You know we love foxes here at Pretty Prudent. That’s why I had to make this embroidered fox plushie as soon as I saw it on Urban Threads, which is my favorite place to browse cool machine embroidery designs. I made this in under an hour using this doodle fox pattern. If you have an embroidery machine (or like hand embroidering) check out their tutorial for making a plushie from any embroidery pattern: Simple Embroidered Plushies.
DIY Gel Pen Mandala Garland
Oh prudent friends, I am sure you are aware of the adult coloring trend? I have yet to be enticed into using a coloring book to excise my creative demons, but I understand the draw. There’s something meditative about taking pen to paper and just making something, but (at least for me) the idea of staying between the lines does not appeal. Hence, the discovery of gel pen doodling has awakened me to a whole new world of mindless creativity. And by mindless, I just mean that it doesn’t require the kind of attention to detail that the usual crafts we share warrant. If you have a truly good gel pen, you can doodle endlessly and the results are magical (no smudges, no smears, bright colors, smooth lines).
That’s why I was so pleased to find that the Pentel gel pens I recently received lived up to their reputation for seamless lines, and actually made for a really fun couple weeks of doodling. I think I may have actually taken my un-steady hand and made a fun tutorial that anyone can create (even kids, Scarlet had a blast making these) in the form of these gel pen mandalas, which I proceeded to cut out and turn into a garland. 
It’s looks difficult to do, but it truly is not. It’s actually rather zen-inducing. 
Let me show you how after the jump… (more…)
Recipes For Easter Brunch, Lunch, Dinner & Dessert
Easter was always my favorite holiday growing up. I was partial to the magical trinkets and pretty little baubles that I found in my Easter Basket versus the Christmas extravaganza. I also always looked forward to the Polish feast that that my grandmother prepared, and the tradition of making Ukrainian Easter eggs with my mother and Grandmother. This weekend, I probably wont be preparing galumki and pierogi (my family doesn’t appreciate it enough for me to stuff cabbage leaves) but we will be sure to create a special meal to celebrate this glorious holiday! Here are some of our favorite dishes to serve up for a special occasion.
Brunch:
Bellini Jam Recipe | Berry Banana Nut Granola |Strawberry Basil and Lemon Basil Hand Pies | Liege Waffles | Lavender and Lemon Muffins | 2-Minute French Toast in a Cup | The Simplest Strawberry Shortcake | Apple Fritters | Heart Lace Crepes
Lemon Monkey Bread | Coconut Maple Banana Bread | Breakfast Pizza | Bacon Cheddar Biscuits | Candied Bacon | Homemade Pop Tarts | Sour Cream Coffee Cake
Lunch:
Smorgastarta (aka Swedish Sandwich Cake) | Heart-Shaped Wedge Salad | Super Food Salad | Baked Avocado Heart | Mini Pancake Bites + 4 Tasty Toppings
Hard Apple Cider Mimosa | How to Make Sangria – The Easy Way | Grapefruit & Rosemary Beer Cocktail | Jugo Verde: A Wonderfully Addictive Elixir
Dinner:
Slow Roasted Tomatoes | Roasted Broccoli | Pepper-Crusted Beef Tenderloin Roast | The Easiest Crock-Pot BBQ Ribs
Dessert:
Decorating Royal Icing Sugar Cookies |No Bake Easter Nest Cookies | World’s Best Cake | Brown Sugar Pie | Marshmallow Butterflies and How to Make Colored Sugar | How to Ice a Cake | 4-Minute Carrot Cake in a Jar | Bye Bye Bunny: Microwave Peep S’mores
Making Over My Bedroom: A Soothing California Modern Inspiration Board
Recently I asked for your advice on which bed to purchase. My husband is 6’4″, so he said no footboards, and after all your feedback on Facebook, we are going with the Alexa Reclaimed Wood Bed from West Elm.
I saw this new duvet set arrived at Anthro and immediately snagged it: Gaeta Duvet. It seemed to be exactly what I have been searching for, and when it arrived yesterday I was happy to see I was right. I luuurve it. Just the right amount of detail, and so soft and puffy to cuddle into.
This pillow is probably too busy with my new bedding, but man do I love it. Oaxaca Lumbar pillow from The Citizenry. I might take Jacinda’s suggestion and just make one small, simple, luxurious brown leather pillow to place right in the center of the bed.
I currently have two of our favorite stool at the foot of my bed, on top of a gorgeous, perfect red and blue camel-hair woven rug I picked up when our whole family went to Jordan a couple of years ago. I love these stools but the way they are placed close to the french doors leading to the garden means we bust our toes up on them all the time. I’d like to move them to a safer location and replace their spot at the foot of the bed with this elegant Leather Director’s Bench from CB2.
We have two beautiful ceramic table lamps, similar to this Cosgrove Mid Century Lamp from Lamps Plus. They do take up a lot of nightstand space, so I am considering switching to some simple brass swing arms like the Newport Aged Brass from Lamps Plus or the Long Gooseneck Pelle from West Elm. Any pros and cons to this that you can think of?
