tis the season

the nativity set from my grandma nadine, over 60 years old. a treasure.

all i want for christmas is my two front teeth!

our family at the plaza lights.

bringing home our christmas tree.

on santa's lap at crown center.

save, give, spend

a little project our family has been talking about -oh- for a year now. trying to teach the kids (and ourselves) about money. with the busy spending and giving season upon us it is the perfect time to really think about how and where to use our money. the boys get so excited deciding where we should put all of our loose change, birthday money, etc.

october tastebud article:

Halloween doesn’t have to be just for the kids. Celebrate this fall holiday with a table set using classic black and white elements with added playful and spooky surprises.
Start with a tablecloth in a bold black and white pattern. This could be a fun animal print or classic damask. I found this material at a local fabric shop and made my own. Next, use the staple white dishes topped with a smaller Halloween themed plate. Try to find and use a variety of these dessert sized plates to keep the table from feeling too formal.
The centerpiece for this table starts with a large white ceramic soup tureen placed on top of a cake platter. Serving soup or chili on Halloween is a great idea for several reasons: you can prepare it ahead of time, it is usually cold and rainy in Kansas City this time of year and it can easily accommodate any extra goblins that may show up on your door step! Surround the soup tureen with acid green hedge apples-these brainy looking fruits add to the theme. Then add in the other spooky choices: wooden blood shot eyeballs, spiders and furry rats or other night time creatures. Hanging spiders from the chandelier with fishing line is another great surprise. Now add in the pumpkins. Stay with the black and white theme by choosing a white pumpkin then painting or stenciling it with black paint. Be creative with varying widths of stripes, scrolly vines or bats and ghosts. You may even choose to write a Halloween message to friends.
This table, with it’s classic color palette and goulish details, is sure to please both the adult and child in all of us. Now it’s time to decide on costumes!

Find it Here (if you dare)
Creepy crawly spiders, webs and rats
The Curious Sofa
3925 W. 69th Terr.
Prairie Village Shops
www.curioussofa.com

Soup Tureen
Nell Hills
4101 N. Mulberry Dr.
Briarcliff Village
Or
Atchison, KS
and
Target Stores

Easy Taco Soup
2 cans of northern beans
1 can of diced tomatoes
1 can of shoepeg white corn
1 can of diced green chiles
Packet of taco seasoning
Rotisserie chicken (shred meat)

Add all ingredients to a stock pot
(do not drain beans or veggies)
Thin with chicken stock if needed
Simmer until ready to serve

Top with crumbled tortilla chips, shredded cheese, sour cream and salsa

are these the cutest pants and little model ever?! i stayed up way too late last night making these. i had seen a similar pair but they were unavailable so i thought i would try making a pair on my own. i'm so happy with the way they turned out and lucy loves her little poppit (pocket). they took a few hours to make, with no pattern so i probably won't be making any for the shop, but i was glad to sew something other than a onesie applique. and now that i'm finally feeling a little less scattered since school has started maybe i'll have time to come up with some more fun clothes for her!

felt flowers and monograms

i finally had a chance to create a new little something and am so excited with the way these cute felt clips turned out! hopefully once we get used to our new schedule i will have a chance to make some for the shop.

and if you are looking for great gift ideas or need something monogrammed, check out my cousin's online business, the monogram girl. she put lucy's name on this cute lunchbag from gymboree!

birthday parties

well, summer flew by and so did my blogging days, so i will be trying to catch up over the next few days!

henry wanted to celebrate his 6th birthday this year with a baseball party. we had a little cake and ice cream, pinata and baseball game at our house first then headed to see the royals play. these guys did so great at the game (of course we kept the snacks coming the whole time!) we even stayed to watch the fireworks after-what a display!

we had a small family celebration for lucy's 2nd birthday. we had ladybug cupcakes and paper flowers hanging from above and she was so excited to get a baby doll bed, highchair and dress up clothes!

summer fun!

this is going to be a long post! we have been having a great summer and exploring lots of fun places in kansas city.

one of our favorites is deanna rose farm. the kids loving running through the farmstead checking out all of the animals (goats, pigs, chickens, horses, cows, turkeys, sheep, etc.) riding on mini tractors, cooling off in the new cow barn and learning about native americans in the tepees and dirt house. if you are in kc with kids this is a must visit spot.

backyard camping complete with bonfire.

a great evening at my family's farm-always delicious food, perfect sunsets and the kids running and playing hide-and-seek until after dark.

