Heart Potholders

I was perusing marthastewart.com for craft ideas, and came across these adorable heart potholders.  The step-by-step tutorial looks pretty thorough (what else do you expect from MS?), though they don't mention a specific type of batting, nor is there any quilting involved.  I'll use my cotton batting, because common sense tells me that a polyester blend will melt and plasticize with heat.  I can't wait to make a few!

image from marthastewart.com

Please Vote For Us!

We're nominated as a favorite papergoods shop on Poppytalk Handmade!  Please take five seconds to vote for us here by Jan 30th:

http://poppytalk.blogspot.com/2010/01/poppies-vote-no-12-favourite-papergoods.html

We truly appreciate your vote.  I wish I could hug those who do... if you let me know, I'll give you a virtual hug!

Good Morning, Good Morning, To You!

I couldn't help it.  I'm on a Gene Kelly kick! "Singin' in the Rain" is even better than "An American in Paris."  A week later, I still have the song "Good Morning" in my head, and the "Moses Supposes" dance number with Kelly and O'Connor is my favorite so far.  I heart Debbie Reynolds' voice and her little blue shoes! Happy Sigh*

OH! And Cyd Charisse? Holy amazingness. Her dancing is absolutely riveting.

Happy Birthday, Mom!

Thank you for all those years of taking care of me, cooking thousands of meals, driving thousands of miles, and making our lives a thousand times brighter.  Happy Birthday, Mom!  We're grubbing tonight at Yang Chow.  Yum!

I'm in Love.

Last night, they were playing a Gene Kelly double feature at the Egyptian Theater in Hollywood.  I have never seen a classic movie, nor have I gone to the tourist-y Egyptian Theater, but I really felt like dressing up and doing something on a Saturday night.  Missed "Singin' in the Rain," but had enough time to butter up my popcorn and snuggle into the middle of the theater with friends.

And then I sat transfixed for the next hour plus, mesmerized by the triple-threat-er.  My first words after "The End" was, "I feel like I've done nothing with my life."  Once upon a time, actors were actually cast based upon multi-dimensional talents, talents that they worked like madmen to perfect.  Yes, the story line is lacking, saccharine-ly unrealistic, and Leslie Caron was definitely not chosen for her adept acting skills, but somehow, all of the components shaken up make sense.  I love the happy-hued paintbrush of Technicolor!  And the "I Can Do It" number with the children!  How his passion must be made an indeliable mark in their lives.  And Oscar's comedic timing during the cafe scene with Guertary.  Perfection.

I am so in love with Gene Kelly.

Ecstatic my first experience with a mid-century Oscar winner was on the silver screen.  I can't wait to see another TCM staple.  Tap tap tap!

Cleaning Up Office

Happy 2010!  We are taking a mini-break to organize our office.  All orders placed 12/28/09 through 1/4/2010 will be processed on 1/4/2010.  We apologize for any inconvenience, and please drop us an email if you have any emergencies.  We'll still be checking our inbox daily.  Thank you and happy new year's resolution-ing!

Love,
Angeline

Joyeux Noel et Bonne Annee

This is Holden's first Christmas where he understood the high of opening a mass amount of presents.  So far, he was patient enough to leave gifts still cloaked until we gave him permission after a leisurely* brunch (pumpkin pancakes, turkey bacon, scrambled eggs, oh my!).

His favorite present:  a tricycle from my parents and sister, which Holden absolutely adored ("I pedaled, Mama!").  I think his second favorite is the electric drum set from his dad, though in my heart I know it was the Kumon mathematic workbooks Santa got him.

I love how Christmas makes the world a bit brighter (Literally!  Bedazzled homes = <3) make and encourages lovelier behavior towards the people we interact with.  "Smiling's my favorite."  - Buddy the Elf

I hope everyone had a jolly, delicious holiday!

*I savored it.  The next decade will just be coffee at dawn and five hours of chasing Holden, reminding him to eat.

Merry Holidays! Exclusive Offer...

Happy Holidays from Cake + Milk Paperie!

An Exclusive Offer For You: For Every 2 Boxes of Custom Sewn Stationery Ordered, Get 1 Box Free! No Limit.

To redeem exclusive free stationery offer, order two (2) or more boxes of sewn custom stationery.  For every two (2) boxes ordered, type free stationery choice/s (type style, color thread, exact wording) in the "How'd you hear about us?" box during checkout. No limit on free boxes of stationery.  Free box(es) will ship with the placed order to the sole address specified.  Offer expires December 31, 2009.

New Photos to Flickr

Hope everyone had a wonderful Trytophan Day.  Added a few new photos to flickr (cake and milk paperie).  Enjoy!

L'hiver: Free Shipping $50+

In Search of Delectable Fried American Pastries

When I picked up Holden from school Thursday, he announced in a pitiful voice that he was "hun-ghee."

"Would you like some frozen yogurt? Or maybe chocolate ice cream?"

"No, I no want."

(What is wrong with this kid?)

Brilliant idea. "With rainbow sprinkles on top?"

Holden pauses for a few moments. "I WHAN DONUTS!" I was derailed for a moment, as this was an unprecedented request outside of any given Sunday.

