Quaintly Garcia

Page Museum at the La Brea Tar Pits

2012-02-13T13:29:00.000-08:00

Page Museum

5801 Wilshire Boulevard

Los Angeles, CA 90036

www.tarpits.com

Ruffle Cake Plate

2012-02-10T11:16:00.000-08:00

I adore cake plates and stands, there is something about them that just makes me happy! I've been in search of a small green cake stand for a couple weeks now and with a quick lunch trip to Home Goods this week my search ended! I found this simply perfect 8" moss green ruffled cake stand for $6.99 and was honestly giddy the entire day. Home Goods has an amazing collection of cake stands. If you like this one in particular and can not find it at your local Home Goods, you can purcahse an identical one here.

Valentine Cake Pops

2012-02-09T09:50:00.000-08:00

With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I've been working on a few treat ideas for JD and his classmates. I wanted to send something cute, sweet and bite size to school. Luckily for me I have Micaela of Zendejas Goodies (sweetest cake pop maker in town) on speed dial and she was more than happy to help. Micaela made me a few samples to work with and I just added a few simple extras to make them toddler friendly and fun!

What you will need:

12 cake pops
6 paper straw (cut in half)
1 sheet of decorative paper (cut in 5” x 2” strips)
Glue or double sided tape
Scissors

Gumball Cookie Jar

2012-02-06T08:59:00.000-08:00

I purchased this cookie jar in green last week from Tuesday Morning and I just had to share it's cuteness! I love gumball machines and can picture so many fun uses for these jar. Currently we're using it for dogs treats (JD's idea), but I might just need to get one more for actual cookies! If you can't find one at your local Tuesday Morning, you can purchase them at Ginny's online for a few dollars more!

Tuesday Morning $19.99

Ginny's $24.99 (on sale)

Dinosaur Party Ideas

2012-02-02T16:28:00.000-08:00

With JD's 3rd birthday coming up in May I've been pinning party ideas like crazy! This years theme is “Dinosaurs”! JD loves dinos and every time I come home with a dinosaur item he immediately says “That's for my dino party”! This year we’re doing things a little differently and I'm really excited for JD; he has no idea what we have in store for him! Here are a few of my favorite pins, but if your looking for more dinosaur party ideas please visit my entire board here.

JD's New Puppy!

2012-01-31T13:59:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago our little family made a very big decision; we decided to adopt a puppy! JD has been asking for a dog for months now and we finally decided that it was time. We started our search about two weeks ago and this past weekend JD finally met his match. He picked a frisky, 4 month old terrier mix with scruffy hair and floppy ears. We got to bring her home yesterday and she spent most of the night resting (shelters spay their puppies before releasing them to a new home), but by this morning she was following us around and making herself at home. JD is super excited about his new puppy and has been so sweet to her. He insists on tucking her in and wants her to get better soon so they can play. Here are a few pictures of her this weekend from JD's meet-and-greet and on her way home yesterday (in a laundry basket). Once she's feeling better, I'll post some more pictures of JD's new puppy, Bailey!

Simply Klassic Sunday Linky Party

2012-01-29T21:54:00.000-08:00

Kristin from a Simply Klassic Home is having a linky party! This linky party is held every Sunday and home projects, crafts, tips, DIYs, makeovers, recipes, etc. are welcome. I was really excited to to link up today and also get a chance to see some really amazing projects. For all the details visit Simply Klassic Sundays!

Preschool Rocks

2012-01-26T12:05:00.000-08:00

I can't believe how fast time flies, JD has been attending preschool for a little over 4 months now! Those first few weeks of preschool were a little hard, not so much for JD, but for hubby and me. Allowing a complete stranger to watch your child no matter how qualified they are is really hard. But now looking back at our decision to start preschool early, we definitely feel we made the right choice. JD really enjoys going to school, although he doesn’t enjoy waking up. He has learned so much in the last few months. His relationship with his teacher is amazing and he constantly talks about all his friends at school. The school provides so much structure. There's a time to play, snack, relax, explore, go crazy and nap. Using this same approach at home has really helped to counteract the “terrible two's”. We can't wait to see what this school year has in store for JD because Preschool Rocks!

JD's Lima Bean Garden

Bookcase Desk

2012-01-25T13:29:00.000-08:00

With hubby's home office almost done, I've finally had some time to work on my little corner office! I really didn’t want to take up too much room but I did need a space for all my shop supplies, a functional yet pretty space. With a crazy idea in my head I began searching for a bookcase. To my surprise, I stumbled across the discontinued HENSVIK Bookcase in good condition for $35 on Craigslist! I purchased the bookcase and covered the backboard with some fun gray and yellow patterned fabric. Then I purchased a pair of table legs and mounting hardware ($15) from Lowes. The next step was finding the perfect piece of scrap wood. Hubby had the brilliant idea of checking the “As Is” section at IKEA and sure enough we found an off-white ADEL kitchen cabinet door for $3.99! Now came the hard part (not too hard though), turning all of these pieces into a functional Bookcase Desk!

Hubby installed the table leg hardware (the table legs come ready to screw in to the hardware). After measuring the depth of the bookcase, we added two notches to the kitchen cabinet door/desk top making it easier to slip into place. We added a 1 inch piece of wood to the inside of the bookcase which was screwed into another 1 inch piece behind the bookcase to support the back edge of desk top. I spray painted the legs with Valspar's satin finish paint. We slipped the desk top into place and screwed in the legs. After getting all of my supplies organized, I now have my very own Bookcase Desk!

JD's Meatball Sliders

2012-01-24T12:10:00.000-08:00

Getting a toddler to sit down, stay still and actually eat dinner can be challenging, even if you have a toddler that loves to eat like we do! In recent months we’ve been trying a few new ways of getting JD excited about dinner. We include him in preparing dinner, setting the table and recently we started making our dinners more toddler friendly and bite size! Last night we had meatball sandwiches for dinner and I purchased mini buns to make meatball sliders for JD. It was so amazing to see how proud he was of his meatballs and he really enjoyed his sliders!

JD's Meatball Sliders

Ingredients

1 pound ground beef (or 1/2 ground beef 1/2 mild Italian sausage)
3/4 cup bread crumbs
2 teaspoons dried Italian seasoning
2 cloves garlic, minced
2 tablespoons chopped fresh parsley
2 tablespoons grated Parmesan cheese
1 egg, beaten
10-20 mini buns (Trader Joe's)
2 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil
1 pinch salt and pepper, or to taste
1 (14 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce
1/2-1 cup shredded Italian blend cheese

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. In a medium bowl, gently mix by hand the ground beef (or ground beef and sausage), bread crumbs, Italian seasoning, garlic, parsley, Parmesan cheese, and egg. Shape into 10 meatballs, place in a baking dish and drizzle meatballs with olive oil. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes in the preheated oven, or until cooked through. Meanwhile, toast the mini buns in the oven during the last 5 minutes of the meatball's time, or until lightly toasted. While the bread toasts, warm the spaghetti sauce in a saucepan over medium heat. When the meatballs are done, cut them in half and transfer them to the sauce. Remove the meatballs, place 1 meatball half on a mini bun and and top with shredded cheese (you can hold the slider together with a toothpick). Return to the oven for 2 to 3 minutes to melt the cheese. Cool and enjoy!

