PolkaDot Umbrella Boutique. Handmade Couture Dress for Miss Queen Jemma

My sweet friend behind Polka Dot Umbrella Boutique is AH-MAZING! She brought over this dress for Jemma today and we LOVE it! Jemma does not want to take it off and was quite the little model while I snapped a few pictures for Polka Dot Umbrella! She HAD to wear those red sparkle shoes because those have been labeled her 'dancing shoes' and THIS DRESS was the perfect 'dancing dress'. It was freezing outside and Jemma was such a trooper! I got to pick out the fabric and Kristen whipped up this little gem! She is so talented and does custom orders… what ever your little heart desires! 

She even saves the scraps for me so I can make a matching bow for Jemmas hair or maybe Ill make a matching necklace! If I get really ambitious I might break out my sewing skills and make a mini bag or her "friends" aka Woody, Jesse, Buzz and Bullseye! 

She blogs for Create Kids Couture and used Jemma today in one of her posts! 

Just because one picture of your own child is never enough! Here are 8!

K seriously guys this dress could not be made any better anywhere! It was as perfect as a perfect stitch could be! This is fit for a QUEEN and she sure thinks she is one thanks to Kristen! 

Like PolkaDotUmbrellaBoutique on Facebook

Follow PolkaDotUmbrellaBoutiqe on Instagram and Read her BLOG!!!

Gratitude

With November quickly approaching I love to focus on being grateful. I know Halloween is just a few days away, but I like to think a little bit ahead. As a family we try to share at least one thing a week that we are grateful for. During bedtime, I make sure to tell my kids how thankful I am to be their mother. And they even reply that they are grateful that I'm their mother. It's pretty awesome.

Over the years I've seen many ways to stay focused on gratitude. Becky Higgins turned a large poster board into a place to write and draw their blessings. I saw a gratitude tree on Pinterest (from Martha Stewart) that we are going to make this year.  I think the kids will really love this activity.
Again, I saw this one on Pinterest. I love that each family member has a place to keep individual thoughts, and the envelopes can be used year after year. Finally, I've seen gratitude books galore. Some use plain notebooks, others create their own special books, which is what I've done.

Last year I started my gratitude album in just a plain notebook. About two weeks in I got bored; it wasn't visually interesting. So I went to my local scrapbook store and found supplies that fit perfectly:  Crate Papers Farmhouse Collection. I used an old mini album from 7gypsies that's been kicking around my craft supplies. From there I cut my papers to size, used a couple of border punches, mists, and started stringing them into little booklets. The little booklets nestled next to each other with waxed thread used to bind the book. A few embellishments here and there, a couple of pockets for extra space, and some ruffle ribbon completed the look. - Olivia

Summer Sariah on Sweet Relish

Summer Sariah is a Sweet Relish brand and they are amazing! On this website you can find super cool brands that are perfect, unique and one of a kind. There is so many fun products to discover and Sweet Relish makes shopping for that perfect gift so fun! 

You can read about the beginning of Summer Sariah (news to everyone!!!) as well as how fun Barbecue Bows are in their newest article titled "8 New Baby Products New Dads Will Love" 

Check out Sweet Relish! You are sure to find something you love! Especially since Christmas is literally just around the corner and if you're like me you can't stand to give gift cards! While you're there read all about Summer Sariah!

Design Tip: Determining the Correct Bar Stool Height

I was absolutely tickled pink when Summer asked me to be a part of this blog. I gladly accepted! As you might have read in my bio, I currently work as a furniture and home accessory designer at Basin Custom. I recently graduated from the Interior Design program at Utah State University. As a contributor to this blog, my goal is to provide helpful design tips and projects each week.

Starting off with--

Bar stools: you've seen them. You've hunted for them, and if you’re crazy like me, you might have even dreamt about them. Yep, I am still talking about bar stools. I love bar stools. I think every kitchen needs a good set of bar stools. (Maybe even four or six.) Bar stools can be the finishing touch to your kitchen, the pieces that pull the whole room together, the “cherry on top”, perhaps. Bar stools come in all sorts of colors, materials, styles, and heights. That last word ‘heights,’ is where everyone gets confused.

