So Juicy

If you know me, you know I love Juicy Couture. I REALLY love Juicy for my baby girl Piper and when I was checking out their website I came across this adorable-I-want-it outfit for fall. It's so grown up. I mean really, come one now, this is too cute! Check out all their baby stuff here and they have great summer stuff on sale too!

Boden boots

I just saw a picture of these boots in the new Boden catalog and I wish I had a pair. Unfortunately I don't have $268 to spend on them, but if I did I would buy them for fall. On the bright side, I can probably afford a pair of the cute wellies pictured below, only $48. Too bad they aren't very practical here in Southern California. To see all of Boden's new stuff click here.

Mott's Plus

I just happened upon these cartons of Mott's Plus applesauce in the grocery store yesterday. I bought the Cranberry Raspberry and was impressed by the nutritional facts. No fat, no cholesterol and no sodium. Each cup only has 50 calories and it contains 25% of your daily Vitamin C and 12% of your daily Fiber. Plus, there is no sugar added. It's a great quick snack for the mom on the go. In fact I'm not sharing these with the kids. Enjoy!

Anthropology Aprons

My neighbor Lauren was wearing an apron the other day and looked so cute! It reminded me of all the aprons at Anthropology that I always go ga-ga over. Sometimes they even have matching oven mits and accessories. Will someone please buy me one of the adorable aprons for my birthday or Christmas next year! It's just one of those things that you love but never buy for yourself. The kids ones are adorable as well. Check out all the yummy Anthropology aprons here! That store is heavenly.

Hanging Dress Garland

I'm on a Pottery Barn roll, mostly because they have all new things. I love this garland with these sweet little dresses. I wish I would have made them myself!

Nursery

Another Pottery Barn posting. I saw this nursery (the Sadie Nursery) in the catalog and I think it is heaven. I love everything about it. I know when I was doing Piper's room I was trying to use as little pink as possible, which is impossible. If I would have seen this room I would have completely copied the color scheme and ideas (minus the animals). Just had to share!

Cute Pillows

I just got the new Pottery Barn Teen catalog and I love all the different pillows they have. Everything is so fun and colorful. I told Mark I am going to get some new ones monogrammed with E on them for the new couch we just bought. Mark thinks I'm crazy but I know they will look adorable! Check out their whole pillow collection here.

30 Days

If you have never seen the show 30 Days on FX show, at least watch one. You will most likely cry. Usually they take a person who has a solid viewpoint on something (say gay adoption) and they send them to live with a family who is a part of the opposing view (a set of gay adoptive parents and their children). They give it 30 days, with some rules and you see what happens. I have seen complete changes, some where their heart lightened up a little, and some who did not change at all. But each episode is always interesting and you nonetheless learn something about someone else. I think this show has taught me to be kinder and more accepting towards people that I may have disregarded their views, like people from PETA, gay parents, native americans, etc. My favorite of these episodes are when the creator Morgan Spurlock (from Super Size Me) goes to live somewhere for 30 days. I find these more touching because he is such an open guy. He just did one on the Navajo Indians that was amazing and one where him and his wife lived at the poverty level.

Lately reality TV is SO bad. I mean Celebrity Circus and Tila Tequila, is that the future of TV for my children? Shows that teach you nothing? Watching 30 Days actually affects me and I always take something from it. And if it makes me a kinder, more tolerant person to different positions on important topics. I couldn't ask for anything more.

Check out the website for the show here

Nordstrom Anniversary Sale

Get ready, the Nordstrom Anniversary Sale starts this Friday, July 18th at 7am! Prices on all sale items goes back up on Monday, August 4th.

Whitney Hartmann Photography

I am not playing favorites because she is my sister. Whitney is an amazing photographer and I really am obsessed with her photos. I check her Flickr account every day for new pics. I'm lucky because I make her take photos of my kids when she visits so I have beautiful pictures around my house. Check out her Flickr account at www.flickr.com/whitneyhartmann or her website at www.whitneyhartmann.com.

The Art of Racing in the Rain by Garth Stein

I just finished reading this book and I liked it so much I finished it in two nights (I'm a fast reader).  The novel is told from a dog's point of view (his name is Enzo) and it is a story about a family, about love, loss and hope. Reading it made me feel better about my own current trials and it made me remember to be strong and brave. It was touching and sweet and I definitely recommend it. In fact, let me know if you want to borrow it! Sometimes I think we get so caught up in our busy lives that we don't take time for the small things, like reading a good book that can shed light on your own life. I feel lucky I could break away to do this. 

Fruit & Marshmallow Kabobs

My neighbor Jane started bringing her fruit kabobs to our neighborhood bbqs and they are the first thing to go! By just adding a marshmallow in the middle the kids go crazy over them and they think they are dessert. Jane usually makes them with strawberries and watermelon but you can do any combination you want. It's funny how something so simple and creative can be such a hit! If you invite me to your party I'll bring them over, but I will probably pretend like I thought up the idea myself because I love them so much. Sorry Jane!

Red, White & Blueberry Trifle

I made this dessert on 4th of July and loved it. So here's the recipe from Martha Stewart. It's pretty easy and I also put strawberries in mine.

Ingredients

1/4 cup plus 1/3 cup sugar

1/4 cup lemon juice

1 store-bought pound cake (12 ounces), cut into 3/4-inch-thick slices

1 bar (8 ounces) reduced-fat cream cheese, room temperature

1 cup heavy cream

3 cups fresh blueberries (three 1/2-pint containers), rinsed and dried

3 cups fresh raspberries (two 6-ounce containers)

Directions

1. Make lemon syrup: In a small saucepan, bring 1/4 cup sugar, lemon juice, and 1/4 cup water to a boil over medium heat, stirring to dissolve sugar. Let cool completely, then brush over both sides of cake slices. Quarter each slice.

2. With an electric mixer, beat cream cheese with remaining 1/3 cup sugar on high speed until lightened. With mixer on medium speed, gradually add heavy cream in a steady stream; continue beating until mixture is light and airy (mixture will be like a very soft whipped cream).

3. Arrange half the cake pieces in the bottom of a 2-quart serving dish. Spoon half the cream-cheese mixture over the cake in dollops; spread to sides of dish. Scatter half the blueberries and raspberries on top. Repeat layering with remaining cake, cream-cheese mixture, and berries, piling berries in the center.

4. Cover, and refrigerate until chilled, at least one hour and up to overnight.

Coca-Cola 100 Calorie Cans

Anyone else obsessed with Coca-Cola? I don't drink coffee so this is what gets me through the day and I have to admit I am addicted. However, now that I am living a healthier lifestyle I keep these around so that I don't feel guilty if I want a soda. I'm not into the 100 calorie snack craze right now, but since this is my vice I love that these are available. I buy them at my regular grocery store. If you drink soda every day I suggest you buy these and limit yourself to just one! Now if only restaurants would serve these little guys instead to stop me from drinking those refills!

Misty Mate

Well it seems that everyone has a Misty Mate and now we do too! We FINALLY got ours at Costco after several attempts. We love this personal mister that you can take everywhere. So far it has saved us at the Wild Animal Park and Brody's soccer games. I think we may be the last person we know to buy one, but if I'm wrong and you don't have one you should invest in it. Plus you get two in a pack! Go to Costco or I think they sell them at most sporting goods stores.