designing for little ones

I mentioned a while back that we'll be moving into a new (to us) house soon. The kids will be sharing a bedroom in our new place and I've been trying to figure out how to make the space come together. My goal is to try and make the room clean and unfussy but still fun. If you're interested, I'll share how it (hopefully) comes together. 

One of these days, Landon will have his own dedicated space and I would love to do something similar to this room. It's youthful but not childish. That wood plank wall is pretty much awesome and I'm a big fan of the color scheme. I'll need to remember this for when that day does come.

modern kids design by san francisco interior designer Jute Interior Design

Speaking of my little guy, here he is swinging his heart out.  Hard to believe he's 7 months.

good {party} idea : carnation cones

I've been sifting through some old issues of Martha Stewart Living and came across this sweet idea that I wanted to file away.

The idea is originally for valentines but I think it would be so fun to use as a party favor, say maybe for a baby/wedding shower. It could also be used as a place card for a brunch or dinner. Carnations are relatively inexpensive and you could use any kind of heavyweight paper to go with your theme. 

mashup

Hello friends! I trust you all had a good weekend. The last couple of weeks have been crazy (but fun!) up to yesterday which was finally a slow, relaxing day. I am grateful that this week is relatively empty in terms of busyness. I have a couple projects that I am wanting to get to though, one of which is making a duvet cover for Olivia's comforter. I have it all planned out in my head, we'll hope it turns out the way I'd like it to. 

I thought I'd start the week off with a mashup but instead of an eclectic mix of links I thought I'd be a bit more focused and share a foodie mix. You know how you're not supposed to go grocery shopping when you're hungry, well the same goes for reading food blogs, don't do it when you're hungry like I just did. No bueno!

:: One of my favorite cakes is Angel Food Cake but I've never made it from scratch. This recipe looks easy enough to try.

:: My friend Caitlin is like the Martha Stewart of our friends, she's always whipping up something good. Case in point, this tortellini with tomato cream sauce. (Oh and she just started sharing all her yummy recipes with the rest of us, go check her out and say hi.)

:: Summer time = cold drinks don't you think? Something like this lemon ice.

:: The marriage of pizza and pot pie looks pretty good when they make pizza pot pie.

:: Our fridge has been full of berries lately and this panna cotta and berries would be a perfect use for them.

Tell me: What is your number one place to find recipes? A favorite blog, cookbook, your Mom? I'd love to know (and please share sources)!

{image via sugar and charm}

currently loving...

                                       these new handbags and totes from Jess LC. Such a great small collection of bags with clean lines and good details, things I'm always looking for in a handbag.

 I am seriously pining away for the Lake Shore Tote in natural even though it wouldn't be practical for me to have with two kids. Pretty sure it would look great on my shoulder. Ha! I like my current "diaper bag" but I can't wait for the day when I can use cute, impractical purses again that don't have to hold snacks, toys and diapers. :)

 See more of the handbag collection as well as Jess LC jewelry here.

country kitchen

I'm a fan of Ina Garten so it's only natural that I love the country kitchen that she designed for House Beautiful's kitchen of the year in 2009. I know I've shared white kitchens before and they aren't for everyone but I am still enamored by them. One of the reasons this kitchen appeals to me is the open ceiling with the exposed rafters and beams. It is so light and airy. Definitely a kitchen that wouldn't be hard to spend time cooking and eating in.

Happy First Day of summer by the way!  

{images via house beautiful}

Hello! Hello! A big thanks to those lovely ladies who guest blogged for olive & a last week. And a big welcome to those of you who are new here! If you left a comment, thank you... I am slowly but surely visiting your blogs. :)

We are still away on vacation so blogging might be a littler lighter and more sporadic than usual for the next couple of weeks but don't give up on me. :)

Since tomorrow is the first day of summer and it's gorgeous here in Utah today I thought I'd leave you with a little something pretty . Have a great Monday friends!

Source: poppytalk.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

the essentials : Jenni from Story of My Life

I was tipped off to Jenni's blog by a friend and it has now become one of my daily reads. Story of My Life is just that, stories from her life and Jenni sure knows how to write and tell a good story, all while keeping you entertained. Please leave her some love and go visit her blog!

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Well hello, olive & a'ers!  My name is Jenni and I'm here to talk to you about stuff you must travel with at ALL times.  But first, here's a few pictures of me in some far away lands, to prove my advice is legit:

 Chile

 Argentina

Peru--Machu Picchu!

I've visited some other groovy places besides just South America, but the trip pictured above was me and my husband's latest adventure!

So, Heather asked me to list my 3 travel must-haves, and list them I shall.

TRAVEL ESSENTIALS, in no particular order:

1) hand sanitizer/sanitizing wipes

I can't stress the importance of this one enough!  Airports, airplanes, and foreign contries in general are a petri dish of strange and foul germs we're unaccustomed to, and whenever my husband and I travel, we hand sanitize like it's our job.  We even wipe down the arm rests and tray tables at our seats in the airplane. 

Yep, there is some intense germophobia going on there, but for good reason.  Traveling is an icky, germy thing!

2) Realistic expectations.

