style details

the goods

I guess in my last post I didn’t give a proper report back with how the props worked out. In all honesty, I won’t know till I see our proofs but I can say that my son wasn’t feeling them. Here’s the break down.

The BIg Orange Lollipop: I was already worried about the lollipop since Graycen has never had one and sure enough, he was clueless on what to do with it. Mimi (the photographer) tried to give him a lesson on licking but it was useless.

Our Cool-as-ever Soda Cans: I had these funked out coca cola bottles that I thought would be fun. I knew in order to get my son to drink from the thing I had to fill it with something that would make him cooperate so I turned to our trusty friend, Soda. I was smart enough to think it though and fill the bottle with Ginger Ale as to avoid clothing stains but what I didn’t think about was the big wet spot that would appear on his crotch when he dumped the bottle over and poured it into his lap.

The Top (or is it a Dress): The dress turned top was either a hit or a miss. I’m not sure yet but when Mimi asked us to remove my sons sweater which by then had lollipop goo on it I had to protest and explain the top was really a dress – hence certain girl details were visible if we removed the sweater. The look on her face when I explained this was priceless. Mid way through the shoot we did a top change so we shall see.

The Big Yellow Balloon: As for the balloon, that sucker was hard to get filled. We had to take it to 4 shops before we found someone willing to inflate it. I hadn’t expected that and by the time we hit up the fourth store I waited in a nearby park while my husband went in to beg the store keeper. They obliged and filled that sucker up. However for whatever reason my husband didn’t have the keeper fill the balloon to it’s 3 feet capacity so in the end we got a big balloon but much smaller then 3 feet. I’m not sure how it worked out in the shoot. My son wasn’t feeling this prop either but it was fun to have.

Now that this is over I can begin to turn my energy (and worries) towards his birthday.

my saturday

yellow balloon

Yesterday I would have to say that motherhood was hard. We’re approaching Graycen’s second birthday and I think he wanted to welcome in his birthday month with a really over the top temper tantrum that lasted ALL DAY. I kept my humor for the most part because when shit hits the fan with a toddler you have to grasp onto the bright side (and there always is one).

Our photo shoot was in the early evening and our photographer Mimi Inglin was phenomenal. She was patient and amazing and really rolled with the punches. Every curve ball my son threw her way she handled with grace. When he threw his big orange lollipop on the ground and smeared it into the grass she kept on going. When he dumped soda all over his outfit she didn’t make a peep. When he ignored all of her directions and insisted on running off she just rolled with it. And when it came time for family photos and my son wanted no part… we did them WITHOUT him.

I love my son and I love Mimi for being so great to work with. I’m certain that we’ll have some spectacular images but I can promise you, they weren’t easy for her to get.

master of everything

cupcake from Sugar Mamas Bakeshop, vanilla chocolate

cupcake from Sugar Mamas Bakeshop, jack lemon

For a while now I’ve wondered what it would be like to assist a Stylist. The job seems so fun… hard but fun. Well, this weekend my son is getting his photo taken so it occurred to me, I can be my own Stylist. Yikes!

If you’re thinking I’ve just bitten off more then I can chew then you’re probably right. I do work full time, things are crazy, I’m enrolled in school which includes homework and well.. time is limited. But not only is time limited, I have recently vowed to be more economical so it’s fair to question where is the fun in this task.

I basically gave myself two days to get everything in order with only my lunch break as my window of time. Well, well.. I am clearly an amateur out of her element and things are just hysterical at this point. The good – I have decided on a Kate Spade feel. Bright happy colors that work in an awkward sort of way. The bad – mentally I am fixed on certain colors. Gah! Today I hit the stores on my lunch break and see a striped kelly green dress I’m in love with… but it’s a dress and I have a son. Not a problem I say. I’ve been clearly watching too much Project Runway because I instantly think.. “snip here, fold here – it’s a shirt.” My mother who went to fashion school seems to think this is hilarious. My husband – he’s just pissed I bought a dress for our son. Grr!!

Vision people!! Let’s have some vision…

I have also been collecting jumbo balloons for my sons birthday party but decided this week that I like it more for his photo shoot. Lets just say I’m no mathematician. When I tell my husband that I bought a 36 inch balloon and he’ll need to take it to get filled he screams “three feet?”

