that while I was being styled, fellow blogger Cheryl, of Mommy Pants was getting her Loft on too. She and her stylist Jillian, of The Fab Mom, were awesome and I was glad to share that experience with them. They may have seen my boobies.

Hair, check! Clothes, check! Makeup, yes please! Ms. Tia Dantzler is an artist. I feel so lucky to have met her and have the opportunity to have my makeup done by her. I've had my makeup done "professionally" a handful of times for weddings, special occasions, etc. Only 1 person has ever made me feel beautiful when I walked away. Until Tia. I did not get to spend a ton of time with her but she made me feel pretty. She had the most calming presence, which I totally needed at that moment, and was just a lovely person. I wish that I had gotten more time with her to actually learn some of the techniques she used. But luckily for us, she too, has a blog, The Beauty Elixir! It is filled with beauty tips, how to's, product preferences and rad photos of the amazing work she has done {but, um, totally go check out her portfolio too - she's worked on some amazing people and projects!} I don't know how she finds the time to do it all, but she is an inspiration. In an industry where people are quick to judge and want to change people in to something they might not be, she kept me, ME. I looked like a more dressed up, refined version of myself, but it was me. She's the best you guys. I admire her as a business women and creative mind.

Follow Tia on Twitter.

I feel pretty, oh so pretty. Except for that claw hand clutching the glass. Raaaawwwwwrrrrr!

Next up was a manicure using the Best. Polish. Ever. I am seriously in love with Scotch Naturals. I am going to do a whole separate post on them because they are brilliant. I got this great sparkly black painted on my nails. Another step closer to full-on rock and roll. And that completes the make over portion of my day. What an amazing experience.

Follow Scotch Naturals on Twitter.

A HUGE thank you to the Mom's Fashion File team that put on the makeovers:

Brooke of Mom's Fashion File

Allison of Sassy Moms in the City, on Twitter

Andrea of Savvy Sassy Moms, on Twitter.

Nicole of Mom Trends, on Twitter.

Follow Moms Fashion File on Twitter.

I will never forget that experience and it was an amazing way to do Blogher for the first time.

Yeah. So this is all the swag I got from the makeover. See that rad canvas and green bag right there? That was from Land's End. Inside was a beach towel {side note: Land's End beach towels are the best beach towels ever. I just got rid of the towel I stole from my mom's house when I moved out on my own about 10 years ago. They are an amazing quality, they are huge and your toes don't hang off in to the sand and you can monogram them.}, white aviator sunglasses, cute brown sandals, a darling pink tankini, a white bathing suite coverup and a gift card for $75! I'll be sharing what I got with that in a future post. Check out that red Namaste purse! I can't wait to use it! I am so excited to read Soleil Moon Frye's new book, Happy Chaos! Of course I loved her as Punky but I truly admire the shop, Little Seed, that she opened in Los Angeles. I think I could learn a lot from her as a parent. Now I just need my kids to leave me alone for a few minutes so I can get to it. But that wasn't even close to everything. I was given this gorgeous orangey-red Scotch Naturals polish which I can't wait to use. And every Johnson and Johnson's product that I've been wanting to try was sent home with me. Did you guys know they make a baby oil gel?

On Twitter follow:

Lands End

Namaste

Soleil Moon Frye, The Little Seed

Johnson and Johnson

With time to kill until the party, Amy and I headed back over to the Hotel Solamar to meet Lisa and have more Basil Gimlets. We carried all that loot across town. We looked a little bit like really well dressed homeless ladies. I passed blogging friends and they were so excited to see my transformation. I didn't think it was that drastic but a few people didn't recognize me. After a quick bite, I headed back to the Hard Rock for the Secret Style Suite party.

Here is my official "after" photo by Bella Diva Photo. That blue thing in my hand is a drink ticket. Immediately after the photo I redeemed that baby. A libation was necessary to calm my nerves for the impending FASHION SHOW I had to be in!

Details from the party to come!

See all of Bella Diva Photo's pics during all the makeovers here.

Sharon

All photos mine (taken by Amy) unless otherwise noted.