Get To Know Pei Pinney

April 30, 2013

Name: Pei Pinney

Hometown: Taipei, Taiwan

Current Town of Residence: Pasadena, CA

Would you rather travel by plane, train, car or ship?

I like to travel by car because I can stop and explore if I see something interesting while taking a road trip.

How many times do you usually hit the snooze button after your alarm goes off?

Normally, if I set the alarm, it means I have something important the next day morning, so I either get up right away or snooze no more than twice.

How long can food be on the ground and still be fair game for eating?

It all depends on what type of food and how clean the ground is. If the ground is dirty or the food is moist and dirt sticks easily, then there’s zero chance I'll eat it.

My favorite thing is…

to collect unique and well-designed toys.

What’s a song that you never get sick of?

"One Evening" by Feist.

If you could posses a superpower, what would it be?

The ability to learn things in seconds that might take years to become a pro, such as a chef, photographer or fashion designer.

What’s the one chore that you dislike the most?

Doing dishes, I don’t like to feel any grease or left over food on my hands.

You’re stranded on a desert island, with only a volleyball to keep you company. Luckily, you brought a book, a person and an object. Who and what are they?

A book on how to build a boat, my husband (not only can I enjoy his company, but he can help me build the boat), and a compass to help us sail on the sea.

If you could trade places and work in another career for a day, what career and why?

Fashion Designer. Sometimes, it’s hard to find clothes I like and I wish I know how to make them for myself.

Tell us about your Nod Institute of Art print, how you made it or your inspiration behind it.

I've always loved the nautical look, and I wanted to design a small collection of greeting cards that is based on the nautical theme. My goal is try to bring a smile on people’s face, so I want to make the illustration very fun and whimsical. When I was doing the sketch for Salt the Seagull, I wanted to give him some personality by putting a sailor outfit on him as well as adding a pipe with smoke like some old sea sailor.

Salt Dough Play Food

April 29, 2013

American Girl dolls need to eat, so we decided to whip them up some fake fruit (oranges, strawberries, and cherries). We used the following recipe to make the dough (which I found here), a big plus is that it's MICROWAVABLE, so we didn't have to wait a day to start painting. Then we used tubes of watercolor paints (similar to these) to color the shapes. For the strawberries we added green felt leaves and for the cherries we made holes in the dough and then added cut green pipe cleaners with glue on the bottom.

Salt Dough Recipe:

1/2 cup of salt

1/2 cup of water 1 cup of flour

1. Add the water slowly to the salt and flour. Knead until a dough forms.

2. Microwave for about 3 minutes to dry. If the dough is still wet then reheat in 20 second increments.

Post by Darcy : bedtimemonsters.blogspot.com

Tween Bedroom Makeover with Emily Henderson

April 26, 2013

Months ago we were lucky enough to meet Emily Henderson, host of HGTV's Secrets From a Sylist. We chatted, laughed and cried; well cried from laughing so much over dinner. The connection was inevtiable and we knew a fun collaboration needed to happen. It just so happened she was designing a 9 year old girls room & that's when her creativity went wild. Take a look at her blog today for a look into mixing vintage with new Land of Nod pieces to keep the room young yet sophicated. Full post HERE.

Corn Sand Body Polish

Mother's Day is right around the corner. My idea of the perfect mom gift is a little spa pampering, and if you follow me on Instagram or Twitter you probably saw that I treated myself to a quick pedicure. Busy moms rarely have time (or cash) for a full-fledged trip to the spa, so I thought today would be a great day to share an at-home spa recipe.

CORN SAND BODY POLISH

The cornmeal gives this concoction its yellow hue and provides healthy exfoliation delivered in a rich cream of fresh yogurt to nourish and brighten, while honey is a humectant, drawing moisture to your skin.

3 TBS Plain Yogurt
2 TBS Cornmeal
2 tsp Honey
3 drops of Lemon or Orange Essential Oil (optional)

Instructions

:: Thoroughly mix all the ingredients.
:: Vigorously apply over body, avoiding face (cornmeal is too rough for delicate facial skin).
:: Focus your scrubbing on rough patches like elbows, knees and heals
:: Remove with warm water and a washcloth or shower off.

Best to make just enough to use right away as this mixture doesn’t keep.

Did you know I have a whole line of spa and body care goodies? You can check it out here at BathByBettijo.com.

