Color Block

How cute are these Iris & Ink Color-Block Cashmere Sweaters?

I love the colors and since I am ALWAYS cold, they would be the perfect layering piece for Spring.

Cans

A while back in this post, I mentioned that each month I was going to work with my little one's to give back to their community.  For January they each adopted a child and so for February, I thought a food drive would be fun.  Numerous friends commented on my previous post about also wanting to get involved so instead of my three simply purchasing some food to donate, I made it fun and invited over a bunch of friends to participate as well.  Twenty two boys and girls filled the house for pizza, cookies and wine for the moms to have a little party on a Tuesday night and give back to those less fortunate.  Some of the children bought the food with their own allowance while others went through their pantry to see what they could share.  We had such a great time and the kids really did a fabulous job of filling up my dining room table with a TON of canned and non-perishable food.  It was such an easy way to show children that even though they are young, they can still make a big impact when they work together.

 We all had so much fun and I am looking forward to putting together something else for March!

Thank you to all the friends that participated! 

Sarah

I am always going to be biased when my name is involved.  

Club Monaco has launched the "Sarah Crop" pant and I think they are a definite for my Spring wardrobe.

My favorite is the 'Sarah Tuxedo' Crop but there some cute prints as well.

I am only hoping that the white with black tuxedo stripe is still available after Easter. 

Yep, that's right.  

I gave up shopping for Lent.

Sadly, it has been much harder than I thought, especially with all the Spring lines hitting stores.

And of course I torture myself looking online to share with you all that is fabulous.

I figured if I cannot shop I can at least help you with your Spring shopping.

Only 33 days to go (but who is counting?????)

Monday

Monday after the Oscars.

The day that we all begin critiquing how everyone looked even though we would wear the worst dress imaginable if it meant that we ourselves could actually be there.

Case in point, Anne Hathaway.

This dress just made me sad.  She is so beautiful and has incredible taste that I was actually shocked to see her choice.  I am no stylist but perhaps the Valentino that she was originally scheduled to wear would have been a better option than the pointy boob Prada.  But yes, I would have still worn it if I could be at the Oscars.  We all would.  

Though I was not a fan of Anne's, there were so many "Best Dressed" ladies, Jennifer Lawrence in Dior Haute Couture being my number one.  She has killed it this awards season with all her choices and this was such an incredible way to finish it off.  My second was Jennifer Chastain in Giorgio Armani who looked like a red headed Barbie Doll and redeemed herself from the Golden Globes.  And finally, Naomi Watts, also in Giorgio Armani, took my number 3 spot.  She is so beautiful and I love that she is willing to take a little bit of a risk and can pull it off.

via Instyle.com

In much more exciting news, I spent my glamourous weekend dealing with the missing pacifier, Little League Opening Day, a dinner party with friends, a Middle Man diagnosed with pink eye AND because we like to make it interesting, potty training Baby Girl.  This far outweighs getting primped and ready for the Oscars, walking a red carpet or sipping Champagne at the Governor's Ball. 

Take that Hollywood.

P.S. This was my favorite part of the show.   

Homemade Granola

I recently developed an addiction to granola and yogurt.  It is such an easy breakfast or snack.  I have heard about making your own but never really attempted it until yesterday.  I found this recipe and loved the abundance of nuts and coconut in it so decided to give it a try.  It was not only easy to make but SO GOOD too.  I cannot believe I wait this long but I can promise you, I will no longer be buying granola.  That would just be silly now.

The Pacifier

See this photo?  

This was a sweet moment taken by the hubby while we were in Santa Ynez.

I love this photo and keep looking at it to remind myself of that sweet little girl that has since turned into a monster.

That's right.

A monster.

After our trip we decided that at almost three, Baby Girl should no longer be using a pacifier.  It was time.......FINALLY.  But we are paying for waiting so long.

We should have known better.  With the boys, the day their turned 2 was the day we took the pacifier away.  Sure they had a rough night but after that, it was over.  I am not sure if it is because she is our only girl, the youngest, or we know that this is our last but Baby Girl turned 2 and we let her keep it.  Each month we would say "this is the last month!" but then would never do anything.  I am amazed at the difference a few months makes.  For the two year olds who were slightly attached, it was sad.  To an almost three year old, it has been devastating.  

My sweet Baby Girl from only a few days ago is now throwing tantrums, not going to sleep easily and continues to ask for her pacifier.  Getting a "no" makes it even worse and I think we are both getting on each other's nerves.  The plus in all of this is that she is at least not waking up at night, but the easy bedtime routine has taken a sudden shift.  I had no idea how much she liked her pacifier.

I know that in a few days all will return to normal and she will have moved passed her need for the pacifier, but for now, I am not happy with myself that I let it go this long.  You would think that by Baby #3 I would know better and keep to what works but I let the convenience of the pacifier overrule and believe me, LESSON LEARNED.  

For that, it is deep breathes.  More deep breathes.  And more deep breathes. 

Next stop?  Potty Training!

This is going to be an awesome few months. 

