the design pocket

another adventure: new baby, new blog

2011-03-18T15:16:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! Again, it's been a while, hasn't it? Well, I've received a lot of inquiries over the past couple of months that look like "Are you OK?! Where did you go?!" Yes, I'm OK. I'm more than OK actually—I'm ecstatic, busy, a little exhausted, but overall, feeling lucky, and all for good reason.

Since this last December, my family of five had been busier than usual. A better word for my experience would be overwhelmed. We were preparing for another addition to the family (a little girl that was due end of February), my husband was working around the clock and I was continuing a typical routine of managing the schedules of a teenager, pre-teen, and toddler. To every ones surprise, a complication arose, and I was sent to have an emergency C-section five weeks early. I hadn't even purchased the cradle! On January 22, 2011 we welcomed a healthy little lady, June Willa, at a tiny 4 pounds 10 ounces, just 45 minutes after placing a call to my doctor from home. And just to top off the drama, the day we came home, my toddler came down with a very contagious respiratory virus (RSV) along with some good ole' Pneumonia. Try explaining to a two year old who just became a big sister why she has to stay in a completely different part of the house for two weeks, separate from her mom and baby sister. Not easy! But, after a few crazy and draining (physically and emotionally) weeks, everything has turned out wonderfully.

I plan on sharing a detailed birth story, but I'm saving it for a new blog (yay!) that I will be announcing within the next few weeks. I've been thinking about moving in a new, focused direction for a while, and now it seems like the perfect time.

I started The Design Pocket as a way to share my experience and work as a designer. Shortly after, I became a mom and that's where most of my creativity went, and it showed. With the way my life has evolved, I plan on writing a new blog about life as a mother and step-mother, and all of the "design work" and fun that entails. Similar to what The Design Pocket turned into over the last year, but now I'm just going to be even more, shall I say, blunt about it.

I'm a designer at heart, and my entire family experience has revolved around artists, musicians, writers, and photographers. So it's only natural to keep my view as a mom creative, and I will never stop sharing my love of art, fine printing, interior design, and of course do-it-yourself projects.

I hope you join me on this next adventure as a (still pretty young) creative mom to a family of six—yes, there's SIX of us now!

And now, a little visual goodie of our precious baby June, courtesy of my talented friend Lilli Salerno...

from mine to yours...

2010-12-22T10:05:00.000-08:00

Wishing you all a wonderful holiday season and a 2011 filled with joy!

And please take a look at the talented Lilli Salerno who did an amazing job capturing my energetic & rambunctious family. (She has a cute dog too!)

wise words: love matters

2010-11-05T13:32:00.000-07:00

This rings truer to me now than it ever did. I had saved this quote years ago, long before I had children, and am so happy I stumbled across it again today.

Image by me (the design pocket), photography by Pilar Valtierra Photography

happy friday! now go outside

2010-10-08T11:28:00.000-07:00

silkscreen via slidesideways

we did...

There's nothing like slipping away into the woods with some of your absolute favorite people. Camping has been a common love for me and my husband, and we have the best time passing the tradition on to our kids. Taking our best friend Steve along is also part of that tradition, and I don't think it's ever the same without him. A couple of weeks ago we took the fam up north to a super secluded camping spot just minutes away from the Sequoia 100 Giants. It was awesome. Anyway, I definitely suggest spending some time outside this weekend while the weather is still beautiful, even if it's just to the park, a farmer's market, or for a nice long walk.

Happy Friday lovelies!! xoxo

and it's back

2010-10-07T14:10:00.000-07:00

The wonderful rain has come and gone in lovely Los Angeles, and the sun has returned. It feels clean and crisp outside, and I'm loving it, but that taste of fall made me oh so ready to be snuggly by the fire.

image via whipup

green velvet couch, oh yes

2010-10-06T14:39:00.000-07:00

Hello friends... yes, again, it's been a while. But here I am stepping back into The Design Pocket. It's been a busy few months (um, year), and there is so much to catch up on. As of now, I'm pretty focused on finally getting our living room (the big one) all cozy and yummy before the holidays—especially since we're planning on having family over for Thanksgiving—yay!

Over the weekend, before 3 of us were hit really hard with a horrible stomach flu, we scored on some free vintage furniture from our Eichler neighbor up the street who just sold their amazing house. Check out this super low cozy couch (the picture was taken in their home before the move). I'm getting the cushions re-stuffed and the upholstery professionally cleaned until we can decide on how to re-upholster it... but for now I'm totally loving the mossy green velvet. It actually goes with a ton of our stuff really well. We also got lucky with a long, low late-50s inspired coffee table and a really cool chair that my brother-in-law believes is his :)

Can't wait to update on the progress!

peekaboo.

2010-08-26T09:25:00.000-07:00

Well, It's been almost a full month since my last post. Please let me explain... I had quite a physical and emotional storm come through my life, but in the center of it there's something wonderful, and I truly believe the worst of it is over.

The little something wonderful in the eye of the storm is that we're expecting to welcome another little baby into our family the end of February 2011.

So far, I've had quite the dramatic pregnancy. On the morning of my handsome step-son's birthday, July 28, I was officially put on bedrest for close to three weeks. It was quite scary actually and we were very close to losing the baby. I've had more doctor's appointments then I can remember, and my OBGYN already refers to the little bean as my miracle baby. Somehow with the support and help of my amazing husband, my closest friends and immediate family I was able to stay positive and really focus on staying stress-free. Staying away from stress ended up meaning detaching from my hectic routine, and taking it easy. I'm still technically in the middle of a high-risk pregnancy and am continuing to focus on staying healthy all while trying to continue to be the mommy of the house and keep things running smoothly around here. I look forward to Eliette starting pre-school in a couple of weeks (and she's pretty excited too) and slowly stepping back into my {normal, if that's what I can call it} life.

I feel like I've missed much more than a month, but am grateful for the wonderful support I've had and look forward to bringing this sweet little bean into our family.

I've missed you all and can't wait to catch up! xoxo

this is what i need {want} today

2010-07-30T12:53:00.000-07:00

chocolate

my long hair back

my favorite silly musical

art i am loving: soft wood by veronika wildruber

2010-07-29T12:01:00.000-07:00

Not everything is exactly as it seems. I found this Soft Wood project by Veronika Wildgruber on one of my recently found favorite art blogs Sweet Station. They may look like comfy cozy upholstered chairs, but are actually meticulously carved out of hard wood. Definitely worth a look.

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it happens...

2010-07-28T17:37:00.000-07:00

via

quick diy succulent terrarium

2010-07-21T08:54:00.000-07:00

Last week I was searching for a new bathing suit and some how ended up bringing home a giant glass fish bowl instead. On my way home I picked up some cute succulents, gravel, and cactus potting soil and got to work. I probably should have looked up a how-to online, but sort of just winged it, and am pretty happy about the outcome. I'm no Succulent Love, but I had a lot of fun and can't wait to do more (for our home and a few friends and family as either a hostess or housewarming gift).

