Style Lush

AdoramaPix Giveaway Winner + A Coupon Code for Everyone Else!

By Jennie

What I loved most about last week's AdoramaPix photo book giveaway was all the types of books people would make if they won. From finally putting together a honeymoon album to gifting family recipes. I loved each answer -- all so personal and thoughtful! This has been one of my favorite giveaways to date (from how wonderful AdoramaPix has been to work with to giving away the gift of preserving memories) and I'm thrilled to announce that the winner is....

Ginger! Who said....

 

Ginger, I'll be in touch soon to get your photo book underway!

Good news for everyone else, though! You can still make your photo book a reality. AdoramaPix is giving a coupon code to all Style Lush readers for 20% off the regular price of any photo book. Just use the code pxbkstlsh before 7/29/2012!

If you do make a book, Style Lush (and AdoramaPix) would love to see how they turn out. Share your feedback through email, Twitter, or Facebook. 

July Fourth Neighborhood Bike Parade

By Janet

Does your town have a neighborhood 4th of July bike parade? I've been to neighborhood bike parades in several towns and they are such a fun way to celebrate! If your town doesn't sponsor one, it would still be fun to gather the neighborhood kids, help them to decorate their wagons and bicycles, and cruise around the neighborhood. 

Martha Stewart has tons of great ideas for decorating bicycles (of course she does!), including some festive printables.

(Photo from: Martha Stewart.com)

A tray for the kitchen

by Christina

I have a pretty small and unattractive kitchen. I've been in this home for six years now and have decorated it to try and hide it's flaws and now it's pretty stripped down to basics (which is much better) Having this kitchen not only hurts my eyeballs it also makes my life a little harder since I stay home with two small animal children, I'm in there cooking a lot.  It needs to be organized and things need to be handy.

I came across a little tray in the dollar spot around easter, it was pink with a bright pink and mint stripe around it, very easter like but I saw potential. I brought her home, gave it a few coats of white spray paint, added some fabric, mod podged over that and had a simple crap corral for the counter top. You'd be shocked at how convenient it is to have olive oil right there to pour and my course salt at the ready. It works well and with it all in the tray it keeps things looking tidy,

Do you have any tips for small kitchen living?

(Photo from: me)

 

Sticky Mosaics

By Elisabeth

We'll be flying on a plane for 5 hours soon and I'm already feeling the anxiety of how the flight will go with three kids. We've flown before with the whole crew, but my 14 month old was an 8 month old and was less, loud, if you will. Trying to entertain and please his every need will take most of my focus.

I do have two other children to consider, as well, but I already have them taken care of. A friend of mine recommended I purchase some Sticky Mosaics since each board entertains her kids for a good hour!

The My First Sticky Mosaics will be perfect for my 4 year old. And the vehicles are right up his alley.

And the more difficult Pirates version will be just right for my 7 year old to focus on.

With 4 and 5 boards for each kid plus a movie or two, (plus 8 trillion snacks) I just might have this long flight covered! Wish me luck!

(Photos from: amazon.com)

Friday Afternoon Diversion

By Beth

Dear Style Lush Readers,

I feel bad for all of you lovely people who are going to spend a summer Friday afternoon trapped in your office staring at the computer. (Although since I am taking 4 children under 8 years old to the neighborhood pool this afternoon, I might actually be wishing to trade places with you.) To help you pass the time, should your afternoon become a little dull, I would like to introduce you to my favorite weekly links wrap-up post. It is the Fugs And Pieces feature at gofugyourself.com.

If you aren't familiar with the site, it is mostly dedicated to review and comment on celebrity fashion choices. Therefore, their weekly link-up is often fashion-heavy, but you will also find links to interesting articles about baseball or architecture or technology or whatever else they found awesome that week. It has something for just about everybody every week, and I generally follow and enjoy every link.

So there, some amusement for your Friday afternoon.

