LONDON'S 4 MONTHS!!!

My little girl is all grown up! This last month has flown by and it's something new and exciting everyday now! We are discovering our feet, turning over on our side, smiling nonstop,  and grabbing everything in sight!

 London's new best friend(yet to be named).  She can't go anywhere without her blabla doll.

These are seriously the best dolls EVER!  London received hers as a gift at one of my showers and it's so stinking cute to watch her take the doll and automatically hug her.  

She turned 4 months old this past Saturday and was clearly not feeling our impromptu photo session. She lasted about 2 minutes and then had a meltdown. 

This kid LOVES to take a bath. I think she'd stay in the bathtub all day if I let her. Thank goodness because this little Hawaiian baby didn't have a chance if she didn't like the water! I can't wait to be able to take her to the pool and beach! 

I've saved the best for last. This was her school picture she recently took. Look how damn cute she is! I can't help but be obsessed with this little munchkin!  All I have to do is look at this little face and everything in the world is as it should be! 
THANKS FOR READING.
XOXO

Happy Thursday.

PARISIAN ANNIVERSARY...

Today is my Parisian Anniversary.  Well, sort of. It's actually the day we left for Paris 3 years ago.  This was a trip that I'll never forget and one which opened my eyes to this glamorous city.  I have been obsessed with all things french since I was little.  I don't know why since I only went for the first time 3 years ago, but It blew away all my expectations.  Sometimes you build things up in your mind for so long that it's a letdown once it finally happens but Paris was beyond anything I could ever imagine.  So, my love affair/obsession continues and every year at this time I get to remember my Parisian Anniversary!

Here are some of my favorite memories in pictures... jouir de!!!

Until we meet again... Which is hopefully next year!!! Yes, really. Our 5 year wedding anniversary is next year and my love actually asked the other day if I'd like to go back to Paris to celebrate!!! Duh...

Bauble Bar

I have recently become obsessed with BaubleBar.  Anyone who knows me knows that I LUV me some jewels!  Nothing makes an outfit like a great statement piece and BB has plenty of statement pieces!!  BB offers free shipping and free returns and the best part is that most pieces are below $50.  Go check it out!

 1.Melon Deco Strand $38

2.Southwest Boho Drops $34

3.Coral Cuff $32

4.Leather Studded ID Bracelet $26

5.Mini Cabochon Antoinette Drop $26

6. Blue Fluoro Firefly Strand $32

7.Aqua Flex Chain Bangle $26

8.Coral Floral Pendant Bib $36

9.Neon Alaqua Bib $36

10. Beach Chandelier Drops $26

OFFICE INSPIRATION- GREY & PURPLE

I have been in the process of redoing my office for almost a year now.  Seriously.  I painted the walls a light grey with black trim last June and have been waiting for the inspiration to come to me.  

  Here's what I am wishing for.  Let's see how it turns out.  This is a picture I found somewhere along the way from some magazine.  

Since I painted the walls grey I want accents of purple & silver throughout the office.

Stay tuned to see how it comes together!

FATHER'S DAY SUCCESS!!!

 Yesterday we celebrated Nathan's first Father's Day, and I am pretty sure it turned out as a success! We started the morning with his favorite breakfast- biscuits and gravy for him and homemade waffles for me and my mom with Hawaiian coffee. 

I even surprised Nathan with a gift London made for him at school.

I love watching the two of them together. It's the sweetest thing ever to see a new daddy with his daughter. I don't think my love could get any deeper.  Even Lilo wanted to show some love so she pulled a photo bomb.

We spent the rest of the day lounging around and just taking it easy.  Some of us even managed to fit naps in(I wouldn't be one of them).

 

We finished the day with a bomb ass dessert(I told you it was coming)!  A brownie sundae with vanilla ice cream and toppings! Sprinkles(uh, duh), almond slivers, strawberries, and Oreo cookies cake batter. Yes, I said cake batter. Don't ask just go get them. 

We were too full to move after this dozie, so we topped off the night(sans the little one) watching the True Blood season premiere!  Damn that show.

Fathers Day

This is London's first Father's Day and she's super excited!  Ok, I am the excited one. She clearly has no clue what's going down this Sunday.  It's always been fun to think of something for my own dad but this year I had to think of something for my love since he is a new dad!  Not sure what we will do that day, but I promise it will involve something outdoors and a bomb ass dessert of some kind! Here are some ideas in case you can't think of any.

1. Make your own Whiskey- Prohibition right in your own basement!

2. Rubik's Cube Pencil Holder- Calling everyone from the 80's!

3. Backpack Beach Chair- This chair is totally coolio! It's a perfect outdoor comfy chair for the beach, lake, or whatever body of water you're posting up to plus it has a built in cooler on the back of the chair. HOLLA!  We actually have this chair and love love.  We found it at Costco this past weekend for only $30 so go getcha one. 