I did make a few small ones too with some glass containers I already had, but my pictures came out pretty blurry, so I'll try and take a few more and add them later.

art i am loving: leah giberson

2010-07-09T11:22:00.000-07:00

"Land Yacht (Three)"

"Rear View"

"Three Seater"

Do I really need to say much? Leah Giberson's art work is basically representative of my favorite style (or at least one of my very favorite styles) of art, and I want every single one of her airstream "land yacht" paintings or prints in my house. I'm a little bit reminded of some of Wayne Thiebaud's paintings (without the sugar), who has been one of my favorites since I was a little girl. I first found Giberson's work via Tiny Showcase, and was so bummed that her limited edition print for TS was sold out by the time I saw it, booo! BUT, she has a great Etsy shop where she has a ton of prints available at a great cost. Definitely worth checking out!

Hope you are all having a lovely Friday!

{upgraded} vintage kindergarten desk

2010-07-06T10:56:00.000-07:00

I'm pretty darn proud of my husband's handy work (and my bit of art direction) on Eliette's birthday present. As you can see, she loves it too, but that was the point, right? We rescued this vintage kindergarten desk during one of our furniture hunts a few months ago, and after our success with my steel tanker desk (which Elie loves and in the past has thought was her own), we decided to fix this one up with a new coat of paint and my man's carpentry skills. I can't believe we didn't take a before photo —mostly because Brian got excited and took the thing apart before I knew it! He sanded it down, repainted it with some glossy lime green spray paint, and completely re-built the seat (originally plastic) and desk top (old wood and formica) out of left over wood we had in the garage, and finished them with a nice dark stain. My part consisted of picking out the lime green color and asking him to please get it done by her birthday—he never lets me (or Elie) down!

happy birthday love from ohdeedoh + another little sneak peak

2010-07-02T12:45:00.000-07:00

I can't believe I still haven't had a moment to post our amazing photos from the party, but here's one more sneak peak, to hold you off until next week. Also, check out my baby (I mean big) girl on one of my favorite sites, OhDeeDoh!

something for the family wall

2010-06-29T08:57:00.000-07:00

I've always been a fan of having a big wall in the house dedicated to family pictures,—a mix of old and recent photos (not a new idea I know). One of my favorite things is to see how other families do their own version in their homes. My husband and I also enjoy having space for great artwork (a goal of ours is to bring a bit of a collection into the house—with time, with time...) Thanks to my mom, dad, and resources like tiny showcase and 20x200 we have a good start. So it's nice to dedicate a place or a few just for the fam. Our family wall started small and has naturally began to overflow throughout the house as we've added kids to the mix and taken more vacations . I think this cool wall decal found via kenziepoo would be a great addition to spice it up a bit, don't you? It could also be fun to try a diy version with a homemade stencil or mural similar to this one too.

moody monday: starting fresh

2010-06-28T10:57:00.000-07:00

How cute and clever is this little baby tub? I love smart and useful design for making mommyhood easier. And, talk about a fresh start! That tiny baby is brand new and sure looks comfy while getting a nice bath. What a great idea for someone that doesn't want a huge plastic infant tub. This one barely takes up any storage space at all—genius!

Anyway, I think this is going to be a great week. I have an itch to go crazy and organize everything in my house, sort of like a summer version of spring cleaning. I know I probably won't be able to tackle my entire house, but I'm sure I'll get something accomplished (and am hoping I can at least get through my front hall closet!)

Hope you all have a great start to your week! xoxo

happy friday! (i'll be trying to catch-up)

2010-06-25T13:36:00.000-07:00

That's right, I've had a couple of crazy weeks behind me, with Eliette's birthday party and a bunch of work projects. This weekend I plan on playing a bit of catch up on some writing and more design work. Now only if I had a snazzy vintage typewriter like this one to write away with. (Guess it would be pretty tough to turn in my online reviews though, but it sure would be fun!)

I plan on posting some cool stuff next week, including a ton of great pictures of my 2-year old's party (and sticking to my normal posting schedule, unlike the last few weeks.) Any fun plans for you this weekend? Tell me, tell me!

image via apartment therapy

sneak peek: elie's 2 year birthday tea party

2010-06-22T08:55:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to share all of the lovely pictures from Eliette's birthday party from this weekend. Here's just a taste—Elie in her girly-glory sitting in the great photobooth my good friend Pilar set up for us (check out those pink toddler sized ghost chairs!).

Hope you're all having a great start to your week!

xoxo

moody monday: still angry + wanting to help

2010-06-14T10:25:00.000-07:00

"Down, down, down" by Jen Corace

I spent my weekend in Central California and was lucky enough to have a beautiful view of the Pacific Ocean outside of my passenger window on our way up the coast. How could I not think about what is currently happening to our beautiful ocean (and ultimately so much more), and the many damaging effects of the oil spill? I hate feeling helpless and that's exactly how I feel when I think about the BP oil spill—helpless and pissed off. But, when I was catching up on my emails after my long weekend, I felt the tiniest bit of hope when I saw that one of my favorite sites blogged about artists that are trying to use their talents to help. I was very excited to see one of my long-time favorite illustrators, Jen Corace, included in the list of artists, and snatched up one of her prints on Tiny Showcase (also a long-time favorite) who will be giving 50% of the proceeds to the Gulf Restoration Network.

moody monday: oh so proud of my ballerina

2010-06-07T11:20:00.000-07:00

practicing before the show with her buddy, Remy

a little congratulations amongst the dancers after the big show

It is Monday, right? It's been busy here in the Forbes house, as usual, and I feel like I'm always trying to catch up! I have a lot of plans for The Design Pocket this Summer, and hopefully I'll be able to share them soon. Until then, take a look at my little ballerina. As I've shared before, I'm a ballerina at heart, and so happy I have a little girl who seems to feel the same way. She had her first recital this weekend and was not even close to shy about running up and doing her thing on stage with her fellow dancers. I'm so lucky my pal (and fellow ballerina mama), Pilar of Pilar Valtierra Photography was there to snap some goodies of the girls. I did remember the video camera but totally forgot my still camera.

all images courtesy of Pilar Valtierra

happy birthday eliette bean, today you're 2 years old!

2010-06-03T08:06:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today, I met you for the first time. Every moment since that day, with you now in the world, has been happier and more beautiful. Your family is truly lucky to have you, and believe me, we all know it. It's impossible to hold back smiles and giggles when you are around, and I am so happy to be your Mama. I love you Elie Bean... now let's go dance and eat some cupcakes!

the first time I saw you're pretty face

so ready for summer...

2010-06-01T16:25:00.000-07:00

... and so is my Eliette Bean. Here she is singing to herself, relaxing on the beach over the long weekend.

just a little reminder to...