Oftentimes, as we anticipate a vacation, we place that trip on a pedastal of high expectations.  We expect perfect relaxation, impeccabale service, and an overall breezy, carefree experience.  After all, it's VACATION!

Not so, my friends, not so.  Vacations are often wrought with stress, angry bickering between spouses ("I thought YOU brought the passports!" "No, you said YOU WOULD!"), and sometimes, unexpected little bumps in the road, like blood on the hotel bed or a massive flood in the bathroom.  (That actually happened to us, y'all, and it wasn't at the local Best Western, either. Read about it here.)

All I'm sayin' is, expect the best, but don't be too shocked or disappointed if your vacation isn't always a smooth ride.  It's all part of the adventure.

3) Earplugs.

via

Such lifesavers these little suckers turn out to be.  Trust me on this one. 

You will want them.  You will need them.  You will thank me later, when you're sitting just behind the screaming three year old on the airplane, when you want to sleep but the blasted seatbelt sign keeps gonging on and off, or when the 5 star hotel turns out to ALSO have paper thin walls or a front row seat to a busy, noisy street in Manhattan.

In fact, just go ahead and buy those Bose noise cancelling headphones.  And then let me borrow them on my next trip, K?

That's all for now, folks.  Come visit me at Story of My Life annnytime!

Thanks for reading! :)

the essentials : Lindsay from Delighted Momma

I love when people leave comments (who doesn't, right? ;) on my blog because it's a great way for me to find their blog when I most likely wouldn't have otherwise. Lindsay was one of those awesome bloggers who left a comment and I'm glad she did. She has a great blog full of recipes, thrifted finds (and tips), and every day lovelyness. I was excited to learn that we share something in common, we are both estheticians! Please leave her some love and go visit her blog!

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Hello olive & a readers!

My name is Lindsay from Delighted Momma. I am SO excited to be here today while Heather is away on vacation. Lucky ducky!! Today I am going to share with you my top three beauty essentials.

#1. Moisturizer WITH sunscreen

As a licensed esthetician I can not tell you enough how important this is. In fact, if I could only bring one beauty product to a deserted island this would be it. Not only are you protecting your skin but you are warding off future effects of permanent sun damage and aging. My all time favorite product is DeVita Solar Protective Moisturizer with SPF 30. It is feather light and never leaves my skin feeling greasy or oily. It also wears great under my makeup. BIG plus.

#2. Lip Balm

I never leave the house without a good lip balm. If you were to take a peak into my purse you would find at least 4 floating around. My FAVORITE is Eco Lips Pure & Simple Coconut. Mmmm! It is all natural and smells like a coconut smoothie! They say lip balm is addicting...not sure if this is true, but I do know that I cant live without it!

# 3. Limiting stress, getting plenty of sleep and staying hydrated

Even though I cheated and listed three, I think they are all equally important. Reducing stress as much as you can, getting your beauty rest and drinking plenty of water are imperative not only for personal well being, but also for your skin. Making small positive changes in your lifestyle will make you feel better inside and out!

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

the essentials : Elizabeth from The Mustard Ceiling

It's no secret I'm a big fan of interior design and diy projects so I naturally love Elizabeth's blog, The Mustard Ceiling, which is chock full of both. Take a look at her newly designed dining room with ikat fabric she made herself. Talk about diy! Oh, and Elizabeth and her husband are renovating a classic airstream. How cool is that? Please leave her some love and go check out her blog!

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Hi, olive &a readers! I am happy to be here today to share three essentials
that I think are key when designing a room.

There are many pieces that come together to make a design successful, but the following three are extremely important in my book.

1) Personality, a design should reflect who you are. Sometimes we get wrapped up in the latest trends, but you have to remain true to yourself. Design with elements that will make you happy.

Source

Source

How do you find your style?

Lots of research, thumb through design magazines and blogs. Bookmark ideas.

What do you like or dislike about a space? Soon you will see patterns emerge and you will begin to gain more understanding into your design style.

Source

An inspiration board is a great way to keep track of your of your ideas and help you define your style.

2) Comfort and Function. In my opinion, comfort and function are both equally important and essential to a well-designed space. If you are not comfortable in your space, or it is not functional, what is the point?

I read a cute post on Three Boys,the other day, called Decapitated Duck and a Mother's Dream . I believe Sarah summed up perfectly why a space should be functional and how the definition of functional changes through the years.

Source

Source

Which room do you think would be more functional and comfortable for a young family?

3) Focal Point. A focal point is the main design element in the space. Examples of architectural focal points could be a fireplace, built-in bookshelves, a large picture window.

However, focal points are not always architectural elements. You can create a focal point by using a large patterned rug, or a dramatic piece of art-something that will draw attention into the room and invite you to stay.

Source

What do you think the focal point is in this room?


Heather, thank you so much for having me today!

the essentials : Vivien from The Eclectic LIfe

There are a lot of blogs out there that talk about parties but when you read Vivien's blog, The Eclectic Life you can't help but come away with the impression that for Vivien, life is a party. Oh and she loves her a good dance party. So with that in mind, I asked Miss Vivien to share some party goodness. Please leave her some love and go visit her blog!

