Book Review: Playful: Fun Projects to Make With + For Kids

I was given the opportunity to review the new book PLAYFUL: Fun Projects to Make With + For Kids by Merrilee Liddiard (love her blog Mer Mag) and photographed by Nicole Hill Gerulat. And guess what? Today is the book release! The cover and all the images/styling are super cute and the projects look so creative and relatively easy. You can order it right now on Amazon.

I appreciate that PLAYFUL is divided into five categories—Playful Dress Up, Playful Toys, Playful Paper Crafts, Playful Repurposing, and Playful Art. It makes it easier to flip to the section you want to craft. Some of the fun projects I could do with Lucas and Theo include a squiggle floor tile project, fingerprint art, duct tape portfolio (to hold all of Lucas' drawings!), and my favorite, the animal art print pillow. Some of these projects require basic sewing skills (I have zero) so I may have to enlist my mom for some help. Templates for the projects are included at the back of the book with step-by-step instructions.

I would recommend this book if you want to get extra creative with the crafting. It's a great resource for adults and kids to make something fun together and then let the kids' creativity take over.

Happy crafting! Wish I could go to the launch party!

+ Top photo by me
+ Other photos courtesy of Abrams Books (photos by Nicole Hill Gerulat)
+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper)

Weekend Trip: Lucas Goes to L.A.

I recently took Lucas to L.A. for a mini weekend trip to visit my friends Joy, Bonnie, and  Christine. It was the perfect little quick trip before school started. Lucas had flown on a plane several times when he was younger but he doesn't remember it at all so this trip was extra special for him. Plus, it was an adventure with just mama. These one-on-one excursions have become so important to both of us since Theo was born.

We had a pretty early flight which meant I had to wake Lucas up earlier than he would normally get up. Probably not the best way to start the trip, but we had to catch our BART train. Also, Lucas had been a bit under the weather for over a week. Poor guy. Poor me. But we made it and Lucas was awesome on the plane ride. He looked out the window, did some coloring, reading, and played with his cars and Legos. I didn't even have to bust out the Kindle Fire for movies.

When we arrived, L.A. was HOT. I expected it to be pretty warm but when L.A. has a heat wave, it is no joke. My friend Bonnie picked us up from the airport and took us straight to one of the yummiest places called Republique. It reminded me a bit of Tartine but with a much larger menu of sweet and savory treats and dishes. We ordered the Kimchi Fried Rice (I could seriously eat this every day), the Smoked Salmon Tartine, a variety of sweet desserts (something chocolatey, something fruity, and something fried with custard inside), and Golden Juice (a healthy and refreshing combo of yellow carrot, pineapple, golden beet, and orange juice). When I go out to eat with Bonnie, I know it's going to be good and my belly is going to be full.

Our next stop was to pick up Joy from her studio. I've seen so many pictures of her space but seeing it in real life was pretty cool. It's bright, open, and full of fun props and furniture. Since we had already eaten, we decided to stick to something a little on the lighter side. We went to Mendocino Farms for a salad and numerous refills of pink lemonade. Did I mention L.A. was in a heat wave? It was really nice to catch up with Joy since we have both been so busy. She is also due with baby #2 in November so I wanted to see her big ol' belly and Ruby before baby comes.

We decided to stay in for dinner that night (Joy's husband Bob picked up some super yummy food from Forage) and just relaxed as Ruby and Lucas got to know each other. They were way too cute together and hit it off instantly -- playing in her tent with flashlights, playing with stickers and tattoos, etc. In the morning Ruby and Lucas went outside to play with some cool inexpensive airplanes Bob got from the drugstore. Some of my favorite photos are from this little play session -- cheap planes plus active 4-year old boy made for a very quick play date. It was really sweet to see how Ruby seemed in awe of this wild savage older boy and how Lucas tried to take care of Ruby (helping to put on her shoes and telling Bob that he would keep her safe).

The next morning we met up with Bonnie and her awesome daughter Venise at Lucky Duck for brunch -- a deliciously huge platter of fried chicken, pancakes, and waffles. Yum! And how cute are Ruby, Venise, and Lucas together?

Later that afternoon my friend Christine and her insanely cute son Henry (tell me he does not look like John Leguizamo but a hundred times smaller and cuter?) picked us up and took us to the LACMA. We all had a blast here! The boys got to run around, climb, and explore. They climbed on the pillars in front of the museum and kept saying, "Can you do this, dude?!" It was hilarious.

The Metropolis Exhibit was pretty amazing with all the cars and trains zipping around at a super fast speed. Needless to say, Lucas and Henry were in total awe.

After the LACMA, we went to Sycamore Kitchen for a little snack and a drink. Oh, and side note: while walking to the restaurant, Lucas proceeded to pull his pants down and pee on the street behind a car! He just couldn't hold it and I didn't see him in time. I was partially mortified but also had to laugh it off. Luckily Christine was with me on that one. ;)

That night we went to the Americana at Brand. It was kind of funny going to a mall but It was a nice outdoor one with a big grassy play area for the kids to run around. We also rode on a trolley which the kids loved, had a nice dinner at Katsuya, and ran around some more on the grass before heading home.

