caitlin, February 20th, 2010
It’s always a good time of the year for little gifts; hostess gift, birthday, anniversary, get well soon . . . . The Spoon Sisters have you covered for just about any occasion.
Best of all, they are offering you lovely pinkpeppers readers 10% off anything on the website.
Just enter the promo code: Pinkspoons at checkout.
Here are a couple things we flipped for:
 Adorable. This would make a cheery comfort all winter long.  Send your loved one out the door with his java and a little message for the day.  Who can resist a linen tea towel with embroidery and mini pom poms?
 Nesting pink flower bowls, functional prettiness! (They also come in adorable orange and yellow)
 Add a little bling to someone's life. . . for 5 bucks! Happy gift giving!
caitlin, February 11th, 2010
 This vegtable still life became the best chicken soup Zac and I decided we've ever had. Recipe: “Chicken soup with loads of vegetables” from Epicurious
caitlin, February 6th, 2010
Two days early, but not a minute too soon for me, David Justus Jude joined our family. We’ll call him Justus.
I am in love. I am in awe. I am in a cloud of sleepless happy fatigue.
 Photography by Aunt Taite 
caitlin, February 4th, 2010
I just need to brag for a minute about Zac’s grandmother, my kid’s great grandmother, who we all call Nana. She can turn out unique handmade gift for anyone, from knitted children’s hoodies, to re-usable fabric grocery bags, to full-sized quilts. She’s made things that are are so clever I wonder why I’ve never seen such a thing before.
Freyja’s Christmas gift was no exception: a coloring book bag, sized perfectly for a book to fit into, with a pocket for each crayon, all made up in the most adorable vintage fabric ever.
 Freyja is now a traveling artist
I’ve already warned her that I will be beating down her door for sewing lessons soon.
Here are some craft patterns for similar little bags.
caitlin, January 28th, 2010
My wonderful friend Rachel threw a baby shower for me last week that got me all excited and ready for this little boy. I thought you might like to glean from a few of her fabulous ideas that made the party so special:
Dessert
I am still thinking about (no, dreaming of . . . . no, obsessing over) the S’mores Cupcakes she created, and I’ve pretty much decided I need to have a box in the delivery room as motivation. These little beauties are the brain children of a local baker (Trophy Cupcake, who I’ve featured in Seattle Bride’s newest issue– on stands now) and the recipe was featured on Martha Stewart as her favorite cupcake flavor!
All the hype is for good reason, basically, they are to die for. And along with the Coconut Butter Cream Cupcakes and fruit that Becky and Aileen made, I could have hung out at the food table most of the night.
Fun
Rachel set up a table with white newborn baby onesies and paint and pens for guests to decorate. It was fun to see everyone’s clever designs and personality expressed on the little wearable keepsakes. Here are a couple designs.
Gifts
All my lovely friends proved my preconceived notions– about boys clothes not being very fun– completly wrong! But then, I’m just lucky to have friends with such incredible taste. I couldn’t believe the adorable assortment, and I’m going to be envious of my son’s shoe collection!
caitlin, January 21st, 2010
We had a perfect girl-y Saturday last week. Aileen, our friend Yvette, Freyja, and I skibbled around town to all our favorite vintage shops in Seattle looking for anything that might catch our eye.
The number one treasure trove of the day was Red Light in Capitol Hill (312 Broadway Ave. East, Seattle WA 98102). We all scored a find or two, I think each of us got a dress. (I’ll make Aileen put a picture of hers up on the blog– it was so amazing. It was the sort of dress that threatens to break loving sister-ly relationships)
After missing out on the dress, my heart skipped a beat when I saw — peaking out of a bin of bags, wallets, and purses– this amazing thing of beauty!
Behold, my new diaper bag!
I wondered what the “SAS” stood for and when I got it home to give it a good clean up, I vacuumed out the pockets and found all this:
A 10 cent postage stamp
Cosmetic wipes that say “happy landing”
A little plastic airline wings pin
And a grocery receipt that shows bread cost 98 cents
I imagine this bag belonged to a flight stewardess named. . . Jeanette, and guessing by the mini loaf she purchased, I think she was on her own, unmarried, unattached, just traveling from one city to the next, without her own bathroom to wash her face in at night. She was writing letters everywhere she went though, to. . . her 14-year-old niece, Kimberly, and from her postage stamp, I know the year was 1968. She was a Jackie O wannabe in terms of fashion, she couldn’t stand the Beatles and she thought the musical, Hair which she got to see on an evening lay-over in New York, was highly over-rated.
Her bag ended up in Seattle when she left it at a hotel by accident. Thankfully, it wasn’t her daily bag so it didn’t have her wallet in it, just a few things she’d never miss.
And now the bag is sitting in my bedroom, it’s various roomy pockets (all the zippers and snaps still work) are perfect for its new calling in life. And maybe some day, in years and years, its new owner will wonder what a few diapers and a pacifier and a receipt for bread that cost $4.50 are doing in an old airline bag.