Next, our first visit to paradise park where they loved the pretend village: running a pizza shop, grocery store and bank. 'cooking' classes. jumping in the ball pit, climbing and sliding. a three hour nap for all three kids followed!

our annual visit to the kansas city zoo lasted six hours! we did not miss a single animal. our favorites were feeding the lorikeets, getting close to the kangaroos, sea lion show, the baby chimpanzee, riding the camel and animal carousel.

our latest adventure was over to loose park (on the missouri side of state line). another full day-a picnic lunch and playing on the playground, feeding the ducks and geese, checking out the gardens and finishing up at the spray park.

loose park is a wonderful city park near where i grew up. this is where i first got my taste for floral design. at dusk we would walk to the park and load up on roses in all the wonderful colors (yes, i now know better). we would then go home and create bouquets and play pretend wedding. i guess i can't help my obsession with flowers and weddings!

if you haven't been over to check out my other blog (www.designbotanica.blogspot.com) go see the latest wedding i did. it was at the downtown kansas city library-with photos by sara farrar. fun, fun and just a little stress getting back into the swing of wedding flowers after about a year break!

patio perfect party

(here's my article for the july issue of tastebud magazine. wish i had better pics.)

Our normal summer entertaining usually revolves around the grill but I wanted to try something different. My friend suggested having a ‘gourmet’ sandwich bar. Perfect! An evening picnic party. This idea works great for families and with most of the prep work done before guests arrive we could spend time playing in the back yard with the kids, talking with our friends and listening to great music.
First I wanted to set the mood: playful and relaxed. The centerpiece for the table was a picnic basket filled with plates, napkins, silverware and other essentials. I found great plates at Trapp’s in KCMO. The divided plates come in bright multi-colors and are recycled. Color was added to the table by placing single blooms of flowers in collected bud vases or recycled soda bottles (gerbera daisies or peonies cut from the yard work well for this). I laid out old quilts in the yard to eat on and set up the croquet set. My favorite detail was the hanging votive cups. Luckily there is a tree over our patio so the votives made the perfect floating chandelier. Even without a tree over the patio these look fun and festive hanging anywhere in the yard and entice people to stay after the sun sets. Find similar votive holders at Nell Hills, Curious Sofa and places like Hobby Lobby. Hang them at various heights with heavy fishing line or fun ribbons. I leave them hanging throughout the summer, they make family nights at home seem a little more special. To keep the party lively we created a playlist of songs that featured artists we knew our guests enjoyed. If there are young kids at the party don’t forget to add in a little Jim Cosgrove.

Now, planning the menu and drinks. We had one signature sandwich, a delicious chicken salad, sliced meats, cheeses and the makings for BLT’s. Fresh bread from Great Harvest Bread Company was a must. Great Harvest offers several varieties each day and don’t forget their great cookies, as well. Make sure to have a good selection of farmer’s market fresh lettuce, tomatoes, avocadoes, onions and cucumbers. To top off the sandwiches provide several condiment choices like mayonnaise with fresh herbs added, different types of mustard and home made vinaigrette. Serve the sandwiches with chips (we love Art & Mary’s salt & pepper), crunchy coleslaw or potato salad and fresh fruit. Because summers are hot here make sure to have plenty of beverages. Along with beer and wine we served a fun vodka slushy. Non-alcoholic drinks included raspberry lemonade and ice-cold strawberry water (this is so simple and pretty, just add sliced strawberries to a pitcher of ice water). Dessert completed the night: citrus cupcakes and Great Harvest cookies!
Great food, friends and fun-the perfect patio party!