Reposted with permission by Aimée Lowry & Bettijo B. Hirschi from PagingSupermom.com

Things to Make – Nature Art, Faces

April 24, 2013

A few weeks ago, Under the Pecan Tree posted about using household items and art supplies to make portraits and I loved what they came up with. I planned on trying something similar, but then the temps actually rose above 45 degrees. So we scavenged outside for portrait-making materials. And then we arted. What have you been making lately? We'd love to hear!

Post by Darcy : bedtimemonsters.blogspot.com

Nate’s 2nd Birthday Party!

April 23, 2013

Different sources served as inspiration for the colors of Nate's party: a post from Scouts Honor Co., Dwell Studio's beautiful color stories and some napkins we found at IKEA. (Sometimes inspiration comes in little packages.) The pennants were crafted using blue and white twine and Paper Source paper. The paper used to wrap the gifts was also from Paper Source. I wanted the party to reflect Nate's world as a two-year-old: his toys, playthings and favorite treats. Nate's name was spelled out using Land of Nod's whimsical Nod Blocks. The party nosh included animal cookies, chocolate-covered Cheerios and chocolate-dipped Speculoos cookies. Nate's Kid O Stack and Nest cups held some of his favorite snacks. There were also miniature vanilla cupcakes with lemon frosting (delivered in Nate's Kid O Tip Truck) and a whoopie pie from Susiecakes.

The favors were vending machine capsules from Shop Sweet Lulu and contained little things for Nate to shake, explore and examine: bits of ribbon, big buttons, finger puppets, wooden toys and a rubber duck, to name a few. The huge "2" balloon was from a local Party City. Later, Avery galloped around on the balloon like a horse, which was a riot! It was a fun afternoon of opening gifts, nibbling on snacks, studying and shaking the different capsule favors, bobbing the huge balloon up and down and general merrymaking. Happy birthday, Nate! We thank God for the joy and blessing you are.

Post by Michelle Sterling of Avery and Augustine

You can see her work and read about her two young children's first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.

Somewhere Over the Decor

April 19, 2013

Post by Julia DeNamur.

I grew up in a time where watching Reading Rainbow with my sister was our ritual for after school. Lisa Frank was all the rage, and I had a rainbow bedspread.

Left | Right

Nowadays, kids still love rainbows. Maybe it’s because it reminds them of candy, so colorful and fun and well, full of sugar. And rainbows are great inspiration to create a space for kids and really the whole family. It’s wonderful to spread color around like spreading bits of positive energy around the space.

pencilshavingsstudio.com

It’s easy too. You can organize things into color order or sporadically place color about bringing that vitality into your space.

Red – Wood Bus, Looking Glass Play Chair Raspberry, Cut it Out Apple Mirror, Red Circle Pendant, The Comforter Stands Alone, 3-Bin Palooza

Orange – Balloon Animal Bookend, Little Felix Chair Orange, Tuffet Seater Orange, Orange Triangle Pendant, Moving Blanket Orange, Zig Zag Rug Orange, Mojo Play Chair Orange

Yellow – Splendid Blended Tutu, Pull up a Pouf, Braided, Eden Table Lamp, Yellow Rectangle Pendant, Pixel Paisley Throw Pillow, Flea Market Wire Ball Bin, Isosceles Table Lamp Yellow, Ribbon Rug Yellow

Green – Shop Wall Clock Green, Parker Play Chair Spring Green, I Could’ve Been a Memo Board Lime, Green Triangle Pendant, Princess and the Pea Throw Pillow, Field of Greens Rug, Green Coat Rack, Strapping Shelf Basket Lime Green, Butterfly Decals Emerald

Blue – Brontosaurus Throw Pillow, Iron Rich Play Chair Cobalt, Retrobot Wall Art, Blue Circle Pendant, Once More with Felting Cube Bin, Beat Our Chest Toy Chest Midnight Blue, I Could’ve Bin a Pencil Cup Blue, Sleep Well Pillowcase, Cut it Out Elephant Mirror, Coast to Coast Rug

Purple – Harold & the Purple Crayon book, One-Seater Lavender, Like a Bird in a Cage Pendant Lamp, Lavender Rectangle Pendant, Pinch and Pleat Sheet Set, Padded Lily Rug Lavender, 5″ Top Box Purple, This Garland is Shaping Up, Purple Triangle, Faux Leather Pouf, Bazaar Dash Case Lavender, Lilliput Lamp

Nod offers tons of options to create this rainbow or buy an already made one. Also, I’ve found rainbow is an excellent party theme as you just use every color you can find!