That is, if I take as good care of the bag as Jeannette did.
caitlin, January 14th, 2010
 Maybe some day I'll turn my whole fridge into a list like this cute chalkboard one. . . I hate cleaning out my fridge so much that I do it every week.
No, this isn’t some form of self-inflicted sanctifying punishment. It’s just that I’ve learned this makes it easier in the long run. Face your fears often and you become fearless. Actually, it more had to do with the fact that I got tired of finding half used heads of lettuce, now turned brown, or yogurt that was growing things.
So I made a rule for myself:
Clean out the fridge BEFORE you go grocery shopping. Every time.
Ok, maybe I do it every other time, just to be honest, but it’s amazing how pleasant it is to come home with bags of fresh groceries when you know you have a clean fridge to put them in. And once you are in the swing of it, it will take you 15 minute. max.
So here’s what I like to do.
1)Get a pen and piece of paper for writing your shopping list.
2) Open the fridge and start on the top shelf and work your way down. Take note of what you are out of and put it on your list, open up tupperware to see if leftovers are still good, check expiration dates. Toss whatever is bad and add it to your list if you need more. Put thing that you know you won’t use this week into the freezer. Empty each shelf, one by one , wipe it clean, and put the food back in an organized system.
3) Designate a place for each food type. Drinks, Dairy, Produce, Condiments, etc– just do it in a way that makes sense to you and fits in your fridge.
One other unexpected boon is that this helped me save money by planning my menu around things that should be used up. “Hmmmm, I’ve got some mushrooms and sour cream that need to be eaten- I’ll get some meat and egg noodles to make Beef Stroganoff.”
Another couple of nerdy things that I love:
1) A freezer list.
Who wants to get frostbite digging around, wondering if you have any frozen green peas left? Keep a list of everything that’s in there so there’s no guessing. Tape it to the front of your freezer in an inconspicuous place and cross things off as you use them up. Use a pretty piece of stationary and a cute magnet if aesthetics are a must in your kitchen.
2) A pantry list.
This was only necessary once I started shopping at Costco and had to convert a storage closet into a place to keep the army-tank-sized jugs of olive oil and other such things. It was much nicer to glance at a list on my cork-board than to go through the whole closet before a trip to Costco. “Nope, still haven’t run out of the 60 pounds of baking powder…”
caitlin, January 11th, 2010
Ellen!
Congratulations!
But wait. . . .
even if your name isn’t Ellen, we have some good news for you. Mapel is happily offering pinkpeppers readers
20% off their entire website!
Just enter the promo code:
PinkPeppers20
at checkout and you are on your way to some sweet deals! This includes sale items, and will last through next Wednesay January 20th. And don’t forget – free shiping on everything!
Shop Mapel
Thanks for participating!
caitlin, January 10th, 2010
 The time of the year we all aspire to having a junk drawer like Martha. I’m wanting to know– is there some little timer inside every adult head that goes off in January telling you to clean out, get rid of, and organize EVERYTHING within reach? From the number of magazines that follow this trend for their first issue of the year, I would say yes.
Closets, garages, fridges, children’s rooms, and shoe shelves– nothing is safe from the purging. And for me, it really doesn’t help that this year I’ve got an insane case of “nesting syndrome” setting in with my due date just 3 weeks off. Zac came home the other night to find both Freyja and our bedroom’s completely re-arranged with all the new baby furniture set up in a corner of our room, and me in a little, red-faced heap on the bed panting from exhaustion. I’m trying to tone it down now, and get organized with a little more order and restraint.
So this next week we’re offering some tips, tricks, and ideas on giving in to that wonderful, new year impulse. It’s time to get organized!
Enjoy!
caitlin, January 7th, 2010
(Especially with a give away!)
Amidst the nutcrackers and giant pretzels of Leavenworth, Washington, you will find Mapel, a shop offering you something you’ll be happy and proud to claim as your souvenir from the Alpine village (quite unlike that pair of green lederhosen that somehow pulled you in).
During Christmas vacation, we made a day trip to the town in Eastern Washington, and as we traipsed the cold streets after dinner, Mapel’s purple lamp shades and pillows caught our eyes and drew us right in. Inside we found name brands, beautiful hand made things, even some men and baby items, and an adorable Staci Stevens, who opened Mapel two years ago because… basically, it was destiny, she says.
 Stevens, left, with business partner, Landgraf. With an entire family of self-employed go-getters, Stevens knew owning her own business had to be in the cards and after life took her down the path of a degree in fashion and work in clothing retail, she knew a boutique was just the fit. It helped too, that Sevens found a perfect business partner in her friend Jenelle Landgraf when they crossed paths working in Seattle. The terrifically in-vogue team runs their brick and mortar shop (617 Front St., Leavenworth, WA 509.548.5225) as well as their online component (shopmapel.com), all under the philosophy that “Fashion is sweet”.