Toddler Snack Tray

2012-01-23T12:04:00.000-08:00

I'm pretty sure I've mentioned before that I'm addicted to Pinterest, as I'm sure many of you are! I came across this pin a couple weeks ago and have been thinking about it ever since. JD loves snacks and being the wonderfully independent child that he is, he will try to get things from the fridge himself. Sometimes he manages to get what he wants without incident, but that isn’t the case most of the time. So, based on the ingenious pin above I made him his very own snack tray! The tray has all his favorite snacks; fruit, grape tomatoes, cheese sticks, yogurt, carrots and juice. I placed his snack tray on the lowest shelf in our fridge, so it would easy for him to reach and everything in it is snack size, healthy and ready to eat!

Blog Makeover in Progress

2012-01-19T15:11:00.000-08:00

You've probably noticed that things look pretty different around here! I wanted to start the new year with a completely new look, oh and a new name. I really enjoyed the name and baby makes three... and put so much thought into it when I started this blog in 2009, but our little family may eventually do some growing (we are totally getting a dog this year, hehehe), so why not change the name now! Quaint is one of my favorite words and I love it's meaning: strange, peculiar, or unusual in an interesting, pleasing, or amusing way! Quaintly Garcia I feel is the perfect name to describe our little family and all it's quirks.

The minute I decided on this big change, I contacted my friend and amazing blog designer Kristin from Simply Klassic Design. Kristin is so talented and she took a simple idea and brought it to life, I can't thank her enough for making my blog so darn pretty.

There are still a few things I need to add, so please bear with me during this makeover and don't forget to grab my new button!

Home Office Decor from Target

2012-01-11T11:47:00.000-08:00

Since we're focusing on one room at a time this year (hubby's idea) I'm on a mission to get the office done as soon as possible so we can move on to our next project! The office is really starting to come together, but it's definitely lacking in decor. Yesterday I made a quick stop at our local Target and came across a few decor pieces that are functional and stylish and I got them at an amazingly low price. Don't you just love Target!

Modern End Table

Retail: $69.99

Clearance Price: $20.00

Silver & Maple Task Lamp

Retail: $49.99

Clearance Price: $29.98

Baked Lemon & Garlic Salmon

2012-01-10T13:45:00.000-08:00

Hubby has been requesting fish for dinner more often, so I've been looking for new recipes to try! I came across a really yummy white wine, butter and garlic sauce recipe and decided to add shallots and dill and try it on baked lemon salmon! It actually turned out pretty good, so I decided why not share the recipe. Enjoy!

Baked Lemon & Garlic Salmon

Ingredients:

2 salmon fillets, bones removed
fresh cracked pepper and kosher salt
1 lemon, sliced
3 tablespoons butter
1-2 clove garlic, minced
1 small shallot sliced (optional)
1/4 cup white wine
1 tablespoon chopped fresh dill (optional)

Preheat your oven to 450 degrees. Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil and spray with non-stick spray. Place salmon fillets on the prepared baking sheet. Sprinkle fillets with kosher salt and fresh cracked pepper. Place 2 lemon slices on top of each fillet. Bake for 12-15 minutes. Remove and tent with aluminum foil for 10 more minutes (the salmon will continue to cook during this time). While salmon is baking, melt butter in a skillet over medium heat. Once melted, add minced garlic, sliced shallots and cook until fragrant, about 30 seconds. Pour in wine. Cook for 5 minutes or until sauce reduces by 1/3. Stir in fresh dill and remove from heat. Remove lemon slices from the top of the salmon and discard. Gently slide a serving spatula between the skin and the flesh of the fillet to remove the skin, it should separate very easily (I personally like to leave the skin on). Transfer to a serving platter and spoon white wine dill sauce over the top. Serve and enjoy!

Home Office in Progress

2012-01-09T14:28:00.000-08:00

It's been a little over a year since we bought our home and although we’ve managed to accomplish a few projects, we are nowhere near done. One of our many goals for this year is to work on our home! Hubby and I have agreed that we will work on one room at a time (not the way I usually do things) and start saving for a few bigger renovations, like the kitchen and maybe adding another bathroom in the future. The first room on our list is the office, it has unfortunately become a junk room! With both hubby and myself going back to school this semester (one of the personal goals on my list), we definitely need a functional office space. This weekend we finally got started, we painted, we organized, we built hubby's new desk and hutch and now our junk room looks like an actual office. We still have to add some decor, lighting and get rid of the dresser pictured below but for now I have to admit it's a pretty cozy home office!

Before

After

Paint: Behr Natural Gray
Desk and Hutch: Magellan Realspace Office Depot
Shag Gray and Brown Rug: Homegoods
Leather Futon with fold down cup holders: Craigslist

Wordless Wednesday

2012-01-04T08:23:00.000-08:00

Welcome 2012!

2012-01-03T11:45:00.000-08:00

Although 2011 was a bit stressful it really was great year for our little family! We moved into our new home and learned the true meaning of DIY and yard work. Hubby went back to school while working full time and taking care of our little family; oh and he still managed to get really good grades, he's such a smarty pants! JD celebrated his 2nd birthday, started school and was potty trained. I celebrated my first year at my new job, opened my very own Etsy shop and actually managed to continue blogging! Well, 2012 has officially arrived and with it comes a bunch of new and exciting projects, adventures, milestones and even a few personal goals we hope to achieve. I hope you'll follow along!
Welcome 2012!

2012 Laurel Denise Planner

Our Christmas 2011

2011-12-29T14:24:00.000-08:00

Elf on the Shelf: Diego Update

2011-12-22T20:06:00.000-08:00

Our Christmas Card 2011

2011-12-19T11:31:00.000-08:00

We've finally sent out our Christmas cards! We used one of our favorite shots of JD from our photo shoot with Kersti Kooiman and the card was designed by Sonya the very talented mommy behind West Willow Designs!

Kersti Kooiman Photography

2011-12-14T14:27:00.000-08:00

A couple of weeks ago we had the pleasure of meeting and working with Kersti Kooiman, she is the very talented photographer behind our family photos, seen below! Kersti was referred to me by my friend Melissa and I can't thank her enough for referring us, I really couldn't be happier. Kersti took my vision and made it a reality. She has such a fun and upbeat personality and had such a wonderful way with JD. Her eye for details and her ability to capture true emotion are extraordinary! Here are a few of my many favorites.

Colorful Ornament Wreath

2011-12-12T14:27:00.000-08:00

I really wanted to make a ornament wreath this year but after seeing this one at Target for only $20, I couldn't help myself and I just bought one, oh and did I mention it's shatter-proof! Target still has some really cute Christmas decor available, so hurry before it's all gone!

