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Halloween, Projects

Carving pineapples

My sweet cousin shared a pin with me the other day and I about jumped out of my seat when I saw it. Pineapple jack-o-lanterns! Beyond brilliant. Especially since the pineapple is my signature fruit now, thanks to Mr. Jace ;) Once we got started, I quickly realized how much easier and yummier it is to carve pineapples than pumpkins. Less messy and less icky {but a little more stickier}. The key to a good pineapple jack-o-lantern? Cut a whole in the bottom, too. You can save the pineapple insides for the whole week. Pineapple deliciousness all week.  Once you give them a face, they kind of look like little tribal people, glowing on your patio. They’ve been getting quite the attention in our neighborhood. Just a heads up, your patio will be a little juicy and sticky but it’s nothing a hose down can’t solve after Halloween.

 

 

 

 

 

 

{my men helped me, too}

 

 

 

 

Happy carving to you — whatever you decide to carve this holiday!
October 28, 2014 by
Family, Projects, Scottsdale

The Brush Bar

Us Joy ladies got our paint on in Scottsdale last weekend while I was in town. We had such a blast. The whole paint and wine night has really caught on in the Phoenix area. Surely you’ve heard of it or have a brush bar of some kind near you! My sister and I wanted to do something special with my Mom while I was home, so we booked a morning date at the Brush Bar in Scottsdale for some mimosas and hawaiian flowers. We couldn’t stop smiling while we painted and took in the atmosphere. Pretty sure we’re going to go back over the holiday. My mom definitely did the best. She has some mad blending skills ;)

 

{momma Joy}

 

{seester!}

 

 

 

 

{we were pretty proud of our finished hawaiian flowers}
September 30, 2014 by
Food, Giving Joy, Projects, San Juan Bautista

S’more pops

Us girls at the studio threw our friend, Loni, a little campsite-themed picnic at the park in town to celebrate her birthday! We basically went camping for an hour — flannels, tent, picnic table, hot dogs, hamburgers — the works. I was tasked with making the birthday dessert: S’more pops! They are SO easy and SO delicious. I let mine sit at room temperature for a little bit before the party and they were perfect. Soft and chocolate-y and semi-melty from the warm temps in San Juan Bautista. Just as good as a real s’more if you ask me.

Here’s what you’ll need for the s’more pops:

– white cake pop {candy?} sticks
– regular sized Marshmallows
– Baker’s dipping chocolate
– crumbled graham crackers
– parchment paper
– wood platter for presentation ;)

Instructions: Poke each marshmallow with a stick. Microwave the Baker’s chocolate tub. Dip half the marshmallow in the melted chocolate. Sprinkle the graham cracker crumble onto the chocolate part. Set it down on the wax paper. Then serve anytime after that! Like I said, SO easy. It was so fun celebrating Loni. Love her to pieces.

{I <3 these chicks}
May 29, 2014 by
Projects, reads, Santa Cruz

Bookshop Santa Cruz & Laura Davis

Miss Heather and I are HUGE fans of Bookshop Santa Cruz. It’s our favorite place to go downtown. We literally could spend hours just walking around, browsing books, magazines, notebooks, gifts, and letterpress cards.

Heather introduced me to Laura Davis & The Writing Journey, and on Monday we attended one of her creative writing workshops at the Bookshop. Laura prompted us with different words like ‘vaseline’ and ‘chainsaw’ to get our creative juices flowing, and our hands moving. We were given 7 minutes to write about these different word “prompts”, then share them with your neighbor. All you’re allowed to say after listening to someone’s writing is “thank you”. I laughed at how sporadic my writing was. Must be how my mind works. I’m definitely a newbie to this creative writing stuff, so hopefully I’ll improve and be able to write more eloquently with each workshop.

It was a great crowd! A lot of creative minds out there, with different approaches to writing. I already penciled in the next few creative writing workshops, and will be doing Laura’s weekly writing prompts via email. In case you’re interested, every Tuesday Laura sends out a writing prompt via email. You then can take a few minutes out of your morning or day to complete it. I picked up a little notebook to get me geared up for my Tuesday prompts! What a great way to unleash your mind and get some things down on paper. Perhaps I’ll finally find my blogging “voice”.

Bookshop Santa Cruz also hosts different reading programs each quarter. Heather and I are doing their Winter Reading Program as well and are starting with Maisie Dobbs. If you finish 3 of the books on the reading list you get a free glass of wine at the Bonny Doon tasting room, a free Buttercup Cakes cupcake and a gift card back to the Bookshop. Worth it to me!

{I think my 2014 is already off to a creative start! Yay.}
January 10, 2014 by
Projects, Santa Cruz

To do in the Cruz: make a bubble terrarium at DIG Gardens

Last week I stopped into DIG Gardens, sort of on a whim as I was driving by, and am so glad I did. Everyone talks about DIG gardens here in Santa Cruz. It’s the place for succulents, gardening workshops and other patio decor. They offer great classes for succulent frames {like the one I did}, wreaths, orbs and more — would love to take one!

As I was perusing around, I came across their DIY terrarium station, where you can create your own bubble terrarium {also called an air plant?}. These little planters are great for your kitchen or bathroom windows. So adorable, and so easy to create and care for {you water sparingly with a spray bottle}. I picked out a shape and some epiphyte and started thinking about what else I wanted to add to it. When I got home I completed it with some sea shells and sand from our beach, and boom — a bubble terrarium for our kitchen window {that I already love so much}!

{brings me so much joy!}
January 9, 2014 by