Simple, Glittery Easter Table

Welcome to our Easter table!

For some reason, the Easter holiday always sneaks up on me.  Thanksgiving, Christmas - we have major build up for those guys.  But all of a sudden, spring has sprung, and Easter is here.  For that reason, I like to create really simple but festive tables for the spring holiday set up.  I actually had all of the items for this table - I just rummaged around all of my "hiding spots"....don't tell my husband how many hiding spots I actually have :)

This year we incorporated:

Simple White Lenox Tin Can Alley Dinnerware

Gold flatware from West Elm

Anthropologie Horta Champagne glasses

Fantesca Chardonnay!

Pewter Braided Placemats from Sur La Table

Couleur Nature Batik Bird Printed Napkins from Sur La Table

The DIY project for this year are these glitter filled easter eggs!

DIY Glitter Filled Easter Eggs

Glitter - (we used Martha Stewart Glitter Pack)

Clear Easter eggs from Michaels ($.99 each!)

Quickie Glue pen

1.) Take off top of clear egg and fill up with glitter.

I filled each egg about 1/4 of the way full.

2.)  Pop top back on egg.

3.) Using a glue ballpoint pen, write down names 

for place cards on a thin strip of white paper.

4.) Sprinkle glitter over glue.

5.) Brush off glitter (funnel back into tube to re-use).

6.) Roll both ends of paper for a fancier look.

 Each place setting has a slightly different look...

Kara: old wine corks add a festive feel

Kate: dried lavender from the garden

Kacey: small white stones and mini purple carnations

Sorella: A beautiful pink flower

You could also scoop up a whole bunch of these eggs, fill them with coordinating glitter and hang them  together all at random lengths with flowers behind it as a spring wreath.  Or even hang them at various heights from your chandelier over your Easter table.  A kind of grown-up mobile!

 We actually re-used the gorgeous flower arrangement from our Baby Shower last weekend! Our dear friend Alyson created the most stunning floral arrangements - and Kacey and I got to take a few home with us.   This was perfect for the table.

Aren't they beautiful? She is so talented!  And these flowers are still fresh almost a week later.  More pictures to come from the Baby Shower, I promise. We have a whole post dedicated to it.  Our friends and family did such an amazing job on the event...can't wait to share!

Happy Easter everyone - don't forget to light some candles and use whatcha got!  Get creative, but keep it simple...works every time!

xo,

Kara, Kate, and Kacey

Gwyneth+Conscious Uncoupling+Healthy Side Dish!

I have always had a little crush on Gwyneth Paltrow.  First came Shakespeare in Love, then she married Coldplay front man Chris Martin (!), and then I became a bit obsessed with her healthy lifestyle and her fabulous blog GOOP.  So imagine my surprise when I got my usual GOOP email on Tuesday, and I couldn't open it.....it said the server had crashed.  What?  I continued on making my other daily internet stops and I read that Gwyneth and Chris are "Consciously Uncoupling".......say what?? I guess announcing that news on your website would make it crash when you are Gwyneth Paltrow. 

Conscious Uncoupling......that's a new one......apparently they released the news while in the Caribbean......vacationing...... as a family. 

Huh......

So that must be what "consciously uncoupling" looks like. 

Ok then.  :)

So anyway.......in lieu of the news of their "uncoupling",  I thought it was the perfect time to share my absolute favorite recipe from her It's All Good cookbook.  :)

Roasted Cauliflower + Chickpeas with Mustard+Parsley

Ingredients

14oz can of chickpeas, rinsed and drained and dried with a kitchen towel

1 head of cauliflower cut into bite-sized pieces

extra virgin olive oil

sea salt

1 tablespoon Dijon Mustard

1 tablespoon seeded mustard

1 tablespoon of white wine vinegar (I used red wine vinegar-all I had on hand)

freshly ground pepper

1/4 cup chopped Italian Parsley (I didn't have this so I didn't add)

Preheat the oven to 400 degrees with the rack in the middle.  Toss the Chickpeas and Cauliflower with 3 tablespoons of olive oil and a big pinch of salt. Roast veggies for about 45 minutes stirring around occasionally until veggies are a golden/dark brown and cauliflower is soft. 

While veggies are roasting mix together the mustards, vinegar and 1/4 cup of olive oil with another big pinch of salt and a few grinds of black pepper. While the veggies are still warm toss them with the mustard dressing and parsley. 

You can serve warm or at room temperature. 

This is seriously delicious, and even the husband loved it. 

If you are looking for a healthy side dish I absolutely recommend this. So yummy!

xo,

Kara

Spotlight: Striped Maternity Style

Oh, there's nothing like carrying around a little extra weight.  We've all been there.  What's new this time around is that extra weight is an actual human being.  Yay for maternity style (insert grimace/smile here)!

