Kirsten: Lil' Miss

Kirsten: Lil' Miss

Lil' Miss

I am CuhhhRazy about Lilly Pulitzer stuff! In fact, I have fallen in Luv! I bought a few of her dresses and bathing suits for my daughter at Dillards where they carry Lilly Pulitzer. I especially loved this panda print dress with the added pink accents against the black and white panda bear pattern. I had to get a few pics of my little fashionista wearing it after Mass as we waited for our food at our favorite Sunday hang-out, Metro Diner. Lilly Pulitzer also has a GO GREEN line which is awesome!

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Something Eggtra

It was the weekend and I was feeling creatively playful-----so, I did this to the eggs and surprised my daughter and husband while making breakfast. Saylor is very much into cracking eggs alllll by herself right now. It is her latest way of feeling like she is bigger than her britches. "I wanna crack it! Let me crack it. I can do it by myself! Please????" is usually the chorus that accompanies every egg. So on this particular Saturday morning, I asked her to take the eggs out of the fridge and crack a few. She was sooo surprised and tickled pink when she opened the cartoon and saw these faces looking up at her.

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K

Hamm and Potatoes on a Stick!

I love popping on over to Bakerella.com  for sweet inspiration on all things cute and edible! This is one of my favorite sights to visit. I love these Toy Story movie-inspired Ham and Mr. Potato Head pops!!!!! They are soooooo adorable! For the How-To guide, visit Bakerella.com

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Brownie Oink Moo

Wanna have some fun in the kitchen and cool down on a hot summer day? Brownie Ice Cream Sandwiches to the rescue!!!!  I love these brownie cutters because they are perfect for making ice cream sandwiches with an imprinted image such as the cow and pig faces. Just use any brownie mix and bake according to directions. When brownies are done, let them cool slightly before using brownie cutters. Set the cut brownie shapes out to cool completely before adding ice cream. I like to wrap them with freezer paper and place them in the freezer so that they can firm up a bit. These little brownie ice cream sandwiches are a fantabulous treat for any summer day.

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K

Window Sill Sprouts

I love these early years in which my daughter brings home seeds, soil, little cups, and lots of hope as she places her seedlings on the window sill. The waiting game begins as she waits-waits-and waits for a bit of greenery to peak through the soil.---and each day, I secretly beg the little seeds to open for my daughter's sake as well as curse them when they do not open. Luckily, these little seedlings are cooperating. Each time she waters them, she over does it and each time I have to remind her that too much water can be a bad thing. It is the same lesson each and every time. I know one day she will understand it and grow beautiful things in her own yard. But, that day can come slowly.

To the Sea!

“"maggie and millie and molly and may"

maggie and millie and molly and may

went down to the beach (to play one day)

and maggie discovered a shell that sang

so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,and

millie befriended a stranded star

who's rays five languid fingers were;

and molly was chased by a horrible thing

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and

may came home with a smooth round stone

as small as a world and as large as alone.

For whatever we lose (like a you or a me)

it's always ourselves we find in the sea.”

E.E. Cummings

All American Robot!

Isn't this just the cutest lil' patriotic robot ever?!?! I especially love the soda bottle cap eyes! This robot would be such a fun centerpiece at your 4th of July celebration. Wouldn't it look like a proud little American on Independence Day! I love Family Fun Magazine for a variety of reasons. This magazine always inspires me to get crafting with my daughter and as a family. Most of their crafts require items you already have lying around your home like the coffee cans and paper towel rolls on this patriotic robot. I know I said my favorite part was his cute little bottle cap eyes---but, now I am thinking it is the fact that he is full of sugary goodness on the inside! I am giving this crafty project a score of EASY PEEZY LEMON SQUEEZY!

For instructions and guide on how to make this Patriotic Robot for your 4th of July celebration, click here.

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Edible Ladybugs!!!

The next time you have a craving for strawberries or chocolate, why not combine both and eat Ladybugs?!?! This little strawberry treat is a fun way to get kids in the kitchen. I especially like this fun and simple treat because it requires very little assistance and kids get a true feeling of accomplishment since they did almost all the preparation themselves. This little dessert is a great way to use strawberries while they are at their peak in the summer and also a great way to provide a less sugary dessert!

What You'll Need:

*Strawberries for body(keep the leaves on the strawberries)

*red or purple grapes for head

*mini chocolate morsels for ladybug spots

*toothpicks

**** Rinse strawberries and grapes. ---Slice each grape in half. ---Insert toothpick into grape and use to attach the "head" to the strawberry body by inserting at top.---Gently press a few mini chocolate morsels onto top of strawberry to create the black spots of a ladybug.

That's it! Easy Peezy Lemon Squeezy!

Note: We also created a bed of greens using celery leaves so that our Strawberry Ladybugs would have something to "munch" on. Any greens will work such as lettuce or even spinach leaves which will go great with the strawberries!---and if you can get your kids to eat the greens as well, then more power to you!

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Ocean's Playmate

My daughter is the ocean's playmate. I love how a day at the beach can renew my belief that children are indeed capable of having fun without 21st century gadgets---where a piece of drift wood and the ocean are all it takes to enter a world of make-believe. 

Conductor of the Mermaid Symphony

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Sandy Toes

I love to walk along the beach, sandals in hand, and look for sea glass.

How simple and simultaneously grand the ocean can be between my toes!

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

French Market Antiques

My absolute favorite place to visit in Fernandina Beach, Florida is French Market Antiques . I love their large wood furniture pieces and all their home decor. The light coming in through the windows of this old establishment also adds to the beautiful nuance; a nice place to shop on any given afternoon.

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Amelia Coffee

Anytime we are spending the day strolling around Fernandina Beach or Amelia Island, Florida, we always take a little break for refreshments at Amelia Island Coffee. However, I often spend more time taking pics than actually sipping my coffee. It is a good thing I waited til after I took a few snapshots to order some ice cream. But then even so, I also had to include the ice cream in a few photos. Rum Raisin is so very photogenic!

I had to add my latest eye candy to the photo, as well.

...and of course, no coffee shop that also happens to sell ice cream is complete without a sweet little girl sitting at a window table.

---Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.

Rainy Day Bread

What is the best way to spend a rainy day afternoon? Baking bread, of course! My daughter and I passed the time away in the kitchen baking 10 grain bread. I really like Bob's Red Mill products. They are organic, quick, easy, and yummy! As the storm stomped it's thunderous feet outside, my daughter and I were happy to have our hands in dough. My husband loved coming home to the smell of fresh baked bread.

Mixing and kneading can be soooo theraputic!

Letting it rise----a true lesson in patience.

...and Viola! Fresh-baked bread right out of the oven. Warm and Yummy Goodness.

Sealed with a Kiss, Kirsten

S.W.A.K.