The next day our flight wasn't until 6 p.m. so we had the whole day to hang out and do something easy going. After a quick breakfast at Lemon Poppy Kitchen (the kale and barley breakfast bowl was delicious) we went to a fun little water park nearby for some splashing around in the heat. We met up with Joy's good friend Marisa who I went to high school with and is good friends with one of my good friends Tina. Get that? Small world! I finally met Marisa's sweet family, Garrett, Cameron, and baby Kaia (a total thunder thigh sweet pea!).

Before our flight we just lounged around at Joy's house. Lucas fell in love with their cat Max - petting her, covering her with a blanket "to keep her warm", and giving her lots of kisses.

Even though L.A. is a quick hour flight away, it took us a while to get home. After we landed, we hopped onto a shuttle that took us to the BART station, then took one BART train, transferred to another BART train, and then drove home. With his glassy eyes and blank stare, Lucas was fading fast but he was a total trooper.

Overall we had a great trip. Thanks so much to Joy, Bob, and Ruby for hosting us and to Bonnie and Christine for hanging out and taking us to yummy places to eat. Next time I'll bring Theo! I must say, it's nice to have some routine back in our lives. :)

A few tips for traveling with a 4-year old:
+ Bring one or two of their favorite little toys (Lucas loves his cars and Legos)
+ Bring even more little surprises (i.e. new markers, new book or magazine, new toy, new toy pouch)
+ Bring headphones and something to play a movie or some games on
+ Bring lots of tasty snacks
+ Put all of the above in their backpack (maybe a new one?)
+ Try not to do too much in one day while traveling. Lucas was incredibly tired from not sleeping well, being a little under the weather, the crazy heat, and packing in a lot of activities in one day. Phew!

One last thing. The sweet Victoria of SF Girl By Bay is going to L.A. soon and is doing a giveaway through instagram. Simply tag your instagrams of L.A. using #SFGIRLINLA by September 18th and you could win a $100 amazon gift card just for contributing. See more details here.

+  Photos by me
+  Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper)
+  Photo at the water park by Bob Cho

Mini Vacation - Lake Tahoe

It's been a long time since we had a family vacation. As organized as I can be sometimes, I am pretty horrible at planning trips far in advance. The usual scenario is that Lucas has a week or two off from school and I realize the day before. Oops! So when my sweet friend Lisa graciously invited us to spend the weekend at her house in Lake Tahoe I could not have been happier -- not only because I hadn't seen her and her family since they moved to France a year ago, but also because I hadn't been to Lake Tahoe during the summer since I was a kid. I must say, it's still pretty magical.

And how cute is my friend's house? So thoughtfully designed with vintage elements mixed with mid-century modern touches that made the house feel perfectly cozy and campy. The light that peeked through in the morning and late afternoon were too pretty not to capture.

Before we left we stopped for lunch at the Char Pit in Kings Beach for some good bad food. In the car on the way home, I turned around to find Theo in full on chillax mode with his sunglasses on. He cracks me up -- his whole look basically sums up our trip.

We had so much fun reconnecting, swimming, cooking, reading (catching up on trashy magazines, yeah!), eating, paddle boarding (my first time and so much fun especially with Lucas on board), throwing rocks, collecting sticks, and relaxing. Our kids got along great and slept well. It was the perfect little (but much needed) vacation for our family. We hope to go back in the winter :)

+  Photos by me using my iPhone 5
+  Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper)

Happy Weekend and a Birthday Party Sneak Peek

Happy weekend friends! This week went by so quickly and now my little baby is 2. What?!? We celebrated his birthday last weekend with a little party at our home. It was so much fun but I'm so glad it's over! Lucas is helping Theo open one present each day, which really means Lucas is helping Lucas open one present each day. Theo is more excited about the boxes and ribbon!

Here are just a couple of pics from Theo's party. Stay tuned for more pictures of the invitations and details of the food-themed second birthday party.

What are you up to this weekend?

+ Images by me via Instagram (@good_on_paper)

Camping with Lucas and Theo

This past weekend we went on a school-wide camp out with Lucas' preschool. Each year parents and kids gear up for one night at Bort Meadow at Anthony Chabot Regional Park. We set up tents, grilled hot dogs and hamburgers, shared a potluck of sides and salads, roasted s'mores over the hot fire, climbed trees, enjoyed a big sing-a-long (Nick rocked it out on his acoustic guitar and played everything from "On the Road Again" to "I've Been Working on the Railroad" to "Carpet of Dreams" by the very talented childrens songwriter Jane Timberlake, to "Let It Go" from Disney's Frozen - you know this one got all the kids dancing and building pretend ice castles), drank hot chocolate, and then went to bed in our sleeping bags and tents under the big starry night sky. The next morning we enjoyed a wonderful pancake breakast with lots of coffee for the grown-ups.

This year I woke up in a tent on my birthday. Lucas came in and gave me about 17 kisses on the lips. Then he said, "Mama, are you an old lady today?" and I immediately smiled and said, "I sure am!" Then he said, "Well, who's going to take care of me?" and I said, "I'm old, but not THAT old. And besides, even when I'm a really old lady, I'll always take care of you." He says the funniest things these days and I'm soaking it all in (and jotting it down here).

