Journal

I'm originally from Chicago, where St. Patrick's Day is considered a pretty major holiday and celebrated with zeal. The river is dyed green, everyone gets out of work early (if they went in at all), parties abound, and gallons and gallons of beer are consumed. During my first year in LA, I actually didn't even realize that it was St. Patrick's Day until I streamed my beloved Chicago radio station (XRT for those who might know it) and heard them gearing-up for a live broadcast at a Wrigleyville pub. Nobody in LA was talking about it! And it was even...

Here's a fun little craft project for those chilly winter days. A pretty combination of shiny copper, natural wood, and bold paint, these necklaces are easy to make and inexpensive. They are a favorite around here and we're planning to wear ours for New Year's Eve!    SUPPLIES NEEDED: - Twine, cotton string, or any other type of thin cording (waxed cotton, hemp, leather) - Wooden beads, assorted sizes (most craft stores carry them but we got ours here). We used 3/8" and 7/8" round beads and 7/8"x1-1/4" oval beads.  - 1/2" copper pipe fittings - Non-toxic craft paint -...

With Mother's Day this Sunday, I thought it was the perfect time for this post. A simple DIY that encourages pampering and "me time"...just what a mama needs. Homemade facial scrubs are easy enough to do with the kiddos and they make lovely gifts. And best of all, they can be made with kitchen staples, take just minutes to mix up, and can be customized by skin type. Hello Glow has an excellent tutorial with all kinds of mixtures to suit different needs. After some experimentation, I came up with my own blend that I really love: - 2 T coconut oil ...

I love making this granola for new moms. It's loaded with oatmeal, nuts and seeds (essentials for nursing mamas) and it's soooo delicious. Bundle it with some baby necessities (book, bib, swaddle, etc.) and put it in a pretty box and you have a gift that's sure to delight. It's always nice to give a little something that's handmade, isn't it?  Recipe from Eleven Madison Park via NYT INGREDIENTS: 2 ¾ cups rolled oats 1 cup unsalted pistachios (shelled if you can find)* 1 cup unsweetened coconut chips ⅓ cup unsalted pumpkin seeds (raw if you can find)*  1 tablespoon kosher salt* ½ cup...

The perfect dish for Cinco de Mayo. Or the first day of summer. Or a backyard BBQ. Or just when you want to take your fruit salad game up a notch. Familiar ingredients get a crowd-pleasing boost with a brilliant mix of lime, honey, chile and salt. And the best part? You can throw any leftovers in a blender with some agave and Tequila for an easy cocktail. Yum.   Recipe (adapted slightly) from Bobby Flay INGREDIENTS: Note: You can make this in a variety of ways (based on what you have, what you like, and what looks pretty) but...

I'd been wanting to make beeswax candles for a while so when Southern California had almost 2 straight weeks of rain, we gave it a go. They are really simple, as you just buy sheets of honeycomb beeswax and roll them. No hot liquid, no melting, no pouring, and (almost) no mess.  SUPPLIES: - Honeycomb beeswax sheets (16.5" L x 8" W), any color - Candle wick (available at most craft stores) - Scissors - A towel or mat for your work surface HOW-TO: The first thing you'll want to do is figure out how big you want your candle to...