My Little Olive

DIY Thanksgiving Napkin Ring

2010-11-16T18:24:00.000-08:00

All you need is acorn tops, pom poms, a hot glue gun and bakers twine!

Using a hot glue gun, glue pom poms to acorn tops.
Cut a 12 inch piece of twine.
Tie one end to one acorn top and the other end to another acorn top.
Tie around napkin and fasten with a bow.

Recipe of the week: Chocolate Covered Pretzels

2010-10-28T16:17:00.001-07:00

People are always wowed by these, but they're so easy to make for any holiday!

Bag of white chocolate wafers
Pretzel rods
Sprinkles
Wax or parchment paper

Put wafers in a tall glass drinking glass that's microwave safe.
Microwave on high for 1 minute.
Stir and repeat until chocolate is smooth.
Dip pretzel rods about halfway into the chocolate and place on paper.
Add sprinkles and let sit until chocolate is set.

DIY Halloween Treat Bags

2010-10-20T18:15:00.000-07:00

Treat bags are the perfect favor for your Halloween party or a special treat for your neighborhood kids. They're inexpensive, easy to make and super cute!

What you'll need:
Small Paper Treat Bags
Candy or other treats
Festive Stickers
Ribbon (cut into 10" pieces)
Hole Punch

one. fill bag with candy and treats

two. fold the top of the bag over

three. punch two holes in the center of the flap and thread ribbon through from the back

four. tie a bow in the front and place sticker on the front of the bag

Recipe of the week: Candy Corn Bark

2010-10-19T17:26:00.000-07:00

Warning: this is super addictive!

1/2 bag of oreo cookies
few hand fulls of pretzels
2 bags of white chocolate wafers or chips
1/2 bag of candy corn

Line baking sheet with parchment paper.
Crush oreos and pretzels and spread on parchment.

Heat white chocolate in the microwave slowly.
1 minute on high heat then mix. Repeat until melted.

Spread white chocolate over the oreos and pretzels.
Sprinkle with candy corn.

Let sit until chocolate has set. Then break into pieces by hand.

Sugary deliciousness!

Bundleme

2010-10-04T09:15:00.000-07:00

This cozy sack is a must have for fall and winter walking. Made by JJ Cole, the Bundleme comes in a variety of fabric weights and colors and it's compatible with most car seats, strollers and joggers.

I just bought the Urban for our Bob stroller, because it's outer shell is rain and wind proof and the inside is a soft and cozy fleece!

Recipe of the week: Pumpkin Whoopie Pies

2010-09-28T07:20:00.000-07:00

6 tablespoons unsalted butter at room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup canned pumpkin puree
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 large eggs
2 cups all-purpose flour (or wheat)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup reduced fat cream cheese
1 stick unsalted butter
1 1/2 cup confectionery sugar

Heat oven to 375 degrees.

Beat butter and sugars in a medium sized bowl.
Add the pumpkin, vanilla and egg and beat until combined.

Combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt another bowl.
Slowly add the flour mixture to the sugar and butter.
Beat on medium-low speed until fluffy.

Spoon teaspoons 2 inches apart onto a parchment-lined baking sheet.
Bake about 10 minutes or until puffed.

In another bowl, beat the cream cheese, butter and confectionery sugar.
Once cookies are cool, spread onto the flat side of half the cookies.

Makes about 12.

Playroom Project: Inspiration

2010-09-26T13:08:00.000-07:00

We're turning our three season room into a playroom for Olivia. I'm really excited to make this an amazing room for her to play and be creative in.

This playroom, featured in Real Simple, is what originally inspired the idea. I just love the abundance of natural light and organized storage space.

Here are some organization strategies they shared:
- toss past their prime items
- let the space breathe
- brighten things up
- designate a place for everything

I'd be interested to know what you think makes the perfect playroom!

Sweet Children's Books

2010-09-15T16:18:00.000-07:00

These are definitely the most beautiful children's books I've seen in a while. We have In My Tree, but we're looking forward to getting some of the other books in the series. Itty bitty felt finger puppet owl and the amazing colors and patterns make me want to read it to Olivia every night.

GIVEAWAY!

2010-09-01T09:02:00.000-07:00

Enter to win a My Little Olive product!

To enter:
1. post the etsy link to your favorite My Little Olive product on your wall (shop url: http://www.etsy.com/shop/mylittleoliveshop)
2. email mylittleoliveshop@gmail.com to let me know you did

Winner can choose from 3 items: cupcake washcloths, twirl skirt or 12 cupcake toppers/12 goody bag tags.