2010-05-27T12:31:00.000-07:00

darling dear

3 little things

2010-05-27T08:34:00.000-07:00

Sometimes, it's the smallest things that get me through the week.

tea time

disappearing with a good book

green goodies

images 1, 2, 3

summer reading {for grown-ups}

2010-05-26T09:53:00.000-07:00

Ideal Bookshelf 42, JMM by Jane Mount

Oh, I long for the days that I had time to hunt for a new novel to dive into and swim around in for days. I found a deep love for books as soon as my mom started reading the The Box Car Children series to me and my brother as kids, and my fire was fueled from such classics as The Phantom Tollbooth and A Wrinkle in Time. As I got older my love grew stronger and when I went to college I battled between the decision of becoming an English Literature major or focusing on Communication Arts. I did end up going to art school, but didn't leave time for reading behind. I may also be a total sucker for playing Rock Band on our PS3 when I get a spare moment, but if it came down to it I think I would rather get wrapped up in a good story. It's embarrassing that the last memoir I read literally took me like 2 years—it's not easy with 3 kids people!! So, this summer, I think I try giving myself a little Summer Reading homework. Who knows, I never thought I'd have time to update this blog, and I somehow tend to make it happen.

Flavorpill is making it easy with their Grown Up Summer Reading List, but I am open for (and would LOVE) suggestions. Is there a good book that you think I definitely need to check out?

living room inspiration: forever young

2010-05-25T10:12:00.000-07:00

Are you listening, husband of mine? I want a swing in our living room please.

found via

happy weekend! now pass me the dharma initiative beer, please

2010-05-22T17:01:00.000-07:00

We'll be mourning (drinking to) the end of the Lost era tomorrow night... who knows, I may start today. Any of my fellow Lost watchers out there going to any theme parties or have special plans for the big ending? Brian and I will probably leave the party and get home to our Tivo before anyone ruins it for us—no offense pals, but you don't want to see me snap when I catch someone whispering over Sawyer's lines. Dude.

Another weekend plan of mine is to catch up on a bunch of Mom Ok'd reviews. If you haven't checked the site out yet, head on over!

Namaste and don't (or should it be do) push the button! xoxo

party inspiration: simple + sweet{s}

2010-05-20T13:10:00.000-07:00

thank you birthdaygirl

oh man! i want a roller buggy!!

2010-05-20T11:45:00.000-07:00

I'm honestly shocked that my husband didn't make one of these for me (ok, him) when Elie was born—he builds everything, and loves to scoot, ride, drive, anything with metal and wheels. How have I never seen one until today!? Thanks ohdeedoh—you're always reminding me how fun being a mom can be! xoxo

take note

2010-05-18T20:55:00.000-07:00

We are all different with our own stories. No one fully knows what someone else has gone through or the courage they have needed to get to where they are.

Sometimes I wish my story moved along faster, that I had more courage, and I could get to where I'm going already. And then there are days I just want to hit the pause button, and let it be.

Be happy lovelies. xoxo

found via

moody monday: preparing for a {little} party

2010-05-17T11:14:00.000-07:00

via

My baby is going to be 2 years old in a few weeks! Eeeeeek!! I'm excited about throwing a sweet little birthday celebration for her with a group of our closest friends and family, and REALLY trying not to go crazy this year—she has PLENTY of those kinds of parties ahead of her. So this week, I'll be busy as usual with work, and throwing a bit party planning into the mix. Any special plans for this week for you?? Hope you're having a lovely Monday so far! xoxo

happy friday!

2010-05-14T10:28:00.000-07:00

heehee

happy homemaking: sometimes you just have to say no

2010-05-12T13:08:00.000-07:00

I have learned that I have enough on my plate between focusing on my babies' happiness, their health, education, working as much as I can, and all while keeping our household running smoothly. I try to keep drama between family and friends to a minimum, but sometimes, even if it's mostly for your own sanity, and though you may want to keep everyone happy and help out, you just have to say:

I am so sorry I can't find the origin of this awesome print... if you know please fill me in!

summer doodles

2010-05-12T12:55:00.000-07:00

I know we just stepped into Spring, but i feel like Summer is biting at my heels! I put this little illustration together for Eliette's school for them to use on their summer camp t-shirts and brochures.

moody monday: weeeeeee! {smiley + thankful}

2010-05-10T09:57:00.000-07:00

I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend and Mother's Day. Did you get to celebrate with a Mama? Yours, a friend, or were you the lucky lady? Well, I am definitely a happy girl, and so thankful for my amazing husband, the beautiful kids in my life, and of course my own mom. I woke up to a spotless house, had my favorite hash-browns, was spoiled with some guilt-free shopping, and had an amazing afternoon and delicious dinner (+ my favorite martini) in Santa Barbara... not too shabby Mr. Forbes!! But the things that really got me were a beautiful handmade card from the kids and the words "Happy Mahbors Dayee Mama!" over and over again from the second I opened my eyes until Elie eventually passed out in the car on the way home. Thank you gorgeous family of mine :)

Time to get back to the week and get some work done! And please check out the update on my first give-away!! We have two winners, yay!

happy weekend! {especially to all of the mamas!!}

2010-05-08T13:24:00.000-07:00

I'll be busy (well, more like the exact opposite of my normal "busy") picnicking on a beach with my babies... I hope everyone has a lovely weekend!!

All images courtesy of Aaron Paul Rogers Photography

art i am loving: wendy vanguard {mom}

2010-05-07T09:25:00.000-07:00

Mother's Day is only 2 days away, and I feel like it's the perfect time to share the artwork of someone that has inspired me from day 1. Not only is my mom just an all around amazing person, she's also got some skills. These are just a few of my all-time favorites of hers, but see more of her recent work here. I love you Mama!

P.S. Don't forget about my Mother's Day Give-Away!! xoxo

one lucky mama

2010-05-06T16:37:00.000-07:00

I mean, seriously?! Sorry to have to show her off, but dude, sometimes (and especially with shots like these), I am reminded of how lucky I am to have a healthy, happy, beautiful little girl.

P.S. that's chalk on her face... it's always something, she takes after her daddy and likes to get dirty.

(And she shares, well sometimes)

All images courtesy of Pilar Valtierra

my first give-away! cup of tea silk screen print

2010-05-05T13:30:00.000-07:00

Mother's day is coming up, and my mom 100% inspired this illustration. She trained me to love tea at a very young age, the British way—with milk and sugar, and I still to this day look forward to our tea time together.

I silk-screened my original drawing onto 10" x 10" kraft-colored archival paper, with the intent to give them as gifts to a few of the lovely "cups of tea" in my life... sorry to spoil the surprise, Mom! The ink I chose is a sort of milky-black-tea color with the tiniest bit of gold metallic flecks, so it really looks cool when the light hits it.

In honor of mommyhood and tea time (2 of my favorite things), I decided I would love to give 1 of these limited edition prints to one of my readers. Seems like a lot of generous bloggers out there are having fun with this and I've been wanting to hop on the bandwagon for a while—so here goes!