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Hello olive & a readers! I am thrilled to be guest posting today and Heather has graciously asked me to share my tips on one of my favorite topics: parties! Today I'm going to share with you three tips on creating a lovely party that is mindful of both your guests and your budget.


1. Consider a photo booth.

- It's fun! It's fun for you to have the photos to look at afterwards and fun for guests to view later on Facebook or Flickr to remember both themselves and the party by. It's also a blast to see what creative photos your guests come up with!

- It's affordable! The backdrops and props above are a little more pricey, but you don't need an elaborate set up to make a fun photo booth. When I hosted a party back in September, I opted for a simple streamer background and this DIY chalkboard bubbles tutorial all of which costed me under $20, but if you wanted to spend less than that then all you really need is a camera, picture taker, and a tripod (optional but preferred).

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2. Make a plan for the party then ask friends to help!

- A well planned party will always cause less stress for you and more enjoyment for both you as a hostess and the guests you're hosting. I suggest creating a plan for your party with a general theme (fiesta, dessert, vintage) and your top three essentials for the party (food table, decor, invitations, etc.)

- More often than not, friends want to help. I say capitalize on this and help your budget out by delegating responsibilities for people who are willing to contribute towards your partay. For instance, I planned a dear friend's 30th birthday and secretly e-mailed 20 of her friends asking for help with desserts, flowers, photos and set up and had 15 of her friends more than excited to volunteer ( two of whom offered to give money!).

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3. Make the party personal.

Your party should be unique and it should reflect the personality of the person or event that you're celebrating. If it's for your birthday, add in touches of your personal style (vintage, eclectic, contemporary) to the decor, serve your favorite food (Breakfast for dinner? Sounds like a ball) and offer entertainment options that you would love to be a part of (photo booth, a dance party, a talented friend drawing caricatures).

Lastly visit sites like Pinterest to collect inspirational images for your party and consider Sweet Lulu's, Olive Manna and shops on Etsy for affordable partyware. I hope these few tidbits helped and encouraged you to throw your own shindig! To see more photos for advice and parties I've thrown feel free to visit here, here and here.

I'd love to know what kind of party you are dying to throw? Where do you go to for inspiration and supplies?

Thanks again for having me Heather, and I hope you have a fantastic vacation!

{photo booth by Smilebooth, dessert table photo by Our Labor of Love, breakfast photo by Kim Vallee, fruit and veggie table via Amy Atlas, s'more bar via Birthday Girl, colorful straws photo via Shop Sweet Lulu's}

happy friday!

Hi friends! Happy friday to you. Any big plans for you this weekend? Me? I will be in the car most of the weekend. No bueno. My little family and I are off on an adventure. We (as a family) survived the first year of medical school so we are outta here! Woo hoo! So, next week we'll be graced with the presence of a few of my favorite bloggers who will be participating in a little series I like to call the essentials. I am excited for it and hope you enjoy it. Have a wonderful weekend!

{image}

i wanna go...

to Paris that is!

I don't normally do posts like these but Jordan at Oh Happy Day! is giving away a trip to Paris. I kind of want to go. Ok...I really want to go! My chances are slim but a girl can dream right?

Do tell : If you've never been to Paris, what is the number one place you want to visit/thing you want to do. If you have been to Paris (lucky duck) what was your most favorite thing you did or see?

{Awesome tilt-shift photo of the Eiffel Tower via Smashing Magazine. You should take a peek at the other 49 tilt-shift images they are showing!} 

things that make me happy

summer is here

Source: designspongeonline.com via Sugar on Pinterest

 popsicle weather

Source: delightedmomma.com via chartreuse and a twist - on Pinterest

casual but well styled summer outfits

Source: calypso-celle.com via Tori on Pinterest

cake jars

Source: elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

pretty peonies

Source: mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Care to share what is making you happy?

framed

In a few weeks we will be moving into a new place and I'm excited to try some new things in terms of decorating. To be honest, our current place isn't really decorated. When we moved in here we were under the impression that we'd only be here for four months. Well...four months has turned into a year an a half. It's sad. We aren't sure how long we'll be in our new place but I'm determined to not live with blank walls.

Gallery walls seem to be ever present in design these day and with good reason. If presented well, they are a great way to show off art and photographs in your home.

We will have a skinny wall between two doors in the living room that I'm thinking something like this chic monochromatic gallery would look good.

{via made by girl : photo - Ashlee Raubach}

 OR, something like these all-white frames that showcase a more relaxed/casual but still well styled look.

{via}

{via young house love}

Olivia and Landon will be sharing a room so I have been entertaining doing a more funky gallery wall in there with some fun art and pictures of the kids and family.

{via made by girl : photo - Ashlee Raubach}

What do you think, are you a fan of gallery walls? Have you done one in your home?

love letter : flynn skirt

Dear flynn skirt,

Um....Hi! I just wanted to tell you that I love your stripes, and your perfect little pleats, oh and your pockets (love!).

Do you think that you might want to come live in my closet? I promise you'd be my favorite, my other skirts would get soooo jealous.

Think about it.

Best,

Heather