Scarlet went to sleep-away camp for the first time this summer – the same camp I went to as a kid. She loved it! I, on the other hand, was having mini-panic-attacks the whole time. It was so weird not to be able to talk to her for a week. My panic attacks were, however, mitigated by the fact that I spent the week in Kauai with one of my very best girlfriends. Kauai is pretty much the definition of paradise. And with a direct 4 hour flight from LA, no customs, no currency exchange, etc. it really is just such an easy trip. Being that this island is where Jurassic Park was filmed, and it is so lush and green and majestic, I did feel like a velociraptor was waiting around every corner. Check out some of the highlights. From Waimea…
to Wailua…
to shave ice in Kapaa…
to Hanalei Bay…
to the Napali Coast…
to perfect Poke…
to helicopter views…
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to perfect Hawaiian sunset meals..
to long rides by the seaside…
I did a lot of research and put together a guide to the island from one end to the next, which you can read in full on Venuelust.
Zucchini Bumper Crop Recipes: Roasted Zucchini Mexican Style
It’s that time of year when zucchini is abundant and your tolerance for eating it is not. Once you’ve made our famous Sweet Zucchini Pickles, Healthier Zucchini Bread, Curry & Ginger Zucchini Chips, 5-Minute Creamy Pesto Pasta with Zucchini Noodles, and even Dark Chili Chocolate Oatmeal Cookies (with Zucchini) you may feel a bit tapped out with our scratchy, squashy friend. I feel you. But still, I have one more idea for you to try. Trust. It’s a simple way to make a delicious side dish that is rather unexpected. It’s a bit like our elotes recipe… flavorful Mexican spices with a zucchini twist. 
Get the easy-peasy recipe after the jump… (more…)
10 Ways to Get the Most Out of Your All-Inclusive Vacation
Drink mucho top-shelf margaritas. The end.
I kid, I kid, there are many OTHER ways to get the most out of an all-inclusive vacation.
Our family of 5 recently returned from a trip to our favorite gourmet all-inclusive resort, Karisma Hotels & Resorts Generations Riviera Maya and over the course of our 3 day visit (yes, too short but still wonderful) I kept thinking of all of the things I wanted to share here on Pretty Prudent when I got back. Basically all of the ways that we got the most out of our little relaxing adventure.
STORKS-inspired Baby Shower with Baby Bundle Cake Pops
Today when the kids came home from school and saw all of the things I was making for our partner Warner Bros Pictures, first they said “give us cake pops please!” and then Quinn said “This stuff reminds me of the new movie STORKS!” My work here is done folks! Everyone is excited for this one! It looks so funny and sweet and cute and all the little pink and blue haired babies are giving me the baby fever. It doesn’t take much! Have a friend who is about to have a special delivery from Mr. Stork? Why not throw them a STORKS-inspired baby shower?
This new animated film comes from the studio that delivered The LEGO Movie, and features an all-star voice cast including Andy Samberg, Kelsey Grammer, Jennifer Anniston and so many more. Grab your flock to see it in theaters September 23.
Below you will more ideas for a STORKS Baby Shower plus easy instructions for Baby Bundle Cake Pops. Full disclosure: I had never made cake pops before. They were really fun and easy to make.
DIY Pokémon Go Ball and Crafting with Gordon
We have had an interesting development in our household. Gordon had discovered crafting. His inspiration and is different than it ever was with the girls. While they were most interested in the actual process as a fun activity, he is set on the results.
1. Gordon’s project idea is always inspired by another interest like Star Wars, Legos, Five Nights At Freddy’s, Minecraft or Pokémon Go. Actually, it is always inspired by one of those things.
2. It is always built on something he has recycled like a used glow stick, tissue box, or in this case a tennis ball.
3. It always involved duct tape. Sometimes lots of duct tape.
Gordon recently came to me with this idea, which I think he saw somewhere on YouTube, and he had to try it. 16 Pokéballs later, we are excited to share this easy Pokémon Go tutorial. Here’s how you make them!