All you have to do:

Become a follower on The Design Pocket. It'll be fun, I promise.
Leave a comment about one of the special "cups of tea" in your life.

And please feel free to share the giveaway on your blog, twitter, or facebook!

You can enter for the give-away up until Mother's Day, May 9th. xoxoxo

******UPDATE*******

Congrat's Sharon AND Aja Reeser! You'll both be getting a Cup of Tea Print! Yay!

a perfect reason to drink {mexican} sangria

2010-05-05T08:39:00.000-07:00

This deliciousness, (recipe included), was posted here last month. In honor of Cinco de Mayo, I think it needs a repeat.

And if sangria is not your thing, even though I would find that impossible, check out what this couple did to make sure their guests had a good time—a shot of my go-to tequila (Cazadores, yum) and a nice cold Pacifico.

Happy Cinco de Mayo! xoxo

A + N screen-printed on wood wedding programs, revealed!

2010-05-04T13:11:00.000-07:00

all images via the design pocket

I gave you a little sneak peak of the actual screen I used for this project, and I couldn't wait any longer for the wedding photographer to get shots of the programs back, so I took some myself.

I designed these wedding programs for a great couple who got hitched last month. Austin proposed to Nicole with a ring box tied around their horse's neck, and I used the actual photograph of their horse from that night to create a silhouette for the graphic on the front of the program. Since this was an outdoor wedding with a very relaxed, enchanted forest-like setting, I wanted to play off of that and was determined to find wood thin enough to cut (160 pieces!) and silk screen on for a front and back cover. Well, after a few weeks I found a huge roll of Mohagany wood veneer (REAL wood, just sliced very thin with a paper backing).

I created all of the graphics based around the idea of horseback-riding sweethearts carving their initials on a tree. The front and back were silk-screened on the Mohagany, and the content for the programs was printed (not silk-screened) onto thick cardstock. Everything was hole-punched and tied together with strips of green leather.

I ended up getting strep-throat in the middle of production on this (booooo!!!) and thankfully had a TON of help with the silk screening from the amazing Amanda of Mandelion, and my husband and brother helped tediously cut all of the wood.

happy girls are the prettiest

2010-05-04T12:09:00.000-07:00

found via

sneak peek: family photoshoot by pilar valtierra

2010-05-03T16:43:00.000-07:00

A good friend of mine, and very talented photographer, took some amazing pictures over the weekend of me, my better half, and the little one. Don't worry, there are lots of faces... but these are some of my favorite peek-a-boos. More to come...

moody monday: im-paint-tient!

2010-05-03T08:45:00.000-07:00

So we had quite the eventful weekend, and in the middle of all of our family plans, I was able to squeeze in time to (finally) pick out and buy paint for the rest of the entire house. I can NOT WAIT to get some yummy color up on these walls. The kids bathroom is almost done with it's little face-lift, and then we start painting the big living room. I'm also really excited about finally putting up real art on the walls too... and then to share! Here are some finds of living rooms that I love. They're all pretty different but all have a modern feel with a little spark. What do you think?

And happy Monday people... time to get to work! xoxo

I love the art wall in this one combined with simple modern furniture... and the tea cups!

We have high ceilings in the living room, and I am kind of striving to have this kind of feeling... modern, clean, and a tad retro. Love the blue wall and that couch!

I want this fireplace, and those cement walls... I did actually pick out some grays (my favorite color.) I've been saving this image for a while and found it on one of my favorite blogs here.

refrigerator art + happy friday!

2010-04-30T12:00:00.000-07:00

I came home on Tuesday with a nice artwork surprise by my awesome step-son, Tanner. Isn't he talented? It's temporarily on the refrigerator, but I'm planning on framing it and putting it up above my desk. My mom got him an old-fashioned all-wood drafting table (the kind she had as a little girl) last year for his 11th birthday, and he's definitely been putting it to use.

Well, I hope you all have a happy Friday lovelies! I have a packed few days ahead of me (seems to always be that way lately, doesn't it?) Starting tonight I have my soon-to-be sister in law's bachelorette party, tomorrow is my daughter's school fundraiser, a fun photoshoot on Sunday, and I need to squeeze in some wall paint color choosing / shopping for the house. What are you guys up to? Anything fun? xoxo

unique la {through my eyes}

2010-04-30T07:00:00.000-07:00

Unique LA was full of goodies, and I'm happy we were able to make it. I took Hayley and Eliette along, and we met up with my good friends Betsey and Kathy who brought their daughters along too. So it turned out to be a fun and somewhat hectic outing—2 toddlers and 1 baby always means hectic. But we definitely saw some good stuff and I snapped a lot of stuff with my camera. Check out some of my favorites:

yummy — popshop (If you're in or near LA, you can find them at the Studio City Farmer's Market on Sundays, and I'm obsessed. Their Lychee, Avocado Vanilla, and Mojito flavors are ridiculous!)

cuteness for the kids — tiny whales, janie xy, v is for violet, wade oaks

jewelry faves — homako, fruition, spragwerks (cool stuff for the boys)

and always a favorite—paper!! squirrel loves nut, rock paper scissors, dee & lala, ghost academy

what's cookin? kitchen inspiration

2010-04-29T08:49:00.000-07:00

We're getting ready to gussy-up the kitchen a little bit, and I've been slowly gathering little pieces of inspiration here and there. Since I spend most of my time in the kitchen when I'm home, I'm pretty excited, and want it to be a place that's not too serious, a bit retro, cozy, and just plain cool looking.

images via: 1, 2, 3, 4, 5 (unknown), 6, 7 (unknown), 8, 9, 10, 11, 12

moody monday: aahhh warm weather

2010-04-26T17:02:00.000-07:00

I know this post is a little late in the day for a Monday, but I've been busy soaking up every second I can with my husband while he has a few days off of work as well as wrapping up a few work projects. Over the weekend we took the kids for a nice long walk in our neighborhood. Here are a few pictures that I snapped while the kiddies ran / biked around with their dad all while enjoying the (finally!) lovely weather. I hope everyone gets a chance to take a walk or simply a small break where you get to enjoy some nature. Doing this always helps me prepare for the busy week ahead. xoxo

all images via the design pocket

unique la

2010-04-23T15:00:00.000-07:00

I can't wait to do some discovering and shopping at Unique LA this weekend! I'll be taking the girls to check out some great independent artisans, designers, crafters and all of their amazing creations and products tomorrow. If you're in town definitely check it out and support the creative independent community. xoxo

happy friday! let's take a bike ride

2010-04-23T12:25:00.000-07:00

Aren't these bikes just lovely? Well, the weather is supposed to be sunny and wonderful this weekend, and I'm feeling like I would love to squeeze in a family bike ride... just wish I had any of these European style bikes. Also wishing Public Bikes had a shop location in LA!