16" Shatterproof Ornament Wreath

Christmas Straw Flag Printable & Giveaway

2011-12-07T14:31:00.000-08:00

When Kristin asked me to participate in her 12 Days of Christmas Printables Party I was more than happy to join in and I was also super excited to create my very own Christmas printable! I absolutely love paper straws, so I decided to make a straw flag printable using one of Moo & Puppy’s super cute digital scrapbook papers and give you a chance to win 30 red and white striped paper straws just in time for Christmas!

Please visit A Simply Klassic Home for this free printable and to be entered to win 30 red and white paper straws!

Elf on the Shelf: Diego's Busy Weekend

2011-12-05T06:30:00.000-08:00

Diego arrived on Thursday and by Friday morning he was already proving to be a very busy little Elf on the Shelf!

Day 1

Friday morning we found him wearing Mr. Potato Heads glasses reading a book!

Day 2

Saturday he was in the kitchen ready to make pancakes!

Day 3

On Sunday we found him in the office hanging out and watching movies

with Agent P and Dr. Doofenshmirtz!

Elf on the Self: Meet Diego

2011-12-02T08:52:00.000-08:00

Last night JD received a gift all the way from the North Pole from the big man himself, Santa Clause! We read him the book that accompanied his elf and explained that this elf would be visiting until Christmas and would be reporting back to Santa if JD was being naughty or nice. Then came the most important part, naming this little elf. After a very long list of names JD decided on "Diego" and we carefully placed his new little buddy on a shelf. Now the fun begins, stay tuned!

Gift Ideas: Los Angeles Zoo Membership

2011-12-01T09:37:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago hubby bought a one year family membership to the Los Angeles Zoo for $99, a great deal and a great Christmas gift idea! So, on the Friday after Thanksgiving we decided to skip the shopping and head out to the Zoo for some fresh air, well except when we visited the flamingos, boy are they stinky!

Happy Birthday Daddy!

2011-11-30T06:30:00.000-08:00

Today is my dad's birthday and I want to wish him a

Very Happy Birthday!

A little girl needs her daddy
To love her with manly charm,
To soothe her when she’s hurt,
And keep her safe from harm.

A girl needs her dad To show her a man who’s good,
To help her make right choices,
As only a father could.

A woman needs her father Just to be aware,
He’ll always be there for her
To sustain her and to care.

You’ve been all these things, Dad. I hope that you can see
How much I treasure you;
You mean everything to me.

Little Helper Tower: Construction

2011-11-28T15:39:00.000-08:00

I just wanted to give you guys a little update on the Little Helper Tower project I mentioned a couple posts ago. My Dad and I (with a little help from JD) started working on it the weekend before last and sure enough about two days later my dad had finished the whole project on his own. He really did an amazing job and I can't get over all the amazing details; from the fancy legs, to the perfectly sanded corners and all for about $30 bucks! Now all that's left to do is choose a color to paint it, although JD has already begun using it around the house and telling everyone his Abu made it for him!

Thanksgiving Recipes: Maple Dill Carrots

2011-11-21T16:14:00.000-08:00

Thanksgiving is only a couple days away and I'm super excited to be hosting at our new home for the very first time! The menu is finalized and I'm even throwing in some special request like this very simple but delicious maple and dill carrots side dish. Enjoy!

Maple Dill Carrots

Ingredients:

4 cups baby carrots

3 tablespoons butter

3 tablespoons brown sugar 1 1/2 tablespoons chopped fresh dill

1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon black pepper

Directions:
Place carrots in a skillet and pour in just enough water to cover. Bring to a boil over medium heat; simmer until water has evaporated and the carrots are tender. Stir in butter, brown sugar, dill, salt, and pepper.

Wordless Wednesday

2011-11-16T08:28:00.000-08:00

The Little Helper Tower

2011-11-15T09:51:00.000-08:00

Since buying our home, hubby has started a collection of pretty nifty tools that I'm dying to get my hands on! Although we have about a million and one projects to get done around the house, there is one little project that I really want to try making for JD, a Little Helper Tower! JD loves helping me in the kitchen and this tower is a safe and fun way for him to reach the counter tops. Step stools like this one retail for around $150, but I came across DIY plans on Ana White, and the whole project comes out to around $20! I'm hoping to build it this weekend, just in time for Thanksgiving!

ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS

2011-11-11T11:39:00.000-08:00

On Sunday after our yummy lunch we took stroll through DTLA and stopped at The Last Bookstore. This was my first time visiting this used bookstore and I have to admit I just wanted to grab a stack of books and hang out, it's a great quiet atmosphere in a very busy city! I picked out some great used books for JD and Mari found a book for JD that I think is by far the most amazing pop-up book I've ever seen, (not that I've seen that many) the ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS.

From renowned pop-up masters Robert Sabuda and Matthew Reinhart comes an awe-inspiring tribute to the world's most beloved extinct animals and their 180-million-year reign on our planet.

Open this book and a massive T. REX springs out, flashing a startling jawful of jagged teeth. Turn the next spread and a ravishing raptor unfurls and appears to fly off the edge of the page. Inside the amazing ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS are "shield bearers" in full-body armor, creatures with frilly headgear, and weighty, long-necked giants. There are even amusing tidbits on the history of paleontology itself — like a pop-up version of a Victorian New Year's dinner in the belly of a dinosaur model, or a pair of scientists locked in a literal tug-of-war over bones.

Full of fascinating facts and lighthearted good humor, this breathtaking book includes fascinating, up-to-the-minute information about popular dinosaurs as well as many lesser-known varieties. With each of six spreads featuring one spectacular, large pop-up as well as booklets of smaller pop-ups and text, ENCYCLOPEDIA PREHISTORICA: DINOSAURS is a magnificent display of paper engineering and creativity — an astonishing book that will be read, admired, and treasured forever.

The expression on JD's face when first opening this book was priceless! He adores his new book and wants us to read it to him several times a day. I highly recommend this book to anyone looking for an amazing gift for a dino loving child, it truly is an amazing pop-up book!

Nickel Diner in Downtown LA

2011-11-09T10:33:00.000-08:00

I love watching the Food Network and one of my favorite shows is Triple D (Diners, Drive-ins and Dives). On Friday the show featured one local diner that we've probably passed by a hundred times and never stopped in to try. Well, after seeing all of the yummy food being featured on Friday I was determined to try it for myself and it wasn't hard at all to convince hubby, Gaby and Mari to come along! On Sunday we took a little trip to DTLA to the Nickel Diner (JD on the other hand opted for Chuck E. Cheese with Ama & Ampa) for lunch and although it was about a 35 minute wait, it was well worth it. This diner has personality, the staff is friendly and the food is so good, but I'll let the pictures speak for themselves!