I've had to really embrace my inner Earth Mama and get on board with buying maternity clothes.  I tried to hold out and wear my old stuff (aka baggiest clothes) for as long as I could.  But reality eventually set in, and I realized I had to go buy some actual maternity clothing.

So off I trooped to Destination Maternity.  Shall I show you one of my favorite purchases? I think I shall :)

Ladies, you have to buy this 3/4 Sleeve Scoop Neck Side Ruched Top!  It fits great, is long enough to cover anything that needs covering, and is very comfortable.  I have it in every color, and I would wear it everyday if I could!  I'm pretty sure I'll continue wearing these when I'm not pregnant, too!

Striped Top from Destination Maternity / Trina Turk Italian Horn Pendant / Tank Top
Splendid Skinny Leggings / Boots / Lincoln Park After Dark Nail Polish

Pefect for work:
Selfie!

Perfect for date night:

 Sunglasses / Moscow Mule Copper Mug

See? I wear it a lot :)

xo,

Kate

Linking to:

Live Laugh Rowe

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Living Well Spending Less

Inspiration Boards...

Kishani Perera's office - the board that got me going this morning.

Ahhh Inspiration Boards.   I just love 'em.  Can't get enough of 'em really.  They always make me so excited about the future....and they make me desperately want to make one for my own house.  So in the spirit of JUST DOING IT, I've decided I will make one within the next month.  The perfectionist side of me is constantly putting off projects, simply because I haven't got the perfect plan or the perfect materials.  Well, I say no more to that!  My new goal is to just start! Just start creating and making and doing and all the good stuff will start flowing in....

Here is a round up of some very inspiring Inspiration Boards:

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I love this one! It's wild and chaotic and so invigorating.  Plus, I'm hoping to put my board in our sun room over the sofa, so this is a good picture to leap off of.

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Seems simple enough - pop some chicken wire up on the wall and buy some clothespins.  A minimalist approach to a mood board.

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I love how this one is almost spilling off of the board and onto the shelf it's leaning on....it's like a physical representation of your dreams jumping off the page!

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An old crib spring!? You really can turn trash into treasure!  Fun pop of color too.

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Pretty office space...check out the whole post on Glitter Guide.

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Side by side dream boards.

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A big inspiration board! Leaning on the floor behind the desk...nice for a home office.

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I love the detail of this one....ornate gold frame, pretty wall paper or fabric as the back drop...that's all the inspiration you need!

Alright dearies, I'm saying it here! Pictures of my new inspiration board to come...:)

xo

Kate

Inspiration For Today

Happy President's Day! Hope everyone is enjoying the day and doing something fun if it's a holiday for you! So.... I was browsing Instagram this morning and came across a picture that really spoke to me and I wanted to share.

via tiu

 

Isn't that fantastic? It's that easy my friends.

How are you starting your day?

xo,

Kara

Bye Bye Baby (Weight) Update!

So, what is the worst thing that can happen when you are on a diet that consists mainly of smoothies? If you guessed my blender breaking down, you would be correct.  Total Fail.  Thankfully I am a proud member of Amazon Prime and our new blender was delivered the very next day at like 50% off.  Who doesn't love a deal? :)

Thankful for Amazon Prime :)

If any of you are wanting to kick start a healthy diet, or begin an exercise routine I would highly recommend Harley Pasternak's The Body Reset Diet.  It has truly been easy (I was only delirious with hunger once or twice-kidding) and I have loved all of the smoothies. I feel better, have more energy and the best part.....I have lost 12 pounds in 15 days! I think at least of a third of that was water weight, but it makes me feel like I am on the right track and they say if you do anything for 21 days it becomes a habit.  I only have 6 days left and then hopefully, fingers crossed, I will have formed some new, healthy habits!

In the book there are a bunch of delicious smoothie recipes with just the right balance of fats, calories and protein and there wasn't one that I didn't like. Once I got the hang of it, I started creating some of my own.  Here is my favorite creation.......

-1 and 1/2 cups of Mixed frozen berries ( I have been using a mix of blueberries, raspberries and strawberries) You can also use fresh if you prefer

-3/4 cup non fat greek yogurt

-2 cups of spinach

-1 and 1/2 TBSP of coconut oil-there are so many amazing benefits to coconut oil there will be a post on that all it's own.

**Coconut oil comes in solid form, so you need to melt it before use.  They recommend that you do not microwave it, so I typically put it in a ziploc and run it under hot water and it instantly becomes a liquid-so cool!**

Blend all ingredients together and enjoy! I have been making smoothies the night before on the days I have to work and it has been great.  All ready to go bright and early the next day!

Colorful, healthy, delicious smoothies!

Hope you all have a fantastic day! The weather here in Denver today was rainy and cool-very fall like! I am going to do a little fall reading for inspiration. Game Day Snack Attack from Rachael Ray? Yes please! 

xo,

Kara

Mindfulness Monday with Kate

Just a few things I've been delving into lately, helping me be more mindful in my every day life...

