I know this trend has been, well, trending for a while, but I’m feeling like faux antlers* are not only lodgey-cool, but they are also utilitarian.

Not only are these electrical outlets adorable, but they are useful too. Plug your charger in and rest your phone, camera, or whatever on top of the antlers, keeping your electronics away from any dusty floorboards.

Ever since I visited the Savannah College of Art and Design last summer, I’ve had a major crush on these plush animal busts, cleverly called Plushkill. They are quirky and sweet, don’t ya think?

My friends Lissa and Alex gave me Fred (this cardboard moose) for my birthday this year. They came late to the scavenger hunt, but they guessed there may be 35 pieces, thus qualifying it for the contest. (Read this post if you don’t know what I speak of.) I can’t wait to hang our friend Fred in the new apartment (more on that later).

*No animals were harmed in the production of these products.

For the past 10 summers, I have volunteered a week in August to Birch Family Camp, a residential camp program that brings New York City families living with HIV/AIDS to the woods for a week. It is seven real days of respite for these families that live everyday with the realities of illness, poverty, and many of life’s devastating trials.

Over the last 6 months, we collected recipes from the camp families and volunteers to put together our version of a family cookbook, S’more to Love. It is full of anecdotes, smiling faces, and of course, delicious recipes from all over the world.

We are a teeny program that really and truly improves the lives and spirits of our campers. We struggle each year to meet our budget so that our campers can shine with glitter and drink bug juice for one more year. $40, the cost of the book, can feed a whole group of campers for a full day. That’s nothing, right? Nothing, but everything.

Special thanks to Blurb.com for their generous donation and professional printing.

I must begin with a confession: I don’t like balloons. But honestly, these photos might make me change my mind. Really, they might.

As Color Me Katie says, “Every morning should start with a colorful bunch of balloons!”

The more the merrier was most definitely the intention behind this balloon party. Found via Oh Happy Day!

A French chateau with balloons spilling out? Nothing better. Found via Party Perfect Blog.

Leave it to Martha to dress ’em up like sweet ‘lil animals.

I take it back. Balloons have won me over.

WELCOME DESIGN MOM READERS!

It’s so nice to have you here. If I could I would serve you refreshments and cookies. With sprinkles.

Did you know that pineapples are a symbol of hospitality? Amazing paint-by-numbers pineapple wallpaper from 2Jane.

Helsinki based artist Jonna Pohjalainen was inspiried to make this pencil sculpture during a summer Environmental Art workshop at the Open Air Art Museum in Pedvale, Latvia. Found via The Jealous Curator.

If you are crazy about Jonna’s sculpture, you can buy a mini Colored Twig Pencil Set at A Toy Garden. Via Ohdeedoh.

 

And if you are really obsessed with colored pencils, you can subscribe to 500 Colored Pencils. You’ll receive 25 pencils for 20 months.  I love this quote describing it: It’s about enjoying an unhurried creative process and the artist, that over time, you become.  The names of the colors are amazing, like Tea with Milk, Autumn Fog, Miss Muffet, Pretty Polly, and 496 more!