Maple Bacon Donut

NightClub Sandwich

Bacon Burger

Monica's Chicken Pozole

12 Days of Christmas Printables Party!

2011-11-08T10:01:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce that Kristin from A Simply Klassic Home is hosting a 12 Days of Christmas Printables Party! What does this mean exactly, well for 12 days starting December 1st Kristin will be providing amazing inspirational Christmas printables for free to all of our readers. I'm super excited and honored that she has asked me as well as a few other wonderful friends to join the party! There will be gift tags, scripture, banners, subway art, movie quotes and more! There will also be a giveaway and a linky party.

Please visit A Simply Klassic Home for all the fabulous details and don't forget to mark your calenders for December 1st!

The Nightmare Before Christmas 4D

2011-11-03T09:30:00.000-07:00

On Sunday we took JD to see his favorite movie The Nightmare Before Christmas in 4D at El Capitan! It was JD's first time seeing a movie in 3D and he actually managed to keep his glasses on for almost the entire movie, oh and managed to eat almost half a bucket of popcorn all by himself. The whole 4D (visual effects, wind, snow) experience was amazing and we all enjoyed it so much, especially JD!

Halloween 2011

2011-11-01T22:14:00.000-07:00

JD's Halloween dreams came through when he was transformed into his favorite Tim Burton character, Jack Skellington (the Pumpkin King)! He loved his costume and had so much fun trick or treating around the neighborhood with his god-sisters and Zero (Tommy). I want to thank my friend Vero for turning my Goodwill find into the perfect Jack suit and for hanging out with us on Halloween. I hope everyone had a wonderful Halloween!

Jack Skellington & Zero Costume

2011-10-30T22:53:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I finally finished the last details of JD's Jack Skellington costume and Gaby and I even had time to begin working on Tommy's (Gaby's dog) Zero costume! This is my first time making a Halloween costume, oh and a doggie costume and I have to admit I enjoyed it tremendously. Here is a little sneak peek of Jack and Zero!

TARGET: Converse, Genuine Kids from OshKosh & Circo

2011-10-28T12:01:00.000-07:00

I love that JD has outgrown 24 month clothing and as is now moving on to 2T-3T because there is so much more cute clothing to choose from! Last night we made our weekly trip to Target and found some super cute shoes and clothing for JD at some really great prices. Some of the items below were actually on clearance, so we only paid a few dollars for them and the Dino Converse were on sale for $25.99!

Toddler Boys' Converse Dino

Circo Toddler Boys' Robot Sock

Circo Toddler Boys' Dinosaur Sock

Genuine Kids from OshKosh Toddler Boys' Cable Hat

Genuine Kids from OshKosh Toddler Boys' Striped Tee

Circo Toddler Boys' Dinosaur Tee

Genuine Kids from OshKosh Toddler Boys' Thermal Top

Most of these items can be found In-Store at Target and online at Target.com.

Dia de los Muertos at Hollywood Forever

2011-10-27T11:17:00.000-07:00

Last Saturday we visited the Hollywood Forever Cemetery for the Dia de los Muertos Celebration!

"Home to the oldest memorial park in Hollywood dating back to 1899, Hollywood Forever is the only cemetery in the country which opens its gates and welcomes its surrounding community to commemorate El Dia de Los Muertos. Hollywood Forever is genuinely focused in striving to bestow a memorable occasion by embracing the celebratory process of death and dying through providing a historically recognized cultural setting for this festive event and sacred observance. This community based event encompasses and visually illustrates a Pre- Columbian ancient jovial traditional view of death with a modern eclectic celebratory observance!"

Although we did'nt take JD with us this year (he had other plans) the event although pretty crowded is kid friendly and easy to navigate!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-26T06:30:00.000-07:00

JD's 1st School Picture

2011-10-24T09:22:00.000-07:00

JD took his very first school pictures a few weeks ago and we received them last Thursday. I can't believe how grown up he looks!

The Elf on the Shelf

2011-10-20T12:35:00.000-07:00

I've been noticing a really big trend of The Elf on the Shelf pins on Pinterest lately! I actually had no clue about this super cute book and Christmas tradition, but now that I've done a little research I'm so in love with the idea.

Here is a great explanation of this adorable tradition by Jeanne Sager of Inside Out Mom Blog:

"It's one of the rare products that lives up to the hype. The book and doll kit launches a new look at the whole Santa mystery. How does he know they've been naughty? Because the little elf perched on your shelf by day flies to the North Pole by night to make his report. The Elf on the Shelf book lays out the story, and makes a game of the sometimes daunting task of getting them to behave.

It all starts with a name - which is up to them to decide. We went through a long list: Little Bo Peep, Hippo, Movies - a 3-year-old's imagination isn't limited to silly naming conventions - before settling on Tree Branch. Marked in the special spot in the back of the Elf on the Shelf book, the names they come up with in their younger days will no doubt come back to mystify as much as their current Santa debate.

The newly named elf takes up residence in a spot in your house - only to take off at night to see the Jolly Old Man up at the pole. When he flies home, he'll find a new spot. And it's up to your kids to find him, making waking up in the build up to the holiday almost as exciting as the big day itself."

Doesn’t this sound like so much fun! So this year we are going to start this tradition with JD. Starting December 1st until Christmas day stay tuned for JD's mischievous elf's adventures! You can purchase your elf kit at The Elf on the Shelf, you can also check with your local Hallmark for availability. If any one else is participating in this tradition this year and would like to link-up please contact me!

Image: Rae Of Light Photography

For more fun The Elf on the Shelf pictures and ideas, visit my Pinterest!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-10-19T07:00:00.000-07:00

Frosted Cupcakery

2011-10-18T09:40:00.000-07:00

Since we were in Long Beach Friday evening at the pumpkin patch, we decided to stop by a cupcake shop in Belmont Shores called Frosted Cupcakery and treat Gaby my sister in law to a birthday cupcake. Gaby loves cupcakes and we are always looking for new cupcake shops to visit. This shop is extremely cute and the staff was so sweet. The cupcakes were absolutely delicious, even hubby agreed that their red velvet was really good! Frosted is also open late (until 9:00 p.m.) everyday, which is perfect for a late night cupcake craving!

Pa's Pumpkin Patch 2011

2011-10-17T10:36:00.000-07:00

This weekend we took JD to Pa's Pumpkin Patch in Long Beach. He loved the pumpkin patch, especially riding the race cars and feeding the baby goats. We may just need to stop again before they are gone for the season!

iPhone 4S Cases

2011-10-13T11:51:00.000-07:00

As I've mentioned before I'm not a super techy-techy person, but when it comes to my iPhone I'm hooked. So when the new iPhone 4S was announced I was so excited, the new camera alone had me sold. So this past weekend hubby gave me his upgrade and pre-ordered the new iPhone for me! So now I'm looking for the perfect case, here are a few super cute ones I'm considering.

Barcelona iPhone Case Set

$32.99

Noël Collection iPhone Case
$54.90

Petunia Pickle Bottom iPhone Case
$38.00

Wordless Wednesday {Chef Julian}

2011-10-12T09:14:00.000-07:00

For this recipe click here!

