Lily Jane

April Fool's Eats

Do you have any April Fool's Day traditions?  Switching the sugar for salt, sewing a pocket shut, or something of that sort?  I'm lucky that so far my April Fool's Days haven't held much trickery.  Especially lucky because April 1st also happens to be my birthday.  So we usually just eat some cake and open a few gifts to celebrate the day.

But this year (as I'm trying to establish new traditions) I decided I'd really like to come up with something for Brady for that day; something fun that he doesn't get to do other days of the year.  That perhaps will also distract him from getting any ideas of playing tricks on me!  So, I've decided that in our house April Fool's Day will be Backwards Food Day: dinner for breakfast and breakfast for dinner.  Lunch will still be lunch as it is the axis of the day.

Brady's already been talking about it for a week so I'm hoping it will be a raving success.  I'm increasing my chances by surprising him with a cupcake when he sits down to the table.  Because, if we're going to be true to it, dessert really should come before dinner on backwards day, shouldn't it?

I considered creating a healthy muffin and calling it a cupcake or making a breakfast cookie instead.   But then I tried to view it from his point of view and if I were him I would really think that was a cop out.  So, for one day of the year I'll be truly letting him eat a cupcake for breakfast.  I think I'll be trying this maple and bacon cupcake.  Followed by some breakfast pizza (which has vegetables and will be accompanied by other produce...nutrition has to be found somewhere).

Brinner (breakfast for dinner) is a common thing at our house but is much loved by all.  Craig and I will be heading out for an evening in Park City earlier that afternoon, so I'm thinking an overnight variety of french toast (prepped that morning) will be perfect for those left tending our home and child.  Although this almond-crusted version also looks heavenly.

Do you think my plan will work?  Will I be able to stave off the birthday trickery?  Maybe not...  But at least for a few years.  And then we'll always have a family tradition and some seriously fun meals for the first of April.  

Do you have any tricks up your sleeve for April Fool's Day?  

Animal Font for Japan

Are you guys still following all the coverage about Japan?  It seems to be taking a bit of a back burner on the news now that it's been a couple weeks but it still makes me beyond sad for them and everything they're going to have to go through for such a long time just to put their lives back together.  I try to keep up on it as much as I can.  To think, a disaster like that could have happened to any of us.

There are so many people banding together to raise funds to help, because it really is going to take quite a while to rebuild.  I blogged about For Japan with Love last week and today I have another little way to help: all the proceeds from this fun Animal Font app are being donated to Japan relief efforts.

So creative, right?  I love them.  And I'm betting my son will, too.  Who wouldn't want to practice their spelling when they get to use letters as cute as these?

{via upon a fold}

Thank You Stamp

Hello, my dears.  I hope your weekend was a lovely one.  Did you do anything fun?  We were lucky enough to have dinner at a friend's house...and start to clear the perimeter of our yard in preparation for the new fence.  The yard clearing wasn't as much fun as dinner, but it was nice to be outside and to see some of the overgrowth disappearing.  

I'm starting the week off with this pretty little stamp by Patricia Mumau, who does gorgeous calligraphy.  Isn't it sweet?

Function and beauty combined.  That's my kind of stamp.

{images via patricia mumau}

Entertaining Inspiration: Backyard Movie Night

The numbers on the thermometer creeping up and the blue skies and sunshine all lead me to dream of one thing: outdoor living.  Which includes entertaining, of course, because what's a backyard good for if not flooding it full of people?  A backyard movie night fits the bill just right.

I love how they used old film reels to hold paper cones full of popcorn.  And the movie screen could be easily replicated: sew two old white sheets together both at the top and the bottom, hang it from a large dowel and weight it with a second dowel at the bottom.  Then settle in for a great evening.

{image via pink pebbles on pinterest}

Chasing Rainbows

Hello, my dears.  How was your weekend?  Did you do anything to mark the first day of spring?  I'm so happy that it's finally arrived and that a little more sunshine is lurking around the corner.  

Today I want to share an activity we did this past Thursday night, St. Patrick's Day.  I arranged a little rainbow hunt for Brady.  Using a roll of rainbow colored curling ribbons, I snaked a path through our dining room: around a corner, under the table, behind the chair.  And you know what lies at the rainbow's end, don't you?

A pot of gold!  (In this case, very literally.)  It was a fun little surprise and he enjoyed following where the path would lead him.  We plan to keep doing it every year, increasing the difficulty as he gets older.  Who knows?  It may become one of our favorite traditions.

For Japan

Well, my dears, I hope you've had a lovely week.  Tomorrow I'll be participating in a blogger's day of silence in honor of the devastation in Japan.  It's such a little thing, but something I can do.  Have you thought of any ways you can help?  If you'd like to make a donation, Shelterbox and the Red Cross are two great organizations to keep in mind.

{via utterly engaged and ever ours}

Happy St. Paddy's Day!

Happy St. Patrick's Day, my dears!  Are you wearing green today?  While trying to ensure that everyone else in my house was, I nearly forgot to myself!  But my green sweater was found and all is well again.  I come from a very Irish heritage so St. Patrick's day was always celebrated in my home, typically through the use of a lot of green food dye and listening to Celtic music.  

Are you doing anything to celebrate?  Perhaps this little St. Paddy's Day inspired art supply roundup will put you in the mood to make something a little green.

{green trellis fabric, $36; green pastels set, $34; rainbow crepe paper tape, $11; rainbow felt, $12; gold glass glitter, $4; gold fountain pen ink, $9}

Lottie + Doof

Today I'm very excited to share with you a new-to-me food blog, Lottie + Doof, and some of the amazingness that is their website.

 

 

 

Everything looks amazing!  Jammers; Arugula, Bacon and Gruyere Bread Pudding; Mondel Bread (obviously, I have a thing for carbs).  I know I'll be heading back to their site again and again.

{images via Lottie + Doof}

Dahlhaus Ceramics

Hello, my dears.  How are you doing today?  Did you have a lovely weekend?  We certainly did.  We went to the annual St. Patrick's Day parade (a little early, yes, but the dancing, bagpipes and green were festive nonetheless), watched our college basketball team almost win a championship, and had my lovely Lily's namesake, Jane, over for dinner.  Plus, the sun was shining the whole weekend through.  It was really delightful.

And, to start Monday off right, I've found some equally delightful ceramics by Heather Dahl.  I love the handpainted details on each of her pieces.  

Which are your favorites?

{image via dahlhaus}

Friday Favorite: Made to Play

This year, I've been trying to come up with homemade gifts to give for special occasions.  It's such a great feeling to be able to say, "hey, I made that!" and know how much love and time went into something.  So far I've done two gifts homemade and one store-bought.  The store-bought one was for a child, who I'm starting to think are much harder to make for (depending on their age).  But I can't wait to get my hands on one of these books this fall which I'm sure will be full of countless ideas both for gifts and just for playing at home.  

Have you given handmade gifts to the children in your life?  What gifts have you come up with to make?

{image via made by joel}