It’s been unseasonably warm here… I mean it’s California so thats a little bit of a joke, but I’m not ready for summer yet. After spending half a decade living in Ottawa, Canada, a place that is buried in snow from November to April you would think that I couldn't get enough summer. While there are a lot of things about a Canadian winter that I don't miss, there are some things you can only experience during one, like getting all bundled up to go out for a night time walk after a snow fall when the world is all sparkly and so quiet. And honestly I’m just not ready to give up my boots and sweaters yet either.

This is a dressy-casual outfit for me, my jeans are black that’s how you know. I think that this is a classic, still comfortable but a step up from my regular jeans and a t-shirt. A scarf adds a little texture and interest and if you don't need it for extra warmth you could use a lighter material like linen or silk to add some color. Please ignore my expressions above, I think I was aiming for blue steel and ended up with resting bitch face... I'm still working on this posing thing, its hard.

scarf Burberry | shirt J Crew | jeans J Crew | boots Belle by Sigerson Morrison (similar here)   

I feel like this is going to be one of the last winter outfits that i’m going to be showing. Just one more reason to get started on that workout plan that I’ve been putting off for the last four and a half months…

My Valentine happens to be in China this year, which means a very nice Valentine's Day present for me (or else). But for the rest of you lucky enough to be spending the day with the someone you love, lust for or just like enough to make a fancy cocktail, this ones for you. I give you the Champagne Crush!

I feel no shame in admitting that I love Grape Crush soda, I actually love pop (where I come from we call it pop and you can't stop me, unlike spell check which automatically steals my ‘u’’s). As a child I was raised by a crazy dictator masquerading as my mother who forbade us most pleasures in life, namely sugar, t.v., and carbonated beverages. It was a hard life, and now I am a pop fiend. No lie, I would rather have a Dr. Pepper on a bad day then a glass of wine.

So what could be better then combining two of my most loved things on the day that celebrates love? Well, having my husband not be on another continent would be good, do I sound bitter? Moving on.


Champagne Crush

Champagne
Grape Crush
.5 oz. Gin
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This is a really easy recipe, not really a recipe at all more of a suggestion in fact. Pour a half ounce of gin into a champagne flute or glass of your choice, add Grape Crush to your desired amount and then top with Champagne. This drink can be made totally to your taste, does your sweetie love sweets? Then go with an asti Champagne. Prefer a drier drink with just a hint of grape goodness use a brute and just a touch of Grape Crush.

This cocktail is totally customizable so show the one you love how well you know them, and extra points if you use a pretty rimmer! Happy Valentines Day!

Teething and nursing jewelry made instant sense to me once I had my first baby. Babies have an intense desire to grab your hair, face and jewelry, they do not have any interest what-so-ever in the fancy teething rings or toys that you have put an immense amount of time and thought into procuring for them. Unfortunately, I find most teething jewelry to be not to my taste, big clunky silicon beads in bright colors. Then I found these necklaces from The Little Biting Tree. They are made out of raw Indian Lilac wood beads ,a vegetable dyed wool tassel, and actually look like jewelry an adult might wear.

I’ve been wearing mine consistently since I got it. It’s great for keeping the baby from chewing on my clothing and I always have something for her to play with on hand. Who doesn't like an excuse to buy some cute jewelry?

Valentine's Day is such a weird non-holiday holiday. I really don't feel like its a gift giving occasion, I mean don't get me wrong if you give me something I’m gonna keep it… And trying to go out anywhere seems like the worst idea to me. But I do love any excuse to make stuff, and then force that stuff on to other unsuspecting people as thoughtful gifts. Since I’m new to this whole toddler thing, this year was a bit on the fly. I ended up with two crafts along the same theme that are generally toddler friendly and best of all you can do them separately or combine them as the ultimate valentine!

Toddler’s love painting, it’s messy, creative and has that subtle air of destruction they find so enticing. This was my starting point. I’ve really settled on watercolors as the best toddler paint medium, they are easy to set-up, clean-up, and wash-up. So here are you’re instructions for toddler friendly watercolor valentine hearts. 

1. Place watercolor paper, or any paper of your choosing (I recommend something on the sturdier side as these will be used in a card-like fashion) in a safe toddler friendly place.
2. set toddler loose on paper with watercolor paints and brushes, they might need some encouragement…painting is fun for adults too!
3. allow genius abstract watercolor works of art to dry
4. trace hearts in the size and style of your choosing onto said works of art and cut out (I recommend waiting until the toddler is asleep or you’ll spend the majority of your time trying to reclaim the scissors and prevent an emergency room trip)

Once you’ve created your hearts the possibilities are endless!
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I made a batch of my favorite sugar cookie recipe and the cut them out into a couple different sized hearts and iced them with royal icing (for a more uniform look I recommend not holding a fussy baby while icing cookies). Once the icing is very dry you can paint on it with gel food coloring just like you did on your paper.  Use a fine tipped paint brush and some clear flavored extract or vodka ( you might want to pour yourself a glass at this point) to dip your brush in instead of water. This helps the food coloring spread more easily on the icing and the alcohol will make the drying time faster. If you’re toddler is anything like mine you’re going to have to pay extra close attention or else you will find that they have consumed all of the cookies and are now mainlining the food coloring, so maybe hold off on that glass of vodka for now…

This is were I get fancy, or this is as fancy as I get… I used the water color hearts as tags for little bags of water color cookies, meta I know. Seriously though this was an easy and fun little craft and I think that it looks pretty nice too. You should give it a try, even if you don't have a toddler, I won’t judge.

Well, it’s February and a whole month has passed since we all made those New Year’s resolutions. Which reminds me that I should actually get on those... Or not, I didn't make any. I’m not really a resolution kind of girl, I like to procrastinate bettering myself all year round. Though my husband and I are trying to make more of an effort at date night, so I guess you could call that a resolution.

I love the look of over-the-knee boots, but the juxtaposition of them with the more casual sweater dress keeps them from being too over the top. The red lip and bag are a pretty pop of color to a  monochromatic outfit, and I'm feeling festive since Valentine's Day is right around the corner. How gigantic is this bag by the way? I had no idea until I saw these pictures.

Date night, or adult alone time as I like to think of it, means that I get to break out all of my pretty, fancy, not baby compatible clothes. This is obviously the most important aspect of the date night concept. Now I just need to find a babysitter.