Today I’m answering the question, “How do I know what height of bar stool I need to buy?”

I get asked this question on almost a daily basis, which by all means I am more than happy to help you answer, but I figure I might as well try to do the world some good and teach a life lesson on bar stool height.(When I say the world, I obviously mean the world of fellow bar stool buyers. Haha.)

A quick way to determine what height of bar stool you may need, can be as simple as just a few measurements.

1) Measure the table or counter that they are intended to be used with. 2) Measure the distance from the floor to the top of the table.

A GOOD RULE OF THUMB:  

There should be between 10" and 12" between the seat height and the height of the counter or table where the chair or stool is going to be used.

(For example: a 42” table top works best with a 30” stool.)

Chairs and bar stools are measured in seat height. (The height from the floor to the top of the seat.)

QUICK GUIDE:

18” Stools: Designed to be used at a 30” counter height, table, or desk.

24"-26” Stools: Designed specifically for kitchen counter-tops with a height of 36"-39”.

30” Stools: Designed for bar counters that measure in at 40”-45” in height.

And since we are on the subject of bar stools, I might as well give you a glimpse of some eye candy I've been sending out over the last couple of  weeks. All of our furniture is custom, fit to the needs and wants of our clients. To view more photos, click here.

Enjoy!

Lish

30" Boiler Bar Stool featured in Custom Matte Finish and Rocky Leather

30" Boiler Bar Stool featured in Custom Matte Finish and Rocky Leather

Completely custom!
 24" Boiler Bar Stool with Leather Back featured in
Raw Metal Clear Coat and Honey Leather

Domesticity

Hello everyone! I am so excited to be a part of Summers awesome adventures and honored she thinks I am so talented. Because let me tell ya, she is crazy talented. You'll see.

As I gathered thoughts to begin writing posts, I honestly didn't know where to begin. After about a month of brainstorming, I'm choosing to focus my posts on home, family, crafting, and health. Good broad, general topics to get the ball rolling. I'm thinking I'll post about each topic once a month, and I'm sure each post will cross topics.

So today, let's talk about the home. I always wanted a family, and knew that was something to work toward. I just didn't know how fast it would come. I was married 7 months after graduating high school, and became a mother just two short years later. I quit school to raise my children and while society thinks me a clueless, empty-headed, talentless woman, it is very much the opposite. My husband has encouraged me in all my pursuits, and supported all my decisions.

Since becoming a mother and domestic manager I've hit quite a few road blocks. For starters, I really don't like to cook. As in, nearly despise with the depths of my soul. Nearly. When I find a simple but delicious recipe it not only becomes a staple in the rotation, I can't help but share with everyone I meet. So today, here is that recipe.

I came across this as a newly wed. It was actually in the packaging for the salmon and with a few tweaks, I think it's perfect.  I don't measure much, so these are just estimates. I add or decrease amounts depending on the size & weight of the fillet.

Brown Sugar and Garlic Salmon

1 salmon fillet
1/2-1 cup milk (depending on size of salmon)
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 tsp garlic powder (or 2 tsp finely diced cloves)
1 tsp black pepper
couple pinches of salt

Preheat the oven to 425* F. Line a cookie sheet with aluminum foil, leaving enough foil to make a cradle for the salmon. Place the salmon on the aluminum foil, make a cradle, and pour the milk over the salmon (the milk keeps it moist while cooking).

While the oven heats, mix together remaining ingredients in a bowl. Gently pat the surface of the salmon to absorb excess moisture. Sprinkle about 3/4 of the brown sugar mixture over the salmon. Wrap the excess aluminum foil around the sides & top of the salmon. If necessary, placed a second piece of foil over the top of the salmon cradle. Bake for 20-30 minutes, until the  salmon is a light pink color & flakes easily with a fork.

Take off the top foil and sprinkle remaining brown sugar mixture over the salmon. Broil for 5-10 minutes until the sugar mixture is bubbling & slightly crisp. Serve with rice and a green veggie.

