Make // Design a Pillow with Tulip For Your Home

Today I'm sharing a stenciled pillow project, sponsored by the folks at Tulip®. I happen to love their Soft Fabric Paints and have used them on several textile projects. This paint is exceptional on fabric and always dries soft and flexible. So it's no surprise that I was excited to try some products from their new Tulip For Your Home line.

With stylish stencils and an extensive line of paint colors, they make it EASY to create affordable, on-trend home decor. It's the perfect medium for personalizing any textile project-- from pillow cases & placemats to lampshades & canvas art.

I was given all the tools to create this pillow case, including the "cool" color palette of blueberry, ocean and nickel.

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Grow // Raising Succulents Indoors

A few weeks ago I shared my faux diy succulent alongside some real succulents that I keep on my window sill. I received a few emails from folks wondering how I manage to keep them alive indoors. So, I thought I'd offer up my succulent-raising advice. I've kept mine alive for almost 5 years… hence, I am an Expert. Okay, not really. I've had my share of plant casualties and I've learned a thing or two over the years.

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This Week // 4.25.14

succulent heart vertical planter by rooted in succulents | available on etsy

My kids have been on Spring Break for the past two weeks. We spent part of the break visiting good friends in Palm Desert. It was great catching up and being completely unscheduled and relaxed. Then we spent the last four days at Universal Studios Hollywood being mesmerized by special effects, meeting minions and going on those 4-D rides where they try to shake the equilibrium out of you so that, by the end of the day, you're a tired, heap of catatonic tourist. In other words, we had a great time!

Although my brain is currently mush, a few things did grab my attention this week--

If you are a mother, have a mother, know a mother, or have a friend of a friend who is a mother… There's a chance that you'll get a kick out of these Mother's Day cards. Just enough over-the-top to make you laugh and feel vulnerable at the same time. Some of my granola mom friends will dig this one (!!).

Since Easter's over, here's what you can do with those icky Peeps. Am I the only one that think they're gross? Maybe they would taste better roasted, smothered in chocolate and stuffed between two graham crackers??

Last year, I retired my beloved and oft abused backpack and started carrying a purse again. Yay! It's so freeing not to haul around snacks and other kiddie accoutrements. I've been on the hunt for the perfect purse ever since… I think I found it. In a lovely cashmere grey. Wouldn't that be something if it went on sale? Sigh.

You know you've been spending a lot of time at the baseball field when you want to outfit the entire family in these tees-- mom | aunt | dad | uncle | boy 1 | boy 2 | (imaginary) girl 1 | (imaginary) girl 2. There's an extra 30% off many styles too!

A super pretty Family Tree. This would be a perfect gift for Mother's Day. Which, by the way, is just a couple of weeks away! How are we almost in May???!!! 

Happy Weekend!!!

Round-Up // Happy Earth Day!

Tomorrow is Earth Day, so I thought I'd round-up a few of my favorite upcycle projects. To be honest, some of my favorite projects stem from repurposing trash-- That doesn't sound very glamorous but, to tell you the truth, you don't always need to go to the store to find your creativity.

Even with these upcycle projects, I always find myself wanting to do more-- Not just for the environment, but for my family's overall health. Lately I've been trying to "green" some of my daily chores. Over the next few weeks I'll be sharing what has worked well (and what hasn't).

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Happy Easter!

tulip photography by carolyn cochrane | available on etsy

Love to you and yours. Have a beautiful day!

This Week // 4.17.2014

himmeli wall art (set of three) by panselinos | available on Etsy

I haven't worn a skirt like this in years… This one is HOT!

24 people apply for the world's toughest job… If you haven't seen this yet. You must!

I already bought our easter egg dye kits, but maybe next year I'll dye some eggs blue the organic way.

Eyelet dresses are usually *too sweet* for my taste. But this one, in black, is the exception… Va-voom! Plus it's currently 40% off…

This reminds me of the seventies, but lately I've been intrigued by these wooly tapestries. Perhaps they aren't as scary without the avocado shag carpet and orange laminate countertops?

Do you ever do "art therapy" as a form of relaxation-- Like coloring mandalas or knitting? I love this idea of creative meditation while making washi tape art.

Did you see the Blood Moon earlier this week? If not, there's another chance to see one later this year. We had a great view from our home, but I only got one *slightly* decent photo of the partial eclipse. I have a regular camera with a regular lens so none of the photos of the total eclipse turned out. It was an eerie sight and worth staying up late for.

Have a cool weekend!

Eat // Our Favorite Salsa

My kids are on Spring Break this week, but with weather in the high-80's, it feels like summer! We've been enjoying a lot of time in the backyard, swimming and playing basketball. By afternoon, we're usually parched and in need of a quick pick-me-up. One of our favorite afternoon treats is freshly made salsa and chips. This is a really simple recipe that packs in a lot flavor with just a few wholesome ingredients. And you should be warned… Once your family has salsa fresca, it's hard to go back to the store-bought variety.

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This Week // 4.11.2014

Happy Weekend! It's officially Spring Break for us-- Two whole weeks of unstructured activities. We're doing a staycation in Los Angeles and plan on visiting a bunch of places in the city that we hardly ever get to. Nothing's set in stone, but we'll probably be spending time in Hollywood, Universal City, Santa Monica and Palm Desert. We're all in need of a break from the regular routine and are looking forward to rediscovering our hometown.

Here's a few things that caught my attention this week…

Great advice for everyone… not just the kids!

print via The Wheatfield by Katie Daisy, available on Etsy

I was making my favorite salsa, but couldn't find any limes at the market and had to substitute with lemons… Now I know why!