I really enjoy camping -- the food, the cozy feeling, the s'mores. And it's getting easier with the kids. We learned our lesson this year and set up two tents -- one for me and Theo, who slept from 7:15 p.m. - 7:15 a.m. straight, and a smaller one for Nick and Lucas. Last year was disastrous as Lucas woke up Theo around 10 p.m. and both kids were wide awake. No thanks!

A few things that made it extra fun for the kids were the Lego table, glow sticks, LED finger lights, a stomp rocket, a constellation night light, and some fun books.

All in all we had so much fun but were exhausted. I came home craving noodles and soup (my total comfort food) so we braved the Ramen Shop that night after we cleaned up. I must say I had a wonderful birthday this year.

Happy Weekend, a Visit From Friends Old and New, and a Birthday

Happy weekend friends! This week seemed to have flown by. I was so happy to have some old friends and new visit us. I have been a long time follower/admirer of Sally Shim (how cool and cute are her boys?), and while she was out here visiting California from Korea, she and her boys came to visit us in Berkeley (go Bears! Sally is an alum like me!). I thoroughly loved chatting with her and seeing J and j interact so sweetly with my Lucas and Theo. We spent 11 hours together, starting with dinner from Noodle Theory, homemade waffles for breakfast (j ate 8 of them! yes, 8!), lunch at Summer Kitchen, a fun visit to the Lawrence Hall of Science, dinner at the Ramen Shop, and finally ice cream at Smitten. We had so much fun, food, and big time laughs! You can follow Sally and her boys on their trip via Instagram. Another special treat was seeing my friend Bonnie and her hilariously cute daughter Venise who drove up from L.A. for the longest-drive-shortest-play date ever. Next time they need to stay longer but I'll take what I can get. Maybe I can catch her again at her visual social media workshop at Poketo on September 20th.

Here are some of my favorite Instagram pics from this week.

And finally, it's my birthday weekend (July 20th to be exact). My boys are getting bigger and I'm getting older. Ha! Lately I've noticed I've been talking to myself. Busier? Older? I'm still in my late 20's, right? Let's be honest, after having kids, I feel like I'm five years older than I really am, but I wouldn't have it any other way and that's the truth. Oh, and last night Nick surprised me with a brand new Vitamix for my birthday! I've always jokingly hinted at it but never thought I would own one - what a splurge! I made him promise not to get me anything for our anniversary or Christmas or Valentine's day, maybe even my birthday next year, seriously. I can't wait to redefine what a blender can do!

I'm starting off my birthday weekend with a much needed in-home massage and having another yummy Munchery dinner delivered to our door.

What are you up to this weekend?

+ Images by me via Instagram (@good_on_paper)

Recipe: Lemon Olive Chicken

This Lemon Olive Chicken dish is one my all time favorite easy dinners to make. I had my first taste of this dish years ago when my friend Carrie made it and I had seconds and wanted thirds. Healthy, hearty, saucy, salty, and forgiving, it is definitely one of my go-to recipes that I make at least every week or two. I make it with quinoa and baby spinach/chard/kale (from TJ's), but feel free to sub in brown rice, couscous, asparagus, or any other greens you have on hand. Enjoy!

+ Click here for a printable PDF version

+ Image by me via Instagram (@good_on_paper)

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Long weekend - Happy 4th of July!

Happy long 4th of July weekend friends! I've had a crazy busy week with work so I'm really looking forward to spending some quality family time -- swimming, play dates, tasty food, and a visit from some dear friends. Here are some of my favorite Instagram pics of my boys from this week.

Tomorrow we will be visiting our friends at Sketch. It's a bittersweet visit as they have decided to close the shop for good to focus on family. We will miss them SO much and wish them the best. I totally respect their decision to put family first -- it's always a juggle, but at the end of the day, it's family and love that come out on top.

We are starting off the long weekend tonight with a yummy Munchery dinner delivered to our door so I don't have to cook after a long day at work. If you haven't tried Munchery yet, I highly recommend them -- high quality, affordable, freshly made food conveniently delivered to your door in eco-friendly/compostable packaging. And amazing graphic design/packaging!

What are you up to this weekend?

+ Images by me via Instagram (@good_on_paper)

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Our Home Featured on Houzz

Happy Friday everyone! I couldn't be more excited to share our home tour on Houzz from earlier this week. Work has gotten a little bit crazy for me (in a good busy way) so I barely got a chance to go through the photos and comments from the tour when it first came out. It's funny because most of the comments are really sweet ones from people saying how they love that it's a "real house" with "real people" and how refreshing it is to see such a lived in house. Oh, hello there plastic bins storing blankets stuffed under the couch! Oh, hello there overgrown weeds in the front yard! We like to call it modern clutter. Ha! But in all seriousness, this is real living for us -- we do the best we can with what we have (and don't have..ahem, storage) . But you'll get a chance to see a few updates including Lucas' big boy room which we all love so much.

+ Photos via Houzz
+ Photography and feature by Nanette Wong
+ See our home in Lee Magazine and Sunset Magazine (back when Lucas was 5 months old!)

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