Clockwise from top left – Dot Matrix Rug, Licorice Rope Rainbow Pendant, Multiplayer 8- Prong Wall Hook, Candy Dot Rug, Hearts Wall Decal, assorted curtains, Magnetic Car Mural, The Greater Pyramid Blocks , Hue-nited Nations Map, Rainbow Throw Blanket, Crystal Ball Table Lamp

Despite my more refined palette, I find I’m still a Dorothy at heart.

Post by Julia DeNamur. Growing up Julia loved color so much she gave her crayons different genders and specific positions in the box based on who they got along with. Fast forward to adulthood, and Julia had the opportunity to work for a paint company where she honed her eye for color, and sometimes even got to name colors things like Dandelion Scream and Wild Child. Today Julia works at Nod as a Graphic Designer, and channels her love of color into her constantly changing hair & nail colors, as well as colorful designs for Nod’s website.

DIY Indoor Rainclouds

April 18, 2013

Whattya need?

Fabric
Needle and thread
Scissors
Filling (polyfill, batting, cottonballs, etc…)
Tinsel
Glue
String or rope

How do I make an Indoor Raincloud?

Step 1: Double over some fabric and draw a cloud shape onto one side.

Step 2: Cut out the cloud shape on both sides of fabric so you end up with an identically shaped front and back.

Step 3: Sew the two cloud shapes together 3/4 of the way around the edge.

Step 4: Use the remaining open section to stuff with batting or polyfil (or whatever you like), and sew the last 1/4 of the cloud closed.

Step 5: Take tinsel and glue it along the bottom of the cloud in strands.

Step 6: Sew a loop of string or rope onto the back of cloud to hang it from.

It Makes a Village Block Set

April 17, 2013

Upon first seeing the Grimms' It Makes a Village Blocks, I was struck by their beautifully brilliant colors and fantastic shapes. These intriguing blocks look inspired by nature and organic in form, which makes them unique among block sets. Because the blocks are carefully crafted and hand-sanded, we look forward to them lasting throughout the years.

The first time Avery laid her hands on the blocks, she built a race track for what turned out to be an epic flying car race. We look forward to building, imagining and creating with this amazing set of blocks again and again.

Post by Michelle Sterling of Avery and Augustine

You can see her work and read about her two young children's first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.

Snickerdoodle Apple Mini-Muffins

April 16, 2013

Whenever I serve these Snickerdoodle Apple Muffins they are a hit. Everyone from kids to adults loves them—the sweet cinnamon taste with a hint of apple is pure perfection. They’re best when eaten fresh out of the oven after they’ve cooled just enough to touch. We dip the tops in additional butter and cinnamon sugar—and the result is pure bliss in a tiny, bite-sized muffin.

Growing up these muffins were my absolute favorite. I don’t remember having them for breakfast in the morning as much as I remember having them when my Mom would make breakfast foods for dinner. I don’t know what it is about breakfast for dinner—but I love it, especially when it involves these Snickerdoodle Apple Muffins.

INGREDIENTS:
2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon baking powder
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup milk
1 egg
1-2 peeled and diced Granny Smith apples

TOPPING:
1/2 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar and 1 tablespoon cinnamon, mixed together

TO MAKE:
Mix flour, sugar, salt and baking powder in a large bowl. Add melted butter, milk and egg. Stir together until mixed but still lumpy. Fold in diced apples.

Spray mini muffin tin with nonstick spray or use liners. Scoop batter into tins about 1/2-3/4 full. Bake at 425 degrees for 9-11 minutes. Do not over bake.

Let muffins cool just long enough to handle. Dip muffin tops in melted butter then in cinnamon-sugar combo. Serve immediately.

Reposted with permission by Aimée Lowry & Bettijo B. Hirschi from PagingSupermom.com

Need more tasty recipes and delicious bites? Check out our Let’s Eat Pinterest Board.