UPDATE: 
Thank you S.N. for the suggestion of the "Paci Fairy"! 
Baby Girl loves her new Cinderella doll but keeps telling me the fairy is bringing her pacifier back and she doesn't want someone else to have it.
STUBBORN little one here!
I will let you know if it works!

Fashion Week Favorites

Now that both New York and London Fashion Week's have come to an end, I thought I would share some of my favorite looks.  Even though I am ready for some warm weather and Spring clothes, I could not help but get excited for the rich prints, colors and the return of black and white.

Rebecca Minkoff, Calvin Klein Collection, Issa

Tibi, Victoria Beckham, Temperley London

Oscar de la Renta (might be my favorite of all), Tom Ford, Marchesa

Burberry Prorsum, Kate Spade New York, Carolina Herrera  

Any personal favorites?

all photos via Style.com

A Reminder

This past weekend we went back to Santa Ynez for a dear friend's 35th birthday.  The entire weekend was a surprise and it brought together some of my favorite people that I do not have the luxury of seeing all the time.  In fact, it is embarrassing how long it has been.  Everyone brought their children and it not only allowed us to catch up but provided an opportunity for our children to become friends as well.  And who doesn't love when the husbands are friends?! It was an amazing reminder.

A reminder that these college friends are so important to me.  A reminder that they know more about me than a lot of people.  A reminder that even though our worlds get chaotic and crazy, it is important to make plans every now and then and allow ourselves to catch up with each other.

I have been blessed to have some pretty amazing friends from high school and college.  The unfortunate part is that not all of them live in Orange County and it takes a lot of planning to get to see each other.  We are all busy with our children, jobs, and simply, life.  Weddings made it pretty easy but now that most of us have tied the knot, it takes some additional effort.  

As I get older I am really starting to appreciate that my high school and college friends knew me prior to being "wife" and "mommy".  They know my life now but they also know where I came from.  They have see me at the very top and have also seen me hit the ground.  And they have been there to laugh and cry with me through everything.  It makes my heart happy when I get to see these people and also reminds me that perhaps the things I get stressed about are not worth the time and in the end, family and friends are all that really matters. 

Thank you M for planning such an amazing weekend for E.  Thank you also for including us and giving us all this opportunity to spend some time together.  It was amazing weekend and we cannot wait to come back.

And in other news, the hubby and I have fallen in love with the Santa Ynez Valley and are trying to figure out how we could possibly relocate.  To say we are obsessed is an understatement.  Who knows, perhaps this blog could one day be renamed "Juggling in Wine Country".

Love for 30 Project

Happy Monday!

Today I am over at My Thirty Spot, participating in Erin's "Love for 30" project and sharing a little advice with my younger self.

Come check out my guest post here!

Thank you Erin for asking me to be a part of this!

What I Wore

Now that the weather around here is starting to lighten up a bit, I have been happy to start pulling out printed dresses that have been hibernating in my closet and getting into the Spring spirit.  Of course they still require boots or leggings, but it is a start!

Dress: Kain via Luxury Garage Sale, Booties: DV by Dolce Vita (similar (on sale!), Clutch: Club Monaco, Accessories: Stella & Dot

Dress: Anthropologie, Jacket: MARC by Marc Jacobs, Boots: Via Spiga, Cuff: c/o Olivia Welles

And, just in case you are interested in picking up a little something for yourself this Valentine's Day, Olivia Welles jewelry is on Ideeli today until the 16th!  This cuff is only one of the many fabulous pieces they have.  Shop the collection here.

Happy Valentine's Day!

Easter Treat: Resurrection Bread

To kick off Lent and the Easter season on this Ash Wednesday, I thought I would share with you this cute recipe given to us during our Oldest's First Communion prep class.  It is always hard to explain to the children the idea that Jesus rose from the dead and the simplicity of this recipe helped in them grasping the concept.  They could make it themselves and they actually saw something "disappear".  The best part is that Baby Girl kept saying, "I didn't want Him to disappear!" as she was incredibly upset that the marshmallow was gone...

Resurrection Bread

Ingredients:

1 can of 8 crescent rolls

8 large marshmallows

3 Tbsp butter

3 Tbsp sugar

1 Tbsp cinnamon

Instructions:

1. Heat your oven to 375 degrees

2. Mix sugar and cinnamon in a bowl

3. Melt butter in a second bowl

4. Roll marshmallows in the melted butter.
5. Roll marshmallows in sugar/cinnamon mix to coat.
6. Place a marshmallow in the center of the crescent roll triangle

7. Wrap carefully to try and completely seal so the marshmallow doesn't seep out as it heats.

8. Cook for 10 minutes (watch though, all ovens vary).

The marshmallow represents Jesus, the crescent roll represents the cloth the soldiers wrapped Him in after His death on the cross and the oven represents the tomb.  After the rolls cook, open the roll and see that the marshmallow (Jesus) isn't there because He has risen!  And as quickly as the rolls were there, they were gone.  The kids LOVED them.

I understand that many reading this may have different beliefs but this really was a tasty treat that brought the children into the kitchen and allowed them to make something themselves.  I recommend it for everyone!

