My Right Brain

HOW TO: Holiday Bark, Bark!

This year for the holiday's I channeled my inner Martha and decided to bake.  We had a few parties to attend and I wanted to extend some love to our neighbors (who doesn't love a food gift bag) so I researched holiday bark and struck gold with this recipe. 

TOP REASON FOR LOVING: The ingredients are basic (cheap and not fancy), they take about 15 minutes to make (although I refrigerated for about 30 min to set), and OMG - OMG - OMG - OMG are they divine (see picture for visual proof).

WARNING: these treats are highly addictive, so if you make them I encourage to give them away as soon as possible otherwise you might gain five pounds in two days - oops

HOW TO: Family Photo Albums

We already know that times have changed, but HML (bless her little heart) has to deal with my need to document maybe more than your average proud Mom.  At just under four months old, she is already VERY aware of the many cameras I am shoving in her face, and I am certain she thinks the black square object is an extension of my arm - but you know what they say, YOU'LL THANK ME WHEN YOU ARE OLDER*

So what does one do with all of these pictures? Especially when they are digital and usually never get printed?  Am I the only one who misses the olden days, filled with plastic covered family photo albums?

KL and I plan to make a book in HML's honor titled YEAR ONE and hope to continue it annually (YEAR TWO, THREE, FOUR etc).  We will take the best photos from each month and create a visual summery of her life.  The chapters/months will be separated by an image that represents that month (like the examples shown below) and the photos within each chapter will live in sequential order. 

This modern twist on family photo albums is an easy but exciting way to reflect on a life full of fun, photos, and endless memories.

*officially the first time I have said this - and proud of it :)

HOW TO: Camera Sim

Do you only use the automatic features on your camera?  Are you interested in learning more, but feel intimated because you don't know where to start?  Well, it seems that you are not alone because this AMAZING site is your new best friend and photo tutor!  Camera Sim is a website where you can practice using an SLR camera (adjust lighting, ISO, aperture, shutter speed, and distance settings) to see what happens to your photos.  Snap away and discover the magic (you'll be a pro in no time).
Via What About Orange

HOW TO: Valentine's Day Stickers

Ahhhh, Valentine's Day.  A day where romance is evaluated, and hearts are captured or broken.  So who will you be today?  Mr. Over the Top, Ms. Keeping it Cool, Mr. Oh Shit I Forgot, or Mr. & Mrs. So Comfortable it Doesn't Matter Anymore?  One thing is clear (other than the sad reality of who I will be today) Mr. Oh Shit I Forgot, needs our help!

If you are scrambling or just want to do something cute for your sweetheart, Twig & Thistle made these adorable downloadable fruit stickers for Valentine's Day (apples, pears, oranges, bananas, passion fruit, blue berries and a general one for everything else).  Since you don’t really need a fancy card or expensive gift to let someone know you love them (even if you are Mr. Over the Top), these little gestures can speak volumes.  After all, it wasn't called the forbidden fruit for nothing (hubba hubba).

BEST OF 2010: HOW TO: The Case Of The Magic Cupcake

Such a extraordinary day, this post was one of the most personal to date...All this week, I am doing a retrospective and re-blogging some of my old favorites - hope you enjoy the trip down memory lane. 
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So last Saturday, we had a sex party - but I assure you, it's not what you think.  We wanted to come up with a unique way to find out the sex of our baby.  Instead of having the doctor just tell us casually in a sterile hospital room, we thought we would share the reveal in a creative way with family and friends in our home. 

THE PLAN: After our 20 week ultra sound appointment, we had our doctor write on a piece of paper if we were having a BOY or GIRL (eeeek).  She then safely sealed the document into an envelope and I delivered it to Susie Cakes (my favorite bakery in LA).  Their instructions were to make two dozen cupcakes, all with white frosting on the outside and white frosting on the inside, except for one magical cupcake that would be filled with either pink or blue.

THE DETAILS: The morning of the party, I went to the bakery and picked up the goods.  The Susie Cakes ladies were SO over the top adorable, they made me even more excited than I already was.  KL and I decided it would be fun, once all of our guests arrived, to pass out the cupcakes and have everyone bite into them at the same time. 

THE REVEAL:  As cupcakes were being chomped, and guests started shouting out, 'I got white', 'white', I have white too' - our friend Andrew had a suspicious look in his eyes.  He said, 'I got it, I think.'  He walked through the crowd and presented us with our magic cupcake filled with PINK frosting!

WE'RE HAVING A GIRL!

Saturday's party marked the first real opportunity for KL and I to celebrate my pregnancy.  We cooked and prepped all day to make the gathering special not only for us, but for our guests.  We knew that the moment was going to be memorable, but to be honest, I don't think either of us prepared for just how nice it was.  It was overwhelming to be surrounded by our besties, and officially share with them the start of this exciting journey. 

Ps. I am thinking about blowing this picture up and putting it in our little girl's nursey (once we get around to that project - sigh).  Could be cute, right?