How Do Dinosaurs...

2011-10-11T08:02:00.000-07:00

JD really loves dinosaurs, then again what 2 year old boy doesn't! JD loves visiting the Natural History Museum to see dinos, playing with all his dinosaur toys and he absolutely loves dinosaur books. I recently came across this cute dino book called How Do Dinosaurs Clean Their Rooms? by Jane Yolen and illustrated by Mark Teague. This book is so funny, while also being educational and JD makes me read it over and over again. What I didn't know is that this book is actually just one in a series. Here are a few more in the series that I may need to add to JD's collection!

Los Angeles: Hill and 3rd

2011-10-10T09:28:00.000-07:00

Saturday, hubby took us to have lunch at the Grand Central Public Market! After a very yummy lunch we headed across the street to take a ride on Angels Flight Railway and took a stroll through MOCA and Angels Knoll Park. We had such a great afternoon exploring basically just one block of Los Angeles. All of these places are located within walking distance of each other and except for the 25 cent railway ride, they are free to visit!

El Capitan Theatre: The Nightmare Before Christmas

2011-10-07T12:11:00.000-07:00

I'm so excited,The Nightmare Before Christmas is coming to El Capitan Theatre again and this year we're taking JD. This is JD's favorite movie and it's actually going to be in 4D this year, which means they've added sensory effects like, wind, snow and fog! Get your tickets early, I'm pretty sure they will sell out!

JD is Potty Trained!

2011-10-06T09:53:00.000-07:00

This past weekend we realized that JD is fully potty trained! We took him out and about and even at the fair he let us know when he had to go potty. We also haven't used his easy ups for over a week now. Another thing I realized with JD's new milestone, is that he is officially not a baby anymore, he's a big boy! This realization is a little hard to adjust too, because he will always be our baby, but at the same time we are so proud of him. I have to give most of the potty training credit to hubby for deciding to just let him run around in underwear (he actually bought him his first pair) a few weeks ago and I want to thank auntie Mari and Aba for encouraging and supporting his potty training on a daily basis!

Chef Julian

2011-10-05T08:52:00.000-07:00

I'll do the cooking mom!

I have to make sure the garlic is tasty

time to chop the onion

everything goes in the blender

blend, blend, blend

and taste!

LA County Fair 2011

2011-10-03T08:40:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we headed out to the LA County Fair! This fair was definitely JD friendly. He had a blast, we saw elephants, kangaroos, monster trucks, dinosaurs and so much more!

The Pumpkin King

2011-09-29T09:25:00.000-07:00

Halloween is only a month away and we've been having such a hard time deciding on a costume for JD! I actually asked him what he wanted to be a couple weeks ago and he left us all speechless when he replied "Pumpkin King"! If you're as big a fan of The Nightmare Before Christmas as we are, then you know exactly who he's talking about. I searched for a Jack Skellington costume everywhere, but couldn't find one in his size and making a costume from scratch makes me nervous (I do not sew). Well, yesterday on my weekly visit to Goodwill I came across a little JD sized pinstriped suit for $4.99, what luck! So I guess it's time to get creative and semi DIY a "Pumpkin King" costume for JD.

Phineas and Ferb Live 2011!

2011-09-26T16:10:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we took JD to see Phineas and Ferb Live. As you all know JD adores Phineas and Ferb and he had so much fun at the show, we all did! The show brought all the characters to life and included singing, dancing and even some pretty cool fighting scenes with Agent P (Perry the Platypus)!

Potty Training Update

2011-09-21T14:05:00.000-07:00

It's been a couple weeks since we started potty training JD and the whole process is going great! We were really worried that he was going to have a hard time because of his age and the fact that he's a boy (we hear they are harder to potty train), but he has proven us completely wrong. Since we officially started potty training JD, he hasn’t had any number 1 accidents and sleeps in underwear and for over a week now he's going number 2 in the potty and hasn’t had an accident either. He started preschool last week and has been using their child size bathroom just fine too. We are so proud of him and continue to encourage him with high fives, “good job” and the occasional dinosaur toy! Here are a few of the items we've used and continue to use to help with JD's potty training.

Safety 1st Comfy Cushy 3-in-1 Potty

Bemis Mayfair NextStep Toilet Seat

Pampers Easy Ups Training Pants

Phineas and Ferb Briefs

Phineas and Ferb Candy

2011-09-19T21:35:00.000-07:00

JD loves Phineas and Ferb, he was actually watching an episode as I wrote this post! A few months ago I came across Phineas and Ferb Pez dispensers on Pinterest and was so thrilled to find out they were being released in September. Well, September is here and sure enough my favorite local candy vendor The Candy Warehouse has them in stock. Not only do they have Pez dispensers, but they also have Phineas and Ferb Dip-n-Digs candy and Phineas and Ferb Assorted candy! These are just perfect for a Phineas and Ferb themed party or just as a treat for your little (or big) Phineas and Ferb fan!

Hatley Robot Rain Boots

2011-09-15T17:17:00.000-07:00

Although living in Southern California rarely calls for rain boots, I just couldn't help myself, I had to get JD these awesome robot rain boots. I found them at Hatley.com. They have so many cute styles for boys and girls and you can also find matching rain coats and umbrellas on their site. These boots usually run about $35 but they are currently on sale for $21!

JD's 1st Day Of School

2011-09-14T10:38:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was JD's very first day of preschool! Hubby unfortunately could not get the day off, but Abu surprised JD and myself by showing up to accompany us. I can't thank my dad enough for the support. I have to admit it was a very emotional day, JD cried a little and I cried a lot. His preschool is wonderful and made this experience a little easier by keeping us updated and even sent us pictures of JD during reading time! When we picked him up he was so happy to see us and jumped into my arms. JD really loved his teachers and kissed and hugged them goodbye before leaving and said he wanted to come back to school “later”, so I guess that's a good sign!

He didn't like that I woke him up so early!

JD's Cubby

Our Nook

2011-09-12T11:55:00.000-07:00

Our "awkward nook" is done, we actually finished it Labor Day weekend but I just didn't have a chance to post it. We decided to turn it into a wine & storage nook. I'm really loving how it turned out and I can't thank my hubby enough for helping me bring it all together!

Lowes

Bead Plank Paneling (nook backing)

Olympic Veridian Green Paint (nook Backing)

Olympic Delicate White Paint (shelves)

Wine Glass Rack

Cost Plus World Market

Mini Chalkboard Stand

IKEA

HUTTEN Wine Rack (spray painted white)

Wordless Wednesday

2011-09-07T08:49:00.000-07:00

Teal Front Door Update

2011-09-06T17:00:00.000-07:00

Our front door is finally painted! This long weekend gave us a chance to finish a few little projects around the house, including the front door. I'm so in love with the color we chose, Spa Pool by Valspar (Duramax Hi-DEF Exterior Paint) and although hubby seemed a little unconvinced about the color at first, he has admitted it looks kinda nice. Hubby did a great job of prepping the door for me, so it only took two coats of paint to cover it but I'll probably add just one more coat this week. New hardware and a new welcome mat will be added this week too and then this project will be officially crossed of the list!