Huh! As in, that was my thought.

Then he explained that 36 inches equals 3 feet and even broke down the math for me. Now my mother is asking me how I plan to get the 3 foot balloon to the shoot location and I’m thinking… that’s a great thought. Oops. I’m not certain here but I don’t think that will clear the door on a cab. Fkk!

Maybe we’ll just give my son a cupcake and call it a wrap.

*cupcake photos from Sugar Mamas Bakeshop

art

Aren’t these prints by Blanca Gomez just lovely! You can purchase them here.

art by Blanca Gomez, The Family

art by Blanca Gomez, Monsieur-IV

art by Blanca Gomez, Lei

searching

britany murphy, source of image unknown

Life is pulling me in a lot of directions right now. If only I had crazy gorgeous legs, I might be able to experience this growth with a bit more grace and beauty.

home decor: walk in closet

My closet that I couldn’t stop yapping about way back when has been “done” for ages. Done as in as done as it’s going to be for the present time. I’ve moved on to other things. I need to arrange the images so I can show the progress I did make.

Soon, I promise.

our closet

hooded out

There is something appealing about these ring by Philippe Tournaire in a Carrie Bradshaw sort of way. Carrie the character has always been toted as this fashion icon but I always felt her clothing bordered on fresh with drops of offensiveness. But that’s also why I loved her so much.. she was gorgeous regardless of how absurd some of her outfits were. I think these rings have that same feel.. fresh and new but kind of absurd. They will definitely give you street cred.

Philippe Tournaire, Paris Ring

Philippe Tournaire, Chinese Villa

Philippe Tournaire, New York

friday randomness

I’m overwhelmingly busy right now and I don’t really do well with this state of madness. It’s like I’m bursting at the seem and my head hurts non-stop. But I am getting a lot done. I have a lot of ideas jumping around in my head and visions of grandness are shooting at me non-stop. So there is some good and I am accomplishing a lot. I do apologize for the lack of posts.

Hopefully next week will be better in these parts.

found on Flickr, koreana from Mays Country

home made sewing kit - via picnic by ellie

august recipe: ice cream sandwiches

 

 

Williams Sonoma Ice Cream Sandwich kit

 

My August recipes were a total bust and left me feeling like a bit of a tool. I could write at length about it but that would probably be a pretty boring post. Suffice to say I didn’t give the recipes much thought until the final days of the month. I quickly narrowed my slim pickings down to three recipes and went shopping… more problems arose and in the end I only made one recipe.

The recipe I ended up making was by Williams-Sonoma. Back in December I picked up an ice cream sandwich kit that was on sale and just screamed of cuteness. The kit included a brownie recipe along with cookie cutters to make a cowboy boot, a sherif badge and of course that all too necessary cowboy hat. Upon my first assembly of an ice cream cookie the following comedy ensued…

ice cream sandwich flop

 

Peeps.. when I pushed the ice cream out of the mold this is what I got.. clearly my ice cream was too soft.

Now, I’m all about honesty so here’s the deal. I managed to assemble one more cookie after the above that came out way better but it wasn’t perfect. That’s when I quickly got over my desire to perfect an August recipe and didn’t attempt to assemble anything else.

As for the taste, it was “ehh.” I don’t know if it was the ice cream or the brownies (I think it was the brownie) but something had a menthol taste (to me at least). I would have preferred a more sweet tasting “cookie” i.e. brownie. My husband said the ratio of cookie to ice cream was off and he would have preferred the brownies to be thinner. I get what he is saying and completely agree… BUT at the thickness I had made the brownies I was having trouble keeping them intact. If I ever dare to make these again I’ll use a different recipe for the base of my cookie.

 

brownies using the WS recipe

finished recipe - ice cream sandwich made with brownie "cookies"

If anyone else has gotten a WS Ice Cream Sandwich kit I would love to hear the outcome of their attempts.

home decor: craft space

image via Martha Stewart

image via my life time

image via country home

Just some images to keep me thinking about my someday craft space. I really do wish I had already taken the plunge.