Who’s That Noddie? Volume 3

April 15, 2013

We are back with another fun installment of Who’s That Noddie? This time we are talking with Renee Bihler who is our Business Sales Specialist. Renee is beyond awesome in this role, because this lady is always smiling and ready to make new friends! (Pretty sure if we knew her in 5^th grade…we would want to share a BFF necklace with her.) Building business-to-business relationships in our company is so important to us, and Renee is the perfect person to make this happen.

Why do you love your job?

I love that this position allows me to build and maintain relationships. Not only with my business-to-business contacts, but also with everyone here at Corporate, and even out in Naperville. I really enjoy interacting with such diverse customers as well as all the various departments within the company and beyond.

What would you do if you won a MILLION dollars?

If I won a million dollars, I would buy a house, pay off my parent’s house, and take a trip someplace I might not be able to go otherwise, like the Seychelles, Africa or Fiji.

What’s your favorite Nod memory?

Taking home the prized Sweaty Award for last year’s holiday sweater contest!

What’s something unique or surprising about you?

In 2011, I blindly joined a “dance” group with 20 strangers. There were two requirements for joining: No knowledge of anyone in the group and no prior dance experience. We practiced twice a week with a choreographer and at the end of 3 months, we performed in front of 750 people at the Park West. It was one of the scariest yet most rewarding experiences I have ever had.

What do you love most about working for The Land of Nod?

I love that I can come to work feeling empowered to do what’s best for the customer. I also love how The Land of Nod treats their employees. It is great working for a company that values their employees and makes coming to work fun.

How is your role impactful to the company?

I believe that the relationships I establish and continue to foster have a great impact on the company. Typically, Business Sales customers purchase in bulk and for multiple locations, oftentimes in places where our products might not be showcased or known about. I think of my role as being one that helps to introduce our brand all over the U.S. and beyond.

What's your favorite Nod product?

At the moment it’s a toss-up between the You Say Coffee, I Say Play Table and the Circulation Chest. Both are extremely attractive and versatile pieces for any home.

Spaghetti & Meatballs

April 12, 2013

At Nod, we believe your home should be a celebration of family. We'll be featuring our Managing Director, Michelle, at home celebrating her own family with recipes, crafts and décor created by our friend Sweet Paul.

Spaghetti & Meatballs is not a common dish in Norway where I grew up. However, I've fallen in love with the dish since I moved to America. I think it's the perfect meal for a birthday gathering and is always best served family style. Throw caution to the wind and let the kids eat with their hands if they find the long pasta too difficult to wrangle with a fork….just be sure to have plenty of napkins on-hand!

You will need:

2 pounds fresh tomatoes or 1 can (28 oz) of diced tomatoes

1 tbsp tomato paste

1 medium onion 1 glove garlic, minced

1 tbsp cane sugar

1 teaspoon balsamic vinegar

salt, pepper

10 leaves fresh basil

olive oil

for the meatballs:

1⁄2 pound ground beef

1⁄2 pound ground pork

1 dry bun

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 small onion, minced

1 tbsp fresh parsley, chopped

salt, pepper

lemon juice, to taste

olive oil

1.Heat oil in a medium pan. Add the onions and stir until it gets soft. 2.Now add the garlic and once it begins to colour lightly and fills the kitchen with aromatic scent stir in the tomatos with their juices and tomato paste. 3.Season the sauce with salt, freshly ground pepper, sugar and balsamic vinegar. 4.Reduce heat and leave to simmer gently, uncovered, stirring often for 30 minutes until the sauce reduces and thickens slightly. 5.Stir in the basil leaves and taste. 6.For the meatballs: In the meanwhile soak the bun in water until its completely soft, squeeze dry and break into pieces. 7.Heat oil in a pan, add the onions and stir until golden. 8.Now combine the ground meat, the bread, the eggs, onions and the parsley in a bowl. 9.Season with salt, pepper and some squirts of lemon. 10. Roll the mixture into small balls and set aside on a plate. 11. Heat the oil in a pan over medium high heat. 12. Fry meatballs slowly until golden brown, but not cooked through completely. 13. Let drain on paper towels and add into your hot tomato sauce. 14. Cook pasta 15 minutes before serving until al dente and serve with tomato sauce and meatballs.

By Paul Lowe:

When it comes to making simple crafts or elegant meals, Paul Lowe is the man to call. His blog, Sweet Paul has now spun into a successful magazine, providing tons of useful design tips.

