Valentines as Art...

All images by Amanda Brooks via I Love Your Style...

I am normally a pretty early riser (likely due to the fact that I go to bed at an embarrassingly early hour), but for the past couple of days (for reasons totally unbeknownst to me) I've been waking up at what can only be described as a freakish time -- otherwise known as 3:30 a.m.

Yep...I am officially 80.

It's actually kind of nice (aside from the fact that I'm exhausted beyond belief by 4:00 in the afternoon), as I have all sorts of alone-time to get stuff done. This morning I read, watched a couple of episodes of 30 Rock, did some writing, and, yes, there was also a bit of time spent perusing the interwebs (ok maybe there was a lot of time spent perusing the interwebs, but I'm not saying for sure).

During what I will now refer to as "Blogfest 2011", I happened upon Amanda Brook's fantastic blog, I Love Your Style, which is a compliment to her book of the same name. And after stumbling upon it, I may have read through her entire archive (again not saying for sure). I was particularly smitten with her post about some of the art in her home, much of it homemade, featuring several large framed homemade valentines...

I love this idea of a big, artful, framed valentine for your sweetie or your kids. So much better than a card that gets tucked away in a box. It has my wheels turning for sure. Right now I'm planning to give the girlies each a little Atsuyo et Akiko "love" totebag with some new markers and art paper + a little candy tucked inside, but now I'm thinking I need to throw a little homemade art into the mix too.

I'm curious, how do you guys celebrate Valentine's Day for your significant other and/or kiddos?

Scenes from The Weekend A Day Late (aka Millie's Party)

I have to say, Millie's festive little soiree was a pretty great way to spend the first day of 2011.

And, surprisingly, it was a pretty mellow enterprise considering the slew of sugar-fueled littles running amok... We tried to corral things with a few structured games like pin the tail on the uni-donkey (a donkey with a taped on unicorn horn, of course), clothes-pin drop and musical squares (think musical chairs with less potential for injuries).

Then there was the pinata... What it is about watching a bunch of four-year-olds trying to bust open a pinata that's so funny? Oh and it's possible (but I'm not saying for sure) that the pinata may have died at my completely overzealous hand.

Pinata smashing = major satisfaction. Just sayin.

As for the rainbow cake, all told, it turned out ok. It tasted good, and it was pretty, but man that sucker was TALL... So tall that a single slice wouldn't fit on a dessert plate, and I needed vats of frosting to hold it all together. It was pretty insane.

Let's just say we're seriously detoxing from all that sugar.

Hope you guys had a fantastic weekend! So happy to be back in the swing of things.

Scenes from The Weekend Part II -- Audrey's French Fête

So (given the contents of my recent article) I’m going to say this in a whisper.

I *might* be completely on-board with the non at-home birthday party too.

There, I said it…we can move on now so I don’t feel like the world’s biggest hypocrite. Deal?

In all seriousness, I loved throwing this party. Loved. It. It was the perfect easing into, well letting go a bit… After six consecutive (highly planned) at-home fetes, it was nice to go “off-campus” so to speak. And given that it was the day after the Little Bean party, the timing for a new approach couldn’t have been better.

Here’s how things went down on the big day. Fifteen or so of Audrey's girlfriends to joined us at f.is for frank to make their very own pewter charms and beaded bracelets. We cranked up some French tunes, and the utterly fantastic Shannah and Casey showed the girlies all their jewelry making equipment and walked them through the process of making charms. Then each guest donned their artist’s beret and carved their masterpiece out of a little slab of clay.

Afterward we noshed on some simple vanilla cake, lemon macaroons and French lemonade (+ some bubbly for the mamas of course).

Finally they all lined up for some group snaps and voilà, we were done.

It was the easiest party I’ve ever thrown, and Audrey had a blast, which is really the most important part, non?


The Details:

• Location -- f. is for frank
• Berets -- Village Hat Shop
• “Bonjour” Bunting -- Common Threads (custom order)
• Tablecloth/Fabric -- IKEA
• Postcards -- Yellow Owl Workshop
• Striped Straws -- Fort and Field
• Book -- This is Paris (gift from our friend Annie)
• Cake, Macaroons, Lemonade, Bubbly – Central Market

Seven + A Little Giveaway

This oldest girlie of mine is a pretty amazing creature -- all full of spunk and creativity and moxie. She has turned upside down every preconceived notion I've ever had about raising kids...and proved it to be so much more exciting, fantastic and interesting that I could have ever imagined.

She rocks my world. I am digging her more than ever. And tomorrow she will be seven.

Happy early birthday sweet Audrey.