Winner will be chosen at random and announced on Friday, September 10.

Good luck!

Yay for Morgan & Milo

2010-08-26T13:05:00.000-07:00

Wow, I LOVE these shoes by Morgan & Milo. I just wish they had those lace up boots in my size! Oh, and don't worry moms, they zip up the side.

Paul Frank Alphabet Flash Cards

2010-08-24T14:42:00.000-07:00

I love these Paul Frank Alphabet Flash Cards...maybe even more than Olivia does. They feature classic characters like Julius the Monkey and Clancy the Giraffe and lots of new cute ones.
They're fun for learning letters and would make cute wall art.

Recipe of the week: Lemon Yogurt Loaf

2010-08-17T18:10:00.000-07:00

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plain yogurt (i actually used banilla)
1 1/3 cups sugar, divided
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons grated lemon zest
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup apple sauce
1/3 cup freshly squeezed lemon juice

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.
Grease loaf pan.

Sift together the flour, baking powder, and salt into a bowl.
In another bowl, whisk together the yogurt, 1 cup sugar, eggs, lemon zest, and vanilla.

Slowly whisk the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients.
Fold the apple sauce into the batter and mix well.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake for about 50 minutes or until cooked through.

Meanwhile, cook the 1/3 cup lemon juice and remaining 1/3 cup sugar in a small pan until the sugar dissolves. Set aside.

While the cake is still warm, pour the lemon-sugar mixture over the cake and allow it to soak in.

A Mom's Must-have Cook Book

2010-08-06T12:31:00.000-07:00

Olivia is already starting to throw food she doesn't want, like carrots. So cookbooks like this are going to make my life easier and her meals healthier.

Deceptively Delicious by Jessica Sienfeld provides smart and easy ways to incorporate vegetables into meals. It proves you can sneak a little vegetable puree in just about anything. Macaroni and cheese with butternut squash...they'll never know!

Plum Organic Pouches

2010-08-04T11:50:00.000-07:00

These Plum organic pouches are are portable, have no added ingredients, BPA free packaging and are yummy! What a great way to feed your baby a healthy snack on the go. Or yourself, if you forgot to eat.

Recipe of the Week: Apple Oatmeal Muffins

2010-08-02T08:19:00.001-07:00

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 1/2 cup instant oats
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt
1 cup applesauce
2/3 cup skim milk
1/4 cup sugar
2 tbsp oil
1 egg
1 cup finely chopped apple

Set oven to 400 degrees.

Mix dry ingredients in a large bowl.
Add remaining.
Batter should be lumpy.
Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full with batter.

Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.

Makes one dozen.

We Love Melissa & Doug

2010-07-31T18:19:00.000-07:00

Olivia is only one, but we're already loving these Melissa & Doug toys. I find wood and non-toxic paint to be a great alternative to plastic. Playsets cost around $22.

To get a great deal, buy them at AC Moore.
They have a good selection and offer 40% and 50% off coupons weekly on their site.

My Etsy pick of the week

2010-04-10T06:01:00.001-07:00

Crocheted creatures from Petit and Cute Design.

Recipe of the Week: Mediterranean Turkey Burgers

2010-04-09T09:16:00.000-07:00

1 package ground turkey
1/2 cup crumbled feta
2 teaspoons mint
2 teaspoons oregano
tzatziki

Mix all ingredients in bowl.
Form flat patties.
Grill!

Serve with tzatziki.

Mini Boden Summer

2010-04-07T10:02:00.000-07:00

Mini Boden is yummy!
Thanks to Ali for introducing me to the brand.

Recipe of the Week: Puffs and Pretzels Nests

2010-04-01T18:48:00.000-07:00

3 1/2 cups Kashi Puffs cereal
1 cup shredded coconut
1 cup broken pretzel sticks
2/3 coarsely chopped almonds
12 oz dark chocolate chips
1/2 cup almond butter
Cadbury Mini Eggs

In a large bowl, combine Kashi Puffs cereal, coconut, pretzels and almonds.

Microwave chocolate chips in 30 second intervals, stirring until totally melted. Add almond butter and microwave one more time. Stir until smooth.

Pour mixture over dry ingredients and mix until well combined.

Drop teaspoons onto wax paper and using your thumb, press in the center to create the look of a nest.