sneak peek: yarn-wrapped branch mobile

2010-04-22T12:00:00.000-07:00

So I've had this idea to wrap a branch with pretty colored yarn and hang it as a mobile in Eliette's room for ages. I finally got around to wrapping a fallen branch we found in our front yard and have high hopes for adding some pretty fabric birds and paper flowers. As of now though, it's perched up on one of her shelves, patiently waiting for me to find some extra time. What do you think? It's a cute idea, right?

nature love

2010-04-22T00:31:00.000-07:00

Happy Earth Day! Isn't our home just grand? Seriously! There's so much I want to say about loving our planet, but isn't this picture enough? Well I hope it is for today because I'm exhausted and brain-fried and need some beauty rest. Until the next time, lovelies. xoxo

via

fair lady, you will soon be mine

2010-04-20T09:00:00.000-07:00

Well, you may exactly not be "mine", you'll be ours... Ok, fine—his, but he better share! Brian has been on a hunt for a Datsun Roadster for a couple of months, and I can't wait for our first date night out in one of these cuties. I love that this model shares a name with one of my all time favorite Audrey Hepburn flicks, and the vintage Japanese calendar ads are pretty cool too.

happy weekend! plus a darn good excuse

2010-04-17T13:16:00.000-07:00

So I was wiped out all of last week with strep throat, EW! It was horrible! Bad timing, bad feeling, bad everything. Thankfully I had a lot of help to get me through a deadline on a project (thank you Amanda, Jason, and my wonderful husband!) Thank goodness for antibiotics, and helping hands. I am one grateful lady. I'm feeling a million times better and almost back to my old self and get to go to a friends wedding tonight for which I was able to design and create some programs, and will be showing them off to everyone (in pictures) next week.

Also, my man has a couple of weeks off and I am very much looking forward to some time with him, and to all of the fun projects we'll (finally) be working on together around the house. OOOooo do I have some goodies to share, yay!

I hope everyone is in tip-top health and having a wonderful weekend so far. xoxoxo

P.S. Here's a cute picture from our recent trip to Disneyland, which is currently Eliette's obsession (including her Minnie-mouse shirt that was once a onesie because she still begs to wear it everyday, and her favorite heart-shaped sunglasses... my life is officially full of PINK PINK PINK!!)

sneak peek: A + N (screen-printing project)

2010-04-12T12:17:00.000-07:00

So my friend (who also happens to be my lucky brother's girlfriend) Amanda and I are back in the studio working on a fun program / art-piece for an upcoming wedding. I have a lot of projects I'm working on this week (all pretty ambitious) and will probably be a little light on my posting until I come up for air in a week or so... Can't wait to share the final result! xoxo

tweet tweet

2010-04-08T13:11:00.000-07:00

I'm still loving my new camera lens, and can't stop taking pictures of random things around the house... Aren't these vintage egg holders I found adorable? I bought them a couple of years ago from one of my favorite spots, Big Sugar Bake Shop (the same place my mom found my vintage owl cookie jar).

new lens, and oh those curls

2010-04-06T11:16:00.000-07:00

My handsome hubby got me a new Tamron AF70-300mm zoom lens for my Sony DSLR camera... and oh, I am loving it! A few days ago Elie and I spent some time hanging out in our front courtyard area and tried it out (we have string lights across the whole entry way). Aren't those curls on her precious head just yummy... and the leftover cookie icing on her chubby cheeks?

moody monday: keep trying

2010-04-05T11:23:00.000-07:00

I have yet another busy week ahead of me, and a long hectic not-as-productive-as-I-needed week behind me. We had a wonderful Easter with the family and my beautiful step-daughter turned 15 (eeeek!) I am trying to brush some disappointment off of my shoulders from the fact that I didn't get to finish and share the really cute Easter illustrations I was working on, or get ANY good amount of paying work done, but a LOT of things came up with my family and I had to prioritize.

I found this great list of what NOT to do as an artist on Keri Smith's blog, Wish Jar... so true.

happy homemaking: take a mommy timeout

2010-04-01T15:21:00.000-07:00

This is an important one for me. Time-outs aren't just for toddlers—everyone, moms especially(!!), needs a break. Thank you girls for taking a break with me and sharing some much needed grown-up conversation and, of course, drinks. Thanks to my friend Kathy and her iPhone, we actually have proof that we went out! Oh, and thank you Mr. Husband of mine for hanging out with our little lady and sending me off for a night.

When we have a break, we're happier people. Happier wives/moms/partners make happier families and happier homes. So find sometime for yourself, lovelies.

P.S. Yes, you all look beautiful, even after all of our lack of sleep and our insanely busy daily routines, so you can't be mad that I posted this (grainy) photo!!

P.P.S. I won't be posting the Easter illustrations I've been working on until sometime tomorrow, because I'm still exhausted and not quite done as planned, boo.

xoxo

sneak peek: bunnies + mustaches

2010-03-30T09:34:00.000-07:00

I'm working on some Easter / Springtime illustrations—and yes, another coloring book and possibly some {download-able} cards to pass out to all of the little cuties we know. Planning on posting them Thursday... busy day today eeeek. xoxo

P.S. check out The Design Pocket on OhDeeDoh!!

moody monday: just a little girl-ish

2010-03-29T11:03:00.000-07:00

Happy Monday, lovelies! I turned 27 yesterday and had a (another!) flash of just how quickly time is flying by. I got to watch my beautiful family play while I kicked back at the beach. Seeing my little toddler of a lady curiously searching the tide pools, and running as fast as she could in the sand while squeeling as loud as she could made me nostalgic and incredibly happy. Isn't the curiosity and innocence of a not-quite-2 year old refreshing?

I found these cute little girly goodies, above, here: 1, 2, 3 via here, 4

happy {birthday to me} weekend!

2010-03-27T09:59:00.000-07:00

The past week has been a whirlwind, and I am so excited for the next few days. I will be busy celebrating my BIRTHDAY(!) with my family over the weekend, and I am so very much looking forward to my life as a 27 year old, as well as having some good old fashioned quality time with my lovies!

image found here

happy homemaking: lemons {eat, clean, decorate!}

2010-03-24T10:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that we are lucky enough to have 3(!) lemon trees and 2 orange trees in our back yard, well actually on the sides of our house. I use lemons for almost everything: cooking, cleaning (chemical free), even decorating. I'm pretty excited that our lovely trees have decided to give us so many beautiful lemons this soon into the season, and they smell oh so yummy. Just another reason I am loving Spring!

Check out my favorite easy tips on the many ways I {REGULARLY) use lemons after the jump...

IN THE KITCHEN:

Quick Salad Dressing—add to just about any salad to add a kick with some olive oil, balsamic vinegar, and salt and pepper.

Easy Healthy Pasta—mix lemon juice with a (LITTLE bit of) melted butter, a little olive oil, salt and pepper and pour it on top of whole grain pasta, fresh baby spinach, and halved grape tomatoes. Top it off with some freshly grated parmesan cheese and you have a quick healthy meal (Elie loves this one.)

