heaven.

This is the most amazing wall ever.

Hands down.

You know that catchy Bryan Adams song that you can't help but love?

"Heaven"??

I remember flipping through an old magazine and seeing that Molly Sims had the song lyrics written on her wall...

Um, is that only the coolest thing ever??

Let's all sing the little tune now....

Oh - thinkin' about all our younger years

There was only you and me

We were young and wild and free

Now nothin' can take you away from me

We've been down that road before

But that's over now

You keep me comin' back for more

Baby you're all that I want

When you're lyin' here in my arms

I'm findin' it hard to believe

We're in heaven

And love is all that I need

And I found it there in your heart

It isn't too hard to see

We're in heaven

*sigh*

You can't help but adore that song. :)

Happy Wednesday, xo!

PS.

And yes, the song is now playing on my blog.

You're welcome!

jump rope for heart.

Andrew and all of the kids at his elementary school are helping out an amazing cause. By jumping rope all of recess, they are keeping their hearts healthy while raising awareness for the American Heart Association! I think this is a wonderful acitivity for little kids to get involved in and I am so proud of Andrew for being so excited about it! Help by donating a few dollars if you can.

Donate here!

Hearts all over the world will thank you.

xo!

keep helping haiti.

I am so excited with how many things have sold for my

Benefit Haiti fund!

Thank you, thank you, thank you to anyone who has purchased an item in my shop. I so appreciate the help and I love knowing that little by little, we are doing our part to help those who are in dire need. It may be a small effort, but it's an effort all the same.

And I feel great about that.

There is still a pile of cute things

in my shop

that ALL will directly benefit

the Save The Children Haiti Relief Fund.

Go pick up a sweet greeting card,

some Valentine's gift tags,

a package of scrapbooking supplies,

ALL while knowing

that your support is helping someone

who deperately needs our attention

right now.

Shop and support.

Thank you, xo!

yum, yum, extra yum.

I was flipping through a magazine and got inspired to cook. Believe me, that doesn't happen often.
But..
Wait until you try this.
Scrumptious!

Stovetop Ziti
Recipe from Woman's Day

INGREDIENTS

1 lb ziti (see FYI)

1 bag (12 oz) fresh broccoli florets (6 cups)

Sauce


1 jar (26 oz) marinara sauce


1 cup part-skim ricotta


4 oz part-skim mozzarella, diced


1⁄3 cup chopped fresh parsley


1/4 cup Parmesan

PREPARATION

1. Cook ziti as package directs, adding broccoli to the pot 4 minutes before pasta is finished.

2. Sauce: Mix marinara sauce and 1⁄2 cup ricotta in a medium saucepan. Stir over medium-low heat until hot.

3. Drain pasta and broccoli. Return to pot. Add sauce mixture; toss to mix and coat. Immediately add mozzarella and about half the parsley and Parmesan. Stir until mozzarella melts.

4. Transfer to serving bowl; sprinkle with remaining parsley and Parmesan. Top with spoonfuls of remaining ricotta before serving.

Happy eating, friends! xo! :)

check these out - two valentine faves!

Valentine's Day might be my favorite holiday. Nothing extreme, yet it's about showing people that you care. I love that. So here are Andrew & my absolute favorite books for Valentine's! You can check them both out from the library... don't have a library card?? Screw your head back on and go get one!!! :)

Free books?

Unlimited choices??

Your kids excited to read???

Need I say more?!! :)

Go check these two books out and enjoy the weeks before this simple, yet fabulous holiday!

The Best Thing About Valentines

by Eleanor Hudson

The Day It Rained Hearts

by Felicia Bond

Happy Valentine's reading, xo!

PS.

The Valentine Kid's Swap will close TONIGHT... if you haven't signed up already, please email me today to be included. Partners will be emailed by tomorrow night!

this i must share.

Classy

and

impressive.

Right?? :)

(Graduation announcements printed by Shutterfly!)

crisp whites.

I am loving these bold white palettes!

With different textures, shades, and materials,

the white on white color scheme is simply amazing!

Don't you think?

:)

These photos are encouraging me to re-do my own bedroom!