Recipes:
Annie’s Chicken Salad
6-8 grilled chicken breast halves cubed
½ cup low fat sour cream
½ cup light mayonnaise
¼ teaspoon curry powder
Pinch of garlic salt
Pepper to taste
Add chopped celery, red grapes, water chestnuts and toasted almond slices
Toss together and add more sour cream and mayo to desired texture and taste.

Gigi’s Vodka Slushy
1-6 oz can frozen oj
1-6 oz can frozen lemonade
1 ½ quarts Cranberry juice
16 oz 7-up
16 oz squirt or fresca
1/5 Vodka
Mix in large container, freeze for 24 hours stirring occasionally
Scoop & enjoy!

Find Them Here:
Recycled Plates:
Trapp
4110 Main
KCMO 816.931.6940
Hanging Votives:
Curious Sofa
3925 W 69 Terr.
Prairie Village, KS 913.432.8969
Nell Hill’s
4101 N Mulberry Dr.
KCMO 816.746.4320
Fresh Bread:
Great Harvest Bread Company
83rd & Mission Rd (Corinth Shopping Center)
145th & Metcalf
Overland Park

Patio Playlist:
“And it Stoned Me” Van Morrison
“Better Together” Jack Johnson
“1,2,3,4” Feist
“Acuff-Rose” Uncle Tupelo
“You Still Touch Me” Sting
“Genius of Love” Tom Tom Club
“Here We Go Again” Norah Jones & Ray Charles
“Diner” Widespread Panic
“Diamonds on the Soles of her Shoes” Paul Simon
“Don’t Touch My Hat” Lyle Lovett
“Why Georgia” John Mayer

new skirt

a new skirt for lucy. sew simple to make-i picked three fabrics and cut 12" squares, sewed them together, made casing at the top for ribbon and a hem at the bottom. i'm kind of an impatient crafter and i like to get projects done in one sitting. this one took about half an hour - perfect for during the kids 'rest' time.

then later that night i wanted to try some embroidery. got out my stitch-it kit and practiced some stitches (i finally got the french knot and am so excited) while i watched the last few episodes of sex and the city. yes, i had to see them again before i went to the movie with some girls on saturday.

master bath

here is a peek at our master bath. it is not big at all but i love the way it turned out (when we bought the house it was pepto pink with very old white with grey speckled tile). we found this dresser at mission antique mall and my crafty husband turned it into a vanity. he cut the drawers so they function around the sink and cut a hole in the top to fit the sink. the sink and toilet are from the company toto. they make the best toilets and are an eco friendly company. (i know all of this because clay is a sales rep for them). we tiled the floor in a natural stone and the walls are painted a creamy brown. the color is portabello from sherwin williams. we also tore down a wall of the shower and added a glass door. now it doesn't feel like you are showering in a cave.

peonies & bedside tables

our peony bushes are blooming and i just had to cut some for the house. they smell so awesome, definitiely one of my favorite flowers. these are on the bedside table that i bought at mission antique mall. i love the color and curved legs of this table-it's really girly . fun vases from anthropologie and a cute store in downtown chico, ca ( i bought it when we went for a visit a few years ago), one of my favorite pictures there, too, of our family in the hospital after lucy was born.

precious

this is it...my favorite age. she is just the most precious thing. look at those legs and that ruffled bottom. trying to keep up with her big brothers, excited about everything, giving lots of hugs and kisses, starting to talk, backing up to sit on my lap to read her favorite books and oh, the drama! this is something new in this household. i mean the boys threw fits (and still do) but the hands covering the face and just crying when things aren't going her way, too much- I just have to scoop her up and let her know it's ok.

fabric + paper

an invitation i made for a friends shower inspired by the ones anna-maria horner made. this cute fabric is from the heather ross collection. too cute!