Best of the Design/Home Decor Web

One of my new favorite blogs is called Forever Is Today. The writer is a 22 year old graphic designer/photographer from Sweden. In particular I love her picture wall (some of the frames are empty), and the framed Polaroid photos.

I just love the framed Polaroids. Makes me want to get my Polaroid camera out and take some pictures!

The way she composes each picture is amazing. Hilda, can you come decorate my house?

Other things I like about this girl are: she loves Reese's, chai lattes, and thrifting. If you love great photography and design, visit her blog. I am completely inspired.

Yeah, Toast!

Kendall's new favorite food.

Simple Toys

Strange eskimo baby with her favorite video game: Gears of War. Veeeerrrry appropriate for children. Don't worry.


Kendall and her favorite spice. Cumin, of course!


The requisite "hair" picture. It's finally starting to grow on the sides! Too bad, I kinda liked the curly faux-hawk.


Side view.


Kids always seem to love the simplest toys the best, don't they? Stacking rings from the resale shop (a classic toy), blocks, books...Kendall's favorites. Add to that list: spoons mama hands her while she's cooking, bowls, empty cardboard boxes...basically anything that isn't a traditional "toy."


I just love this shirt on her..so hippy-chick!


Playing with a spork and circle shape. Look at the shoes!! Target, baby!


I had to throw in this picture of some gorgeous hydrangeas form Trader Joe's. I told Brandon that if he ever wants to impress a girl, just get her some flowers. He said, "Or take her out to dinner, right?" This boy's on the right track! Speaking of...


This one and I went to mother-son night at his school on Friday. There was a spaghetti dinner complete with mile-long dessert bar (nobody could have possibly eaten all that sugar in one night. Not even 1,000 boys. Seriously, there were a lot of cupcakes. I may have sampled one. Or two), a magician (The Amazing Dana), a photo booth (long line, we didn't get a picture), and lots of running around the play structures screaming at the top of their lungs in the dark. The miracle was that nobody got hurt. It's like they all had night-vision goggles on.


They had goodie bags for the boys with magic tricks. Remember this "Fortune-telling Fish?" According to the fish Brandon is jealous and I am passionate.


Simple toys...

And then I baked...cupcakes.

And they were sooooooooo good.


So light and airy. With fluffy frosting- not too much. A few sugar pearls that lightly crunch in your mouth...


It's really all about presentation, isn't it?

Hope you all had a great weekend, too!

Nicknames

Everyone has 'em. Some are nice. Some are...not so. Here are some of Kendall's.

Sweetie. Sweetie pie. Angel.

Bubee. Baby girl.

Shenanigans. Shenaners (pronounced like bananers).
Gorgeous.

Trouble.

Mr. Kendall.

Bill Murray.

What are some of the nicknames you've given your loved ones, or been given? I would love to here.


And on a side note, of course I have been crafting!! Here is a decoupaged picture frame I made using the Tomkat Studio as my inspiration. Aren't her frames shamazing? The one I made turned out pretty good- I like it for a couple reasone. 1) rhinestones. 2) damask print paper 3) flower 4) $1 picture frame from Michael's means this project was cheapy-cheap. But doesn't it look expensive?





Aly

True.

photo by emdot via Lifehacker

Percolating in My Own Inefficiency...

Let's start with this...


Notice how, on our wedding day, my husband is making the "grand entrance" into our reception waaaaaay ahead of me. I must have been royally lagging, right?


Yes, I grabbed his arm like I was yanking a toddler away from the street- what of it?

Seriously though, I had to "remind" him that we should enter together. Of course, they were playing my favorite song (You Sexy Thang by Hot Chocolate), and I may have been dancing a little. Ok, a lot.

That little story is what I like to call a "precursor" to this next one.

So, today as we were all getting in the car to schlep off to work and school and the Goodwill store (more on that at a later time, but I do love me some thrift shopping!), there was a moment where we were all set to go. I had actually backed out of the driveway with myself, my daughter, son, and husband (his car is broke. BMW- go figure) all buckled up and ready for the day. Then I stopped.

There was a blinding glare in my eyes. What had I forgotten?

Yep, sunglasses. It's totally bright and I really need them. And they are not in my car. Babydaddy gives me this look. It was an I-know-you're-not-going-back-inside-for-your-sunglasses look. Have you ever seen that one before? It usually comes with an eyeroll. At least, from my husband or 8-year-old.

But, so not a big deal, right? Right? These were the exact words that came forth from my beloved's mouth, "I'm not going to sit here percolating in your inefficiency."

Exsqueeze me?! Percolating in my inefficiency??!!

Puh-leeze. I mean, what is the big deal? But I couldn't be too mad. He had good word choice. If there is one thing I love it is a well-spoken person.

And later when I thought about it, I have to admit that I do a lot of percolating myself. In my own inefficiency, of course. And dancing...

Babies Rock!

What a fun weekend! First the baby shower and then a friend's first birthday! I couldn't resist making our friend a bowtie. I just know he will look so cute in this! I have to thank RufflesNStuff for her amazing tutorials. She is truly inspiring. Here is a link to the bowtie tutorial on her website.

I used the bowtie as the bow on top of the gift. Inside was an applique'd shirt and bib in the same guitar themed fabric I used for my nephew's gift (as seen below).

Soooo, how much fun did I have making this gift for my nephew? TONS! I got this awesome designer fabric on etsy.com- it's called, "Groovy Guitars." Cute, right? And perfect, given that my bro has been playing since we were knee high to a leprechaun (??)

Anyways, once I started making things I couldn't stop! Thanks to all the wonderful tutorials on various websites I was able to come up with some pretty cool stuff.

Here is the complete gift (minus the cute applique shirt that I did last-minute and don't have a pic of!)

Going clockwise and starting in the back you can see the diaper wipes clutch with Velcro diaper strap and diapers, 2 burp cloths, bib, booties, and pacifier clip.

Let's take a closer look, shall we?

Awesome diaper clutch tutorial found here.
I added a strap to the top to hold some diapers. I did this because my diapers and wipes are always all over the place in my diaper bag. I thought it would be nice to pull out the clutch and have the diapers right there, too. There is a lot of velcro to hold a little or a lot of diapers.

Pacifier clip



Awesome kimono booties made with a great tutorial found here. What an amazing and easy-to-follow tutorial! So nice of her to give the pattern away for free. Love it!

Once again, here it all is together. I hope they like it...I certainly had fun making it for little Dean.

All this from one yard of fabric. And I have a lot left, too. I am planning on making something for Brandon out of it next... :)