Fab Friday :: Nothing exciting, just me

Just a few things I'm thinking about:

• Sometimes when I think about the word Friday my brain can't help but sing that putrid song Friday, the annoying viral video. They did good with that one because it was like 1000 years ago and I'm still singing it. Sheesh Sarah, stop it already. So Friday sometimes it's good, sometimes a little crazy no? On the weekends when I have a lot going on I need to make sure I eat my Wheaties because it could be a long one.
• Little just rolled into my room at 5:40 am because he "just can't stop thinking about cookie goldfish," and he "can't handle it". M'kay kid...Mom needs coffee.
• Do fish get depressed? Because every time I go out of town our Betta fish Karl freaks out and doesn't seem the same. I get home and he seems to perk right up.
• Leigh's Blankies. We're doing a little fundraising Sunday at the studio for my friend Andra's great kids' charity. If you're local come by!
• The weather in Phoenix is pretty awesome right now so you should think about a trip to come  and play at the Phoenix Open. (I know it's really the Waste Management Open but I still can't bring myself to say that. Ick.)
• The layering tutorial at Made By Girl is bomb and don't be surprised if you see me sporting the sequined tank paired with the chambray. I have both and why haven't I worn them together?
• I went to Alt and really do you care? It's hard to explain to people that don't blog. In fact I kind of feel weird saying that I went to a blog conference. I think I need to go again so I can get over the weird feeling and have some more fun. Here is my most favorite sum up of all that I've read, it's perfection. I'll just say DITTO. Oh and if you're not able to attend Alt, they have new online classes that will be launching February 1.

{image via This is Glamorous}

Sequins and animals

Last week I was wearing sequins and red lipstick and this week I'm headed to the kindergarten zoo field trip. Such is life. I do like the zoo however and I think the animals might appreciate a glam red lip.

Speaking of animals, cuteness abounds on Me Oh My with her animal storage tutorial.

Blog Crush :: Tulip Louise

You all know that I went to Alt last weekend and came back with some crazy blog crushes so here's whats up first. Fashionista Anna at Tulip Louise.

At the Alt Dinner en Blanc.

Lots of fashiony goodness here people. Actually writing this makes me slightly embarrassed that I posted the hobbit shoes. Yikes, what will she think of me? Please don't judge me Tulip.

{all images from Tulip Louise}

Fashion Devil/Wellness Angel

Does anyone else have fashion angels and devils sitting on their shoulders? On one side I have fashion devil whispering sweet nothings in my ears about wearing hot shoes like these. "You know you lovvve them."

And on the other side the angel is shrieking, "Your feet have 33 joints, 26 bones and tons of muscles they shouldn't be stuffed into those shoooeessss!!!"

The angel often tells me to get a pair of these. And I secretly want them but also loathe how they look. I'm in a conundrum. I actually asked a friend if she would still be my friend if I bought a pair, I think she's on the fence. Ha! Anyone out there that reads my blog have a pair? How do style devil and pilates/wellness angel work together? I haven't quite figured it out. 

Alt Summit Recap

Last night I got home from my whirlwind trip to Salt Lake City for the Alt Summit. Whew, I'm tuckered out. Lots of fun, girl talk and cocktails but more importantly lots of take aways (both good and bad) from all of the sessions. 

Make a Life List

100 things you want to get done. Easy enough right? We'll see how it goes when I attempt to put one together. I think I might make my husband do this one too. I think it would be a really interesting journey for us to both try and get our Life Lists completed.

Passion driven content that is good.

I heard this on my first panel and I don't remember who said it, but it really moved me to think about what I do here. This blog is play time for my interests but really could it be something more? My passion lies in teaching pilates; so who knows there might be more pilates/fitness content here at some point or maybe I'll start something new too. Regardless it has really given me a lot to think about. 

Emily Henderson

Is as cute, cool and nice in person as she is on TV. In case you wanted to know.

Vintage shopping.

Salt Lake City is good. Lots of cute clothes and vintage costume jewelry. Jaimee and I hit the jackpot and there is no better eye than local blogger Christina Brian from Full House. The girl has serious style and should host some shopping/styling trips here in Phoenix. (hint, hint Christina.)

Be nice.

This goes without saying, but not really not for some people. A smile goes a long way. 

Be authentic.

I heard this one over and over again. I feel that I'm real here with ya people but it's good to keep this in your mind at all times right? 

Pinterest is even more awesome than I thought.

One of the keynote speakers at the event was Ben Silbermann founder of Pinterest. The guy is a rock star in the most sweet, humble and inspiring way. Makes me love my favorite site even more. 

These are just a couple things that I came away with from Alt but there is a lot more. There was tons of networking going on and I know I'll have some great new blogs, shopping sites and products that I came away with so stay tuned!

I'm off to Alt Summit

I'm off to the snow! Alt Summit of course. I should probably be packing but here I am procrastinating at my computer. I'll try and post but knowing me I probably won't, so find me on twitter and follow my tweets. I'll do my best to share anything good.

Have a great week and cross you fingers that I don't forget anything or freeze!

{all image links here}

He's 8

Today Big turns 8. He woke up with the world's biggest smile like the world was going to tell him a secret now that he's a year older. I just know that he'll find one. Everyone always told me how fast it all goes, sometimes I can't even believe it.

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Tuesday :: Orange

Nothing a little orange can't handle.

Don't forget to fill us in on your New Year's Goals HERE!

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Make It :: Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Curry and Coconut Milk

This is my latest obsession. I've been making it every week and I think I finally got the recipe just about perfect.