Reading

The Untethered Soul: The Journey Beyond Yourself

by Michael Singer

“In the book The Untethered Soul, Michael A. Singer takes you step-by-step through the process of Gyana, the yoga of the Intellect, to the Source. Moreover, he does it with elegant simplicity. Read this book carefully, and you will get more than a glimpse of eternity.”

—Deepak Chopra

Moving

Yoga, yoga, and more yoga :>)

Local? Go to The Green Yogi in Manhattan Beach, CA

Home Practice? Run, don't walk to your computer and sign up for Yoga Glo!

Drinking

Cold Pressed and Detox Juices from Kreation Juicery

Some of my favorite flavors are Harmony, Master Cleanse, and Sassy.  I immediately feel lighter and healthier when I have a Kreation Juice.

Have a wonderful Monday, lovelies!

xo,

Kate

Bye Bye Baby (weight!)

Four months ago today my life was forever changed.  Our beautiful baby boy, James came into this world.  Four weeks early, but healthy as can be, his little face and hands and mouth and feet introduced me to a kind of love I had never felt before.  An unconditional, unwavering, deep in your soul kind of love.  Weighing in at 5 pounds 13 oz he was a little peanut, but wow was our baby strong.  He didn't have to spend a moment in the NICU, and he was trying to push his tiny little head right off of our chests the day his was born. 

less than an hour old

first day home

our little peanut

Our newborn shoot

Happy 4th of July!

Sweet baby James at almost 4 months

The past four months have been filled with so many firsts, and our little man is growing and changing every day.  It truly is the most amazing thing I have ever done.  However, now its time for me to make some changes.  I have been trying (not successfully) to get my workouts and diet back on track, and NOW at the four month mark I am going to actually commit to making the change. 

I have researched a lot of different programs and have decided to try Harley Pasternak's Body Reset Diet.  The cover of the book says "power your metabolism, blast fat and shed pounds in just 15 days"! All of that sounds great to me, and after researching the plan, it truly doesn't seem that tough to follow.  I don't need to be educated on the right kinds of foods to eat, or what's healthy-believe me I know ALL of that kind of stuff.  What I need is just a little jumpstart to get back on track.  

image via internet

Harley Pasternak has worked with Kim Kardashian, Amanda Seyfried, Megan Fox and Hilary Duff just to name a few.  All of these women have great figures, and both Megan Fox and Hilary Duff are post baby and look fantastic! Kim is post baby too, but clearly she is in hiding (I don't blame her!).  Those who know me, know that I do love a little celebrity in my life, so why not start "training" with a celebrity trainer! :) One of the things I love most about Harley's book is that he understands our need for instant gratification when it comes to losing weight and getting fit.  His plan starts with 5 days of smoothies-3 smoothies a day with two 150 calorie snacks mixed in a day.  All the exercise he asks for in the first 5 days is 10,000 steps a day.  Shouldn't be to tough, right?

Having a baby changes everything, and I mean everything when it comes to our bodies.  Of course I wouldn't trade any of these changes for the world, but enough is enough. :-) I have bought all of our groceries for the first 5 days of smoothies and snacks and can't wait to get started today. My hubby is on board which helps so much.  I will update next Monday with pounds lost, healthy living tips and how I am feeling so far.  Wish me luck! ;-)

Hope you all have a great Monday!

xo,

Kara

High Tea in Hermosa Beach

A few weeks ago I had a serious yen to head back to London for high tea.  Maybe it's all the royal baby fever, maybe its the bouts of June Gloom we have going on here in LA...either way, I was craving the comfort of remembering a fantastic vacation and the serenity that a little afternoon tea brings to an otherwise typical day.  And a trip all the way back to London feels a little extreme :>)

So instead I decided to "re-create" high tea right here in Hermosa Beach!  Well, its our Southern California-ized version.  

Here's what you need:

**Vintage Tea Cups** 

Collected over the years at various antique stores, flea markets, Gramma and Pop Pop's house!

**Tea spoons**

I absolutely adore these gold plated sets from West Elm..super fun, super fancy, completely unexpected

**Tea and Teapot**

I used the loose leaf Earl Gray tea I purchased from the Tower of London.

Find a similar glass, loose leaf tea pot here.

**Pretty Tray to hold all the goodies**

In London, it's very typical to drink your tea with a little cream and sugar.

The high teas we experienced in London came with all sorts of delicious snacks: Biscuits with jam, scones, little cucumber sandwiches.  For our So Cal version I served this simple Tuscan Salad I shared with y'all a few weeks ago.  See recipe here.

I always find the ritual of making tea to be very soothing and inspiring.  And adding a few easy details (like using vintage teacups and fancy flatware) makes it a fun, festive way to honor a vacation and celebrate summer time.