I'm not really a girly-girl, but sometimes you just need a good fit & flare dress. Unfortunately this would probably be overkill for my usual weekend activity-- Sitting on the bleachers watching my kids play ball. Sigh.

Have you ever heard of using black pepper to stop bleeding? Consider me amazed. I'm not a klutz (really!!!) but I'm prone to freak injuries. **Knock on wood** The only limb that hasn't been injured is my left arm. **Knock on wood**. Yep, I'm keeping this nugget on file.

If I was compelled to actually make an Easter craft this year, it would look something like this.

My research for the week-- The best Petite bras for Petite boobs. After hours of grueling research, here are my scientific finds… Add A Size… Push It Up… Contour. Compelling stuff, I know…

My favorite cooking tool now comes in MATTE??? So pretty...

Have a great weekend!!!

Round-Up // Easter Egg Projects

I have NOT got my head around Easter this year. I haven't even made any Easter projects like in years past. About the only thing I've done is buy eggs. Speaking of which… Can you believe I've never dyed eggs with my kids before? Since they're almost 6 and almost 8, I think they're ready for their first vinegar-infused, egg-dyeing experience. The smell of boiling vinegar just brings back memories-- I think the vinegar is boiled... I guess I better read the instructions. My poor kids. ;D

So some major egg-dyeing is on next week's agenda while they're on Spring Break. I'm also hoping some creative inspiration will strike and I can roll out a new Easter project in the next week… We shall see.

In the meantime, here's a round-up of Easter Egg projects from over the years--

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This Week // 4.04.14

watercolor art print via yao cheng design, available on etsy

My latest obsession… Susanna Kearsley novels. They kinda have it all. First you have your typical gothic historical fiction-- English/Scottish characters, old castle/estate, something sinister, a little romance-- And then she throws in Time-travel, Reincarnation, Telepathy and other fun stuff. It gets a little complicated, so I like seeing how it all ends up working out. If you're a fan of Diana Gabaldon's The Outlanders series, these are not of the same realm, but they are well-written and an addictive read. My fave is The Winter Sea… Then The Firebird.

If it has lemon and poppyseed, I will want it. Drool. Slurp. Nom-nom-nom.

We had a cold-snap this week and I've been freezing!  Weather-wimp… I know. To stay warm and hydrated, I've been sucking down gallons of this stuff. The flavor is mild and not sour, which is key for me. After reading about how good it is for you, anti-oxidant properties and all, I've also tried some flavored varieties-- This zulu peach is pretty darn good. And if you like coconut, this one is good too.

Bliss Bloom… Briefs??? And look, a thong version too. They're actually kind of pretty… Only the best for my readers! Creativity happens when you slip on your Bliss Bloom Bloomers. Hah! Every now and then I think about changing my blog name. But now that there's underwear with the same name… It's a keeper.  ;)

You know it's truly Spring when the peonies arrive. I'm hoping they'll be here by the end of this month. In the meantime, these paper ones look amazingly real.

Have a great weekend!

Make // Egg Carton Flower Frame

A couple of weeks ago I transformed some egg cartons into roses. Sound strange? They actually turned out pretty cool-- Go check it out here.

After tossing around a few ideas, I decided to display them on a framed mirror that I picked up a few years ago. I wasn't enamored with the frame's original color (black) or odd shape, but I knew it had potential.

The mirror can easily be removed, which makes this project extra versatile. Here are a few ideas that come to mind… 1) hang as a decorative mirror;  2) or a wreath; 3) or perhaps a flowered tray.

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This Week // 3.28.2014

My newest accessory. I'm either seriously cool… or dating myself by a few decades-- 25 years to be exact. Gah!

Do you use dry shampoo? I finally found one that doesn't make me look like I'm powdering my hair à la Marie Antoinette. This one smells good and doesn't leave a white residue. Especially key if you have dark hair and don't care for the dandruff-look.

If you have a blog or are thinking of starting a blog, here's a round-up of what you should be doing to do it right. Gosh, I'm not doing any of that stuff… Which may explain a few things. ;b

I decided last night that I need to finish decorating the master bedroom. To know me is to… know that I procrastinate. This is an on-going project, five years running. By the time I finish, half the room will be outdated. Anyhow, for some reason, I'm obsessed with having mirrors behind the nightstands. Like this one. Or this one. With maybe something like this? Or more likely, like this?

Another great idea about what to do with your instagr.am photos. I'm going to turn mine into a dress. Okay maybe a skirt. I kid… but I may be onto something.

Have a nice weekend!

Upcycle // Egg Carton Succulent

Like many before me, I love succulents. They are pretty, unique and, if you forget to water them… no big deal!

It's usually the silvery, flower-like echeveria imbricata (aka hens and chicks) that most people get     excited about… especially brides and bloggers. We have these guys and their cousin, agaves, planted throughout our backyard and they do really well in our mild, drought-like, Mediterranean climate.

HOWEVER, they like to be outdoors and once you bring them inside they turn into a spindly, sad looking mess. I've tried putting them in our sunny west-facing window with the rest of my succulents and they just don't do well. They won't die overnight, but eventually… It.Will.Happen.

Since I have an abundance of egg cartons and, with Earth Day coming up in April, I thought I'd try my hand at making a flower-like succulent out of a plain ol' egg carton. It's not easy copying Mother Nature, but I figure a handmade version is better than killing off another one of her offspring. ;)

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