Happy February: A few faves from Pinterest

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P.S. Do you belong to Pinterest?  If you don't, oh how you should.  Leave a comment with your email or just email me directly and I will send you an invite.

One Sydney Road

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One Sydney Road is a lovely little boutique with a excellent selection of well-curated goods, both new and vintage, for you and your home.

As we are still in the throws of winter, head on over for some mood-lifting window shopping and pick something up to give you a little lift in your step.  

Here are a few of my picks... 

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P.S. Piper, the shop owner, has a lovely little blog as well. Check it out here.

Matchbook Magazine

 Have you seen the new online read, Matchbook Magazine, yet? It just launched this month and it's lovely! I've already read through once and I'm working on my second glance.  I love the interviews, tid-bits, photos and ideas.  Mmmm...eye candy. 

Here's what they say...

"Launched in January 2011, Matchbook is an online lifestyle publication celebrating classics - shaken and stirred. Our monthly issues cover past and present fashion, decor, the arts, travel and culture. Brimming with intriguing interviews, stately homes, captivating memoirs and swoon-worthy fashion spreads, matchbook seeks to inspire women around the globe to design a life they adore. From lipstick to letterpress, gelato to grosgrain, and Paris to Peru, consider us your field guide to a charmed life."

There is a great article with on the talent behind Marais shoes.  I love Haley Boyd's style and mindset behind her business. 

Now, go kill some time and check it out!

P.S. If you need some more online magazines to read, check out this post.

Basic French Online

I recently discovered this little shop that I'm so completely enamored with I keep going back for more. If visiting France is not on your agenda at the moment, you can bring a bit of France to you from Basic French. 

For your home...

Beautiful Pitcher...I'd love to be pouring flavored water from here everyday.

Antiqued Silver Glass...aren't these cute?

Make your home, linens and clothes smell like the French countryside with this linen water.

For the kiddos...

Oh how my little guy needs to carry these Babar Suitcases.

 

while wearing this shirt.

and these Little Brown Bear books to help us improve our French.

For you...

I definitely need this dress and, of course, the kiddo and I will wear our Mariniere stripes together.

I would wear these Bensimons in forest with my dress...

while carrying this lovely toile de jouy umbrella.

Still calendar shopping?

What a great way to usher in the new year...a lovely new calendar.

Stelie Designs

Colette Paperie

Colette Paperie

Paisley Tree Press

PSPaperGoods (local-STL!!)

PSPaperGoods (local-STL!!)

The Fancy Lamb (local-STL!!)

marialunete (printable)

These are a few of my picks.  I've already purchased one photo calendar (that I'll share with you soon...), but I'm looking for something little and lovely for my craft room. 

What's on your desk for 2011?

Last Minute Gifts Worth Giving: B. Toys

Have you heard of B.?

I first saw a few B. Toys at Target this past spring.

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Immediately, my eye was drawn to the unique color schemes and well-designed packaging.  It was basically love at first sight, but, alas, the kiddo did not need a new toy at that moment.  

Not long after, I read this post on Design Mom and realized that the few toys I saw were actually part of a large, cool collection and behind them was a purpose. 

The genius and illustrious folks started B. toys to create earth-friendly, presentable, inspired toys that meet the needs of play-focused kiddos with their unique form and superb function.

1. Earth-friendly: Packaging is made from recycled materials and/or is recyclable.  No unnecessary packaging.  Packaging is re-purposable. 

2. Presentable: The packaging doubles as gift wrapping (How cool is that?) and it simply looks good.  Well-chosen unisex color scheme that blends into your home and actually can hold a place outside of the toy box.  Actually, I have three of those little boxes in my craft room that I use to store odds n' ends.

3. Inspired: The design, color and functionality of B. toys offer a lasting toys that will inspire hours of play in your kiddos. 

Recently, B. toys sent my son the B. Okideoke toy microphone. 

It's the fourth B. toy to add to our little collection and it is definitely a great addition!  He's been having loads of fun amplifying his voice and playing the tunes to "hum" along to.  It's a great twist on an old favorite and I'm sure he'll be playing with it for years to come.

If you're looking for last minute gift options for the kiddos on your list, visit B. toys and head out to Target to pick up a few.  Here are the last minute gift ideas (click here for his gift list)  I've had in mind for my son...he needs just one more present, right?

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A Gift Guide for a 2.5-Yr Old Boy with the Initals CAB

1. The Giving Tree

2. I Spy Phonics Boxset

3.Lego Duplo Legoville Road Construction Set

4.Katy the Snow Plow

5. Lego Duplo Legoville Fire Truck

6. Lego Duplo Learning Numbers Set

1. Skuut Diggin Metal Balance Bike

2. Toy Story Toddler's Helmet and Pads

3. Day is Done

4. Color Wonder Stow and Go Studio

5. P'kolino Britto Book, Crayons, and Hexagon Color Pencils

6. Learning Resources Space Station

I'm so excited about this kiddo's gifts this year.  Truth be told, I wish he loved playing with wooden blocks, but he is a big fan of Lego Duplo vehicles.  He is going to be so excited about the Road Construction Set.  I'm also excited about the I Spy books; he loves to look for the hidden treasures in these books and I think this set will begin to develop his phonics skills. The awesome Skuut bike is a purchase from Zulily, which I got at a super discount.  While I enjoy the design of the wooden Skuut's, this metal one has a bell and a brake, which will make him feel like a "big boy" in the neighborhood this spring and summer. Well, we simply had to add a little Toy Story to the mix with the helmet and pads.  Lastly, I think I will be equally as excited to play with the P'kolino crayons and coloring book! 

Finally, my wonderful aunt passed my younger cousins' puppet theater and puppets

 to my little guy.  We've been hiding it in the basement and we can't wait to bring it up Christmas Eve.  I cannot wait to see his reaction on Christmas morning...he is really going to go wild over it!

 So...what's on your kiddo's Santa lists this year?

Happy Thanksgiving!

Happy Thanksgiving! 

Wishing you a wonderful day filled with family, friends, food and fun.  I'm looking forward to spending the morning with my two guys, eating the spinach and prosciutto breakfast strata that is prepared in the refrigerator right now.  If it's delicious, I'll share it with you next week!  Tomorrow evening, we'll be spending it with family and noshing on some of these among other things.

Here are a few non-traditional recipes that I'd love to try for Thanksgiving or any other day for that matter.  

 Butternut Squash Galette via Queenie Takes Manhattan

Sweet Potatoes with Pecans and Goat Cheese via Smitten Kitchen

Pear, Apple and Chocolate Crumble via La Tartine Gourmande

Have a wonderful weekend! I typically don't give out advice, but over the "biggest shopping weekend of the year" remember, less is more.

P.S. I'm looking forward to the next four weeks of holiday goodness.  I've been working like a busy bee to finish several simple, yet lovely, Christmas crafts for you!