I should interject that he loves church primarily for the pink boxes primly lined up outside on card tables for post-sermon fuel. Some days, the colorful ones are already gone, only evidenced by errant pieces of green or pink or red skating on wax paper. Those are the days that we convince Holden that shredded coconut is so very delicious.

I gain weight much too easily to have ever memorized local donut shops, but apparently these establishments are easy to locate if you are avidly searching for one. Halfway home, I saw the telltale yellow sign of a mom-and-popper, and Holden left handprints all over the display glass.

I bought a few twists for Grandma and Grandpa at home. And Holden chose another chocolate cake donut with chocolate sprinkles for later consumption.




And then he wanted tacos.

Brides - Southern California

How lovely of Brides to give us a mention in their Fall/Winter '09 issue! To order, click here.

Holden + Totoro

I love the innocent, wide-eyed stare of Totoro and the dust bunnies.

Holden's 2nd birthday (in January, I sheepishly admit) theme was My Neighbor Totoro! The theme was lost on most attendees, but it was poignant and nostalgic to those who were cognizant of the endearing Miyazake film. We rented the English-dubbed movie from the library, invited family and friends small and big, and feasted on my mom's drool-worthy Korean food all day long.

The night before, I baked two sheets of yellow cake (I heart Betty Crocker), mixed the perfect shade of gray, and attempted to refrain from consuming all the leftover chunks of freshly-baked goodness. After googling, I found a large enough line drawing of Totoro to utilize as a close-enough pattern. The backside of white chocolate drops (used for melting and creating confections) would create a smooth plain for the whites of the eyes, and two brown m&ms, adhered with dollops of frosting, completed the peepers. Instead of a piped frosting crescent, I had wanted a three dimensional nose. After much consternation at the candy aisle, I triumphantly grabbed a box of Junior Mints. Halving one became the perfect diminutive snout.

Two cakes were necessary because a gaggle of my friends were coming pretty late and I wanted them to experience the candle-blowing (more accurately, dousing-candles-with-spit) as well; it wasn't too difficult to create one after another. Plus, I think it's a magical indulgence for every child to have two candle-laden cakes for their birthdays. One for brunch, and one for dinner. I quite adore the idea of Mad Hatter unbirthdays. Or even half-birthday parties! Any excuse for cake and celebrating childhood.






For the soot sprites, I baked chocolate cupcakes (note to self: never add just egg yolks when the recipe calls for whole eggs - I somehow had remaining yolks and mistakenly thought it'd suffice) and dipped the frosting-ed goodies into a bowl of black sanding sugar. The already sorted brown plain m&ms were again placed on the background of the upturned white chocolate drops to create the characteristic eyes.

(On a side note: I futilely tried to create sprout umbrellas to embellish the cupcakes out of sour apple tape and straws. Bright side: failure tasted delicious!)







A stack of party favor flannel pillows bearing the first initial of small guests. My sister cut out the letters (Futura Bold) from heathered oatmeal felt, and I running-stitiched them on with contrasting embroidery thread. I was exuberant to use my stash of hoarded fabric. As much as I enjoy augmenting my menagerie of inspirational textiles, I derive joy from the depletion; the eventual metamorphosis into a hand-crafted gift.

Ten

To continue the ten motif (check out our new "The Numbers" print), I wanted to share the inspirational back page of April 2009's Body + Soul magazine.

Ten Thoughts on Whole Living
by Terri Trespicio

1. Give yourself time to consider what you most want to contribute to the world.
2. Worth doesn't begin and end with a bank account. Appreciate your true abundance.
3. Skin is a living, breathing organ. Select your beauty products wisely.
4. The earth's future and our own are linked. Live in a way that supports both.
5. Better eating starts with small, positive steps.
6. Amazing things happen when you opt for healthier choices.
7. Aging well has less to do with what you avoid and more to do with what you embrace.
8. Make every effort to be gentle with yourself.
9. A close network of friends and family can sustain you in more ways than you know.
10. The decision to let go may be the most important one you ever make.

To a Blessed + Happy 2009

"A brand new year, a brand new diary (as Bridget Jones says in her sequel)." Fresh tabula rasa, untouched new-fallen snow, optimism at a palatable apex. A new year's tradition at our house growing up was to have everything spic 'n span, affairs in order, everyone their affable best. Whatever happened on the first set the tone for the entire year. For the first time in a long while, I am uber excited and particularly looking forward to the new year. 2009 is going to be a bright and sparkly one.

Cheers to all of our beautiful ladies (and gents); we wish you the very best a squeaky clean new year can bring!

Merry Christmas

Ask me to cook and I'll ignore you. But come over on Saturday mornings and there's a good chance I'll hand you a plate of fresh pumpkin chocolate chip pancakes. Homemade pancakes are super close to baking, and baking... Baking! BAKING. How I love thee. Holden has never licked beaters before, but nobody had to tell him how. See how clean those are getting? That's his 2nd one, too. Chocolate cream cheese frosting is applicable to all ages.