Get to Know Darrah Gooden

April 11, 2013

Name: Darrah Gooden

Hometown: Tyler, Texas

Current Town of Residence: Dallas, Texas

My favorite childhood memory is...

When I was five, my family took a road trip from Mississippi to North Carolina. I have vivid memories of watching colorful salt water taffy being pulled in Gatlinburg, TN, walking through caves lined with sparkly gems, and driving through clouds in the Smoky Mountains. We searched for ice cream in the gardens of the Biltmore Estate in Asheville, and fed orange tic tacs to a tame squirrel on the long drive home.

Do people tell you that you resemble anyone famous?

Rarely. Although, I will always remember the waiter who told me I looked like the “double helix” in the movie, “Never Been Kissed” (aka: Leelee Sobieski). I think I was wearing my glasses?

Is there a story behind your name (are you named after anyone)?

Mary is actually my first name, but I have always been called by my middle name, Darrah. I was named after my mom’s sister, Darrah, but only recently learned its meaning to be “House of Wisdom and Compassion”, or “Nugget of Wisdom”. Who knew? I’ll take it!

How long can food be on the ground and still be fair game for eating?

My friend was just telling me she caught her toddler eating a goldfish cracker that had been hanging out on her front porch for three months. This didn’t seem to phase me. Should I admit that?

On the weekends, you can find me…

You can likely find me spending time with my husband, Michael, our three year old son, Oscar, and ten month old daughter, Nella. Ideally it involves beautiful weather, Saturday brunch and good coffee, maybe a walk to the park and lots of relaxation time. Simple and unplanned.

What was the coolest, most exciting thing that you ever bought?

Probably our house. It was nothing fancy when we bought it nearly six years ago, but I think that was the best part! We purchased it with a small budget and big vision to renovate and decorate once we were able to call it ours. Even though we have no intention of selling the house anytime soon, I often search for crumbling real estate just for the thrill of it.

What is your favorite restaurant?

Favorites are so tricky for me, but because I included brunch in my previous answer about weekend activity, I can’t stop thinking about SMOKE restaurant in Dallas and their delicious blueberry and ricotta cheese pancakes (topped with vanilla poached apricots and cream!). Yum.

Tell us about your Nod Institute of Art print, how you made it or your inspiration behind it.

My first memorable watercolor painting was of a delicate fawn. I have long been intrigued by the animal’s graceful form and have attempted to recreate it over the years. Prior to Edie, I had just completed a large scale acrylic painting of a deer and found myself inspired to create a minimal version of it that would hang in my toddler son’s room. Thus Edie Fawn was born out of cut tissue paper and collaged onto canvas.

Pennant Cake Topper

April 10, 2013

There's something so special about a birthday cake. No other dessert tastes quite as good as a bite of your OWN birthday cake. I never had store bought cakes as a boy, my grandmother would always make me one from scratch. My mormor would always think of a way to use items from around the house to help decorate the cake. That' s the true inspiration behind this easy to create topper. You can even involve the family and have small-hands help you cut out the fabric or pick the colors.

You will need:

A great cake that you want to make extra special

Scraps of fun fabric

Fabric Glue

4 Paper straws

String

Scissors

1.Cut out 12 triangles from your fabric scraps.

2.Cut 1/4" slits in the top of each of your 4 paper straws.

3.Insert your straws into your cake to make a square.

4.Affix your string into the notches you cut into the top of your straws so it hangs between the straws.

5.Using a little bit of fabric glue, glue your triangles to your strings!

6.P-A-R-T-Y-!

By Paul Lowe:

When it comes to making simple crafts or elegant meals, Paul Lowe is the man to call. His blog, Sweet Paul has now spun into a successful magazine, providing tons of useful design tips.

Creative Play with Nod Blocks

April 9, 2013

Every child needs a block set or two. Blocks are one toy that my kids return to again and again. They are wonderful for constructing, but they are also good for creative play. There are many benefits to creative play. Creativity helps contribute to good problem-solving skills. Creativity is an outlet for energy. Creative opportunities allow children to test out their ideas by trial and error. They experiment and learn by doing.

Here are Land of Nod's Nod blocks being used as food, an example of symbolic play (one aspect of symbolic play is when a child uses an object to represent another object, e.g., pretending to use a banana as a phone).

