Monthly Archives: September 2013

The Retro Round Up:: Autumn Awesomeness

Hoo boy, what a beautiful weekend.  A little mimosa soaked play-date. Saturday dinner outside with pretzels. A ton of Uno.  New shoes for the Peach’s little iron shaped footies. Bathtime. Giggles. Naps.  Yup. Some weekends are unscheduled bliss.  And one of the hightlights of course was finding some lovely goodies for you all from Etsy.

This mug makes will help your kiddo make the most of this hot chocolate weather.

Why wear your heart on your sleeve when you could have it in your pocket with this dress.

Plaid + peter pan collar + ruffle = awesome!!!

Is that a bone in your pocket or are you just happy about this amazing little jacket?

This shirt? Perfection.

Ahoy mateys! Check out this bell-bottomed beauties.

I would have done anything for these cute little red shoes when I was a kiddo!

It doesn’t get any cozier than elephants on a sweater.


I want this dress in my size!  So darling!

 

And this wonderful book should be read snuggling up by the fire!

Happy Monday, friends!

 

 

Vintage Birthday Cakes

Mmmm. Birthday Cake. You know, back in the day people really made an effort to make their kiddo’s birthday cakes special—and personal. They cut and created. They decorated and embellished. Cakes were artful in a very home spun way!


image: curly wurly

I never was a fan of too much frosting when it came to eating, but I sure loved to look at it. When I was 4 or 5 one of my mom’s friends made me a gigantic ballerina shaped cake and whooooo boy did I think it was cool.


image: the happy apple

I have to say that ultimately I’m a big fan of the sweet and simple old timey two layer cake. My specialties are yellow cake with chocolate frosting and M&Ms all over the top (cute, easy, and festive!) and a lemon cake with cream cheese frosting (which is sooooo freakin’ scrumpdillyicious I can’t stand it).


Nowadays it seems that birthday cakes fall into a couple of camps. The over-the-top fondant covered fancy cake—that’s so elaborate it’s almost more of a wedding cake. (Does fondant really taste good anyway??) And the other option are the prefab, store-bought rectangle cakes with that puffy sweet frosting that makes yer teeth hurt. And then there are the cupcakes.

For all my yackin’, I’m never that adventurous and I always end up making cupcakes—which are admittedly all the rage with the elementary school set. While I do love a good cupcake, I still miss those proper homemade “cut up” cakes of the 1970s . Take a look at these babies from the Baker’s Coconut Cookbook and you’ll see what I mean! (Please pardon the butter and flour stains on the page—this little book was well loved!)

Poor Jerry Giraffe….it’s never a good sign when there are only two good things about you, and one of them involves you being eaten.

Awww, the gum drop horsey! So cute. Although it kinda looks like a llama…..

And then there’s the quirky Teddy Bear with it’s craaaazy eyes.

It’s a fluffy bunny, bear, er…. “THING”. And finally, the Cut-Up Kids!

The little girl is a TAD creepy. A slab o’ pink “leg” anyone??

So fun huh! I would loooove to bake something like that for Wolfie. Like, a groovy guitar cake! Or a wacky dog. Alas, my son is the World’s Only Child Who Hates Cake. It’s maddening. Cupcakes are his usual request, but someday I think I’ll just surprise him and bust out with something totally crazy. Like this red and yellow luv:

The Worm stands alone: New Richard Scarry book!

OMG! New Richard Scarry book!

Admit it, you love LowlyWorm best. Richard Scarry of course has written some of the most charming children’s books every, but when that darling Lowly Worm drove his apple car into lives, well, things just became a whole lot sweeter.

Huckle Cat lucked out with his awesome friend, Lowly, who is always there and ready for some apple riding fun! And it’s about time he got his own book.  The wonderful Richard Scarry unfortunately died in 1994, but his son found under his drawing table several gray cardboard portfolios  containing the beginnings of a book about Mr. Worm.

And yeah, it is AWESOME!

Of course Lowly shows kiddos how to have good manners.

What is not to love here!

Would you check out the travel awesomeness!  That submarine is divine.

And the best part is that it hits the books stores today! Thanks HarperCollins on all of this cuteness today!

Are you a Richard Scarry fan?

 

 

 

 

 

widdle wednesday // for the girls

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Hello everyone, it’s Ashley here with another edition of Widdle Wednesdays. Last week I shared some fun picks for little dudes, so today I have something for the liddle ladies. I’m not a “pink pink pink” girlie, so the vibe I was going for was more modern sweetness. Take a look!

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SHOP IT OVER HERE: one + two + three + four + five + six

Well dudes and dudettes, unfortunately I’m going to have to sign off for a bit… I’m having back surgery in just a few weeks and expect to spend the better part of the next few months recovering. Please stop on over at The Stork & The Beanstalk to see what I’m up do, or follow me on instagram @thestorkandthebeanstalk—otherwise I’ll see y’all crazy cats in a bit. Wish me luck.

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Sweet Ashley, we want to wish you much luck and wishes for a speedy recovery!!! xoxoxo Alix & Dottie

 

tasty bites // mmmm sriracha fries!

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We love simple, especially when it comes to food. However, to do something simple, does not always mean it’s just a thrown together creation. There are rules, folks. So stick to em’, if you want to end up on top. Take these fries, for example. Sure, you could just grab a bag from the store. Or if you are slightly more ambitious, grab a bag of taters, and get to cutting. Either way, most folks would just toss those suckers straight into a bubbling pot of oil, and wait for the magic to happen. But, we say no! This is not the way. Not that we don’t appreciate a fried treat every once in a while, it’s just that there are better ways, friends. Healthier ways. Tastier ways. Simpler ways, to get tasty frites. Please allow us to show you the way. Did we mention that they are covered in salty, spicy sriracha-flavored, goodness?! OH YES. You can thank us later.

sriracha fries

    • 5-6 medium russet potatoes, cut into fries
    • 2 tablespoons sriracha
    • 2 tablespoons grapeseed oil
    • sriracha salt (recipe here)

Place potatoes in large bowl and cover with cool water.  Let sit for 30 minutes, dump water and cover again.  Let sit for another 30 minutes.* *This step removes the starch and allows the fries to get crispy in the oven.

Dump water and towel dry potatoes.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Combine oil and sriracha. Toss with fries.

Place on two large baking sheets in a single layer.  Sprinkle with sriracha salt. Place fries in oven and bake for fifteen minutes.  Using tongs, move fries around so they can bake evenly.  Return to oven.  Check on them again after 10 minutes.  Continue process until fries are golden brown, crispy and cooked through.  Remove from oven and let cool slightly.  Enjoy!


Want more Tasty Bites? Go here. Also, if you are on instagram, be sure to follow@birdandclever for more fabulous photos.

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