Hey kids! I haven’t been ignoring my blog this past week..I’ve just been setting up my new blog that I’m hosting myself. Come visit me at sparklepantsgirl.com.
Insert Four Letter Word Here August 5, 2010
Consider this. You think your adorable little toddler is being a good girl and is taking a nap, ah the joys of parenthood… Silence is deceiving my friend. You go in to the room she is “sleeping” in and to your horror discover this:
The crayons say washable..um okay. So that didn’t work at all. What do you do?
First thing..take a deep breath. Then walk out of the room and pour yourself a large glass of wine ( ignore the fact that it is only 10 in the morning ). Grab a rag and some of this magic-in-a-can:
Spray some of the WD-40 on the rag and wipe. Like it was never there. Breathe. All clean before the Mr. gets home. Disaster averted.
According to the manufacturer, WD-40 has over 2000 uses. Magic indeed.
Slow progress..but progress just the same July 30, 2010
I’ve been working on the sparkletots’ room for months now. Actually, it’s more like once a month I get some bright idea, start it and then never finish it. That’s just how I roll.
One fine day I was perusing the internets and came across this. This artist, Debee Campos does such beautiful work and I love the colors she uses. This little corner was so inspiring and I knew something like it would work in the girls’ room. I went to Ikea ( love that place ) and found the paper lanterns on sale for a whopping 99¢. I hung them up with baker’s twine since there is no need to use them as lights. Then I made a garland out of white thread and colorful round paper punches. Actually I made two garlands. The first one got all tangled on itself and ended up as I picked it up. Not my finest moment.
Here is what it looks like now. I’m thinking of adding some large poms, either tissue paper poms or poms made of yarn. It’s hard to see the depth of the garland in this picture, but it looks really cool.
Here are the sheets I bought the girls. I used a gift card for Williams Sonoma that was supposed to be just for me. I guess it’s a mom thing to do to spend the money on the girls. I can’t help it.
What do you think? I still need to get curtains and an actual bed to put the mattress on. Any suggestions or thoughts would be totally appreciated!!
Ohhhh this lamp July 29, 2010
Image Credit: christophermoulder.com
This lamp is called Random Orbit, designed by Christopher Moulder. I love you Christopher Moulder. It’s supposed to look like fireflies..I think it looks like heaven. It costs 1850 ducketts. Ummm…maybe next year.
See more of Christopher Moulder’s amazing work here.
Blackberry Muffins July 22, 2010
I’m sure every parent has been through this scenario… one sunny day the toddler of the family, known through out the land as a picky eater, decides she likes something. She likes it so much that she eats a lot of it. Her parents are pleased because it’s..wait for it..healthy. So as good parents would, they run back to the market and purchase more of this product. Only to discover that their little darling doesn’t want it anymore. She wants nothing to do with it.
This scenario played out at Casa Sparklepants recently with blackberries. This isn’t the first time it has happened and I’m sure it won’t be the last. So with a plethora of gorgeous blackberries on hand I set out to make muffins.
Muffins, I discovered, are a sure-fire way of getting the picky one to eat certain things. She thinks they are cupcakes! Shhh..don’t say that too loud, I definitely don’t want her to hear that they aren’t.
Blackberry Muffins
makes 18 muffins
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1-1/4 cups
- 2 eggs
- 1 teaspoon vanilla
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 1/2 cup milk
- 2 cups fresh blackberries
Cream butter and sugar, then add eggs one at a time. Beat well. Mix in dry ingredients then add milk. Beat well. Fold in blackberries. You can use fresh or frozen, I used fresh, they were large so I cut them in half. Fill paper-lined muffin cups 2/3rd full and bake at 350° F for 20 minutes-25 minutes.
Okay, so perhaps they aren’t too different from cupcakes, they do have sugar and white flour, but that can be altered if you choose to. Of course after I made these I saw this recipe for Blackberry Corn Muffins. Those look yummy!
P.S. Please forgive the holiday themed paper cupcake liners. They were all I had.. and well muffins wouldn’t be cupcakes without them!
So Foxy June 14, 2010
Here in Casa Sparklepants we have been watching a lot of the Fantastic Mr. Fox lately. Have you seen this movie? We are big Wes Anderson fans and this movie is.. err.. fantastic. Even the Sparkletots like it. So now I am crushing on foxes. They are sly and witty.. kinda like myself. Just kidding. So here is my collection of foxy items that I *heart*…
The Quick Orange Fox Pillowcase from Eristotle
Foxy Friends in Paris Poster from Ink + Wit
Annamoa fabric in green at Ikea
Custom Fox Stamp at A Hue Of Duck Egg Blue
Red Fox Tablecloth at New House Textiles
Monty the Fox Lambswool Plush at Sara Carr
Foxy Friends Tea Towel from Ink + Wit
Letterpress Creeping Fox Coasters from Sesame Letterpress Shop
I Hope You’re Not Dieting May 24, 2010
Does this look yummy or what?!
I made this scrumptious delight after seeing in on Bakerella. She calls it a Brookie (brownie + cookie). I just call it amazing. The recipe calls for pecans, but I used walnuts instead.
Look how thick the batter is!
I plan on making this again. Not too soon though…my thighs can’t take it.
Fabric Tape Part II May 23, 2010
Lisa at the red thread posted about her idea of using double-sided tape to make the fabric tape that was inspired by annekata’s post here. I love the even more simple idea of double-sided tape. I think that I will use both ideas but expand on annekata’s version and use craft punches to make shapes that can be used as homemade stickers! I’m going to the store tomorrow to get supplies..pictures soon.
Modern House Numbers May 21, 2010
I’ve been on the hunt for some modern looking house numbers to adorn the front of our home. Here is a round-up of what I like so far..
1. Mod Plexi Address Plaques by modplexi on Etsy
2. LED House Numbers at Chiasso
3. Paragon Modern House Numbers at Atlas Homewares
4. Natural Satin Aluminum at West On
5. Domicile House Numbers at Chiasso
6. Neutra House Numbers at DWR
I also found some cool ones at modernhousenumbers.com and custom ones can be made at customhousenumbers.com. Ideally I am looking for a plaque that has vertical cut-outs of the number. I know it’s out there, now I need to find it…
PS. The cute tape strip up top is part of a free download from Katrina at puglypixel.com. Thanks Katrina!
Sparkle 