They offer customers a special treat with their purchase: one of their signature truffles (made by a local chocolatier) as well as some other equally tempting delights, free shipping being a big one, and a daily happy hour online from 2-6. The “menu” is different every day, Stevens says, with charming perks like 40% off handbags, or $10 off that shirt you fell in love with.
In addition to the popular big name brands like 7 Jeans, Stevens says she is devoted to offering small labels by up-and-coming designers. Names like Champagne Lace, Velana K and Melanie Renee Design are a few that joined Mapel’s collection just last year.
So, if you’ve got a skiing trip to Leavenworth in the works, Mapel is simply not to be missed. And even if you never make it to the Bavarian town, skibble right over to their online store and enjoy sweet rewards for having good taste in fashion.
Good news!
Mapel is offering a give away to Pink Peppers readers! Just mention this story with a link on your facebook, your blog or tell a friend about it via email (let us know you did in your comment below) and you’ll be entered to win this gorgeous Stevie Wrap by Alternative in whatever color and size you’d like!
Comments welcome until 5 p.m. Sunday, January 10– winner to be announced Monday, January 11!
caitlin, December 31st, 2009
 I finally selected this absolutely weird and delightful calendar. I hope Zac doesn't object to its Marie Antoinette girliness. I get excited about buying my new calendar. Probably more excited than is decent and normal, but I do. A fresh, crisp calendar includes most of the things I love: pretty pictures, paper or graphics, orginization and record keeping. And there is excitment is wondering what the pages will be filled with over the new year. . vacation dates will be penciled in, my son’s birth will have a date and time, I might record a planting schedule this spring since I’ll have a yard all my own for the first time, and then there are all the wonderful, normal things you scribble down. Dinner plans, babysitter’s phone numbers, deadlines, reminders. The work and play that make your life, yours.
So here’s to a magical 2010.
 I think September will be my favorite month's picture to look at. I imagine I'll do a lot of baking that month. . .  Love it  It may be a little weird staring at these oddball characters for all of August, but maybe they will grow on me.  The best part is that I will chop this to bits at the end of the year and turn it into cards, and valentines and other fun things. I had never heard of the artist, her name is Gianna Majzler and as far as I can tell this is the only site you’ll find her whimsical work. I think it would be so fun to throw an Alice in Wonderland themed birthday party for Freyja with all of the decortations and things you can buy. Maybe I’ll put it down on the calendar now. . . .
caitlin, December 24th, 2009
 Zac's masterpiece. Here I stand, proven wrong once again by some some previously unknown skill of Zac’s. I never thought this gingerbread mansion would stand. After we under-baked the supporting right wall, nearly destroyed our friend’s counter-tops with pouring the melted sugar windows, almost caved in the roof, and then just wanted to give up– the structure came together in all it’s lit up glory. Total construction time from blueprints to finished product was over a month. If you are one of the few people that think this project is not an act of insanity, here are the instructions for your benefit.
We realized it was stronger than we thought when Freyja saw it the next morning, uttered ”ohhhhhhh!” and started delightedly drumming on the roof and licking the icicles.
Zac says next years blueprints include multiple dormers and out buildings. . . .
 THe contruction took place at our friend's gingerbread house party, but we still had all the decorating to do.  I iced one of the windows and totally botched it.  Some snow drifts on top add the finishing touches.
caitlin, December 16th, 2009
Last week we had a cold snap in Seattle so I stocked up on warm layers for Freyja so we didn’t have to stay cooped up all day.
I’m just crazy about these little fury boots I found at where else? Target.
And though I am a huge fan of the ”Baby Leg’s” brand, these little cuties are $2.99 and do the job just as well. I have to resist putting them on her every day. Once again, my one stop shop, Target had a great selection of boy and girl leg warmers sure to keep the chill off that bit of baby ankle on stroller outings.
I also scored a bib snow suit for those really cold days.
Now my only question is, how do you get a toddler to keep her mittens on?
caitlin, December 16th, 2009
. . . make it be Martha Stewart’s Chocolate Thumbprint cookie with Vanillia Bean Ganache.
This little cookie will blow you away. The combination of dense chocolate cookie with coarse salt and the smooth vanilla and honey in the ganache will make you wonder where this recipe has been all your life . My friend Rachel brought these to a cookie exchange last year and I guarded them like a ravenous wolf until I had happily eaten the half dozen I kept hidden behind the coffee maker. Actually, I did find it in my heart to sacrifice one for Zac– and he was also impressed, which is impressive, since he’s not a sweet eater.
Anyway, thankfully these are fool-proof easy to make, they just take a few steps and bowls, but nothing hard at all. It uses half a precious vanilla bean, but I tell you, it is worth it! (find them at Costco for an incredible price this time of year,a package of two vials of large vanilla beans is only $10) When baking, make sure to keep the cookie almost underdone so it is soft in the center.
Try them out and let me know what you think.
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