Valentine’s Day Treats- Homemade Marshmallows!

05. February 2013 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Photography, Cooking with Kids, DIY · Tags: ,

Thanks to Kristin Eldridge for this fun guest post on how to make marshmallows for a valentine treat!

The other day I posted some free valentine templates that can be used as photo toppers on treat bags.  The treat bags can host any number of treats, from homemade to brightly colored store-bought confections!  I photographed the bags with homemade marshmallows, rolled in red sugar (valentine peeps, if you will) and wanted to share the recipe here with you today!

I started with a Martha Stewart marshmallow recipe and subbed in organic sugar and corn syrup so we can all feel a little less guilty about all that sugar!  Don’t be intimidated by the thought of making your own marshmallows…it’s quite easy!

Ingredients:

  • 4 envelopes unflavored gelatin (3 tablespoons plus 1 1/2 teaspoons)
  • 3/4 cup water
  • 3 cups granulated sugar
  • 1 1/4 cups light corn syrup
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

Spray a 9×13 pan with cooking spray.  Line the pan with parchment paper (allow extra to hang over the edges…it’ll help you lift out the marshmallows) and spray the paper with cooking spray.  Put sugar, syrup and salt in a medium sauce pan.  Bring to a boil over high heat, stirring to dissolve the sugar.  Then, cook (without stirring) for an additional 9 minutes or until your candy thermometer reaches 238 degrees.

While your sugar is cooking, stir water and gelatin in a bowl.  Let it sit for 5 minutes to soften.  Slowly whisk in your hot sugar mixture.  Gradually raise the speed to high and beat the mixture for about 12 minutes, until it’s very stiff.  Beat in the vanilla and pour the mixture into your 9×13 dish.  Using a spoon coated in cooking spray will help.  Leave the dish uncovered for several hours or overnight to set.

I purchased red sugar from the dollar spot at Target, but it can also be found at any craft store.  Cut the marshmallows into squares and roll each square in the sugar to coat the sides.  If you prefer a traditional marshmallow, cut the squares and roll them in powdered sugar.  This just allows you to handle the marshmallows without having sticky fingers.


Give them as gifts or enjoy them in a cup of hot cocoa!  To see how I put together my valentine candy bags, head over to my blog!

Spray Paint Transformations- DIY

20. December 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: , , ,

Today Kristin Eldridge is guest posting with an easy way to update your decor!

I love those shows on TV that are easy make-overs.  Those transformations that happen in a day.  Remember Extreme Home Makeover?  MOVE THAT BUS!

I’m all about quick and easy.  Maybe that explains why I’ve never been one for long projects.  Glue guns and spray paint are my best friends!

Anyone can operate bottle of spray paint.  You might want a pair of plastic gloves and a drop cloth.  But, it’s so easy anyone can create a total transformation!  In 5 minutes, no less!  I wanted to share with you a few things that I’ve sprayed this holiday season.  All projects involve silver and gold spray.  Design Master brand is the best.  It sticks to just about anything under the sun.  So, it’s worth those few extra dollars!

I had a little glass vase that housed a terrarium.  It needed to fancied up a bit for the shelf, so I gave it a quick gradient treatment with gold spray.  Sometimes spraying the whole item can make it look cheap, so in this instance, I held the glass by the top and sprayed heavy on the bottom, then got lighter as I went up.

Another case of gradient are these wood candlesticks.  I’ve had them for forever and felt like they were starting to look a little ‘grandma.’  With the gold gradient, it’s a subtle way to make them look a little more modern.

I also like to fancy up simple things, like wood sticks for caramel apples.  I used a simple dowel, cut into pieces.  I held the bottom as I sprayed, so the part that goes into the apple doesn’t have any paint on it.  Add a velvet bow and you’ve got a great teacher/neighbor gift!

We made a string of popcorn the other day and I thought it might benefit from a little silver.  I sprayed here and there, so parts of the popcorn would so through.  Simple and elegant!