A few weeks ago, my sister Kat was rolling Christmas sugar cookies with Holden, clad in a half-apron and loving every minute. As you can see from the look on his face, he's very picky about which cutter to use, even changing his mind in the middle of pressing. It's funny to see your once helpless baby now flour-dusted, holding cookie cutters and deliberating with such confliction. And every child's favorite part; decorating the shapes with tiny non-pareil sprinkles in every color and tiny candy gingerbread men. I don't think my family has ever enjoyed a dessert more.

Free Box of Holiday Cards!

Our first holiday promotion! Receive a free box of holiday ribbon cards with every 2 boxes of custom stationery ordered. There is no limit, and the $1 shipping still applies. Order now, avoid lines and mad rush, and have your holiday shopping done so you can have more time to actually enjoy the season. :)

$1 Shipping for our 1st Birthday

To celebrate our first birthday, we are offering a flat shipping rate of $1. This applies to any domestic order amount, with no limit. We always ship Priority Mail (2-3 days delivery - pls add creation time to order as well) and the regular rates are usually $6.95 and up. Rush and international rates are still the same.

I'm thinking of extending it until the end of this year, because I'm always in favor of stretching out birthday partying. Enjoy!

First Trip to the Pumpkin Patch

Last Friday, Holden and I visited the Pumpkin Patch in Beverly Hills. It was his first time (and mine, too! I'm such a city girl) and we both had so much fun. There were different activities to do, such as a hay maze, air-filled jack-o-lantern jumper and paint-your-own-pumpkin. Behbeh was more interested in running around unemcumbered through the rows of cheerful autumnal gourds. Since we just read Pumpkin Pumpkin, I was ecstatic to show him a real pumpkin seed. He thought it would be fun to shove it in the dent of a stem.



I loved how the proprietors carted in different colors. We bought two tiny pumpkins, one in orange and the other in cream. Alex came home the other day with a small pumpkin, for carving. I can't wait! We ordered a dinosaur costume (the most decent one on sale) and Holden has already discovered he cannot abide the hoodie-like headpiece. He'll be a boy-headed dinosaur for Halloween.



Sitting on the huggable fruits, just like Jamie below (see the Buffalo Tiny Toms?). I love Jeanne Titherington's hazy colored pencil illustrations. Beautiful!

Tom's Shoes + Plan Toys

Last month I stopped by Entertaining Elephants, a cute green children's boutique in Studio City. Became enchanted by the decor, but wasn't too tempted by the end-of-season sale. I'd already stocked up on my favorite clothing shops for Behbeh. But I did pick up some eco-friendly Plan Toys, which were wooden and non-toxic. The little milk carton and strawberry jam jar sold me!

Also immediately fell in love with tiny Tom's Shoes in Buffalo. For every pair of shoes purchased, Tom's donates a pair to a child in need. Uber-cute designs and has a heart for children. Double the reason Holden happily runs around in his canvas kicks!

Project Runway 5

I heart Leanne's dreamy yet architectural pieces. Such beautiful, patient tailoring! I've developed an appreciation for clothing that look painstakingly-pieced together after suffering through drafting class at FIDM. Her collection was gorgeous, but there's something about Leanne as a person that is forgettable. I wish she showed more personality during the show, but I think she's just a super shy person.








Korto is my second favorite, but the only piece I really loved is this white top. It's adorable how she brought her daughter out on the runway. :)

Milk

On a recent date night with my honeypie (gag, I know), I saw a trailer about a gay politician named Harvey Milk. Not my type of movie, as I'm a total chick flick girl (and sometimes mild sci fi with a bit of FBI/CIA thrown in), but I couldn't help love the film title and poster graphics. MILK!

Drinking In: Matt Albiani

Having lived in Bluffton, South Carolina for the past three years (Alex was stationed in Parris Island), I'm quite partial to things from that region. Friends (how I miss you guys), Savannah (we were only half an hour away), Jim 'N Nicks (please come to LA!). So when I saw the title of this arresting photograph taken by Matt Albiani, I just had to post. I heart the placement, the tranquility and the use of the negative space.

photo from mattalbiani.com, "Lifeguards, South Carolina"

Flickr

Started filling up our photostream on Flickr, for those who wish to see more papergood pictures. It's a mix of straight product shots and inspiration around the studio. Let us know if you have a favorite Flickr group and would like to see us there!

Listening To Bitter:Sweet

This Los Angeles duo (beat-maker Kiran Shahani and vocal/lyracist Shana Halligan) is a magical combination. Bitter:Sweet is akin to a brighter sibling of film noir masthead Portishead, and their breakthrough song, "The Mating Game" is a three and a half minute blend of brassy trip-hop and mod lounge vocals. My favorite song as of late.

While perusing their gallery, I came across Shahani and Halligan on an incredibly familiar sofa; the Wearstler done Viceroy Hotel in Santa Monica. We had our wedding after party there, and we returned to dine at Whist for our most recent anniversary. Impeccably done. Heart it all.

Check out Bitter:Sweet's official website or iTunes to hear selected songs from their three albums.

My Favorites:
The Mating Game (The Mating Game Album)
Dirty Laundry (The Mating Game)
Bittersweet Faith (The Mating Game)
The Bomb (Drama)
Get What I Want (Drama)


picture from bittersweetmusic.com