Use a squirt of lemon juice in egg, tuna, and chicken salad!! It's amazing how just a little bit really makes a difference.

Squirt some lemon juice on top of left over cut up avocado, apples, or any fruit that tends to brown to keep them their regular pretty colors.

CLEANING (probably my favorite use):

As a Scrub—in combination with baking soda, you can actually use lemons just about anywhere you would use a scrub. Cut a lemon in half and sprinkle a bit of baking soda where you need to scrub (in the sink for instance). Squeeze some lemon juice on top of the soda (smells so yummy!) and begin to use the lemon half as a scrubber. Rinse with water when you're done and it should be sparkly and smelling fresh fresh fresh.

In the Garbage Disposal—cut up left over lemons into little pieces and put down the garbage disposal and turn it on with running water. It will actually disinfect, refresh, and make your kitchen smell really clean.

Cutting Boards—rub half of a lemon on your cutting boards and rinse to clean them. Lemons are a natural disinfectant and won't ruin your wooden cutting boards like a lot of different soaps will.

DECORATE:

Freshen Up!—put lemons in bowls or glass apothecary jars to spruce up your dining table or your kitchen counter. They last longer and are cheaper than most flowers.

***I know there are a TON of other ways to use lemons, and would love to hear them!! These are just a few ways I use them all the time at home.

art i am loving: derick melander

2010-03-23T10:51:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm definitely a fan of finding fun ways to recycle old t-shirts, but sculptor Derick Melander takes the cake.

found via booooooom

moody monday: triumphant! (inspired by my bff)

2010-03-22T09:35:00.000-07:00

Well, I'm not really in the triumphant mood right this second, but I hope to be after I get this project done that I'm working on today... But, look at my BFF, Lexie!! She finished the LA Marathon at 5:27:38, beating her goal of 5:30! Amazing!! You're my hero Lex!!!

happy friday!

2010-03-19T09:20:00.000-07:00

It truly feels like Spring in LA, and I am not the only one LOVING it... every where I go there are skirts, flowy dresses, pretty flowers and flip flops! Oh warmth and sunshine, you were dearly missed. xo

pretty photograph via

super easy diy: recycled t-shirt necklace

2010-03-18T14:40:00.000-07:00

image via the design pocket

A couple of nights ago I was so excited to see this fun DIY in Body & Soul's April 2010 issue. I literally made this the same night (SO easy!!) Take a look at the full diy after the jump...

I used a striped pink (super soft) cotton shirt, which made cutting the strips really easy since I just followed the lines of the stripes, also making a nice mix of hues for the final result. I also wrapped a strip of fabric around where the seams of the shirt were showing to make it look a little cleaner.

magazine images via Body & Soul April 2010 issue

happy st. patty's day: green mustaches & irish babies

2010-03-17T14:23:00.000-07:00

st. patty's day DIY: big green bow hair clip

2010-03-16T13:41:00.000-07:00

We had some leftover shiny green fabric from Eliette's halloween mermaid costume, and I decided to make some matching big floppy green bow clips for me, and my girls to wear on St. Patty's Day (we definitely have some Irish pride).

Click below to check out the full DIY after the jump...

I'm a big wuss when it comes to using a needle and thread, so I broke out the good ole' fabric glue, scissors, and a hot glue gun to glue the bows on some regular hair clips that I use to keep hair out of my face when I {rarely} put make-up on.

I basically just cut wide strips, folded the fabric over a few times, and "fastened" it with a dot of fabric glue. I then wrapped around a thinner strip of fabric and tied it in the back, and cut off the extra fabric.

Added some dabs of hot glue for the clip, and viola´!

happy homemaking: my favorite way to re-use jars

2010-03-16T11:41:00.000-07:00

I know that this isn't really the most creative or original way to re-use a jar, but it is by far my favorite. I love using mason jars for just about anything I can think of: packaging cookies, gifts, storing dried fruit, etc. I also love big heavy drinking glasses, but being a family with 3 kids (and a clumsy mom), we tend to break what seems like at least one glass a week! I started saving all of my big pasta sauce jars, some are prettier than others, and re-use those as glasses along with the left over mason jars I always pick up for crafts and things (the wide-mouth ones are the best for this, and cheap!). There is nothing like a big heavy mason jar full of yummy iced tea with a straw on a sunny day.

is it tuesday yet? (plus, new stuff cookin' in the pocket)

2010-03-15T18:56:00.000-07:00

This is a tough week people. I have a lot to catch up on with work since Eliette was sick ALL last week through the weekend. I will definitely be making time for this, but besides that, I will be focusing on some work work, along with some fun work—new stuff {RE-DESIGN} for The Design Pocket, yay!

I'm really excited and will be introducing some regular weekly goodies like Tips from the Mommy Pocket, Weekly DIY projects for Happy Home-making, and regular posts about Art I am Loving, all in addition to the regular lovelies that inspire me. So stay posted my lovely friends! xoxo

{happy} friday! (i'm REALLY tryin' here)

2010-03-12T14:03:00.000-08:00

So it's Friday... YAY, right?? Normally I'm ecstatic, but my poor sick husband has to work, my toddler has a gnarly ear infection, and I have SO MUCH work to catch up on along with no childcare—eeeeeek! SO, I'm tryin, really, I am. Elie's favorite Yo Gabba Gabba song keeps running through my head: "think happy thoughts, happy thoughts, that's whatcha gotta doooooo".

I hope you lovelies have a ton of fun awaiting you this weekend, and I'll catch y'all on the other side. xoxo

P.S. I LOVE quality time with the kiddies, but you know you're a mom when you can't wait for school days :)

image via

guest post on Prudent Baby: free Passover coloring page download

2010-03-11T07:38:00.000-08:00

I'm so excited that I was asked to do a guest post on one of my favorite blogs, Prudent Baby. Jaime and Jacinda always have the greatest diy's and ideas for Mamas and their lil tikes, so of course I said yes! Check it out here, along with the Seder Plate Coloring Page I illustrated that you can download for free and color in with your little one. Thanks, Prudent Baby... hope we get to do it again, I have a lot more up my sleeve!! xoxo

Download the Color-your-own Seder Plate here.

let's eat: homemade fruit roll-ups

2010-03-08T14:00:00.000-08:00

I have always been a big fan of fruit roll-ups. Here is a homemade version that is quite nutritious and would be fun to make with the kiddies. They're also much prettier than the super preservative-packed versions in the store.

moody monday: learning from a {not yet} 2 year old

2010-03-08T10:46:00.000-08:00

Being a mother is inspirational in itself. Every single morning my little girl wakes up at 6:30 AM on the dot, ecstatic that it's a new day, begging me and my husband to get up and join the fun. I, on the other hand am not so pumped before my cup of morning tea (which lately has graduated to a stronger jolt of coffee.) Today, I have kept my Bean home from pre-school because of a slight cough, and yet she is STILL in high spirits, whereas I would probably be complaining and griping over my discomfort. I am taking note from my little one, and trying my darnedest to be excited, adventurous and resilient.

images via thedesignpocket (me!)

art i am loving: kris lewis

2010-03-06T16:23:00.000-08:00

His paintings leave me pretty speechless... that's hard to do.

a {wonder}ful weekend

2010-03-05T08:13:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone has a lovely weekend ahead of them. Maybe some of you will be checking out Tim Burton's Alice in Wonderland?? I can't wait! Just the previews make me want to dress up and have a tea-party. I also have a busy working few days ahead of me, and am hoping I can be extra productive... happy Friday lovelies!

image via

inspiration: ballerina {love}

2010-03-04T07:00:00.000-08:00

The dream of being a ballerina will never die. The softness of pastels, laced pointe shoes, and frilly tutus, perfectly balanced with the strength and control it takes to do such movements as a "simple" developpe´.

