Exploring San Diego (While Holding the SoCal Baton)

Ahh Instagram!  How I love thee.  

Since creating an account specifically for `a casarella back in March it has actually become my favorite form of social media.  (Perhaps even more than Pinterest, which is hard to believe...)

So needless to say I was extra excited when Julie from Girl on the Move contacted me to see if I would like to participate in SoCal Baton.  

Here is how she describes the project and its conception:

I recently came across two photo relay batons on Instagram and thought…something like this would be perfect for Southern California because Southern California is AWESOME and I think the world should see everything that we have to offer…and so the So Cal Baton was born!

A Baton is a collaborative Instagram community.  So in this case the collaborators all live in Southern California and the virtual Baton (aka the Instagram password) is handed off to one local Instagrammer per day to share the reasons they love the area through photographs.

As you might imagine, I said an enthusiastic yes when she approached me.  It was the perfect excuse to visit some of my favorite places in San Diego. 

The first stop on my day long tour was the Bernardo Winery, a hidden gem in residential Rancho Bermardo.  Not only is it a working winery with a small vineyard, but it is also full of cute shops, rustic details and a delicious restaurant.  

After the winery I headed west to the ocean.  Specifically I went to the beach at Torrey Pines where I took a moment to admire the water.  

(Or maybe the lifeguards.)

Okay fine, I was admiring the lifeguards.  

But just a few minutes north at another Del Mar Beach I really did admire the ocean.  Isn't it pretty?

Kinda makes you want to be there, which is part of the appeal of the SoCal baton.  

I was going to end my tour at the beach but it just so happened that I had to run an errand in Poway, a small city due east of San Diego.  Much like the winery, Poway is also full of charm so I was thrilled to make a quick stop at Old Poway Park, home of this steam locomotive from 1907.  

Needless to say, I really enjoyed my turn holding the baton.  I enjoyed it so much that I wish I'd had it longer.  If I had, then I would have posted these shots from picturesque La Jolla...

... or maybe these fun images from the San Diego County Fair in Del Mar:

But alas, I only had the one day, so these pictures needed to go on my blog's instagram feed instead.

If you like what you see, please take a moment to follow the SoCal Baton feed HERE or the `a casarella feed HERE.

And if you are a blogger or Instagrammer from Southern California who would like to hold the baton please contact Julie via THIS LINK.   

Thank for stopping by!

DIY Monogrammed Trivets

You wanna know what I love?  I love it when I rebound from a craft fail.  This happened to me recently when I decided to DIY some personalized trivets.  

It all started during a trip to IKEA.  (A lot of my stories begin this way...)  It was there that I saw these sturdy cork trivets — perfect for a girl who burns her wood table with some regularity.

I thought to myself, this will be so easy....



I'll cut out some vinyl letters on the Silhouette and make stencils.



Then I can just spray paint the negative space...

And it worked.

Sorta-kinda...

Except the spray paint made the vinyl curl up and lift off of the cork, preventing me from doing more than one coat of paint.

So while the end result looked okay(ish) it just didn't have the crisp, polished look I was hoping for.

Now I'm going to confess:  in a previous life I would have given up and walked away.

But having experienced many craft fails I've learned to be persistent and try again.

Which I did.

 (This time with a Sharpie Paint Pen.)

It gave me a lot more control, didn't compromise the vinyl, and I was able to do more than one coat.

(The fact that I did it in black was probably helpful as well.)

I think this would be a great gift that even a child could make if provided with a stencil.

Want to try your hand at this project?  Here is a list of supplies compliments of Whimseybox.

Wayfair Daily Sales: My Newest Not-So-Guilty-Pleasure

Back in April I told you about teaming up with Wayfair as part of the Wayfair Homemakers Team.  (Read more about that HERE.)  As a part of the team, I thought I might want to keep abreast of things on the site so I signed up for their Daily Sales emails.  The Wayfair Daily Sales are limited time deals (up to 70% off) that launch each day.

Today I am here to sing the praises of said emails.

Okay, I know what you're thinking:  you're thinking that I'm crazy.  You're thinking that you get too many emails —that the last thing you need is more messages in your inbox.  And the reason I know what you're thinking is because honestly, that was what I was thinking when I signed up.

Boy am I glad that I didn't listen to myself.

It seems like every time I think of something that I want for the house, it pops up in the Wayfair Daily Sales emails a few days later.  It's almost a little eerie (but in a good way).

Case in point, this Nespresso Aeroccino Frother.  

If you are a lover of frothy, caffeinated (or uncaffeinated) beverages, you need one of these in your life.  I first experienced it at my sister-in-law's house and am now completely obsessed.  It makes perfect froth every single time, plus it's easy to use and clean.   (I may or may not have bought one for Father's Day.)

Another item on my wish list that recently showed up in the Wayfair Daily Sales: these solar powered string lights.  