4. IPAD-  It's a tech tool what else is there to say? 

5. Help him find his golf ball with this Garmin GPS.

6. Cold beer everywhere he goes now- Freeze this little guy and pop it in his beer for instant coolness with the Chillsner.
7. The Ultimate Grilling Rub- What dad doesn't like to think of themselves as master of the grill?  Tell him how much you love his grilling and that these rubs will only enhance his already awesome grilling skills!
8. Have an instant party or conference call with these portable speakers from Jawbone.

Whatever your gift just enjoy each other. 
Happy Father's Day to all the new Fathers and the experienced Fathers!

DETOX WEEK PART 2

Here are a few of my favorite recipes from the DETOX WEEK

The Best Green Juice

5 large leaves of kale

1 lemon, zest and pith removed

1 large apple, roughly chopped

A 1-inch piece of fresh ginger

1 spring of mint

Push all ingredients through a juicer. Alternately, you can chop all the ingredients and pop them into a blender with 1/4 cup of water, then pass the mixture through a fine-mesh strainer and drink immediately.

* I used a blender and it's a little difficult to get all the ingredients finely chopped.  I bought a juicer after the fact and have loved it since! I still drink this on a daily basis. 

Kale Chips 

1 bunch of kale, stems discarded and leaves torn into roughly 1 1/2 inch pieces

2 tablespoons extra virgin olive oil

Coarse sea salt

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees. Toss the kale with the olive oil and spread out on 2 baking sheets.  Sprinkle with coarse salt and roast, stirring occasionally, for 12 to 15 minutes or until light brown and crispy.  Eat like potato chips.

I also put red chili flakes on mine to give it a little zing!

Chicken Burgers, Thai Style 

1 pound ground chicken

2 garlic cloves, finely minced

2/3 cup cilantro, finely chopped

2 shallots, very finely minced

1 teaspoon very finely minced red chili 

2 teaspoons fish sauce

1/2 teaspoon coarse sea salt

1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

2 tablespoons neutral oil(canola, safflower oil)

Thoroughly mix the chicken with the garlic, cilantro, shallots, red chili, fish sauce, salt, and pepper. Form the mixture into 4 burgers, each about 3/4 inch thick.

Heat a grill or grill pan over medium heat. Rub each burger on both sides with a bit of the safflower oil and grill for about 8 minutes on the first side and another 5 minutes on the second, or until nicely marked and firm to the touch.

The DETOX recipes were all extremely good and the rest of the meals in the cookbook are just as tasty. We are still using the cookbook every week! Last night we had the Chicken Fajitas and they were incredible.

DETOX WEEK...

Several weeks ago I went in search of a new cookbook.  I was in desperate need of some new recipes to cook and my love was in need of some new recipes to eat.  I knew Gwyneth Paltrow had a new cookbook out and I have to admit I was excited to check it out.  I kind of have a major girl crush on her.  Her book, It's All Good, was just what I was looking for. Healthy meals that looked delicious and didn't take a lot of time to make.  DONE.  As I started reading the book I was amazed at the story of how the cookbook came to be and the fact that there isn't one recipe in the book that has sugar, butter, cheese, or cream.  Is it possible to cook like this and still enjoy the food?  ABSOLUTELY.... 

I couldn't wait to get started cooking! Some of the recipes looked amazing...

scrambled tofu with avocados, pickled jalapenos, and black beans

japanese restaurant-style salad with carrot-ginger dressing

As I flipped to the back of the book there were menus for different types of weeks: a vegan week, a family friendly week, and a DETOX week. 

DETOX? HMMM...  This sounded interesting.  I've done Detox's before but they've always been dumb and I usually only last a day or two.  But, these detox meals looked like meals I could actually eat! It was just what I needed.  A good cleanse of the body before I started back to work.  After being pregnant for 9 months I thought my body could use a good cleansing with some wholesome food. 

This DETOX was awesome, but I will tell you it was time consuming.  It was perfect because it was the last week of my maternity leave so I was at home and had time to prepare the meals.  If I was back to work in the real world, I am not so sure this would have worked out.  The DETOX meals are also detailed with lots of ingredients and lots of ingredients I wouldn't normally have in my pantry. I bought most of the items at Trader Joes & Whole Foods.  It was also pretty expensive to do this.  I spent about $250 on food and this was just for a week.  I could have cut out some ingredients I am sure, but if I was going to do this I wanted to do it right.  All in all it was a really good detox.  I didn't lose more than 2 pounds, but I wasn't doing this to lose weight.  I was doing this to feel good and clean out my system.  Several of the recipes I am still using on a daily basis.  Here's a sample of the DETOX menu.

Stay tuned for Part 2 of the DETOX WEEK tomorrow.  I'll post some of my favorite recipes from the week!

MONDAYS MUSINGS...

Friday night was spent with my lovely ladies- London, Kim, Kari, & Addison. 

A gorgeous cake we had at a family celebration for London.

New thank you cards I picked up at Target this weekend. I love the different languages.

I've never actually watched Breakfast At Tiffany's in it's entirety.  Yesterday I spent the afternoon watching this classic.  Audrey Hepburn really knew how to wear a pair of pearls.

Lately I've had a bad itch for Paris.  I need it scratched VERY soon!