Roasted Butternut Squash Soup with Curry and Coconut Milk

(adapted from How to Cook Everything Vegetarian)

1 Butternut squash
3 Tbl. butter
1 Medium onion, chopped
Salt and pepper to taste
1 Tbl fresh minced garlic
1/2 Tbl minced fresh ginger
1/2 Tbl curry powder
5 cups chicken stock
1 cup coconut milk (I use the light coconut milk)


Preheat oven to 375. Cut squash in half and remove strings and seeds. Place each squash half face down on on baking sheet with sides. Add 1/2 cup water to baking sheet and roast for 45 minutes. After squash is roasted and cooled, scoop out flesh and set aside.

Put butter in saucepan over medium-high heat. When butter is melted add chopped onion and cook, stirring occasionally until onion is cooked about 5 minutes. Sprinkle with salt and pepper and add squash, garlic, ginger and curry powder and cook until fragrant about 2 minutes. Add chicken stock and bring to a boil, lower the heat to a simmer and cover and let cook for about 10 minutes.

Use an immersion blender to puree the soup in the pan. Add coconut milk, season to taste and and keep on low heat for another 10-15 minutes so the flavors meld.

*Cooks note:  An immersion blender is invaluable kitchen tool if you love to make soup. Everything can be made in one pot so it makes life and cleanup much easier.

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Make it :: Resolution

Sometimes my resolutions are teeny and lame like, "make my bed everyday" and others they're a bit larger and more vague like, "make more vegetarian meals" and some are utter failures (ahem, tidy closet) but regardless every year don't you just feel the need to make at least one or two? It's a new year, a fresh start and it feels good to set a goal or two. Sometimes it's fun to see others goals and resolutions, they make you think don't they? It's so valuable to share other people's hopes because you never know how that can profoundly affect you as well by giving you another point of view. So I thought I would start a place where you can share. Here's a link to an anonymous survey (no judgement here) where you can put it out there and then sometime within the next week or two we can share the results. 

What do you say? You in?
MAKE IT! RESOLUTION.

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Happy New Years!

Here's to a wonderful 2012, cheers!

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Blog Crush :: Brown Dress With White Dots

Or in this case tumblr crush. The images that Brown Dress With White Dots has collected are stunning. These photos of hands are some of my faves.

Me and the week

So Christmas is finally over, anyone with a post holiday hangover? Not quite yet for me other than averting my eyes to my kids' Christmas toy extravaganza. We had a great holiday filled with lots of fun family activities. This week has already flown by too, I'm not ready to send my boys back to school. This may or may not change by Monday but we'll see. 

This is what is on the agenda for this week:

• Make breakfast cookies. I think I saw the recipe in Bon Appetit, but I'm not sure.
• Make round 2 Butternut Squash soup with ginger and curry. I'm adjusting the recipe and when it's perfected I'll share here on the blog.
• Sort/toss/donate the kids' toys. We have lots. Thankfully Little is willing to part with them because he likes his stuff tidy, Big not so much. I will be sneaking bags of  his old toys into my husband's trunk at night I just know it.
• I'm going to Alt Summit in a couple of weeks with Marni and Jaimee and I need to plan outfits. They're having a white party. Yes you heard me right, now I have to find something cute and white for frigid snowy Utah.  Arggh, really people white?! I will most likely look like the Stay Puft Marshmallow Man because my idea of cold is 60 degrees. 
• Plan something fun for the kids on New Year's Eve. This is not my specialty so if you think of anything please pass ideas my way, I'm hopeless.

What's going on this week with you guys?

Moments

Sometimes I get a little forgetful,I don't stop to savor moments often enough. I just keep plowing through the days, checking my boxes usually with a smile. Generally I'm a pretty happy person, wound a little tightly I suppose but I love having fun.  I'm always just getting through one task and then I'm off to the next like some crazy lady. Today I had a reminder of how one or two things that you do each day affect others and it feels really good. So I think I'm the one who needs a reminder to stop once in awhile.

Enjoy the season!

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Starburst Card Display

I might be the only person in the world without a starburst mirror but if I had one I would totally do it up with Christmas cards just like this.

What a smartie.

{from here}

Make it :: Nativity Set

It's Christmas break so what to do while we're all home? Yesterday we decorated cookies and today this is what we're working on. Printable nativity sets designed by Marloes de Vries, a Dutch illustrator. Fits two of my most basic criteria, easy and free! There's two options just print and cut or color/print/cut. I opted for the coloring ones just to make the activity a little more hands on. Just print them out on card stock get to work.

They're each coloring all of the players in the nativity now, I just need to find another box so they can each make their own stable. 

{via How About Orange}

Last day

The kids get out of school today. I'm excited, so are they.

Like super excited. Cookies, lights, Christmas movies, park days, all the good stuff.

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Tea Collection

Tea Collection sent the boys each an outfit and here they are in their cuteness.

Little looks adorable in his trendy navajo inspired sweater, he sported it on Thanksgiving.

And Big is loving his ensemble, comfy and sporty at the same time. Win-win in his book.

They both get a little carried away with their modeling moves!

In all seriousness though Tea Collection has the cutest stuff and I was beyond excited when they sent the kids looks to try out. I'd been dying over their collection and now I can honestly say they (and me) love it. This is just the boy stuff, their girl looks are beyond!

Sidenote: I was given clothes from Tea Collection and in the spirit of full disclosure I thought I'd share. I never post about content that I don't personally endorse. For me to share I have to know that you will like/love/want the items that I'm posting about.  Not to fret, I won't lead you down the wrong path!

Holiday Neon

The latest in the "may your days be merry and bright".

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Skirt it

For the last year or so I've really been into skirts, long ones with lots of gathers. It has yet to make an appearance in my home but I like to admire from a far.

Are you a tailored or a gatherer?

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