Glorious Green!

Kiddo Style: Vintage

Glorious groovy green.  You are my favorite color for ages! And for this week’s Vintage Kiddo Retro Round Up, I found some lovely kiddo pieces in all shades of brilliant green!

I love a little lime. And this fizzy little heart pocket dress fits the bill beautifully. From Etsy seller, Retro and Me.

Clearly a lot of people think of green when they think of hearts–because I managed to find two green heart dresses! And THIS one is a humdinger! From Etsy seller, Detroit Reincarnated! 

This vintage HealthTex velour shirt is marvelous for its pairing of pea soup green and turquoise with a touch of orange.  Freaking AWESOME! From Etsy seller, Star Friends on Earth.

Oh, for the love of Pete!  Would you look at this stinky cute lacy mint elephant bottom? Perfect to put on your baby’s bottom! From Etsy seller, Sweet Shop Vintage!

Folks, you know I have a “thing” about rompers and this little green one is killing me with the jack in the box applique! From Etsy seller, Mother Midnight!

What these green and orange and yellow pants do to me!  Sigh! From Etsy seller, This Vintage Thing.

at girl wouldn’t want to wear this wiggly squiggly green dress? From Etsy seller Miskabelle Vintage.

Please forgive me for suggesting a holiday dress in April, but this is just such a green stunner, I can’t NOT share it with you! From Etsy seller, From Belgium With Love.

How can you not choo choo choose this great little green outfit? From Etsy seller, Star Friends On Earth!

If I was getting married and needed a little dress for my flower girl, I would choose this stunner of a green dress. Because it is completely perfect. It makes ME wish I could be a flower girl again–as long as I’m wearing this dress! From Etsy seller, 1 Sweet Dream Vintage.

Happy Monday!

 

 

 

Friday Link Hootenanny :: Fun Things to Browse

Link Hootenanny

Hello friends! So wow, we are halfway through our Month of Color! I hope you’re enjoying it as much as we are! I mean, we are always rather colorful over here, but it’s kind of neat to really focus on going bold! I love seeing all these splashes of color everywhere. Next week will be super fun as our Big Mystery Giveaway will be happening!!! Can you even guess what it is??? EEP! In the spirit of our colorful month, I have a rather colorful Hootenanny for you this week too! HAPPY FRIDAY everyone!!

1. THE RED BALL PROJECT

The Red Ball Project from Kurt Perschke is so super cool. A giant balloon-like ball that mysteriously pops up around the world. How fun! And can I please get a nod for avoiding any big balls jokes? (via apartment therapy)

2. VINTAGE POSTER PERFECTION

Awesome Modern Kiddo reader Alice sent me these vintage posters and I think I want them ALL!! See the whole collection over at the Human Empire Shop.

3. WHEN COLOR ROCKS

Designer Mark Giglio does all kinds of charming cool work out of his studio pen pencil stencil in Oakland, CA. Like Girard-inspired wooden figurines and this exceptionally cool Eames rocker.  Check ’em out here.

4. PRETTY PLUMES OF COLOR.

Silky, luscious, flowing…..diaphanous fabric? Nope. Inky blue-green and purple streams in water. Italian designer Alberto Seveso has released a brand new series of beautiful underwater photography that is just beautiful. AND available as desktop wallpaper. (via jeannie jeannie)

5. JAPANESE FAIRY FLOWER GARDEN


My friend Annemarie tipped me off to this awesomeness. This Wisteria Tunnel at Kawachi Fuji Gardens, in Kitakyushu, Japan looks like its straight out of a dream. Absolutely breathtaking. I would love to skip through that on a sunny day!

6. THIS FIRE PLACE IS HOT

I have always wanted an outdoor lounge area….with comfy couches and yes. A fireplace. I never even dared dream of a hot pink fireplace. (found via honeyhouses)

7. POST IT NOTE PRETTIES

Artist Florian Hildebrandt has made an art form out of Post-It notes. I especially love the tree.

8. SOMEWHERE OVER THE LIVING ROOM


This flat in Hong Kong took its decorating cues from old 70s interior design books. The space age stripes are pretty fun. See more here.

9. GET JUICED WITH SHUTTERBEAN


My friend Tracy is a fabulous cook—in addition to yummy meals, she is always concocting these amazing colorful juices. Juicing is really popular and a fantastic way to get the color of fresh fruits and veggies into your diet. Tracy  just relaunched her site (it looks amazing!) and to celebrate she is giving away this insane juicer! Head on over to enter and try to win one of your own!

10 BONUS VIDEO: MORE4

UK TV Chanel More4 has undergone a colorful metamorphoses in this stylish new identity system. They did a really cool stop motion animation of the logo made out of little tiles. Super cool!

