Garden update and a summer dinner

Hi all! Hope you had a lovely weekend. The weather here has been fantastic...hot, but not that crazy Sacramento heat that we've been known to get in the summers here. Which means, lots of time outdoors. The garden is growing and growing...some things doing great, some not so great...

cucumbers and tomatoes - these seem to be thriving! producing a lot and they're tasty too!

in typical zucchini fashion, these are growing too...sometimes too quickly as can be seen from the extra large zucchini below. oops, guess I didn't get out there fast enough!

Unfortunately though my corn has been infested with ants. No idea this could even be a problem?? But oh yes, it is. Weird thing is they are only on the corn. The zucchini and cucumber are in the same raised bed and are untouched. So on the task list this week is remove the corn. It's just icky.

One of my favorite things to do on a summer evening is go swimming, grill some food and eat dinner outside. Here's our latest outdoor meal. And no, that corn is not from my infested garden. Thank you Trader Joe's. And thank you for the mango pineapple salsa too. Perfect on grilled halibut! Don't you just love Trader Joe's?

And a nice fresh salad to go with....cucumbers and tomatoes from our garden!

Our little man enjoying dinner...almost right....

okay there we go, got the corn eating down!

Happy Monday everyone!

*PS SHOP* - New Monogram Line

Did anyone notice these new styles in the shop yet? They snuck in late last week and I'm thrilled to have my monogram line updated!

In Pretty Smitten style you get to personalize your stationery by picking the border style, font and colors. Create your perfect monogram!

How about our new circle and dots? I'm still smitten with our signature sparkle...just a mini little crystal. Trust me, it adds a little something unique, special and fun to your stationery.

And our classic circle

and scallop!

Check out all of your monogram options for note cards here and for invitations here. Coordinating party items can be made using your monogram too. Perfect for showers, housewarmings, weddings, rehearsal dinners and more!

Hope you like them!

Pretty Smitten with The Dailey Method

My 6 month pregnant belly and I made our way to a class at The Dailey Method this morning. It's this fantastic 1 hour workout that combines ballet barre work, core conditioning and stretching. I used to do a similar exercise in San Francisco called The Bar Method. I did it for the year before I got married and I think I got in the best shape I've ever been. So when The Dailey Method opened up near my house, I just had to check it out. And I figured there's no time like the present, even if the present does include a baby belly! Got the okay from my OB and went on my way.

It felt so great to being doing this type of exercise again. So far in my pregnancy I've just been walking (and chasing after a toddler), but it felt wonderful to stretch and really use my muscles. I'm hooked again! I'm going to continue attending classes until it feels uncomfortable with my pregnancy. I'll let you know how it goes! In the meantime, check out The Dailey Method locations...and The Bar Method locations too! Both are amazing and can really transform your body.

*PS LOVE* - Two Sugar Babies

I'm Pretty Smitten with the Etsy shop Two Sugar Babies. They make amazing fondant toppers for cupcakes and cookies. Now we all now I love to decorate cupcakes with Pretty Smitten cupcake toppers...but how fun are these on cookies instead? I first saw these on the amazing party blog, The TomKat Studio via my all time favorite, Project Nursery. Kim at TomKat created an adorable surf themed baby shower and Two Sugar Babies created the monogrammed toppers to match her color scheme. So cute, right?

Two Sugar Babies creates all kinds of toppers and can even create custom designs. How about this one to go with our crown motif?

Or these to match our fire engine motif?

Numbers are always great too

I think they will definitely be making an appearance at my little man's 2nd birthday party this fall. What about you? Already thinking of ways to incorporate them into your next party?

*PS SHOP* - new Party Packages

I'm so excited to share these new party packages with you, now available in my shop! Everything you need to throw a party for 12 - invitations, thank you notes, a cake topper, cupcake toppers, napkin rings, favor tags and stickers - all in one listing. The packages can be totally customized too, add more of one thing, less of another....whatever you need to make your party a Pretty Smitten party.

The first party package is one that allows you to pick your motif and colors. Featured in the listing is one of our new favorite motifs, the red wagon! But throwing a surf party instead? How about a sweet shoppe themed party? We have those now too. And a train, crown, car, cupcake, plane, dinosaur, ladybug and more. Check out all of the options here.

And now introducing our premium line of party products! These packages each have a unique theme and every party item is styled to that theme. First up, the Superhero Party Package, everything you need to throw a superhero party for the little one in your life. Available in two colors - cobalt/red/yellow (as shown in the examples) or strawberry/blossom/yellow. Check out all of the info here.

And last, but certainly not least, is our second premium party package now available....Strawberry Fields. This one reminds us of sweet strawberries, lemonade in the sunshine and plenty of outdoor fun. It's sweet and a little old fashioned, and we couldn't love it more. It is available in two color schemes - blossom/pool/red or yellow/red/leaf. Again everything you need to throw a party for 12 is included. Additional items like banners, food/candy jar labels and large stickers can be added.

Hope you like the new designs, would love to hear your thoughts!

Aloha from Kauai!

Where have I been you ask? Well for the past week anyway, my excuse for not blogging is that I've been in Hawaii. Brad, Owen and I escaped to the island of Kauai for a week of quality family time on the beach, good eats and lots of R&R. As I write this I'm sitting on our lanai looking out to the ocean, enjoying our last few moments in Hawaii. Owen is down for his nap and as soon as he wakes up I have to finish packing and we're off on the trek to home. But to distract myself from worrying about the plane ride home....we're taking the redeye with a 20 month old (eeek!)....I thought I'd share some of my favorite snapshots from the week.

My shop will be reopening on Friday and be sure to check it out! Before we left I did have a chance to update some party items that will be available starting Friday. More on them later, but for now here's a hint...superheros and strawberries.

Wish me luck on my flight and talk to you soon!