A road of blocks.

Nod Blocks are great because on the face of each block is one of the following: an upper case letter, lower case letter, number and a word that begins with the letter showcased on the block and an illustration to go with each, e.g., whale, wrench and Walt. Blocks like these are a versatile toy that provide opportunities for play and learning!

Post by Michelle Sterling of Avery and Augustine

You can see her work and read about her two young children's first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.

Cotton Candy Lemonade

April 8, 2013

These delightful drinks are just like magic—the lemonade changes color right before your eyes!

Makes 4 glasses

You will need:

8 cups pre-made lemonade (This is a great basic recipe: Classic Lemonade)
Cotton candy, as many colors as you want

1.Fill your glasses with ice and lemonade.

2.Take a small piece of cotton candy and place in each glass.

3.Watch the cotton candy melt and change the color of your lemonade!

By Paul Lowe:

When it comes to making simple crafts or elegant meals, Paul Lowe is the man to call. His blog, Sweet Paul has now spun into a successful magazine, providing tons of useful design tips.

Hello Yellow

April 5, 2013

Post by Julia DeNamur, Graphic Designer

Yellow has always made me happy. It should, since it’s the brightest of the bunch within the color wheel. Claude Monet, the impressionist painter, had a whole dining room devoted to it.

Source

I guess this color is contagious. I’ve painted a bedroom, two dining rooms and my home office now the same yellow (see quote). It can be infectious with your mood as well, creating a sunny disposition.

Yellow is great for kid’s areas as it’s not too girly or boyish. This color is trending rapidly this year and it’s hard to ignore.

Try out these pops to invoke your own little bit of irresistible sunshine to a bedroom, playroom or any space!

1. Crystal Ball Table Lamp $149 /2. Animales Gráficos Bedding $19–$129 /3. Pop of Color Pendant Shade Yellow Rectangle $39–$49 /4. New School Kids Sheet Set $14–$109 /5. Love Wall Art (unframed) $19.95

6. Milk Crate $9.95 /7. Ruched Throw Pillow $29 /8. Spec-tacular Spectacles Yellow Glam $9.95 /9. Favorite Sweats Blanket $59 /10. Mushroom Buddy $39

11. 1,001 Good Nights Crib Quilt $79 /12. Ring Around the Ribbon Rug $119 /13. Attractive American Rocker Doodle Chartreuse 15% off $721.65 reg. $849 /14. Greater Outdoors Bedding $19–$99 /15. Excavator Ride On $119

16. Heirloom Rug $179–$579 /17. Parker Play Chair $69 ea. /18. Little Blue and Little Yellow Board Book $15.99 /19. Robot Pillow, Teal $19 /20. I Only Have Eyes for Eyelet Curtain Panels Yellow $29–$39

Post by Julia DeNamur, Graphic Designer. Growing up Julia loved color so much she gave her crayons different genders and specific positions in the box based on who they got along with. Fast forward to adulthood, and Julia had the opportunity to work for a paint company where she honed her eye for color, and sometimes even got to name colors things like Dandelion Scream and Wild Child. Today Julia works at Nod as a Graphic Designer, and channels her love of color into her constantly changing hair & nail colors, as well as colorful designs for Nod’s website.

Celebration of Family – Connor’s birthday

One of my favorite traditions is the “birthday dinner”. The birthday boy or girl gets to choose their dish, I prepare it, and we all enjoy a delicious dinner together, followed by cake and the birthday song of course! This is a tradition from my childhood, which makes it extra special for me. Plus I love birthdays!

Today is Connor’s birthday, he’s 12! Happy birthday Connor-Man! Connor is my most easy going child. When asked what he wants for his dinner, his response is whatever you want to make Mom. (My daughter Emily on the other hand, wants steak and frites ala Julia Child for her birthday.) So, after much prodding, Connor decides on spaghetti and meatballs, delicious. I prepare dinner, with a little help from Dave (dad) and Everett (the baby) – Dave is the sous chef, Everett is the mixer. We all sit down together and talk and eat and just enjoy being together. Later there will be a sleep-over party with rowdy boys, but this evening it’s just the 6 of us – celebrating our favorite birthday boy.

