Month: January 2017

gwen.

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I’ve been a No Doubt / Gwen Stefani fan since sixth grade (OMG, that was 21 years ago!). I remember listening to Tragic Kingdom everyday! And then in high school, my sister took me to my first No Doubt concert. Back then, I colored my hair hot pink (spray in hair color for the win!) and was fine sitting in the nose bleeds. I had to ZOOM IN for these photos. Today, I sport my L.A.M.B. crossbody bag (a birthday gift from my college roomie – Hi Maivi!) and I refuse to sit more than fifteen rows away. #aintnobodygottimeforsquinting My friend Lennie (also self-proclaimed Gwennabe) and I snagged tickets for Gwen’s latest tour. We’ve gone to a few No Doubt and Gwen Stefani concerts over the years and each one has been an awesome dance party. This last show was particularly cute because there were a lot of moms with their now tween and teenaged daughters rocking out to Gwen’s music. GWEN! I love Gwen’s sound and style, and how she’s consistently creating and being inspired …

birthday craft party.

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OMG let’s do this again! My craft biz turned five this past October so I threw a birthday craft party complete with craft stations, a photobooth, and so. much. cake. I might need to throw craft parties on the regular. There was so much excitement and craftiness to be had. Here’s a look back at the awesomeness. I held the party at Sticky Art Lab in Berkeley. My lovely friend Katy greeted all the guests. We’ve known each other since junior high and I’m sooooo happy she lives nearby again. All the guests got an FtF VIP name tag and indigo dyed tote bag filled with a craft pack, a special birthday edition soy candle by Lighten Up Shoppe, and a felt pennant or garland by yours truly. I set up a confetti crown station. There was confetti everywhere and it was magical. The decorate-your-own-banner station was a big hit, too. At the photobooth people asked “What app are you using?” Answer: camera. We got a fun clicker to use with our iPad so guests …

shop feature: william the beekeeper.

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You can find socially conscious and ethically sourced comfy clothing and one of a kind home goods at William the BeeKeeper in San Francisco. Owner Cairn features her clothing line Kaileeni in shop as well as makers from all walks of life. It’s shopping with a purpose and it’s all about creating community. My spirit feels renewed after a visit here, and I’m pretty sure it’s because of the ambience Cairn has cultivated in her shop. Step inside the hive with me! Gorgeous, right? Experience for yourself! Come and visit! 🙂

temple time.

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On a recent trip home we visited the Fo Guang Shan Hsi Lai Temple in Hacienda Heights. The architecture and details in design made it feel like we went on a day trip to China. The temple has been around since 1988, but I only recently learned about it from my Mom who also recently learned about it from a friend. The temple is place of worship but also a place of calm and rejuvenation. It caters to visitors – All the statues and buildings had information cards, and there were many lists with proper temple behavior to follow, e.g. No pictures are allowed inside the temples. There are gardens, classrooms, and a cafeteria that serves vegetarian cuisine. I enjoyed exploring the grounds and tossing coins into the garden for prosperity. After our visit, my Mom shared some photos with friends. They thought we were on vacation, too. Where do you day trip? Share below. 

garland challenge part seven.

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And here’s the rest of them – for a total of 366 garlands! I can’t take all the credit because the Hubby helped, too – remember the cheese garland? 🙂 Catch parts one, two, three, four, five, and six, too. Which one is your favorite? I think mine is any garland with food. Yum!

balloon animal parade.

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I’ve been a sick poop these last few days, but I learned a new skill whilst sipping tea and breathing in humidifier vapors. Ahhh… BALLOON ANIMALS! I found the Balloon Animal kit from the Oh Happy Day party shop. It comes with lots of balloons, a pump, animal ideas and how-tos, plus sticker eyes. I ended up making a giraffe, lion (my fave!), wiener dog, and fish. I’m now thinking I need to give these as Valentine’s greetings. Wouldn’t the lion be so cute with a tag that said “You’re a cool friend. I’m not LION. Happy Valentine’s Day.”? 😉 Being sick is super lame, but this definitely cheered me up for a little bit. What are some of your sick day activities of choice? Share below!

bestie’s bach in the bay.

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Bestie got married last weekend and it was…PURPLE! 🙂 But before we celebrated nuptials, we celebrated Bestie’s Bachelorette in the Bay! The bride’s request: calm fun. Yes, it’s a real thing! She was in town for a conference and it just so happened to be the week of the presidential election so we were all feeling a bit…exhausted. We decided on an evening of tea tasting, painting/glass fusing, and eating! Keepin’ it rated G, y’all! The tea tasting room at Teance is all the calm. Our tea guide is officially my tea hero. He knew so much about the various teas we chose for our tasting, and he put up with all of our tea inquiries. We tried nine teas, learned to properly steep and taste each one, and we left with some of our favorites. We could have easily spent hours here, but we needed to run off to the next adventure: glass fusing and ceramic painting! Brushstrokes is my favorite painting studio, and Bestie is super creative so we thought she’d enjoy a visit …

garland challenge part six.

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Oh, hello there. It’s been a while since I’ve posted, I know. Did you miss me? 😉 2017 has been rocky so far (my car was stolen on NYE!), but also filled with love and happiness (Hubby and I celebrated our ninth love anniversary on the 2nd AND bestie got married on the 7th!). So, I’m easing my way back into writing. Today, I’m sharing another edition of my 2016 garland challenge — a garland challenge within a challenge, if you will. For this challenge inception I wanted to feature a local business for each letter of the alphabet. Perhaps you’ll spot some familiar artisans. I’ll have to wait and see what 2017 has in store for me, but I’m predicting and am hopeful for lots and lots of colorful projects; spending time with loved ones and making new friends; and exploring new skills, places, and  ideas. Happy New Year, everyone!