Just in time for Halloween!

2011-09-01T13:24:00.000-07:00

I just wanted to share some of the cute Halloween items I recently added to Quaintly Amusing . I have a few more items to add this weekend, so stay tuned!

Bat Cupcake Topper Party Picks

Bat Straws

Mummy Cupcake Topper Party Picks

Getting JD Ready for School

2011-08-31T11:55:00.000-07:00

I'm not really sure how I feel about this post, but I will try to get through it with out tearing up. JD is starting school in a couple weeks! I don't think "I'm" ready for this but I am going to try my best to make sure he is. We started our back-to-school shopping (for the very first time) this week. Here are a few of the really cute items we purchased for him in preparation for school!

Skip Hop Elephant Backpack

$20.00

Amazon

Dinosaur Reusable Sandwich Bag

$5.00

Sea Cut Designs

Elmo "S is for School" Paperback Book

$3.50

Amazon

Converse Kids All Star V3 Ox

$30.00
Amazon

Fighting Dragons in his Underwear

2011-08-30T10:10:00.000-07:00

JD has been using the potty on and off for about 2 months now. We didn’t want to pressure him into potty training, we just wanted to encourage him gently and it seems to be paying off. Yesterday hubby went out and bought JD his first pair of underwear and he spent the whole day running around in them fighting dragons! He actually surprised hubby when he went to his potty all by himself and ran out of the bathroom with his big announcement. JD continued to use his potty all day with only one minor accident. Since it seems that JD is willing to be potty trained, we are hoping that this three day weekend (4 day for me) will give us enough time to get him used to it. Wish us luck!

Nook Ideas

2011-08-29T13:25:00.000-07:00

So if you haven't guessed by now the "Awkward Nook" is the second project on my list of home improvement projects that I hope to have done in the next couple of weeks! I've received some really great advice on what to do with our nook and I've actually narrowed it down. I've decided on using it as a pantry/storage area. I plan on storing all of the cake plates, cupcake stands, pitches and large decorative jars I have laying around the house. I also plan on storing our wine and sparkling waters in the nook. Below are some really amazing spaces that I'm drawing my inspiration from, I just hope our nook will turn out as beautiful as these have!

Note: The front door is still in progress and is sanded down and ready for paint (we are just waiting for the upcoming 3 day weekend)!

Image by: Better Homes and Gardens

Image by: Bliss

Image by: Better Homes and Gardens

Awkward Nook

2011-08-25T22:47:00.000-07:00

We've lived in our home nearly 8 months now and we are still learning so much about it and about being homeowners. I think by the time we finish changing all the things around our home to fit our taste, it will be time to start all over again! Well this leads me to the one place in our home which completely baffles us; the "awkward nook". We have this really strange nook between our living room and our kitchen that serves absolutely no purpose. We've assumed that the previous owners might have used it as a place for their home theater system, but we on the other hand can't figure out what to do with it, except to store junk. It's not actually part of the kitchen so I'm not sure if it could be a small pantry and since it's a bit hidden, picture frames and trinkets seem pointless. We recently painted it to match the living room (I'll post pictures soon), so now I'm looking for ideas! If you have any, I'm totally up for suggestions but please keep in mind we have a crazy 2 year old living with us!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-24T08:51:00.000-07:00

Urth Caffé Downtown Los Angeles

2011-08-22T23:20:00.000-07:00

If you love coffee as much as I do and you happen to be in Downtown Los Angeles, you have to stop by Urth Caffé in the Arts District. Urth Caffé was established in 1989 and is America's first exclusively organic coffee company. Their coffee is not only delicious but incredibly artistic too!

Teal Door Love

2011-08-17T11:39:00.000-07:00

My list of projects has recently grown and I've actually given myself a timeline, scary! I'm having a small get together at our home in mid September (I'll post a little more about this soon) and there are three home improvement projects I would love to have done before then. The first project is to paint our front door. I've wanted to do this since the day we moved in, but it has taken me this long to decide on the color (hubby leaves the color choices up to me). I originally wanted to paint our door red, but in recent months have completely fallen in love with teal and aqua doors. I'm hoping to get this project done this weekend, wish me luck. Here are a few of my favorites teal doors, aren't they gorgeous!

Image: LaLaLovely

Image: On The Run

Image: In Between Laundry

Image: Pink Wallpaper Design

Redondo Beach Pier

2011-08-15T11:48:00.000-07:00

On Saturday hubby took us brunch and after that we headed down to the Redondo Beach Pier for a stroll. I actually grew up in Redondo Beach, California and the pier was one of my favorite places to visit as a child, especially since they have an arcade. Although the pier has changed significantly in the last 20 years the Fun Factory (arcade) hasn't changed a bit and JD seemed to enjoy it just as much as I did, so many years ago!

JD's Robot Room Feature

2011-08-12T10:51:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I received another wonderful email from Carrie of Apartment Therapy letting me know that now JD's big boy robot room was being featured on Ohdeedoh! I was thrilled about the feature, but even more thrilled about the emails I've received requesting more information on our decor purchases and re-purposing projects. Thanks for the feature Apartment Therapy!

Our New Porch Railing

2011-08-11T10:56:00.000-07:00

In January I posted about how excited I was that we were getting an estimate on some much needed porch railing for our new home. Well, lets just say that the estimate they gave us was beyond ridiculous (over $1000) and made hubby seriously consider the whole DIY approach to home remodeling. A couple weeks ago hubby finally did it, he went out and bought the porch railing kit (under $350 from Lowes) and his dad came over and helped him install it.

I really love our new porch railing and the fact that hubby is becoming my very own Bob Vila! Since one home improvement project always leads to another, now I think it's time to repaint the porch, buy a new door and add some decor!

To see our porch before the railing click here.

Cabrillo Marine Aquarium: Robotics By The Sea

2011-08-10T10:23:00.000-07:00

On Saturday we took JD to the Cabrillo Marine Aquarium for their Robotics By The Sea Event. This event was definitely geared for children a little older than JD, but he still had fun and even made friends with a very ferocious shark!

Circus Inspired Toys at IKEA

2011-08-09T12:36:00.000-07:00

I'm a huge fan of IKEA and I'm always in awe of the super cute and inexpensive designs that I come across on my monthly (sometimes weekly) visits! Last week I stopped by the children's department of IKEA and came across their new line of circus inspired toys. Most of them are so new I couldn't even find them online, but I assure if you stop by your local IKEA you will not be disappointed. These toys are not only a great addition to a circus or carnival inspired party, but a great addition to any child's toy collection!