And in honor of her big day, I'm doing a little giveaway with the lovely Kristina of Modern Frills. Kristina sent Audrey a couple of completely adorable shirts for her birthday, including the rockin anchor number she's sporting above. (She also sent a sweet shirt for Millie...so nice). So we thought it would be fun to give one of you a present for Audrey's birthday.

Just leave a comment on this post by next Thursday the 9th at midnight for a chance to win an anchor shirt of your very own!

Have a splendid weekend friends. I'll be back Monday with party pics and details.

A Few Random Bits (On a Rainy Friday...)

image via la in bloom

First up, this movie, which is making me want to play hooky from work this afternoon so I can go see it (sorry boss), but I won’t. It looks visually stunning and dreamy and, well, there’s just something sort of perfect about hunkering down in a movie theater on a rainy day, no?

Next, this book (via joy), which, based on its cover (yes, I realize, this is dangerous...judging a book by its cover and all) looks fantastic. That marbleized paper banner alone has me convinced there’ll be loads of goodness inside. Can’t wait to get my hands on it to find out for sure…

And finally, (and speaking of paper) these paper dolls, which were an incredibly lovely and kind gift from the talented Hannah of Lily and Thistle.

She offered to send personalized sets to the girlies, and friends, they are quite possibly the sweetest paper dolls I’ve encountered (+ the girls had a blast playing with them.) I’m planning to get these for all the little girls on our Christmas list this year. (Yes I’m already thinking about Christmas shopping {I know, I know} maybe I’ll just blame it on the rainy weather…)

Happy Friday… Have a splendid weekend friends!

p.s. don’t forget about the handmade doll giveaway…

A Few Random Bits...

images clockwise from top: mine, my polaroid blog, c&c california, mine, forty-sixth at grace, atlantis home

In a little guest blogging "flip-flop", I have some of my favorite things up over on Fern and Feather today...in case you want to take a peek!

Samantha of Style/SWOON and I took a (completely fantastic) flower arranging workshop last night at the stellar Bows and Arrows. This place is such a gem...a little Brooklyn vibe in Dallas, which is always welcome! Above is a before pic of our creations, I'll share more details (plus the after pics) next week, but let's just say it was peony heaven.

And speaking of Bows and Arrows, they'll be at the Dallas Flea tomorrow along with the likes of a Little Bean "pop-up shop", and Bosquez jewelry. I'm taking Audrey to the ballet tomorrow, so I'm going to try (try) and make it out there first thing in the morning...we'll see how it goes!

Have a splendid weekend!

Loving...

This supremely adorable (and über creative -- she's a print designer for Anthropologie as well as a textile-printer and fashion designer; he's an amazing painter) couple. (via the strange attractor)

Quite possibly the most genius execution of a Blurb book ever. (It's Emily's handiwork -- of course ;-)

Georgia Gray's colorful, happy, intensely lovely work...

This beautiful, artful Brooklyn shop...total perfection, no?


This completely covet-worth YSL "hippie" bag...love. (via garance)

These notebooks -- Yet more goodness from Studio Fludd...

The sweet handmade dolls from hijkids + Simpli Jessi Dolls -- especially love the vintage Liberty print fabric they used for all the little dresses...

(p.s. -- hijkids is one of my newest Simple Lovely sponsors, but I've long loved her things. See here and here too...)

image via emilie inc.

The genius + super cute (and totally eco) Sea Bags (+ there's a little Sea Bags giveaway going on over at the Willows Home and Garden...)

Baby Josie

my sister is a smidge obsessed with owls...josie's new room is filled with them...this dress would be perfect for her, no?

My lovely sister Jennifer gave birth to her first baby yesterday, Josephine Elizabeth (Josie.) We couldn't be more thrilled -- the girlies spent the better part of the morning ogling the photos sent over late last night...resulting in a rather hectic school morning but worth it for sure.

Welcome to the world sweet baby Josie. We are so excited to meet you, snuggle you and give you all of Millie and Audrey's old clothes ;-)

In honor of Josie, I thought I'd share a round-up of a some favorite (über sweet) baby goods... Enjoy!


clockwise from top: sweet bunny lamp, ruffly vintage fabric bloomers, fab little gold slippers, lovely cloud mobile...



clockwise from top: baby chic chevron print onesie, the ubiquitous (but rightly so) sophie the giraffe teether, little alouette's handmade maple toys, perfect diaper covers (diaper covers were the most necessary yet most elusive item on my must-have list when the girlies were babies...if I did the whole baby thing all over again, I'd buy a slew of these -- Jen, take note ;-)