Tips:
- Use just enough milk to surround the salmon. Too much will leave it soggy.
- The sugar mixture is very easy to adjust. Add more sugar if your like it sweet, more pepper or garlic for a kick.
- The thickness if the salmon will determine baking time. Always test the thickest part of the salmon for done-ness.
- I usually buy my salmon on sale. I just check every time I go to the store.

There you have it! A simple recipe with side suggestions. I've been making this for 6 years and can almost make it in my sleep. Also, I'm sorry there are no pictures. We love this meal (I've even had my 2 yr old eat her whole serving) and usually devour it in minutes. I'll make sure to take pictures the next time!

Try it and tell me what you think!

Playdoh Mat Shapes Printable

Once again, I created this printable because I couldn't find anything (FREE) online! As a teacher everyone had a saying, "Don't reinvent the wheel." If its done for you, don't do it again. But seriously I couldn't find anything! I really love teaching, and when I think of an idea I really want it to happen! So we are learning about shapes right now in this preschool I co-teach, and I wanted them to work with playdoh to improve their fine motor muscles, so I thought how great would playdoh mats be?! 

So I made some so SIMPLE shape playdoh mats, now I realize some of you could make these on your own in like 20 minutes, thats how long it took me, but guess what!?!? Now you can just print, laminate and be done and ready for some fun! I'm so good at rhyming.. Print these out, and teach your child how to use them, you can even print back to back on cardstock to save paper. Teach your child to make snakes and lay them on the shape lines, talk about how many sides each shape has, or if it has sides, have them fill in all the space inside the lines, multicolor or one color! 
This is one image in the document just to give you an idea!
Have fun making shapes with playdoh!

CLICK HERE TO OPEN SHAPE MATS

ENJOY!!!

Small Business Spotlight. Cutey Patuteys Boutique. Instagram Giveaway.

Summer Sariah is teaming up with Cutey Patuteys Boutique and doing a super sweet 'FOXY' giveaway! Click here to find the giveaway! 

I love everything she is selling right now and wanted to share with our readers how cute and affordable her items are! I love that she is fashion forward and her pieces are super versatile and that she is LOCAL to all us Southern Idaho dwellers! 

I asked her a few questions to get to know her better and I wanted to know how she started her new little adventure! She has such a cute family!!!

Summer: Why did you decide to start selling children's clothes?

Amber: I LOVE to dress my girls up everyday! No matter if we are staying home, going grocery shopping or whatever it may be...I love to have them dressed up in the latest fashions, AND they always have a bow in their hair! I have had people ask me where I shop for them, and my husband told me a few times that I should think about selling kids boutique clothing. So I finally really thought about it and decided to run with it!

Summer: Do you have a background in design?

Amber: No something new, fun and exciting!

Summer: Tell us about you and your family.

Amber: I am the wife of a hard working farmer and a stay at home mom to two sweet girly girls! My husband works on the family farm and LOVES it! He really wouldn't want to do anything else. So, we will be in Declo, Idaho the rest of our lives :) Which I am completely happy with! We LOVE our little farming community! 

Our 3 year old, Hadlee, is ALL girl! She loves everything pink, princess and frilly! She also just started dance this year and is loving every minute of it! Our 9 month old, Paizlee, is the best little baby and puts up with her big sissy trying to be her momma! If Hadlee gets her way, Paizlee will be just as girly as she is!

Summer: Anything else we NEED to know about you and your family.

Amber: We were and still are high school sweethearts; I went to school in Burley and he went to school in Declo. We love to be outdoors! Our hobbies include, camping, riding the commander, 4-wheeling, boating, and snowmobiling (my husband in particular). We also love to be with our family most of all! 

Cutey Patuteys Boutique will be at the Minico Craft Show on October 26th 2013 in Rupert, Idaho at Minico High School. Early Bird 8 AM to 10 PM and 10 AM to 5 PM.  She will be sharing a booth with Sophia's Chic Boutiqe and will be located on the upper balcony in the main gym.

You can like her on facebook here! and follow her on Instagram here!
She is opening a shop soon here! Launch date November 4th!

Here are just a few of my favorites in girls and boys!