Aside from being the Managing Director of The Land of Nod, mother to four kids (yes… FOUR!) and a gourmet cook, Michelle is a retail junky. From Zara to Marc Jacobs, Target to Nordstrom, she doesn’t discriminate, there’s room in her heart and closet for them all. And the addiction doesn’t stop at fashion, she’s painted her dining room at least 5 times, and changes rugs like most women change their sheets. Retail isn’t therapy for Michelle, it’s more like oxygen.

Take a Breath of White Fresh Air

April 4, 2013

I know we’re tired of that white stuff, but let’s take a cue from Mother Nature and clear the visual clutter with some white for spring.

Contrary to popular belief, white space is your friend. As graphic designers, we’re taught it’s sacred. Think about a newly painted white wall, a blank page in a notebook or freshly fallen snow. White space gives the eye a place to rest.

In your décor, white space can also be mind clearing. Try some of these pristine products to create the illusion of spaciousness (and some headroom) through the absence of color.

1. Nice Day for Some White Bedding $29-$89 / 2. White Ruffle Throw Pillow $39 / 3. Rags to Riches Rug $129–$399 / 4. Thrilled to be Frilled Sheet Set (White) $16–$129 / 5. Sherbet Stripes Sheet Set $14– $129

1. Bird's Eye Wall Hook $29 / 2. Framed Natural Woodland Wall Art sale $99.95 reg. $159 / 3. A Chandelier Appears Decal sale $22.95 reg. $30 / 4. Lottie Dots Decal sale $19.95 reg. $24.95, each set – 48 dot decals / 5. My Lucky Four-Leaf Mirror $69 / 6. Letters! We've Got Letters! $8.95 ea.

1. High Wire Pendant White $129 / 2. Wow, That's a Big Lamp $299 / 3. White Lace Pendant $199 / 4. Lilliput Lamp White $49

1. Little Felix Chair $69 / 2. Local Branch Library Rolling Book Cart $199 / 3. Here, There, Anywhere Play Table $149 / 4. Jenny Lind Bed White $549-749

1. Little Sloane Leaning Desk & Leaning Bookcase/Bins $149 ea. / 2. Up Against the Wall Shelf, Bin and Paper Holder Collection $19.95 –$35 / 3. White Dotted Cube Bin $19.95

Your palette will be revitalized and ready for a pop of color in our next color post!

By: Julia DeNamur

Growing up Julia loved color so much she gave her crayons different genders and specific positions in the box based on who they got along with. Fast forward to adulthood, and Julia had the opportunity to work for a paint company where she honed her eye for color, and sometimes even got to name colors things like Dandelion Scream and Wild Child. Today Julia works at Nod as a Graphic Designer, and channels her love of color into her constantly changing hair & nail colors, as well as colorful designs for Nod's website.

Avery’s 4th Birthday

April 3, 2013

Avery's 4th birthday was so fun to plan! It centered around a round orange stuffed cat from IKEA known in our household as "catball." Since she was one, Avery has had a brood of catballs that she plays with, sleeps with, etc. Basically, they're her favorite creatures in her entire menagerie of stuffed animals. The party colors were mostly oranges with various shades of blue worked in here and there. On the menu were mini vanilla cupcakes from Susiecakes, mini orange-glazed donuts from a local shop called Fill in the Hole Donuts and lollies with kettle-cooked jellies from Trader Joe's (these were a clear winner at Avery's 2nd birthday party).

The orange circle garland is from one of our favorite children's retailers, Land of Nod. It's made of felt and can definitely be used over and over again. Avery's beloved catballs are wearing party hats made with Paper Source prints using an easy template thanks to Lavender's Blue. Avery also has a deep love of balloons, so I ordered a 36" round citrus orange balloon from Shop Sweet Lulu and had it blown up at our local Party City. We had a candy necklace-making station with gummy Lifesavers and Cheerios, inspired by an idea in this book.

Last but not least, little pom poms were tucked away in tiny orange chevron little bitty bags, made by Whisker Graphics and purchased from Shop Sweet Lulu. Avery is really into pom poms and little things that she can collect and carry around at the moment. It was a wonderful celebration that marked an important birthday. I still can't believe Avery's 4-years-old! We love you Avery, and thank God for you. 🙂

Post by Michelle Sterling of Avery and Augustine

You can see her work and read about her two young children's first forays in cooking, art and everything in between at Avery and Augustine.