That's right, I said solar powered!  I have wanted string lights for-evah but I just didn't have a good place to plug them in.  These are the perfect solution to that problem and the daily sales price ($25.99) is excellent!

Speaking of outdoor spaces, I have long been on the lookout for a small radio to keep out on the patio while the kids are in the pool.  Specifically I wanted one on which they could dock their iPod.  Enter the  iSolo radio.  

Isn't it adorable?  I'm pretty sure I'm going to take the plunge and buy it before the sale ends, which is exactly what did with this storage box for my patio cushions:

I've been eyeing these for years, and now that I've refreshed my master balcony I'd like to keep my pillow and cushions protected in the off season.  (Needless to say, at $98 down from $184 I jumped on it.)  

Chances are good that the items I've highlighted here will no longer be on sale when you click on the link.  But never fear!  There are great new items on sale: every. single. day.  If you're interested in getting in on the action, just enter your email in the box below.   (And don't forget to stop back and tell me what interesting items you've found!)

Sign up for Wayfair Daily Sales Emails

{While Wayfair has provided me with product compensation for this post, all opinions are my own.}

Caption This: "A Rustic Backyard Wedding Reception"

Over the past few years I have helped several friends plan their weddings.

First it was my sweet friend (and former nanny) Lauren.

Then it was the lovely Alyssa, inspiration for the famous wedding emergency kit.

Most recently I had the pleasure of helping my friends at Looksi and Shutterfly plan a rustic backyard wedding reception.

{While I have been compensated for this post, all of the ideas and opinions expressed within are my own.}

There's something so magical about a wedding.  It is the blending of two lives: two lives that are full of rich history.  What better way to celebrate a bright future than with pictures from the past—pictures that capture the people and paths that led the bride and groom to each other.  

In this sweet and simple backyard reception, a table is set exclusively for the attendants.

In lieu of place cards we used these metal plaques from Shutterfly to indicate where the attendants should sit.  Each has a picture of the attendant with the bride or groom from some point in their history.  In this case all of the attendants were either siblings or childhood friends of the happy couple, so we had lots of fun photos to choose from.  In the image below the bride is pictured with her sister (and maid of honor).

The caption reads: "Maddy with Maid of Honor (and sister) Lucy."  In this next shot we have a similar picture of the groom and his best man/brother.

Other attendants were honored as well.

I chose these plaques, with their "barn wood frames," specifically because they match the rustic theme of the reception.  I like the fact that the pictures are superimposed on metal so there are no concerns about them falling and breaking.

Another fun thing about this idea?  The attendants can take the plaques home with them.

Let's turn our attention for a moment to the sign behind the table.  Early in the planning stages I knew I wanted to have a chalkboard sign of some sort for decoration.  The problem?  I didn't have a chalkboard.  I fully intended to purchase one when I came up with this idea instead.  Using an empty frame that I already owned (you might remember it from this post), I simply taped some black Kraft paper to the back using painter's tape.  Voila!  Instant chalkboard.

And although you can totally write on the paper in chalk, my handwriting is—shall we say—less than beautiful, so I simply cut out some white letters on the Silhouette and made the sign that way.  In the event that you don't own an empty frame, you could just as easily tape some black Kraft paper over an existing picture.  Then when you're done simply remove the paper and dispose of it.

But back to the reception...

As guests entered the backyard they were directed to a small vineyard where they were invited to sign the guest "book".  Book is in quotes because it was not actually a book at all.  Instead, it was a piece of Wooden Wall Art from Shutterfly, featuring the church from the ceremony.  At the bottom is a caption with the couples' names and wedding date.   I love this idea because after the guests sign the picture it becomes a lovely memento for the couple to hang in their new home.   (Note: we started out using Sharpies for the signatures but they bled the tiniest bit so we switched to extra fine tip felt markers which were perfect for the job.)

(church photo credit: Kelly Elko, Eclectically Vintage)

One last fun idea from Shutterfly is the table runner that graced this table. 

There are four spots for pictures so we thought it would be fun (and in keeping with our theme) to use pictures of the bride and groom as children next to pictures from their own parents' weddings.

I feel like these runners are just perfect for a wedding because, in addition to the four pictures, there is also a spot for a one-letter monogram. What better way to commemorate the fact that from this point forward they will be one, sharing the same last initial?

Opposite the monogram is a heart, and in the center is a spot for text where you can write any message you'd like such as the couples' names or their wedding date.

Much like the wooden wall art, this table runner is sure to become a family treasure that the couple will use for years to come.  

I hope you enjoyed reading this post as much as I enjoyed creating it.  If you (or anyone you know) are getting married, I highly recommend poking around on the Shutterfly site to see what inspires you.  (And in the event that you're not up for the task yourself, let me know; I'm fresh out of weddings to plan!)