Hot Lips! 5 Awesome (and Affordable) Pink Lippies

Things We Like, , , ,

So lets talk lipstick. Do you wear it? Do you love it? Do you hate it? Or does it just leave you feeling confused? Personally I love it. I don’t really wear much makeup on a daily basis, but I always put a lil swipe of something on my lips. Since this is our Month of Color, I thought it would be fun to share some of my new favorites. My most recent obsession?

A bold lippy is a really simple and fun way to add a little punch to your wardrobe. Now don’t be scared! There are lots of different shades of Hot Pink you can play around with. While there are some really gorgeous fancy shades out there, I wanted to find some more affordable options. Hey, if this is the first time yer dipping yer toe into the HOT PINK waters, who wants to spend $30 on lipstick, right??

First up. Some tips! There aren’t really any “rules”, it’s whatever you comfortable with—and whatever makes you feel pretty. Here are some guidelines to think about:

    • Try to look for a matte or sheer  finish. Pearl and metallic pinks are going to look more 80s than modern.
    • Keep it simple. Go easy on the rest of your makeup. Think fresh and clean. Just a lil mascara is all you need. You can add some eye liner too, but steer clear of excessive blush or eyeshadow—you don’t want to compete with your lips or end up looking clownish.
    • If you are uncertain, treat it as a splash of color with a more neutral outfit. It looks great with black or navy or gray…or even jeans and a white tee.
    • Don’t be afraid to step outside of your comfort zone! If you want, just dab it on a little bit at first.
    • Surprisingly, hot pink looks good on pretty much everyone! If you feel a little uncertain go for blue undertones in your pink if you have a cooler skin tone, and a slightly more red-based pink if you have warmer undertones to your skin.
    • Try to test it out before you buy. Many lipsticks look deep/bright in the tube when in reality many are very sheer. That’s why I love Sephora. You can test to your hearts delight. OR go for a cheaper option (without testing) and play around at home!
    • When in doubt, go for a deeper richer pink and not a paler pepto pink—you want to avoid the dreaded “baboon butt” look!!!

OK on THAT classy note, let’s take a look at come fun colors! {you’re going to be seeing a lot of my lil mug here, so apologies in advance!}

1. L’Oreal Colour Riche: Audacious Amazon’s Pout

This is a special “Project Runway” edition lipstick and I really love it! It is a medium toned, warm fuchsia that is creamy in texture and very pigmented. I think it is very flattering on warmer skintones. It glides on smoothly and has pretty good staying power. Also, it was only $7.99. Not too shabby! (At most drugstores, or you can get it at Target) This is me wearing it with a more “neutral” outft, a navy shirt….and I think it makes for a pretty pop of color.

2. Revlon Colorburst Lipstick: Fuchsia

This is another bold and bright lipstick that is pretty as can be. It’s really close to the L’Oreal shade and goes on in a nice creamy smooth way. I don’t think you need a liner with it. (At most drugstores. You can also get it at Target for $6.49) Here I’m wearing a little bit more color and the hot pink still works!

3. Revlon Lip Butter: Lollipop

I really like theses Revlon Lip Butters. They have lots of moisturizing ingredients like shea butter so they keep your lips soft. Most of the colors are a little more sheer, but a handful have more of a brighter, pigmented look. This one is called Lollipop and is an electric hot raspberry. This is a slightly glossier formula and you could easily just dab it on so it wasn’t quite so bold. This is me wearing it with an equally bright/bold outfit. (Get it at most drugstores or at Target for $6.49) Some alt pink colors are Berry Smoothie (much lighter & sheerer) and Raspberry Pie (a little less electric and more berry pink).

4. Benefit Lipstick: Frenched

OK. This one isn’t really a hot pink. It’s more of a deep berry pink. It has much more of a silky finish (it’s not a proper lip gloss, but def has a glossier look). The upside? It’s really goregous. I get so many compliments on this shade! The downside? It doesn’t have super lasting power. I still love it! (This one is a tad pricer. Get it for $18 from Benefit)

5. Kate Spade Supercalifragilipstick: Fuchsia Fete

This one is the sheerest—even though it looks very bright pink in the tube. The above picture is with me really layering it and using a lipliner to get more color. Below is what it looks like on me with just a few swipes. If you are fair, the color might be a little darker but I promise you it is nothing like what you see on the Kate Spade website. I find it to be more like a very tinted lip balm—and a great way to dip your toe into the hot pinks if you are nervous. (A “smooth, moisturizing formula with a sheer finish”.) It also wins for best packaging. The golden case has a spring loaded lid that you push down on and it pops off.  Super pretty.

A FEW OTHER PINKS

Wet & Wild 521A. Mega crazy bright but fun. And totally cheap! Then of course the infamous Nars Lipstick in Schiap. A gorgeous peony pink! I also have Tarte LipSurgence  Lip Stain in Lively, which is a matte hot pink. Has a little bit of peppermint or something in it and makes your lips tingly! It’s  a lip crayon.