– Collect your supplies. One red 9″balloon, One white 9″ balloon, black and white duct tape, scissors and a tennis ball.
– Cut the rounded bottom off of both balloons.
– Pull one balloon onto the ball as tightly as possible.
– Pull the second balloon onto the other side of the ball, overlapping the first so that the entire ball is covered.
– Cut a strip of black tape about 1/2″ wide and long enough to go around ball and overlap 1/2.” Cut a 1″ black circle and 1/2″ white circle and center over stripe. You can use templates like coins or just freestyle.
– Catch ’em all!
Some Time in Seychelles
In May I had the opportunity to visit the tiny African nation of Seychelles to do research for my other life as a travel writer. The journey was long, but worth it. On my way there and back I spent some time in Abu Dhabi, which I wrote about for Fathom here: Break Free From Terminal Boredom: How to Spend a Layover in Abu Dhabi. Check out some of the beauty that is Seychelles…
Read my full story about Seychelles on Venuelust here: Seychelles Honeymoon Itinerary: The Complete Guide.
A Random Assortment of Good Things I Bought One Week After Moving Into My New House
We finally moved in to our new house. I can’t stand being surrounded by boxes so I worked overtime to unpack and get settled. Then I started buying stuff.
This I bought in Kauai right before we moved, it was so cute and I love it on Scarlet’s bed as she looks out to the pool. I got in Kapaa at the adorable shop Shipwrecked Kauai, but you can snag one at their online shop.
Scarlet’s room has a ton of closet space, but her laundry basket doesn’t quite fit inside, so I wanted a pretty one to match her decor, which is of course Pink. This graphic printed large basket did the trick, West Elm. I also got the oversized version to hold all of her dress up clothes, which sits next to her bed.
This house has a lot of green going on. So I wasn’t feeling the blue pillow cover I had on a floor pillow in the living room. So I picked up a Commune Temoayan Pillow Cover in Ivory from West Elm.
I also thought this would be a good time to update the pillow covers on my couch. I got two of these 18″ Roar + Rabbit Graphic Puzzle Pillow Covers from West Elm and one 23″ X-base pillow from CB2.
There is a door in the hallway that is rather unecessary, but I am not sure that I want to remove it yet, and it keeps closing on it’s own, which is really a great excuse to buy a doorstop. I went with the geo doorstop from West Elm.
We are spending a ton of time outside, so I needed to get a patio umbrella right away. We splurged on this 9′ eucalyptus and sunbrella one from Crate and Barrel.
We have a pool now, which means we need pool towels. We splurged on these oversize spa towels from Pendleton in Los Ojos and Spider Rock. They are so luxurious.
And also for the pool, we had to get a donut(48″ diameter), a pretzel, a pineapplepineapple, and my friend Erin gave me my beloved swan, all from Amazon.
I also bought a toaster oven, because I love toast, and a new vacuumbecause this house has carpet. Oh, and Scarlet used her saved up allowance to buy a claw machine. That’s been fun and not loud or annoying at all.
Now to stop buying random things and plan each room carefully. Wish me luck!
Wild Parrot Garland
We love anything tropical, and of course we also love fun animated films, so we were excited when we were asked to create a project inspired by The Wild Life, which will be in theaters September 9th.
The Wild Life stars a motley crew of crazy animals, including the over-exuberant parrot we are celebrating here, a snack-obsessed tapir named Rosie, a persnickety echidna called Epi and even an acrobatic pangolin. They all live on a tropical isle that is pure wild animal paradise until Robinson Crusoe, a marooned human, arrives in the midst of a furious storm, and their lives are forever changed by this bewildering new “creature.” You’ll have to watch the film to learn what happens! But there are some savage cats, a unique treehouse, and a lesson in the true power of friendship. So let’s make a parrot garland and get ready for The Wild Life. 
This is a fun craft to make with kids, and so easy to do! Print out some (free) coloring pages from the movie here, including this one of our favorite parrot Mak
along with our wild parrot template and get crafting, I’ll show you how to make this garland after the jump… (more…)
