a david stark christmas

There was a lot of internet/blog buzz about the new West Elm holiday collection when it debuted last month. I personally prefer a much more "collected and curated" look for my holidays, but there are quite a few things over there right now that have caught my eye - and some pieces that have enough power to stay up long after the New Year has rung its bells.

Some things I'm loving over there right now

of course I'm a sucker for hearts. Ok, a really, really big sucker. But I'm actually very smitten with this marble diamond. Free shipping and the proceeds go to St. Jude. 

These origami ornaments would look at home on a tree, a mantel or your window. And I'm thinking they would spruce up a wreath or garland and look sweet year-round

So, I'm also kind of a sucker for mushroom decor, which is why these babies caught my eye. Cute as they are, I'm thinking DIY is the route to go. 

These sweet little birds can perch at my place any day. 

I'd love to pop one of these banks in the kids' room. 

And while we're looking at that fantastic clock...I suppose I should mention how much I love it!

It feels a little silly to be thinking about holiday decorations in the midst of our 90 degree heat wave, but that's what the holidays in California are all about! Our weather has an identity crisis. 

What's your holiday decorating style? 

XO,

Chelsea

Halloween!!

Halloween definitely has to be one of my favorite holidays. My mom always made our costumes as a kid and I have continued that tradition throughout my teens/young adulthood and now as a mama. I think its so much more fun and special to source or make your own costume than to just go with a packaged one. Its all about getting creative, which I love!!

Our Halloween weekend was mighty hectic. Both kids had parties at school on Friday, we had an office Mad Men party and then we hosted a spooky kid-friendly cocktail party at our house. Bleeding heart martinis, shrunken head cider, blood soup with eyeballs and bat wings were all on the menu!

They performed a sweet little poem at Harper's school. I'm loving her one Tink slipper and one sparkly shoe. She's such a silly girl!

Lunch at Sutter's school, plus craft time in the classroom. He was the cutest little muscle man at school on Friday. His real costume wasn't exactly ready for the class.

Saturday was a whirlwind of last minute costume assembly for Carl (who became Magnum PI) and getting the last of my own things for my transformation into Lady Gaga along with about 7 other of my girlfriends who were different versions of the Gagaloo. It was a pretty insane gaggle of Gagas we had running around an adult party at the rooftop party of the Canary Hotel.

This photo is missing the drop-dead sexy red-hooded Gaga in our clan, so I have to include an additional shot of Alison looking fabulous as Lady G.

Sunday was the final stretch as I finished up the kids costumes, did a major cleanup of our house and then discovered that our garage had leaked in the rain and a bunch of my books were ruined :(

But nothing can stop the force that is Halloween

This is Harper doing what she called the Pippi-stand.  And Sutter, as Atreyu from the Neverending Story could not have his chest puffed up more. The blood was even his idea. Those kids crack me up!

Trick-or-treating was an insane adventure. A pirate house that looked like the Pirates of the Caribbean ride at Disneyland, another Pippi and an awesome zombie bride made for a pretty fun evening.

When we got home, the kids got set to sorting out their candy, cleaned up and crashed out hard at bedtime.

It was quite the whirlwind weekend. I'm kind of glad to get back to life as usual, but secretly I'm already planning for next year!!

How was your Halloween??

XO,

Chelsea

technicolor tulips

My grandmother uses email. Frequently. And she knows how to attach pictures. This is a feat neither of my parents have yet to master. And she knits. And bakes. And throws a mean party. My gramma is pretty cool. She does, however, suffer from email-forwarding-syndrome. So when I see cute bunnies in my email, I usually delete.

These images, however, took my breath away. It is currently tulip-planting season in The Netherlands. Personally, I love the anticipation in Fall and Winter of what awaits in Spring.

How fun would it be to plan a trip there in May??

Have any of you ever been to The Netherlands?

XO,

Chelsea

Happy Happy, Joy Joy

Four years ago today I gave birth to a beautiful, sweet, strong-willed baby girl. She has changed my life in so many wonderful ways. I am so proud that I get to be her mama.

I ♥ you miss Harper Lee!!!!

yearning for yarn

A lingering cold and some rather blustery days have me hunting for warm, knit goods.

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I'm dying to learn how to knit an Aran throw

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or perhaps a chevron throw in black and white

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I'm loving the sideways chevron on this coffee cozy

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knitting, felting and braiding - oh my!

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This headwrap is gorgeous and even looks feasible to recreate!

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I'm feeling very inspired to pick up my needles after a summer's departure from them!!

XO,

Chelsea

feeling dilly

My posting has been back to the bare minimum this week. Fighting a cold and working full time is no picnic in the park! I did have a great weekend and the joy of that has carried me through this week and moving full-steam ahead in preparation for next weekend!

Last weekend we had a great trip to the Farmer's Market. I love when the seasons change and there's a fresh crop of new goodies to explore!! There are still some remaining signs of summer - and I snapped up some cucumbers after recalling a quick pickle recipe I recently spotted.

I'd never made pickles before and I figured it was now or never.

I did a little internet research for a recipe I liked. I had some criteria: it had to be easy and it had to incorporate what I already had in my pantry. Lazy much? Yes.

What I wound up with is my own recipe based on various others found online. Keep in mind that I wasn't really exact with my measurements. Again, lazy. The following recipe made me 4 - 8oz. jars of pickles.

Quick Dill Pickles


Jars, rings and lids
6-8 small cucumbers
4 small carrots
handful of beans - I used dragon's tongue beans, a fave in our house
fresh dill

peppercorns

head of garlic

3 cups water
2 3/4 cups white vinegar (I used a combo of rice and brown rice vinegar, but use what you have)
pinch or two of sea salt
sprinkle of celery salt


Prepare your jars rings and lids. I did this by boiling the jars and rings in a shallow pans of water. The lids just need to be dunked in some warm water so I waited for the water I had used on the jars to cool down and plopped the lids down in there for a few minutes.

Slice up your garlic - or leave it in whole cloves. Its entirely up to you! Place the garlic cloves, along with some of the peppercorns down in the jars. You could also sprinkle in some chili flakes for heat or chopped chilies for more heat!

Prep your veggies. I cut the end off my cukes and carrots and sliced them in spears. My beans I just cut the ends off. I did not cook my beans, but I'm thinking that I maybe should have. Once you have all the veggies sliced, assemble them in the jars. Pull off a handful of the fresh dill and stuff that in with the veggies.

Boil together the water, vinegar, salt and celery salt. You could also add fennel seed, cumin, coriander or celery seed. Once the salt is dissolved, distribute evenly amongst your jars leaving about 1/2 inch at the top. I used a ladle to pour in my liquid but you could also use a funnel just as easily. Put on your lids and rings then allow the jars to cool a bit. Once they are cool enough to handle, pop 'em in the fridge and try to resist sampling them for about 2 weeks. I failed that test and tried one the next day. They seem to be coming along quite nicely!

I was totally in love with this entire process and hope to do some more pickling in the future!!

Have you ever tried pickling anything? 

Please share any favorite recipes or experiences with pickling.

XO,

Chelsea

mini hideaway

there are definitely some days I feel like I want to just hide away, read, think, drink tea and take five without someone calling out, "MOM, where are you!!! I'm hungry/wet/cold/hot/thirsty/on fire". I'm incredibly jealous of whatever kid gets to call this place home. I'd like a grown-up version to call my very own. 

Thank you very much. 

Where do you like to hide away from it all?

XO,

Chelsea