We have a beloved, extra large framed Ork Poster of Los Angeles in a similar colorway, but I’m also digging this California Compiled print from Upper Playground. Gotta show my born-and-raised California pride.
I am hoping this new look has a good amount of quality detail, but is still simple and soothing. What do you think?
DIY Collapsible Cardboard Lemonade Stand
Jacinda and I are taking the week off for Spring Break with our broods. We have lots of plans, but our kids are most excited to make us follow through on our promises of hosting Lemonade Stands!
We realized a few years ago how much our kids loved hosting little sales in the neighborhood, and how fun it was to have a “stand” to play with – even if it was just to play pretend at home. But, here in LA, space is at a premium; so we just do not have the room to accommodate a charming wooden lemonade stand. I was inspired to create a tutorial for a lemonade stand made of cardboard that could completely collapse, until it was folded entirely flat and could slip into a closet. This has been a godsend for us! You create the cardboard base for the stand, then store it, with a few dowel poles and a hanging sign that can change with your chalk, in the smallest of hall closets, then whip it out whenever the kids wants to play. We have hosted Lemonade Stands (pictured above), Bake Sale Stands… 
and Ice Cream Stands 
with this same tutorial.
Find the step-by-step DIY instructions to create your family’s Collapsible Cardboard Lemonade Stand in our book, Pretty Prudent Home. We also share how to sew a variety of skirts for it. Once you’ve built it, you can host Ice Cream Sales, Bake Sales, and of course, Lemonade Sales. 
We wish you a warm and inspiring Spring Break with your minis! We will be in touch all week on Facebook, and see you back here next Monday with new tutorials and ideas for spring!
“How to Build a Campfire” Cookies
Sometimes everything comes together for the perfect camping trip filled with great food, family, and adventure. Other times it rains for a week straight, plans change, everyone is stuck indoors and you need to get creative before they lose their ever-lovin’ minds. This week was the second type of week so we got together with our partners at Sony Pictures Home Entertainment to create these fun (and so easy) “How to Build A Campfire” Cookies to go with a cozy OPEN SEASON: SCARED SILLY movie night. The best part is that these cookies actually show you how to build a real campfire! The other best part is that these cookies are ready to assemble with just a few ingredients from the grocery store. Just keeping’ it real folks.
Read on for the step-by-step cookie tutorial. And by step-by-step, I mean 3 steps. 3 steps that a 5 year old can do.
Playing Hooky in Palm Springs
I don’t know what happened on Wednesday afternoon but I just had to get out of my house. Like OUT OF TOWN RIGHT NOW RIGHT THIS INSTANT. So I packed a bag, picked Scarlet up from school, and headed directly to Palm Springs. We were playing hooky, and it felt so right. I’ve decided to start a tradition where once a school year I will surprise her and just pick her up from school and whisk her away somewhere for a few days. Am I a bad parent? Maybe. But I feel good about my decision.
We arrived in the evening and had some dinner at Kings Highway, then roller skated around the Ace Hotel before snuggling together watching Food Network until we fell asleep. We woke up and immediately went for a swim in the perfect 80 degree heat… 
…for about 5 hours. Scarlet felt like the queen of the universe. 
She wanted to take a scooter into town, but I wasn’t keen on that, so we drove downtown to meet my friend at his new restaurant, Chicken Ranch, for a healthy, delicious lunch. 
Followed by some shave ice at Lappert’s. We hadn’t had Lappert’s since our trip to Hawaii last year. This stuff is the best. Seriously. 
After that we headed back to the hotel and borrowed a tandem bicycle for a sweet ride together, 
followed by a few hours of studying and homework by the pool, before relaxing into another mellow night of hanging out in the spa and watching the stars.
In the morning we spent a few more hours swimming, then decided to head to the Children’s Discovery Museum of the Desert. This was a good call. We did about 5,000 brain teasers, built a robotic race car, and Scarlet climbed this wall. 
The current traveling exhibit is Chagall for children, and it was an awesome interactive exhibit. Scarlet made herself a part of this painting “At the Circus.” 
Before we left the hotel, Scarlet had to leave her review…
…and her mark. 
A quick stop in Cabazon to see the dinosaurs is always necessary before heading back home to dad. 
I highly advocate playing hooky every now and then.
10 Best Hardware Store Decorating Scores
The hardware store can be a DIY one-stop-shop for unexpectedly beautiful home décor projects. Materials like rope, acrylic glass, tile, and even plumbing hardware can be used to create unique and beautiful home décor items. Plus, for a fraction of the craft-store cost, finishing touches like decorative nail heads, river stones, and chain sold by the yard abound. We dedicated a whole chapter of our book, Pretty Prudent Home, to hardware store decorating. Find our 10 Best Hardware Store Décor Finds after the jump… (more…)