CIRKUSTÄLT Children's tent

$19.99

SAGOSTEN
Elephant Air Pillow

$24.99

LEKA CIRKUS

Rattle, assorted designs

$3.99

LEKA CIRKUS

Mobile

$9.99

Ice Cream Cups

2011-08-08T09:13:00.000-07:00

Here is a sneak peek of another super cute item coming to Quaintly Amusing this week, ice cream cups. Each cup comes with a lid, a wooden ice cream spoon and you will also receive a PDF of printable fancy topping labels, to make your very own topping signs!

Clear Cupcake Favors

2011-08-05T10:11:00.000-07:00

I've been working on a few new items for the shop and I'm hoping that by the end of the month I will have them all listed on Etsy and posted on the Quaintly Amusing website! I did want to share one new item that I will list this weekend, clear cupcake favors! Each favor will come with a cupcake cup, a lid and a super cute wooden spoon. You will also be able to add cupcake liners and ribbon to your order. Here's a sneak peek!

Craigslist: IKEA Storage Bench

2011-08-04T14:55:00.000-07:00

Have I mentioned how much I love Craigslist! For a couple of weeks now I've been searching high and low for a cute storage bench to place under a window between our dining room and the door that leads out to our back patio (a place to store shoes and JD's random living room toys). Yesterday I finally decided I was just going to build one, but made one last attempt to find a reasonably priced one on Craigslist. I came across a listing for an IKEA storage bench for $25 and although for that price I didn’t think it would be what I was looking for I clicked on the link anyways. I was pleasantly surprised. Needless to say I wound up getting it and I wanted to thank my wonderful daddy for picking it up for me. Now I just need to find some pretty fabric to cover the cushion seat. Isn’t it so cute!

IKEA White Storage Bench

(Discontinued)

Retail: $120.00

I paid: $25.00

Wordless Wednesday

2011-08-03T00:00:00.000-07:00

Orange County Fair 2011

2011-08-02T13:27:00.000-07:00

On Sunday hubby needed some quiet time to study; so JD, his aunties and myself headed out to the Orange County Fair. The OC Fair is in town until August 14th 2011 and children 5 years of age and younger are free!

Phineas and Ferb The Movie: Across the 2nd Dimension

2011-08-01T10:29:00.000-07:00

The countdown to Phineas and Ferb The Movie has begun at our house! Phineas and Ferb is JD's favorite cartoon and I am not ashamed to admit that our whole family loves watching it too, so when we heard that a Phineas and Ferb movie was being released we were all so excited. Although there is a sneak peek today (On Demand) we plan on waiting until Friday to have a Phineas and Ferb Movie Night! If you plan on having your own movie night, stop by Target. They have tons of cool Phineas and Ferb items in their dollar section!

Phineas and Ferb: Across the 2nd Dimension will premiere on the Disney Channel on Friday, August 5 at 8:00pm ET/PT, with a sneak On Demand preview beginning on August 1.

Pinterest: Bathroom Inspiration

2011-07-28T11:20:00.000-07:00

Now that JD's room is done I’ve decided to move on to the next room of the house that needs a little sprucing up, our bathroom! We don't plan on doing anything major, especially since we eventually want to put in a second bathroom, but we would like to make our one and only bathroom a tad more functional and well, pretty (pretty being my goal). I've started a new pin board on Pinterest of bathroom inspirations and wanted to share a few of my favorite pins, for the entire board click here!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-27T00:13:00.000-07:00

KidSwitch

2011-07-26T10:37:00.000-07:00

Now that JD has his big boy room, we also wanted to give him a little more independence and the ability to come in an out of his room as he pleases! We recently purchased this KidSwitch glow in the dark light switch extender and I have to admit it has been one of the coolest little gadgets we have ever purchased. JD loves the fact that he can turn his light on and off all by himself, we no longer have to turn it on for him and it's also helping us teach him how to be responsible. This gadget is inexpensive, super easy to install and works with almost every type of switch plate!

KidSwitch allows kids to SAFELY reach and operate room lights! No more worry about falling off toys. Parents don't have to constantly turn lights on and off for the kids. Kids learn at an early age how to turn the lights OFF when they leave the room! Very good for the wallet and the environment!

JD's Robot Room

2011-07-25T11:13:00.000-07:00

I'm finally done with JD's room, he now has a room fit for a big boy who loves robots! Since the re-do he's been spending a lot more time in his new room and amazingly even manages to keep his room pretty clean. When ever someone comes to visit he immediately drags them to his room and wants to play, which makes me so happy. I didn't have an exact budget in mind for his new room remodel but did manage to keep our spending down by re-purposing existing furniture and doing most of my shopping on Craigslist and at IKEA!

Valspar Heritage Blue Paint: Lowes
Life-Size Red Vintage Robot: Made by Abu (JD's grandpa)
Robot Canvas by Peter Freeman: HomeGoods
Petra Modern Toddler Bed: Craigslist
Hampton Bay Metarie 24 inch Ceiling Fan: Home Depot
IKEA MALM Dresser: Craiglist
Book Ledges: IKEA RIBBA Frame Ledge
DVD Storage: IKEA BEKVÄM Spice Rack
Picture Frames: IKEA RIBBA Frame
Martha Stewart Green Fabric Bins: Home Depot
Circo Robot Bedding: Target

Outdoor Cinema Food Fest

2011-07-21T11:25:00.000-07:00

Hubby works in Downtown Los Angeles, so he's always finding really interesting places to visit and things to do! Last weekend we attended the Outdoor Cinema Food Fest at Grand Hope Park and I wanted to share some information and a few pictures of this fabulous summer event.

Outdoor Cinema Food Fest is a summer event series featuring outdoor movies, live music and gourmet food trucks in rotating parks throughout Los Angeles. Dedicated to creating and nurturing a community of entertainment and food enthusiasts, Outdoor Cinema Food Fest promotes a cool environment to kick back and relax. Watch movies on the LARGEST outdoor movie screen on the west coast, standing three stories tall and 52 feet wide.

Introducing new food trucks every week, Outdoor Cinema Food Fest is the perfect opportunity to try something deliciously different. It’s the ultimate picnic - no basket required!

So if you’re looking for something fun to do this summer, I totally recommend stopping by. The food and atmosphere are great and depending on the movie being featured the environment is super kid friendly!

Quaintly Amusing Giveaway

2011-07-19T09:54:00.000-07:00

Cool Kids, one of my favorite blogs is hosting a Quaintly Amusing Giveaway! This giveaway is for a $30 gift certificate to my shop. I will be adding new items to the shop this week, so now is the perfect time to visit Quaintly Amusing Etsy Shop and an even better time to win a $30 gift certificate. Please visit Cool Kids for all the details!

Thanks to Cool Kids for hosting this giveaway!

Target: Phineas and Ferb

2011-07-17T17:30:00.000-07:00

JD loves Phineas and Ferb and this weekend I hit the jackpot when I came across all this awesome Phineas and Ferb stuff at Target. All these items can be found in the dollar section at Target!