Place 3 mini eggs in the center of each.

Set in the refrigerator.

My Etsy pick of the week

2010-04-01T06:14:00.001-07:00

Super cute monkey hats made by cite fuzz.
And the babies wearing them are super cute too!

My Etsy pick of the week

2010-03-25T14:01:00.001-07:00

Spring bling!
Beautiful rings, earrings, necklaces and hair pins by Liz Hutnick.

Recipe of the Week: Spring Cupcakes

2010-03-24T05:52:00.000-07:00

For the cupcake:
1 package of Trader Joe's Vanilla Bean Cake Mix
1 stick of butter (or 1/2 cup butter, 1/2 cup apple sauce)
1 cup cold low fat milk
2 eggs

For the top:
2 cups shredded coconut
1 and 1/2 cups confectionery sugar
dash of milk
Cadbury Mini Eggs

Line muffin pan with cupcake liners.
Prepare batter and bake according to box.

Spread coconut on a baking sheet.
Put in the already heated oven for about 5 minutes or until starts to brown. Remove and let cool.

Mix a little milk into the confectionery sugar so that it's glaze-like in texture. When the cupcakes are cooled, cut a bit off the tops to create a flat surface. Put glaze onto the flat top and then sprinkle with the toasted coconut around the edges to form the shape of a nest.

Dip the bottoms of the chocolate eggs into the glaze and place in the middle.

Makes about a dozen.

My Etsy pick of the week

2010-03-19T07:58:00.000-07:00

Whimsical wall decals from Simple Shapes.

Liberty of London

2010-03-16T19:05:00.000-07:00

at Target!

Amazing prints just in time for spring!

Recipe of the Week: Guinness Cupcakes

2010-03-15T08:31:00.000-07:00

1 cup Guinness Extra Stout
3/4 cup unsweetened chocolate chips
1 1/2 cup unsalted butter
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 tablespoon baking soda
2 eggs
3/4 cup sour cream
4 ounces cream cheese (room temperature)
1 cup confectioners sugar
3 tablespoons Bailey's Irish Cream

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Bring Guinness and butter to a simmer in a saucepan over medium heat. Do not boil.

Add chocolate chips to hot stout/butter mixture and whisk until chocolate melts. Remove from heat and let cool.

Add sugar to chocolate mixture and whisk to combine.

Sift flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl.

In a large bowl, combine the eggs and sour cream with a mixer on medium speed.

Add stout-chocolate mixture to the egg mixture and combine on medium-low speed until well blended.

Slowly add flour mixture in thirds to chocolate mixture.

Place cupcake liners in pan and divide batter into cups, filling them about 2/3 of the way up.

Bake for 18-24 minutes or until the tops are firm to the touch.

Let cool on wire rack and frost.

For frosting, combine cream cheese, confectioners sugar and Bailey’s Irish Cream.

Mix using hand mixer on medium speed.

My Etsy pick of the week

2010-03-12T04:56:00.000-08:00

milk, sugar and a sweater please.
not only are these coffee sweaters adorable, but they're green.

small paul

2010-03-10T13:08:00.000-08:00

I've liked Paul Frank since i bought my red vinyl Julius wallet almost 10 years ago. it started as a wallet company, but has expanded into things like apparel, watches, accessories and most recently, kids stuff...branded Small Paul.

Olivia has a blanket a few hoodies and some pjs, but her collection is growing.

Why not wallpaper?

2010-03-08T14:09:00.000-08:00

A UK company, wallpaper space, has made wallpaper stylish again.

What a fun way to update your nursery or kids rooms.

I'm thinking of one of these for an accent wall in Olive's room.

My Little Olive Team (Melissa, Mom and Olive)

2010-03-05T13:04:00.001-08:00

My Etsy pick of the week

2010-03-04T15:38:00.001-08:00

Make common rules and chores fun in your house with these prints. $20 each or four for $70

Making baby food made easy

2010-03-04T15:26:00.001-08:00

There are some great organic baby food choices out there, but there's something really rewarding about making Olivia's baby food. I know exactly what's in it and the fruits and vegetables maintain their bright colors and taste.

I love the Beaba, which is an all in one steamer and food processor, designed specifically for making baby food. So far I've made apples, pears, sweet potatoes, butternut squash and carrots. It's most efficient to make one big batch and freeze in cubes.

The Beaba available at Williams Sonoma for $149.95.
They also carry BPA free freezer trays and silicon spoons.