Monday, August 31, 2009
the goods
Sunday, August 30, 2009
guess what we are making??
Thursday, August 27, 2009
baby pink
so yum!
I don't love specialty cupcakes like Sprinkles. The only cupcakes I like are out of the box. But imagine my surprise when I bit into a cupcake from Whodidily Cupcakes in Montecito, California..... mmmmmmm. There are no words. It was white cake with white chocolae chips in the middle and sweet white icing. It sounds like too much, but it was heaven. If you are anywhere in the Montecito/Santa Barbara area you have to try them!
Whodidily Cupcakes
1150 Coast Village Road, Suite E
Montecito, CA 93108
(805) 969-9808
www.whodidily.com
Sunday, August 23, 2009
so excited!
This doll bed from Pottery Barn Kids is $49 (on sale from $69), plus an additional $19 for the bedding.
This doll bed is $19 at Ikea and the bedding is included.
I am a huge fan of Pottery Barn Kids and love to buy all their doll stuff. But I couldn't pay the price they wanted for their doll bed, sale or not! So we bought the Ikea doll bed and we can't wait to paint it white and maybe make some cute new bedding. No matter what we do it can't come close to what it costs at PBK, but I know when I'm done with it it will look just as cute and it will be a great surprise for Piper on Christmas morning! Hooray!
perfection
Thursday, August 20, 2009
BOO!
Tuesday, August 18, 2009
veggies
At the end of the day, I feel like my kids are still not getting enough vegetables in their diet. I've got the other food groups covered pretty well. So I started buying the Trader Joe's vegetable trays. They are only $4.99 and I set it out on the table at lunch every day and let Brody eat as much as he wants. Usually I don't provide ranch as a dip for any of our meals, but you know what, he dips a small amount and I love the number of veggies he eats this way. I think the $4.99 is worth it because I don't have to do any chopping or storing!
Monday, August 17, 2009
etsy finds
I love these digital art prints from John W. Golden's Shop. I get sick of seeing the same type of artwork for kids room, but this is so us and there are so many choices for a boy or girl. So cute!
Love the custom birth prints for your nursery at trendypeas's shop! I think I need to get one for each kid. I would love to have their statistics up and I can see this staying in their room for a long time!
finally!
We may not be excited about Paul Frank going to Target but we were excited to see Shaun White's new line at Target for boys. I really liked the button down shirts, hoodies and pants! I think the most expensive item is $17.99 for the pants. It's about time Target has clothes for boys that look as good as the girls section!
Wednesday, August 12, 2009
my new friend
I finally got a sewing machine, it's a Pfaff! Woohooooo! I can't wait to use it for my business, I have so many things I want to learn to make for party planning and for kids items. Practice, practice, practice.
poopy diapers
We love these Classy Kid Inc. Disposable Diaper Sacks. They are earth friendly and so useful when we are out. We take them everywhere to throw out poopy diaper. My favorite part about them is that their scent isn't overwhelming like the ones that smell like baby powder. I buy mine at Babies R Us for $3.29 and they come in packs of 75.
recent etsy finds
This print is from Flor Larios's shop. So beautiful! I really like all her prints but I would love to buy an original piece!
I really need some new pillows for our couch, has anyone ever noticed how expensive pillows are?? I came across Marie's Cosy Cushions and I loved all the fabric prints that she has! And affordable, especially if you already have pillow inserts!
More wall decals, but these aren't for kids. Why do I love these? They remind me of wall paper but are so less permanent. I am a lover of wall paper in certain rooms (that's what happens when you work for a homebuilder on their model homes). I honestly hope to get use out of these soon! You can find a bunch of different styles at Byrdie Graphics.
I love all the custom heart embroidery at Minature Rhino. I would love one hanging above our bed, so simple yet loving.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
one cute costume
for the love
Will someone please buy these boots for fall and pair it with black tights and a cute dress. I want them! I'll actually be jealous if you do buy them, but they are too adorable to not be worn. My pregnant feet will be way too tired to wear them, plus they are close to $200 so I can't buy them to just stare at them.
revisiting
Friday, August 7, 2009
things i'm selling to buy a new purse
New Maru & Friends "Maru" Doll. 21” all vinyl doll for play. Retails for $110.00, starting bid $80.00. Doll and accessories included: long sleeve shirt, vest, skirt, tights, underpants, hat, and matching purse with boots. Hard cover storybook and Certificate of Authenticity. Doll sculpted by award-winning collectible doll artist, Dianna Effner. Made from the finest materials and tested for safety for children 3 years and over
Liz Lange Natalie Diaper Bag in green. Comes with a carry-all case inside, but did not come with the changing pad or bottle holder. Has a detachable strap. Retails for $200, starting bid $125.