I just signed up my nearly 2 year old baby girl for ballet class—can you believe they can be interested in this so young!? Eliette and I tagged along with friends of ours to a toddler version of a ballet class a couple of months ago, and since then she can break out a proper passe´ on call as well as twirl on her tippy-toes whenever an image of some pretty lady in a dress reminds her of a ballerina. Every night she pleads to wear her "ballerina dress" to bed—a fuzzy little white night gown with shiny ballerinas all over it—even after I try to explain the idea of laundry to her, yeah right. Well, the apple does NOT fall far from the tree. My little lady has reminded and inspired me to go back to class ASAP. I danced for most of my childhood up until just a few years ago, and I miss ballet like crazy. It's one of the hardest yet most fun things I've ever put my body and mind through. Thank you for reminding me, my funny little ballerina.

What are your past dreams or old loved hobbies you wish you could finally do or involve yourself in once again...

images via here, here, and here

spring makes me smile

2010-03-03T11:20:00.000-08:00

Spring is almost here! Aren't these flowers pretty?

i love to screen-print {sneak peek}

2010-03-02T12:19:00.000-08:00

I found the greatest place tucked away in Atwater Village! Seriously, my time in their studio was better than a day at the spa for me. My good friend Betsey and I had a blast working on some fun projects and learning a TON about screen-printing from Grow Your Own Media's very own, Tomas . I am so excited and have a million projects in my head that you will be seeing in the near future.

I did bring home a little goodie that I whipped up yesterday for Eliette. I wasn't really expecting to bring anything home so soon, but when I had the chance I quickly drew up a teacup illustration that I've had stuck in my head for a while, and actually {SCREEN} printed it (by myself!) onto a little t-shirt, and some great textured paper (still working on that one).

vintage goodies

2010-03-01T14:00:00.000-08:00

When Brian and I went furniture hunting on Thursday, we didn't necessarily purchase what we had in mind, but we did score some good stuff. We took a trip to 20th Century Props in Burbank, a huge prop-house that has been around FOREVER, and was supposedly closing by Sunday. This place is like a museum of furniture from every era, and we literally spent half of the time there trying to calm me down (I get pretty worked up about this sort of thing). Most of the great pieces that we wanted were out of our price range, but we did get our hands on a few goodies, and we had a blast rummaging through the endless amount of treasures. I have wanted a cool little vintage fan for a while, and 20th Century had tons. The second I saw the little bronze fawn, I knew he was coming home with us. We also found a pair of diamond-mesh potato chip-shaped chairs for our front patio. I've seen this 60s style chair around and have wanted a couple for a while, so when we got a deal on these I was super excited. Now we just need a cute little table to go with them. Oh, and we got our hands on a really cool 50s kindergarten steel desk for Eliette that Brian is planning on painting a pretty green, similar to my desk, and cleaning up so she can store all of her art supplies in it and get to work like her mama. Pictures of that to come. Still hunting for that couch though...

etsy purchase: whisker graphics

2010-03-01T07:00:00.000-08:00

I do know that we're officially 3 months into 2010, and I'm a little late on hanging a new calendar, but it was worth the wait. My super pretty calendar arrived in the mail a few weeks ago from Whisker Graphics and I wanted to share. It came with a tiny hole punched at the top of each month and I was so excited to finally use my cute oversized paperclips to hang them above my desk next to some of my favorite photos.

wise guys

2010-02-27T10:12:00.000-08:00

Could these paper owls be any cuter? Seriously, I need to make these today... Which would be perfect since it's ANOTHER rainy day here in Los Angeles. Thank you Lexie for the heads up :)

Dear Mother Nature,

2010-02-27T09:41:00.000-08:00

I'm sorry a lot of the people that live on this beautiful planet that you have so gracefully shared with us for so long totally suck... But some of us are really really trying to appreciate you and change our old horrible wasteful and destructive ways. Please see us, and please please see that some of us do care and are trying to open the eyes of the stubborn ones (even though you seem to be doing a lot lately to help out with that). We love you, don't kick us off just yet, please.

xoxo.

endless furniture finds + one handsome man = a favorite day

2010-02-25T07:00:00.000-08:00

Furniture hunting with my husband is one of my most favorite things to do. Nothing better than searching for treasure with my true love. We are in desperate need of a new couch for our living room, dining chairs for our breakfast nook, and a few good console tables... wish us luck!

images via: here, here, and here

let me say it in pictures...

2010-02-24T09:12:00.000-08:00

via here and here

happy friday!!

2010-02-19T12:09:00.000-08:00

Aaaaaaaah I'm so excited!!! My bff Lexie is coming down to LA to visit this weekend and I can't wait! We will be busy catching up while enjoying our tradition of wine and mac & cheese girl time. Hurry you're butt down here Lex, we all know I'm not a patient girl! Hope you all have a wonderful weekend planned ahead of you... xoxo

very cute image via here

inspiration board: gary & joli

2010-02-18T09:14:00.000-08:00

I am very excited for my brother-in-law, Gary, and his fiance, Joli (who already feels like my sister!), and their wedding coming up this year. They are a super fun creative couple with quite an eclectic style. They asked me to help out with an inspiration board to get them going on the right track. This was a fun one because they have such a blend of styles: earthy, artsy, edgy, antique-y... hope they love it!!

ok... back to work people

2010-02-16T10:41:00.000-08:00

I know it's officially Tuesday, but doesn't it feel like a Monday? To start off my work week, here are a few images of my little work space. I actually found this old school steel teacher's desk for $50 on craigslist, and it was pretty beat up with it's original gray finish and a yucky black vinyl top. My handy husband bought some tractor paint (heavy duty stuff) and sprayed it with his paint gun for me—thanks Mister! I picked out a fun retro fabric to cover the top after removing the old vinyl, and had 2 pieces of glass cut to lay on top of it. I love love this desk, and it's such a happy bright place to sit. The chair was actually found by my brother-in-law, which we fixed up, and I'm actually in search of fabric to recover it. The vintage owl notepad cover was a gift from my husband last year, and is one of my favorites in my little owl collection. The cute girl keeping my seat warm is my little Elie Bean. I took these photos before I hung a few pictures and some artwork on the walls, and I'll take some asap because I can't wait to share!

