I somehow got talked into seeing Mall Cop 2 this weekend. Oh, please help me. There may not be enough popcorn and Milk Duds to get me through! It is Mother’s Day in a week or so, so this week’s inspiration serves as a short wish list of sorts.
Tacos, mini pies and a rockin’ pair of shades! Love big. It’s in the details.
1. I can’t stop thinking about the people of Nepal. I would love to see this beautiful country.
2. I tried on these shades and instantly fell in love. But they cost so many $$$$.
Yay! It’s Friday. What are you up to this weekend? More little boy baseball and time with my parents are on our schedule. Hoping to squeeze in hang time with my cute hubby, just the two of us.
And another week to be inspired. Love Big. It’s in the details. Enjoy your weekend!
After a long sunny break with big kids, I am dying to travel more and more! That along with a jar of “only the marshmallows” from Lucky Charms, this week’s details are certainly inspired by my spending a week with my family. Here is a week’s worth of inspiration! Have a lovely weekend.
Easter eggs. I jumped outside the box this year! Being unconventional can be a ton of fun.
While cruising through Target last week, I spotted this egg decorating wrap. {I found it near the party goods in my store, in case you want to look for it.} It looked easy enough, so I went for it. Using Mod Podge and Q-Tips, I was able to glue the baker’s twine to the egg. Be warned- this took a lot of patience, so really young kids might find it frustrating. The wider pieces of ribbon had an adhesive sticker backing. Simply peel and stick. I like how they turned out. Colorful and a bit wacky! {Also note, if the eggs are cold -condensation can cause the decorating process to be tricky.}
Oh, and just for fun, I tried a temporary tattoo. Little Man had a spare Angry Birds tat from a recent doctor’s visit. Total success! Peel off the protective film, press firmly with a damp cloth or sponge, and that’s it! Any temporary tattoo will work, so your kids can personalize their eggs. You can dye them first if you want a pop of extra color! The possibilities are endless with this one!
Don’t skip decorating eggs this year. There is still time. Just get creative!
Big W had a Little League baseball game last night. I could tell he was going to have a great game when he struck out swinging during his first at-bat. And I was right! Two more turns at the plate brought swings, foul tips, and a throw out at first. He gave a top-notch effort and had his best game of the season. I know you are probably wondering if I am being serious, right? I am 100% serious and seriously proud!
While I cheered wildly for his strike out, many parents looked over their shoulders-wondering if I had lost my mind. You see, W has probably been up to bat fifteen times this season and had not swung the bat once. Not once. {This is actually a carry over from last season as well.} Only he knows why. But last night he stepped up to the plate and swung at the first pitch.
What have I learned? Be patient with your kids. They are not on all on the same trajectory. It is difficult to watch your child struggle. But, struggle teaches resiliency. Be a great team parent. Get to know the kids on your child’s team. Scream madly when the kid that never gets a hit, suddenly ends up on first. Tell those babies that you love to watch them play. Cheer on every success, even if that success is a strike out! Find the lessons in the game outside of being an all-star. Encourage them to grow as person and as a teammate. Tell them to have fun and be great.
I can’t wait to watch him play next. Who knows, he may even get a hit!
After living in our house almost 8 years, I finally replaced the dining room light which I have hated since the moment we moved in. {It was a perfectly nice light, jut not my style.} I have been obsessed with the Jonathan Adler Sputnik Chandelier for a long, long time-but it will most likely never fit into my budget. I began looking for alternatives and even asked for your help. In the end I couldn’t give up my quest for a Sputnik and returned to my search determined to find one within my budget. The inter-web gods were listening I somehow stumbled upon Practical Props and my prayers were answered. This lovely little lighting shop in Los Angeles, took my order over the phone, customized the drop for my space, and shipped my light to me in two days. After a little research I found that most designers agree that lights should hang somewhere between 30″ and 36″ above the table. I customized our light to hang 36″ above the table. Our old light was incredibly low {See before picture below}. The quality of the fixture is amazing and I truly love how it looks above our table.
The before and after pictures are a little more dramatic than in real life, thanks to a better camera and a super sunny day in the after shot. However, you can see how the old light was heavy in appearance and very low to the table! We are so very happy now. With 18 individual bulbs the light is abundant from this fixture. It is excellent that a dimmer switch was already installed.
So, now I just have a few finishing touches and this space will be complete.
After months of contemplation, I finally painted one of the walls and created a chalkboard wall. I don’t have a good wide angle lens, so I am not able to capture the entire wall in a shot. Well, now that it’s done – I need to write on it! Below I edited the picture to show what it will hopefully look like when I get over myself and just write something. {Yes, admittedly, I am a perfectionist and wish I was amazing at hand lettering.} Stay tuned.
Lastly, I felt like I finally had enough pieces to hang a gallery wall. I gathered five pieces and varied the frames and mats. In the end, I stuck to a fairly monochromatic palette. {It is almost impossible for me to take a picture without glare from the windows. Sorry!} In gray I have shown the size of pieces I would like to add in the future. Also, I still think I need a piece of furniture below the art to anchor it in the room. My husband is fighting this because the space is not very large. These extremely slim console tables might be the answer. Two, side-by-side, in white would be perfection! I sketched their profile under the art work. What do you think?
For each space in my house, I am constantly dreaming and scheming. While there is still much to do, I am really happy how this small space is coming together.
I am in a breakfast rut. Most mornings I have a hard boiled egg, some fruit, and a cup of coffee. After making polenta for dinner a week or so ago, I decided it would also be delicious for breakfast. Time to change things up! I made my breakfast polenta with milk to make it creamy. The toppings, like oatmeal, make the bowl sing. I added pure maple syrup and strawberries. Other toppings or add-ins might include: vanilla, brown sugar, cinnamon, blueberries, blackberries, heavy cream. The possibilities are endless.
It took less than 10 minutes to make. While not instant, it is still a quick and easy breakfast!
CREAMY BREAKFAST POLENTA
1/2 cup Corn Grits or corn meal { I used Bob’s Red Mill Corn Grits}
1 1/2 cup Milk
Bring milk to a boil. Add corn grits and reduce heat. Cook for about 5 minutes, stirring occasionally. Remove from heat and cover for a couple of minutes. Add desired toppings and enjoy! Serves 2.
I have always said that I have inferior ear lobes. My friends laugh at this statement, but it’s true. I have never been able to wear earrings with any weight to them. They stretch my lobe really long and it looks ridiculous, in my opinion. That is why I stick to studs and light hoops. {I went out on a limb when I bought these beauties!}
So when I came across Lobe Wonder | Earring Support Patches, I ordered them on the spot. I have always loved Kendra Scott’s gorgeous earrings, but they are too heavy for me. I guess others have the same issue! The patches are simple oval stickers that you adhere to the back of your ear lobe. Put your earring in normally and pierce through the patch. The weight is supported by the patch, which decreases stretch.
Can I say that these little patches may have changed my life? While the change is not drastic, you can really tell a difference. Most importantly, the weight of the earring felt dramatically less while I was wearing the patches.
Seriously, amazing! Now, which earrings will I buy to celebrate? Maybe these or these!