I haven't put this bag on yet, but it's my current l.a.m.b purse. I bought it for around $400 over two years ago, it's still in great condition but has been used. I honestly still get compliments on it everywhere I go. Planning on selling it for $75. I'm only parting with it because I need something even bigger (this is great size with lots of room) to throw all my crap in for being a mom of 3 (I can't believe that I'm going to be a mom of 3-crazy!).
finally
We use to have a spice rack, but it never fit anyplace well and it just didn't work out. You had to put everythng in certain bottles and label them. So we just threw all our spices in our pantry and we search for them as we need them. We are use to it. Lately though, I was thinking that this isn't working out, but I didn't want to go back to the spice rack, I wanted something that different size spices could fit in. I went to Costco and found these OXO turntables for the pantry. They came in a pack of 2, one 11" turntable and one 16" turntable for around $19.00. I love them! I know they are nothing new, my mom use to have a wooden one. But these are plastic and sturdy. The smaller one fits ALL our spices, no matter what size. The larger one fits canned goods and anything else. Such a good buy and I feel instantly more organized.
Wednesday, August 5, 2009
lovelies
meal planning
Yield
8 servings (serving size: 1 cup beef mixture and 2 tablespoons cheese)
Ingredients
- 1 pound ground round
- 1/2 cup chopped onion
- 1/2 cup chopped green bell pepper
- 3 garlic cloves, minced
- 2 cups cooked elbow macaroni (about 4 ounces uncooked)
- 1/2 cup water
- 1 tablespoon chili powder
- 1 teaspoon ground cumin
- 1/4 teaspoon black pepper
- 1 (14.5-ounce) can whole tomatoes, undrained and chopped
- 1 (15-ounce) can kidney beans, drained
- 1 (8 3/4-ounce) can whole-kernel corn, drained
- 1 (8-ounce) can tomato sauce
- 1 (6-ounce) can tomato paste
- 1 cup (4 ounces) shredded sharp cheddar cheese
Preparation
1. Cook first 4 ingredients in a large Dutch oven over medium-high heat until browned, stirring to crumble beef.
2. Drain well; wipe drippings from pan with paper towels. Return beef mixture to pan; stir in macaroni and next 9 ingredients (macaroni through tomato paste). Bring to a boil; cover, reduce heat, and simmer 20 minutes, stirring occasionally. Spoon onto each of 8 plates; top with cheese
Makes 4 servings
Ingredients
- 1/2 cup fresh cilantro
- 1 clove garlic, finely chopped
- 2 tablespoons fresh lime juice
- 1/2 teaspoon sugar
- 1 tablespoon plus 3 teaspoons olive oil
- 4 6-ounce boneless, skinless chicken breasts
- kosher salt and black pepper
- 1 pound green beans
- 4 plum tomatoes, halved lengthwise
Directions
1. Heat grill to medium-high. In a small bowl, combine the cilantro, garlic, lime juice, sugar, and 1 tablespoon of the oil.
2. Rub the chicken with 1 teaspoon of the oil and season with 1/2 teaspoon salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. In a large bowl, toss the green beans and tomatoes with the remaining oil and 1/4 teaspoon each salt and pepper.
3. Grill the chicken until cooked through, 5 to 6 minutes per side. Grill the green beans and tomatoes, turning the green beans often and the tomatoes once, until tender and charred, 3 to 5 minutes. Serve with the vinaigrette.
Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff
from the back of the Lipton Beefy Onion Soup Mix
2- lb. boneless beef chuck steak, cut into 1-inch pieces
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
10 ounces sliced mushrooms
1 envelope Lipton® Recipe Secrets® Beefy Onion Soup Mix
1/2 tsp. dried thyme leaves, crushed
1 can (14.5 oz.) diced tomatoes, undrained
1 container (8 oz.) sour cream
Toss beef with flour in slow cooker. Stir in remaining ingredients except sour cream. Cook covered on LOW 8 to 10 hours or HIGH 4 to 6 hours until meat is tender. Stir in sour cream. Serve, if desired, over hot cooked noodles.