Dressing Up A Dresser

2011-07-15T10:34:00.000-07:00

JD's room is almost done! I've finished most of the major decor elements but I have a few more things to hang on the walls before it's official. In the meantime I wanted to share my latest Craigslist find. After we found JD's new big boy bed, I wanted to find a matching birch dresser and really liked the MALM dresser from IKEA. I was not about to spend $99 on a dresser I planned on painting and drilling holes into, so I began my search on Craigslist and well, I ended it there too!

I found this MALM 4 Drawer Dresser which retails for $99 for $25 on Craigslist.

It was in pretty good shape, it just needed a little sanding, paint

decorative drawer handles

and voilà JD's new dresser!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-13T00:00:00.000-07:00

Ohdeedoh Feature

2011-07-12T11:36:00.000-07:00

This morning I received a wonderful email from Carrie of Apartment Therapy letting me know that JD's Robots & Rockets Birthday Party was being featured on Ohdeedoh today!

Apartment Therapy is one of my favorite home décor website and a constant source of inspiration. Their mission is to help people make their homes more beautiful, organized and healthy by connecting them to a wealth of resources, ideas and communities online.

Ohdeedoh is a subdivision of Apartment Therapy and is a site for people who care about good design, but happen to have children! Ohdeedoh is an amazing resource for design ideas, art projects, product recommendations, real children's parties and photo tours of real nurseries and kids' rooms.

I'm so elated that JD's party was featured today and hope that it will inspire more retro toy themed parties. Thank you for the feature Apartment Therapy!

Natural History Museum: New Dinosaur Hall

2011-07-11T14:43:00.000-07:00

If there's anything JD loves as much as robots, it's dinosaurs! On Sunday the three of us took a little trip to the Natural History Museum in hopes that we would get a sneak peek at the New Dinosaur Hall; well it turns out our membership doesn't expire until August (woohoo), and July 10th thru July 15th is Member Preview Week! Here are a few of my favorite pictures and a little sneak peek of the new Dinosaur Hall.

LYKTA Robot Lamp

2011-07-07T11:34:00.000-07:00

I've been working on JD's "Robot" big boy room for over a week now and I'm only a few steps away from the big (not that big) reveal! I wanted to give you guys a sneak peek of his new DIY LYKTA Robot Lamp; not only because I thought it was pretty cool but because it's super simple to make, inexpensive and versatile!

Wordless Wednesday

2011-07-06T00:44:00.000-07:00

Slate Blue Paint Inspiration

2011-06-30T10:31:00.000-07:00

My friend Kristin from a A Simply Klassic Home has been working on her kid's rooms and has not only inspired me to get started on JD's room but has given me some great decorating advice. Since the new bed we purchased for JD has a birch finish I've decided to paint his room a darker color and find a few more matching birch furniture pieces. Choosing a color has been really hard but after coming across the room design below I knew exactly the color to choose, Slate Blue; now I just have to narrow it down to a specific slate blue!

Source: bloesem living

Pink and Gray Baby Shower

2011-06-29T09:42:00.000-07:00

On Sunday I hosted a baby shower luncheon for my very dear friend and JD's Nina, Patty! Patty is due in a few weeks and we are all very excited to meet baby Sofia. I chose pink and gray as the colors for the shower and once I found the perfect invitation I built everything else around it! Here is a little peek at the party decor.

Invitation Digital File by Andrea Gerig Designs
Pink Sparkling Cake Pops by Zendeja's Goodies
Cupcake Wrappers by Bella Cupcake Couture
Yarn Pom Garland by Short Cake Party Picks
Plastic French Bottles & Candy Tubes and Labels by Quaintly Amusing
Flower Arrangements & Sofia Banner by Me

Arlington Petra Toddler Bed

2011-06-28T10:05:00.000-07:00

For a few weeks now I've been looking for a toddler bed for JD, hoping that getting rid of his crib would not only inspire me to start working on his big boy room, but would help him sleep in his own room on a regular basis! We wanted a modern bed that was low to the ground, sturdy, safe and would match with his robot themed decor. I came across the Arlington Petra Toddler Bed and got really excited but after seeing the price tag, a whopping $300 I was pretty bummed out.

Well, yesterday I started browsing on Craigslist for toddler beds and came across the listing "Designer Toddler Bed $150" I don't know what made me click on the link but can you believe it was actually the Petra toddler bed! I called the seller right away and asked if it was still available (it was) and if he would take $100 for it and he would, best of all the family lived about 5 minutes away from us. We brought the bed home cleaned it up and before we could even get it in the room, JD brought his whole bedding set out to the living room and laid in his new bed!

Last night I laid down with JD (the bed is very sturdy and supports over 300lb), watched cartoons and he actually fell asleep in his very own big boy bed for the very first time!

Pitchers of Peonies

2011-06-25T23:59:00.000-07:00

I purchased these lovely galvanized tin pitchers from Michael's a couple weeks ago for a baby shower luncheon I'm hosting tomorrow. After obsessing over peonies all week, I thought it would only be fitting to add them to the arrangements I was making; so I headed to the Flower Mart in Los Angeles early this morning to find the perfect shade of baby pink peonies, aren't they just beautiful!

Mozzarella & Bruschetta Crostini

2011-06-24T09:32:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite comfort foods is bruschetta, I know that may seem weird but I love it, it makes me happy. I try to find new and interesting ways to eat it; instead of just eating it with a spoon straight out of the bowl, yes I have been known to do that. So here is one yummy way to prepare it, which pairs perfectly with a pasta dinner and a glass (or two) of wine!

Mozzarella & Bruschetta Crostini

Ingredients:

1/2 loaf par-baked bread
8 oz. fresh mozzarella sliced
16 oz. assorted heirloom cherry tomatoes, quartered
Extra virgin olive oil
1-2 clove garlic, peeled and minced
2 tablespoons balsamic vinegar
3 leaves chopped fresh basil
Sea salt and fresh ground pepper to taste

Toss tomatoes, minced garlic, basil, 3 tablespoons olive oil, balsamic vinegar, 1 teaspoon sea salt and a pinch of pepper in a bowl, refrigerate until ready to serve.

Preheat oven to 350F. Slice bread loaf into 1 inch slices, brush each side with olive oil and place on a baking sheet. Bake bread slices for about 10-15 minutes or until lightly browned; bread should be toasted on the outside but soft on the inside.

Once bread cools, add a slice of fresh mozzarella and top with bruschetta. Enjoy!

Pinterest {New Addiction}: Peonies

2011-06-23T09:41:00.000-07:00

I love Pinterest, I have to admit I'm actually addicted; I even find myself missing days of Twitter updates and answering Facebook comments hours later all because of my new addiction! This week I'm loving Peonies and have been pinning them like crazy, they are so pretty, dainty and just plain girly! Here is one of my favorite Peony pins, to see more visit my Oh So Pretty Board on Pinterest.

Source: Dreamy Whites