DIY Pumpkin Mask

06. December 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Clothing, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: , ,

Today we have a guest post from Kristin Eldridge!

Everyone is obsessed with pumpkin these days…lattes, candles, scones.  ‘Tis the season!  Treat your skin to a pumpkin facial to get into the spirit and slough off all the damage of your summer tan.


Mix equal amounts pumpkin (canned is fine, fresh is better) and heavy cream.  I used 1/2 cup each and had enough to last about a week of masks.  The anti-oxidants in pumpkin and the lactic acid in cream will eat away the dead skin cells.  Add brown sugar for a scrubbing agent (1 Tablespoon was a good amount for my skin) and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon.  Be careful with the cinnamon.  It brings blood to the surface of your skin, so it can burn a little.  If you have sensitive skin, you could skip the cinnamon or start with a pinch.  Bringing the blood to the surface creates a flush, so you’ll feel glowing after the mask!

Whisk the ingredients together and store in a glass jar.  I use a pastry brush to apply to my skin.

Leave the mask on for 15 minutes, but again, if you have sensitive skin, try less time and see how your skin feels.  Wash it off with a warm cloth and enjoy a fresh healthy complexion for fall!  (The mask will last for a week in the fridge.)

DIY- Chalkboard Glasses

23. October 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: ,

Today we have another guest post from Kristin Eldridge.  Check out her awesome blog here.  She has an AMAZING recipe for oreo stuffed chocolate chip cookies!

Did you know that chalkboard paint can be applied to anything?  Literally, anything!  I’ve used it on a few household items, so I thought, why not glasses?  It creates a rich, fall look and is totally functional too.

Start by printing off this image.  Just right click on the image, then save it to your desktop and print it on a white sheet of paper.

You’ll need to cut out the design and I’ve found this is easiest when you fold the sheet of paper in half.  Cut out half the design and even if you slightly mess up, it will be symmetrical and still look good!


After you cut out the image, cut off the excess paper and use packing tape to stretch it tightly across the glass.

Use chalkboard paint, which can be purchased at any hardware store, to cover the open area of the paper.  I suggest using thin strokes, so it’s not bumpy with too much paint.  It might take 4-5 thin coats.

Dry thoroughly and remove the paper.  I found a tiny bit of paint got through, so I used a q-tip dipped in acetone nail polish remover the clean up the tiny bit of spillage outside of the design.

Use a piece of chalk to write on the design.  I love naming the wine you are using or how cute would it be to use as appetizer holders, like for cheese sticks or candied nuts.  Dollar store or thrift store have cheap glass…the possibilities are endless!

DIY- Friendship Bracelets

25. September 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Boutique, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: ,

Today we have one of our favorite photographers, Kristin Eldridge, guest blogging. 

Seeing all the ‘arm-candy’ these days inspired me to make a little a stack of bracelets for my daughter, Jillian.  We started with a simple friendship bracelet.  I’m sure you remember making these over the summer as a kid.  If you need to brush up on your skills, here’s a little tutorial!

Step one:  Cut 24″ lengths of your favorite colored embroidery thread.  I chose 6 strands for a thicker bracelet.

Step two:  Knot the thread a few inches down and attach a safety pin to a pillow to anchor it.

Step three:  Arrange your colors in the order you want them to appear on your bracelet.  It’s important to remember the order in the first few rows.  The threads tend to tangle, but it gets easier as you go along.

Step four:  Take the first thread on your left and tie a knot around the next thread.  Keep that same thread (first on your left) and tie knots to each of the threads (heading toward your right).  When you get to the end that first thread then becomes the last (on the right side).

Step five:  Go back to the beginning and take the thread on your left and repeat the process.  Each time to get to the end it creates a new row.