Cheers to you!

Friday Inspiration

source

Oh Happy Day for the weekend again!  I'm looking forward to a fun day of tailgating at the USC vs. Oregon game tomorrow and a fairly lazy Sunday.  Maybe we'll get around to a few more house projects - here's to hoping!  Check out these interesting articles I stumbled upon this week to get you through your Friday:


For all of us intent on taking the best pictures we can, check out Centsational Girl's tips on photo styling.

Funny and lighthearted advice from Apartment Therapy on how to throw an Election Night Party.

Lines you can actually use at your next Networking Event to aid in the awkwardness from The Daily Muse.

And finally a photo shoot that we designed, styled, and executed while I was living in Nashville was published on the esteemed Wedding Chicks website! Check it out here!

I hope your weekend is relaxing, inspiring, and replenishing :>)
xo,
Kate

source

Pumpkin Carving Party

Last week I made a "Fall To-Do List".  In trying to cross a few to-do's off my list, I threw a last minute Halloween Pumpkin Carving Party!  Why not have one yourself?  Invite a few friends over tonight or tomorrow...it's a great way to celebrate Halloween low-key style.  This party is easy and quick to put together....the main ingredients? Pumpkins, a signature cocktail, and some warm, feel-good Fall food!

On The Menu For The Evening:

DRINK: Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktails

SNACK: Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

EAT: Homemade Meatball Paninis

DO: Pumpkin Carving Kit

LISTEN: New Fall Itunes playlist

DECOR: Finished pumpkins! Scary, funny, classy - the world is yours to carve :>)

DRINK

Apple Cider Bourbon Cocktails

2 parts fresh Apple Cider

2 parts Ginger Ale

1 part Bourbon

Apple Slices

*Stir all ingredients together on the rocks.

*Garnish with a slice of apple

SNACK

Roasted Pumpkin Seeds

1.)  Save the seeds you dig out of your carving pumpkins.

2.)  Rinse seeds well with water.  Then lay seeds out to dry on a paper towel.

3.)  In a saute pan, heat a little olive oil.  Saute seeds in oil and salt.

4.) Meanwhile, pre-heat your oven to 350 Degrees.

5.)  After about 10 minutes, remove seeds from stove, and spread them evenly on a cookie sheet (or 2!)

6.)  Sprinkle seeds with desired flavoring.  I chose 4 different flavors:  Plain, Lowry's seasoning, Garlic Salt, and Molly McButter (all seasonings found in the baking aisle at your grocery store).

7.)  Bake seeds for 15-20 minutes, until slightly golden in color and crunchy to the bite.

EAT

Meatball Paninis - makes 6 paninis

Italian bread

tomato sauce

meatballs

red onion

sliced prosciutto

arugula

sliced provolone cheese

red pepper flakes

Meatballs:

1 lb ground pork

1 egg

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese

2 tbsp dried basil

3 tbsp garlic powder

garlic salt - a few shakes

1/4 cup Italian bread crumbs

salt and pepper

1.)  Mix all ingredients together with your hands in a mixing bowl

2.)  Roll mixture into balls roughly 2 inches in diameter.

3.)  Place meatballs on greased cookie sheet.  Gently press into each, flatting them slightly  This makes it easier to fit in the sandwich.

3.)  Bake for 30 minutes at 350 degrees, turning meatballs once.

***Either make your own tomato sauce (great recipe here) or use a store bought version.

Paninis

1.)  Using a good crunchy Italian bread or ciabatta, cut into panini size.  

2.)  Spread tomato sauce generously on both sides of sandwich.

3.) Slice a meatballs in half and layer on one side.

4.)  Add sliced red onion, prosciutto, provolone cheese, arugula, and a sprinkle of red pepper flakes on other side of bread.  Put panini together.

5.)  Using panini press, heat sandwich until warmed through.

6.)  Serve immediately with fresh green salad.

The decorations and activity for this party take care of themselves.  I simply lit a few candles and prepared the table for carving (garbage bags, newspapers).  

LISTEN

Fall Playlist

Ellie Goulding "Anything Could Happen"

The Black Keys "Gold On the Ceiling"

Imagine Dragons "It's Time"

Mumford & Sons "Below My Feet"

Mumford & Sons "I Will Wait"

Fun "Some Nights"

Phillip Phillips "Home"

The Lumineers "Ho Hey"

Van Morrison "Into the Mystic"

NeedtoBreathe "Stones Under Rushing Water"

Mumford & Sons "Awake My Soul"

The Black Keys "Chop and Change"

Of Monsters and Men "Little Talks"

Edward Sharpe & The Magnetic Zeros "Home"

HAPPY HALLOWEEN!

Xo,

Kate

linked to: The Girl Creative, The Uncommon Slice of Suburbia, Home Stories A2Z,