I just noticed that I have posted a lot of recipes lately.  Take advantage of it.  I am sure I will fall into a "I am not cooking for a while" hiatus again soon!

Marc Allison....again

I know, I know.  I have already posted about Marc Allison jeans.  The thing is, I have become so obsessed with them that I felt the need to bring them up again.  I have been a huge fan of my wide leg jeans for some time but have recently acquired a pair of their straight leg (in black cherry) and boot leg (in olive) and cannot seem to stop wearing them.

c/o Marc Allison Jeans

I actually have to make myself not wear them because I tend to lean towards them every day.  It has been a long time since finding a brand of jeans that has a phenomenal cut (probably the most flattering jeans I own) but are also extremely comfortable.  Add to the fact that they are $98 when purchased from a local rep (instead of the $185-$220 that they cost at Fred Segal) and there really are no excuses not to at least try them.  And if you try them, I am 99% sure you will love them.  

If you are interested in trying a pair for yourself, simply click here and send Marc Allison an email, letting them know you are interested in having a rep reach out to you.  Their customer service is great and their response is extremely quick. Location is not an issue as they have reps all over the country.  Also, let me know if you end up grabbing a pair!  I would love to hear what you think of them! 

If you would like additional information on Marc Allison jeans, you can read my original post by simply clicking here. 

Fried Mac and Cheese Balls

The hubby made these AMAZING Fried Mac and Cheese Balls for Super Bowl.

They were RIDICULOUS.

You should make them too.

Happy Weekend.

Chandelier

Since we moved into our house last February, I have been dreaming of hanging a chandelier in our kitchen.  I saw it once in a home and loved the glamour it brought to the most used room in the house.  I about passed out when our AMAZING designer Julie from Hovie Interiors found this little gem for us.

It is vintage, from France and has Emerald Green in it.

She could not have found a better chandelier for me.

I am in love.

And it is going to tie in so well with what we are doing in the family room!

More to share soon!

Getting to Win Win

Back in November I mentioned I was off to LA for a fun project.  Well, the final product is complete and I am so excited to share.  PopSugar Studios, Circle of Moms and TruMoo chocolate milk invited me to work along side Katie Hurley of Practical Parenting and Lori Jackson of Best Family Traditions to film a short documentary on issues we face as parents.  Katie was our parenting expert while I discussed picky eating and Lori discussed technology use.

The entire experience was so much fun and definitely a bucket list item.  We spent the day at the PopSugar Studios in Culver City filming and then the director and camera crew made a visit to our homes in order to get some live shots with the children.  It was so much fun to include them in the project and they loved that they got to drink an unlimited amount of chocolate milk while trying to get the perfect shot.  The final product just launched on Circle of Moms on January 31st and I am now able to share it with you!

Two things I learned from this? 
One, I liked being in front of the camera way too much. 
Two, I definitely need a makeup artist, hairstylist and lighting professional with me at all times. 

Thank you PopSugar, Circle of Moms and TruMoo for including me in this fun project!

Trucker

With Spring arriving a little early this year (thanks to Punxsutawney Phil!), it is time to start reviewing those staples in the closet and see what might be missing for warmer weather.  One Spring and Summer staple for me is the denim jacket.  It goes with everything, can work for day time or night time, and lasts for years.  Every denim line has come out with their own version of the denim jacket but I am all for the classic Levi's Trucker Jacket.  I love the classic style, it comes in a number of shades and the price is right.  Plus, you cannot go wrong with Levi.  They are a classic in itself!

Destructed Blue

Fogged Black

Shadowy Dusk

   This all brings me back to the first denim jacket I wanted when I was in elementary school...

The LA Gear Stone Washed Denim Jacket.

Amazing.

available via Etsy

Sauteed Kale

If you are anything like me, then you spent yesterday over-indulging in high-fat, high-yumminess and are potentially running off to the gym as fast as you can.  If you didn't, then I think you are lying.  It is just what happens on Super Bowl Sunday.  Well, in all honesty, I have actually not indulged yet because I am writing this PRIOR to the Super Bowl, guaranteeing that I could enjoy myself without having to write this at night.  Now you know my secret.

Because we may all be feeling a bit guilty on over-indulging, I thought I would share my favorite kale recipe thus far.  It is incredibly simple, tastes yummy and makes for the perfect side dish.  We threw it next to some sliders topped with carmelized onions and avocado, along with sweet potato fries, to make the perfect Friday night dinner.

Eye Candy

It is now February.

The month when pure pressure is placed on every significant other to provide THE MOST ROMANTIC day ever.

It always makes me laugh how IMPORTANT this day becomes to women.

But then you see all the cute red and pink everywhere and it is hard not to get wrapped up into it all.

My Valentine's Day is already planned.

It involves my husband, our friends and my wedding dress.

Kinky? 

No.

Hilarious?

I can only imagine at this point.

I would share more but that would be no fun.

Instead, you are going to have to wait until after the 14th.

Okay, it has now been two days of red and pink.
I promise it will stop now.

Happy Weekend!