You can end the bracelet with a knot or braid the ends.  I braided the ends, looped one side and then attached a button, so it could easily be taken on and off.  And because one bracelet can’t be worn alone, I made another one with just three strands of thread.  It went MUCH faster and I like the contrast of widths.  The last bracelet is a simple piece of stretchy red elastic knotted at the end.  I tied a tassel on the end to add a bit of interest!

Creative Gift Wraps Ideas!

06. September 2012 · 1 comment · Categories: Children's Clothing, Children's Photography, DIY · Tags: , ,

by Kristin Eldridge

Visit Kristin’s blog

How many times do you quickly need a present for a friend and not have anything to wrap it in?  I’m a little over the paper bag with tissue paper.  Easy, yes.  But, we’ve just been doing it for so long.  I’ve come up with some quick wrapping ideas that involve things you have at home or things that you can keep on hand for wrapping in a pinch.

My go to papers are white parchment paper (which I always have in my kitchen) or a brown paper bag (or a roll of kraft paper if you have it).  Both make a simple canvas for handmade embellishments.

The parchment paper is perfect for bright colors and neons.  I have a little drawer with scraps of fabric from Joanns and trips to Michael Levine’s in downtown LA.  You can ask for a sample or just buy 1/8 yard so you have a few scraps to work with.  I used corded cotton rope, scraps of netting and lace.  The blue netting is a bath scrubber that I took apart…found in the dollar section at Target.

I love earthy vintage items with brown kraft paper.  Twine and embroidery floss look great.  I like to tie something to the top, like a lace flower or a leaf or lavender cut from the garden.  I also love vintage buttons and pins.  It just adds that little bit of personality!

I find that packing tape (used in small pieces) works best on parchment and kraft paper.  Start with something to tie and add a fun topper from around the house and you’ve got a present you’ll be excited to gift!

10 Tips for Taking Better Pictures of Your Kids

03. June 2012 · Comments Off · Categories: Children's Photography · Tags:

by Kristin Eldridge
Visit Kristin’s blog

Kristin is one of the Little Skye photographers.  We love her and her work.

As moms with digital cameras, getting from point A to point B isn’t always easy! Point A (owning a digital camera) and Point B (an amazing picture) are actually closer than you think. It’s a matter of using natural light to work for you instead of against you. I put together a list of tips that I’ve learned along the way. Practical tips that anyone can use to step up your photo game!

1. For a nice evenly lit photo, place your child at the very edge of the shade instead of at the back of the shade. Shady sidewalks are a great place to shoot because the cement acts as a natural reflector and bounces the light back up into your child’s face.

2. Place your child in a doorway or in front of a window. This bends the light at a 45 degree angle…the perfect formula for glowy, natural light.

3. Turn off your flash! Red eye and pasty white skin aren’t flattering on anyone. Instead find the light coming in the window…or just go outside.

4. Focus and re-compose. Most cameras naturally focus on what’s in the middle of the frame. Instead focus on your child’s eyes, press the shutter half-way down, the quickly re-frame the picture how you want it.  Then press the shutter all the way down.

5. Adjust your angle. As a general rule, children photograph best when you are no higher than their waist level. That means bend down or even sit on the ground!

6. Get close…even closer! Kids have perfect skin- they can handle a close up!! Most people make the
mistake of having lots of dead space around the child. Instead take a few steps closer or zoom in.

7. Recruit siblings. Natural smiles and expressions are best. Sometimes it takes a silly face, peek-a-boo or a song sung by big brother to crack a smile.

8. Be a fly on the wall. If your child isn’t into being photographed, take a photo-journalistic approach. Step back and quietly snap away as they are doing their thing. You’ll be surprised how much you love photos that don’t have direct eye contact.

9. Remember to focus on capturing emotion. Sometimes a beautiful picture breaks all the rules. It may not be in focus or perfectly composed, but you look at it and say that is SO my two year old right now.

10. Practice, practice, practice! Be thankful we live in the days of digital…it doesn’t cost anything to shoot away. And that’s how we get better!