Oh, and another great thing about this desk—it's magnetic! Which means I get to stick one of Eliette's favorite distracting and educational toys on the side, so she can play, and I can try and work.

Hope everyone has a great start to their week! xoxo

happy friday!!

2010-02-12T07:11:00.000-08:00

Happy weekend everyone! XOXO

image via

it's raining love

2010-02-11T14:01:00.000-08:00

We don't have a ton planned for Valentine's day this year, just some good ol' quality family time, a yummy dinner, and a few sweets. But I must say, I'm a sucker for sharing the love... it's everywhere! Just check out some goodies below. What are your plans for this weekend with your loved ones?

A LOVEly treat

via

an oldie, but an aesthetic goodie

owls + love = my favorite

clever, no?

via

a heart hairdo + red dress = serious valentine attire
via

paperpocket: diy valentine coloring books (more free downloads!)

2010-02-10T14:06:00.000-08:00

So I finally finished up Eliette's Valentine Coloring Books to give to her pre-school buddies this Friday. What do you think??

You can download your own for free here and here.

See my how-to with more pictures after the hop and skip...

I had a fun illustrating these and finalizing my designs on the computer. Then printed out the covers on a thicker 8.5 x 11 card stock, and the inside pages on regular printer paper.

After cutting them all out, I stapled them together and covered up the staples with some fancy colored duct tape that I borrowed from my wonderful stepson (who is obsessed with making things like wallets out of duct tape).

You could also get crafty with a hole punch and pretty ribbon, or fabric and fabric glue. Would love to hear more ideas on how to fancy them up!

let's eat: rainy day soup!

2010-02-09T22:15:00.000-08:00

So I made this super delicious GREEN soup last week, and since it's another rainy day here in the usually sunny Los Angeles, I figured it would be a great time to share one of my favorite cozy recipes. I have officially become a big fan of kale (so good for you!!), but up until recently I was always intimidated by how to cook it. I have since found a few different ways I love to make kale, but trying it in this recipe was a first step for me. The soup is basically a medley of kale, chard, potatoes, onion, leek, chicken stock, lots of butter, and seasoning. Last week I added cauliflower because it tends to puree really well and go nicely with all of these flavors. Another very important part is CROUTONS! I like to make my own—that may sound fancy, but it's not, they are crazy easy. This is a good one for the kiddies too, at least for mine :)

Detailed recipe after the jumpity jump...
****NOTE**** I don't tend to measure when I cook, hence not an amazing baker, so bear with me here****

Ingredients:
2 Bunches of hearty greens (kale, chard, etc)
2 divided potatoes
1 large cauliflower (optional)
1 onion
1 large leek
1 box (thats the kind I buy) or 2 cans? of chicken stock
1-2 bay leaves
salt & pepper to taste
1/2 cup cream or half & half
1/2 stick butter

baguette or day old bread for the croutons

Soup: In a LARGE heavy pot, melt the butter and saute with chopped onions and leeks with a little salt until just transparent. Add the potatoes, cauliflower, bay leaves, and chicken stock. Once the stock heats up a bit add the greens. I give it about 15-25 minutes or so until the greens get tender and the potatoes are forkable (soft enough), and then take out the bay leaves. Then blend them with a hand blender thingy, best tool ever, or you can use a food processer to blend everything together. You may have to add more liquid depending on how you like the consistency, even a little hot water if you have to. At the end I season it to our liking with a little more salt and pepper and sometimes add cream and let it barely simmer at a low heat until the croutons are done.

Croutons: I like it best with a baguette or even a sour dough roll, but you can do this with any day old bread. Pre-heat your oven to somewhere around 375 degrees. Slice up the bread into bite size pieces. On a lightly oiled pan (olive oil is a good idea here) spread out the pieces and lightly drizzle some more olive oil. Sometimes I'll even sprinkle a little bit of garlic powder. Pop them in the oven and give them a few minutes until they start to get crunchy, about 5-8 depending on your oven.

Serve the soup with a handful of yummy croutons and enjoy!

paperpocket: diy valentine project for your little one

2010-02-08T10:11:00.000-08:00

Over the weekend, Eliette and I made Valentines for her family and friends. I illustrated 4 different cards that fit on regular 8.5 x 11 printer paper, and then printed them out on thicker cardstock on our printer. Eliette colored the cards and I cut them out for her and found some left over 4 x 6 envelopes that they fit into perfectly. I miss my round-edge cutter and am in need of a new one, but faked it by just cutting the corners with scissors.

Originally these were going to be for her classroom party this Friday, but we have now graduated to making coloring books for them (I will post those later today), and will pass them out with crayons.

You can download a free version of our color-your-own Valentines here.

See more after the jump...

Don't forget to look out for the coloring books!

sweet ideas for your lovies

2010-02-05T11:16:00.000-08:00

make something sweet.

write a love letter the old fashioned way—not in an email :)

create a collage or piece of art with photos or souvenirs

And please stay posted... Eliette and I are creating a fun DIY Valentine card for her to take to her friends at pre-school for their party next Friday. I'll post the final result with a free PDF to print one out at home for anyone else that wants to try it! I just have to wait until she's home from school today so we can finish it together :) Happy Friday! XOXO

can i please live in pikaland?

2010-02-04T09:24:00.000-08:00

So, the blog-world is still very fresh to me. I have been in a mommy-baby-bubble for the past 2 years, and spending time on a computer was just not at the top of my list. I have to say that I am so inspired by all of the creative talented people I find, sharing their passions online. Today I am busy at home with my 20 month old, trying to squeeze in some design work (that I sadly can't share for a little while), but in my few morning minutes of designpocket-time I came across Pikaland. I'm sure I am WAY late on this bandwagon, but there are so many amazing artists and crafters on here I am slightly overwhelmed about what to say and now want to sit at my desk all day drawing. I look forward to sharing my drawings and art prints that I'm working on (a 2010 resolution!), and this blog really made me want to kick it into gear even more. Enjoy!

all images via pikaland

a bike and a kiss

2010-02-03T08:28:00.000-08:00

via

finally!!!

2010-02-02T18:09:00.000-08:00

Tonight I'll be snuggled up watching our favorite show with my man! Check out some "professionally fan made posters" for one of the greatest shows ever here.

fashion pocket: cherry blossom girl

2010-02-02T14:10:00.000-08:00

I have longed for a cherry red 2.55 Chanel bag for a very long time, and this little lady has the perfect one! How amazing are those boots?! Covet this wardrobe here.

it's true...

2010-02-02T12:28:00.000-08:00

image via here