OK, that’s it folks! So what do you think? Will you be trying the Hot Pink any time soon?? Or have you been rockin’ it already? If so, lemme know your favorite shades! I’m always up for trying something new!

Next up….reds??? Hmmmm. {and stay tuned for the Link Hootenanny this afternoon!}

 

Making a Difference with Color :: Project Color Corp!

Art + Design, Month of Color

Who doesn’t smile when they see a wall of turquoise? Or driving by an unexpected pink house or spying a red door on a walk? Color, whether we realize it or not, impacts us more than we know.

Laura Guido Clark, a Bay Area design and color consultant  has a mission to bring color into places that need it most. In 2011, Laura founded Project Color Corps, a volunteer nonprofit organization dedicated to creating change by painting inner city neighborhoods with color and pattern that impart positive messages of optimism and hope. They began with a wonderful series of public art projects called “Random Acts of Color” (using recycled 45s and CDs) but now they’ve set their sights higher.

Project Color Corps’ first major initiative will be to paint  E.C. Reems Academy,  a K-8 extended elementary charter school located in one of California’s most at-risk and disadvantaged communities: East Oakland. One of the school’s guiding principles is: “Encouraging creativity to bring forth new ideas and achieve higher levels of living.”

And yet, the school is visually depressing, with layers of peeling paint on a dull exterior. Lisa Blair, its dynamic founding principal, explains,

“Our community is very drab. The colors are mostly tans and browns—like prison colors. This is the world our children live in: one with no vibrancy, no direction, no enthusiasm, and very little hope. If you’re sent from a home in disrepair to a school in the same condition, the message is ‘You are not worth anything. There is no place for you in this society and no one cares.’ But if the opposite occurs, if our kids were to walk into a school that is inviting and bright, the message becomes, ‘Come in, dream big. It’s your world, not ours!”

These bland and sad looking buildings hardly reflect the hope and joy of these awesome kids.

Here is a wonderful video about the project that is totally worth watching if you have a few minutes.

COLOR SPEAKS: Project Color Corps and the E.C. Reems Academy from Project Color Corps on Vimeo.

To transform the E.C. Reems Academy, Project Color Corp needs to raise $50,000 by May 2012. Every dollar can help! Won’t you please think about making a donation today? They need green. Glorious green!

Starting New Easter Traditions

Holiday Kiddo, Real Life : Dottie

This was the Peach’s first Easter.  Proper Easter, I should say–where we actually celebrated Easter and tried to make it a special holiday for her.

I love family traditions. They make the holidays so much more special to me.  Of course I have many special traditions that we are just beginning to form with the Peach. Traditions from my own childhood that I am so excited to introduce her to over the next few years—like special cookies and oranges in Christmas stockings. But Easter? Well, I needed a bit of inspiration there.

Of course, we are did the Easter egg hunt—filling those pastel plastic egg with jelly beans and other goodies for her to find.  (When did those become so popular? We didn’t use them when I was growing up!)

And the Peach had a blast dying eggs Saturday. I went old school and used Paas. That vinegar eggy smell brought back so many memories.

But I wanted more. So, I decided to try add few new ones to the mix and see if they stick.

New Easter Tradition #1: Easter Brunch with home-made bagels

I know crazy sounding, right?  But it is not as hard to do as waffles or even pancakes in my book.  Actually a lot easier than I thought and great for kids since they get to roll the dough into balls and make the actual shape.

Most of the work happens while the dough is resting, so it really isn’t too insane.   Start ’em at 8AM and finish ’em by 10AM. And the Peach loves smoked salmon. Go figure!

New Tradition #2: Deviled eggs and peeps s’mores

I remember never liking Peeps as a kid and letting them sit and turn into hardened marshmallow blocks in my Easter basket. And I love watching work associates bring Tupperware bowls of those multi-colored eggs to eat for a quick breakfast every day the week after Easter. Or watch those colored eggs linger in the side of the fridge for at least a week. Sigh!

Well, let’s make quick work of both those issues with the annual adult snack/dessert while child is napping–or heck–share it with ’em! Who doesn’t love deviled eggs?  And just add some chocolate eggs to the peeps over s’mores and voila–instant awesomeness!

New Tradition #3: Watching “Here Comes Peter Cottontail”

I know I’ll get to explaining the religious aspects of Easter to the Peach soon enough, but until then, I just want her to get excited about the Easter Bunny. And what better way than though the magic of  stop motion animation of Rankin Bass and his Easter special, “Here Come’s Peter Cottontail.” Starring the “voices” of Danny Kaye, Casey Kasem and Vincent Price, I had just as much fun watching it as she did! But I must admit, the Peach was a wee bit afraid of old Iron Tail, and cuddled next to me, so we’ll see if she wants to watch it again next year.

What are your Easter holiday traditions? I’m always looking for more!