I've now taken the before photographs and they aren't pretty.

Too much color, clutter, and, to be honest, crap.

Here's to hoping that the after pictures make me much happier! :)

Thanks for inspiring me, Ikea!

xo!

outside...

...it looks like this...

Oh, how I love rainy & chilly days.

It's rare for us here in southern California!

xo!

Photo courtesy here.

count your blessings...

Happy Martin Luther King Jr. Day!

Count your blessings that you live in the place you do.

Where equality reigns, and the people of history have made an enormous impact on the quality of our own lives today.

Count your blessings that we have clean, fresh drinking water available at our fingertips.

Count your blessings that should your child get sick, there is immediate care available.

Count your blessings that our country is so much more prepared should a disaster strike.

Now count your blessings that

you can do something.

I have marked all the ready-to-ship listings in my shop to directly benefit the Haiti relief. Please go to my shop to learn more and peek at the items for sale. You will receive cute paper goods, and at the same time, you will be helping out in so many ways. We can all count our blessings that this disaster did not strike us, but we also need to reach out in any way, however small, to help those affected by this horrific natural disaster.

Visit my shop to Benefit Haiti!

xo!

PS.

If you do have listings in your shop as well, let me know- I am compiling a list to feature all the shops on my blog in the next week or so. Thanks!

benefit haiti.

I cannot donate millions of dollars.
I cannot fly there to help.
I cannot scoop a scared child off the street and bring him home with me.
I cannot make sure everyone there has enough food and water.
I cannot offer medical attention to the millions of people who desperately need it right now.
But
I can do something.


I can offer lots of listings in my shop that will directly benefit those affected by this awful earthquake. Proceeds from selected listings in my shop will be donated to Save The Children's Haiti Relief Fund.

I can't do much.
But I can do
something.
And so can you.

PS.
If you have also listed Haiti relief items in your Etsy store, email me and let me know! It would be amazing to compile a list of people who are helping with this! :) xo!

the mommyholly valentine kid's swap!

**SWAP CLOSED- thanks to the participants and have fun putting together your swaps!!**

Alright, alright.
I'm getting back into the swap-thing this season.
I seriously swore them off after being up to my eyeballs in holiday swaps last year, but Andrew loves to receive mail and doing things for kids is way too fun.

But let's make it easy.
If you want to participate,
simply email me at hollyndevlin(at)gmail(dot) com with this info:

Your Name:
Email Address:
Your Child's Name:
Child's Age:
Mailing Address:

No big hoopla, just spend around ten bucks to put together a fun and fabulous Valentine's package for a sweet little kiddo! I'll email partners out by Friday and please have your packages mailed by February 1st. A quick and easy swap, but make sure everything is wrapped up cute so you make your partner's child super happy for Valentine's Day! :) I'm going to keep this open until Thursday, and this swap is only open to US residents given the time restraint! Happy Valentine's swapping, xo!

the cheese...

chuck
e.
cheese,
that is.

My child and his sweet, funny friends.


Boys are so darn cute, don't you think? xo!

a tour...

...of a gorgeous bedroom that I helped my mom put together! She is an amazing decorator and I was her right-hand design assistant a few days ago!


Painting by my wonderfully talented sister... visit her here!

Visit my mom's fabulous blog here.


I think this room turned out perfect!
...and my only thought now is....
I desperately need to re-do my bedroom.
Ideas are already swirling...
stay tuned, friends! :) xo!

do your feet a favor...

...and buy a pair of Aerosoles.

I'm in love!

I found the shoes above at Marshall's for a total steal of a price, but go peek at their website. I had no idea that Aerosoles were so amazing cute and comfy! Have I been living under a rock or what??! Go out in some cute shoes and your feet will still be super happy. :) xo!

looking ahead..

...to

Valentine's

Day!

My shop

is loaded with new things!

(More to come as well... yay!)

With the new year, I have renewed my efforts to make my etsy shop the best it can be!

Shop away, friends!

xo! :)

living in california...

...definitely has it's advantages.

Visiting my grandparents.

A walk on the beach.

In January.

In t-shirts.

Thank you, sunny San Diego!

xo! :)