(Photo from gofugyourself.com)

The Tooth Fairy Cometh

by Blythe

My son is five years old, and I know we are approaching the loose-tooth era.  Based on our experience with splinter removal, I have the feeling he is going to be one of those kids who FREAKS OUT when the time comes to bid farewell to one of his teeth.  But only the first time, because he has also grasped the value of cash, and when he realizes money will appear under his pillow the morning after, I hope his fear will disappear.

Either way, I had better get my act together before that first tooth comes out.  Here are a few tooth fairy welcoming devices I am considering:

Wooden Tooth Boxes

Happy wood and rubber boxes to keep little teeth safe

 

Tooth Pillow

Sweet, classic handmade tooth pillow

 

Sweet Tooth Box

A tiny modern tin that comes in four different colors

 

Monster Pillow Tutorial

An adorable tutorial that even a novice like me might be able to follow.

{Photo credits: stubby pencil studio, romp.com, rikapanda crafts, the loose thread)

Summer Music: Imagine Dragons

by Hillary

Imagine Dragons' Continued Silence was released in February of this year but its bouncy beats seem more suited for summer listening. They've got a sort of Coldplay / The Killers / MGMT indie rock / electronic vibe. 

"It's Time" is the lead single and don't get me wrong, it's great but "On Top of the World" is the song that shines. The combination of hand claps, finger snaps, and a pop / reggae beat push the EP from "catchy tunes" to "official album of the summer" territory. 

{Photo credit: amazon.com}

Summer Fun with Sidewalk Paint

by Megan

Like so many of you, we're already in the thick of summer and our mornings begin with someone asking what's on the agenda for the day. Truthfully, I don't want an agenda. I want lazy days where changing out of pajamas is optional, and we count swimming as bathtime. Not that I've ever done that, of course.

A few days ago I declared we would have one such day. No plans, no leaving the house, no excessive expending of energy. That's not to say that we didn't do anything. In between the Play-Doh mashing and the pudding stirring, I broke out the sidewalk paint that my son got for his birthday.

The kids went to town decorating our patio with the brush and roller that was included with this kit, and they were postivitely covered in paint when we were done. The paint rinsed off of their bodies with just water from the hose, and washed cleanly from their clothes with no extra laundry effort on my part. The novelty kept them far more engaged than painting on paper or sidewalk chalk would have, and the easy clean up made this a quick favorite in my book.

Of course you can make your own, which would make another great activity for a stay-at-home day.

{Photo credits: amazon.com}

Summer time saver: Vaseline Intensive Care Cocoa Butter Body Oil

by Emily

Honestly, the number one reason I skip body lotion most often is because I just don't want to take the time to do it. I try to take a nice long shower; I usually don't have any extra time when I get out to do much else other than throw on some deodorant and face moisturizer.

In the summer, however, I simply moisturize WHILE I'M STILL IN THE SHOWER. This is a genius move, in my own personal opinion. I love this product - I usually put it on right after I've turned off the shower but before I dry off - the gel is thick, otherwise, and doesn't go on as smoothly. I find that about a quarter-sized amount moisturizes perfectly if I have wet skin - it doesn't get greasy or oily, and after I've rubbed it on, I simply pat my skin dry with a towel.

I also am 100 percent addicted to the summery scent of coconut and cocoa butter, and this product has just the right scent strength. I pretty much forego any other scent in the summer - I don't want it to compete with this! I find a bottle lasts a while, and I don't use it after EVERY shower... sometimes, it really is TOO HOT for an oil-based moisturizer. But I do love that it feels indulgent when I DO use it, and the price really can't be beat.

{Photo credit: drugstore.com}

Everlane: Great T-Shirts & Totes

By Jennie

There was some recent buzz around my corner of the internet about Everlane -- an online shop specializing in "accessories and essentials under $100." I heard good things and since the t-shirts are a very reasonable $15, I decided to give the shop a try.

I really do like the t-shirt I bought -- a v-neck in peach.

It's soft and light-weight without being too sheer, but I also got a tote and this was the real success story of the purchase.

It's exactly the tote I've been looking for, for summer activites and weekend travel, and I love it (well-made and big without being too bulky). I've now set my sights on the weekender.

(Photos from everlane.com)