Abc Bunny.

seen: ABC Bunny, our new Easter book (a 1933 classic!).

Happy Easter.  I love this holiday and hope you're hopeful for new beginnings.

message in a spotted egg.

seen: message in an egg tutorial

I saw this and instantly wanted to start a new tradition: a message in a real spotted egg inside each boy's Easter basket.  It looks like magic.  

eco-Easter

seen: eco-eggs easter egg coloring kit

I've bookmarked eco-kids art supplies but really turned my attention to the brand when I saw this egg coloring kit packaging.  It's fun.  The dye is made using natural plant, vegetable and fruit extracts, which makes sense when you think about coloring hard boiled eggs your children will likely be excited to eat.  (A pink egg!)  Bonus: eco-creature cutouts are available on their website.  

Since the price seems a bit high for dye, I shopped around.  The eco kits can be found cheapest at Pottery Barn Kids, Moolka and Lucky Vitamin (?).  

a treasure: printable pirate valentines

We went easy for Valentine's this year (bought these), but since I was clearly thinking pirates for the 4/5 year old preschoolers, see my favorite free download/DIY (via a new-to-me & really great blog):

seen: printable pirate valentines from Mer Mag

Aren't those awesome (grrreat)?  I can't wait to sort through his loot with him after Thursday's preschool.  So much better than Halloween candy, I think.  

*****

If my boy wasn't so set on eye patches, this is another favorite printable: bubble valentine's cards.

inspire: x's & o's

seen: on b*spoke blog

Inspired to decorate for Valentine's Day, have a festive dinner party and be more of a romantic.

christmas crackers

seen: christmas crackers from present and correct

[seen on nice package blog]

If I lived across the pond, these would be expedited to be at my home for the big Christmas dinner.  I'm sure I've never seen such special crackers.  We grew up with this fun tradition: crossing hands and holding your neighbor's around the table, then pulling the crackers for a bang! before Christmas dinner.  It makes for a really fun start to a really great celebration.  

Now, I'm just left inspired.  Family, too late to make our own?

inspired: gift wrap

seen: water colored gift wrap

wooden nativity set

seen: deluxe nativity set, $44.95

I have a soft spot for nativities and want to grow an entire collection.  Of course with a 1 year old and 4 year old, that's not an easy task when little hands want to play with all of the little pieces.  Naturally.  So you can imagine my excitement when I decided to flip through the One Step Ahead catalog today and found this: a pretty + child-safe 24 piece wooden nativity that reminds me of the German Holztiger set (which runs about 10 times this price).  And for that price!  Joy!

make a modern chalkboard christmas tree

seen: DIY modern chalkboard christmas tree (via poppytalk)

Canadian House and Home does an instant modern take of a Christmas tree.  "No fuss and needle free" if that's what you're going for.  Or maybe just another super & simple decoration to deck the halls (with only a canvas, a dowel and chalkboard paint).  

how to make a fresh wreath

seen: "bits & bits wreath" by Studio Choo for Sunset Magazine

I haven't made my way through Sunset's December 2010 issue yet, but I do have page 75 opened on my desk (see above).  It's gorgeous and inspiring and comes with a how-to decorate your house with your "backyard" foliage.  I'm not sure Christmas season will feel quite right until I get something like this onto our front door.  

Read their DIY (beautiful & natural) wreath instructions here.  

Note: My local Whole Foods is selling 24" fresh evergreen wreaths for only $14.99.  (Nice and thick and heavy even.)  I swept up that deal this afternoon and am excited to add my own bits and pieces (especially succulents).  

DIY stamped christmas cards version 2010:

 my inspiration:

seen: Greetings from San Francisco cards by Hello Lucky!

my DIY:

seen: Winterscape and San Francisco stamp sets by Yellow Owl Workshop 

+

seen: stamp pads from paper source

+

plain cards and envelopes in superfine soft white from paper source

+

one favorite family photograph by Justin Hackworth

I love sending & receiving Christmas cards and am excited that twenty-ten will bring back a Burgoyne family greeting.  This year, coming from The Bay area.  

inspired: sweet holiday magazine

seen: white christmas tree

Just ended my day with Sweet Paul's Holiday Magazine.  Have you flipped through it yet?  

I was going to share a favorite page, but instead it became a list: the cranberry almond streusel cake, the cupcake flowers gift wrap, the decor kit (available here), this entire party theme (!), the tree of memories, this centerpiece and this teaser.  Maybe you should just have a look yourself..

diy holiday gift wrap

seen: DIY potato-stamped gift wrap via Bloesem Kids

Oh man.  I love this image.  And the idea of potato or apple stamping our gift wrap this year.  Wouldn't that be an incredible on-going craft project this month?  Coordinating colors and choosing shapes and letting the boys help!

I would probably start here.  And maybe try something like this in blue + metallics.  

how we did halloween.

We managed low-key costumes this year and the boys didn't know the difference.  They were comfortable and face-paint-free.  (& the practical in me especially loves that most of the pieces double as dress up or daily wardrobe additions.)  This is how we did it:

Finn: superhero

super hero cap by Soil + Olive Juice union suit (used 30% off coupon- doubles as pajamas) + homemade yellow cotton star and cape.  

Cole: Todd, the fox

Oeuf fox mask and tail set + essential apparel union suit ($15 no tax, free shipping) + homemade felt tummy.

My other favorite halloween showcases (although in a different league!):

Luke and Leia

DIY owl

little ups man

superhero

lumberjack

ghost buster

inspired: twig&thistle glams up pumpkins

[glitter pumpkin candle holder DIY here]

[pumpkin placecards DIY]

seen: twig&thistle for better homes and gardens

trim the tree: sundance style

seen: gudari sari garland, $35

seen: naive holiday ornaments, set of 8, $28

seen: mercury glass initial ornaments, $15

seen: homespun holiday ornaments, set of 3, $35

My catalog came today and I loving the Sundance Catalog for the holidays this year.  (Never too early?)

wishing I could do this:

seen: ferocious felt lion coat by little goodall

The coat doesn't fit our Halloween budget this year, but it has me wishing I was that creative.  It's amazing and probably well worth it.

Look at this one too.  I love that she did a take on Fantastic Mr. Fox (right?) because when Cole chose "a fox!" this year, I was hoping something like this would cut it.  Instead, he wanted to be Todd from The Fox and The Hound.  A real, literal fox.  We're still working on that costume.  

FEED trick-or-treat bag

seen: FEED trick-or-treat bag to benefit Unicef, $16.15

After a week without internet (have mercy), we're back up and running and I'm happy.  This treat was waiting in my inbox this morning and or course I love the idea of putting the chocolate and smarties in a burlap bag that, for each sold, donates a year of nutrients to help a child in the developing world survive. Free shipping even.  

halloween sneak peek

I saw this over the weekend and knew that's it!  Phew.  Finn will be geared up for all kinds of super fun.  By Soil on etsy.    

potato print monster tees

LMNOPs issue 12 is out and it's always a treat.  And I don't think it would be far fetched to say that the little 4 year old of mine who now insists on picking out his clothes every day would do flips for a potato stamped monster tee.  And maybe I wouldn't mind if one of these became a new favorite for him or baby brother.

See tutorial below.