Nifty Wedding Ideas: Protea Wedding Bouquets

Over the past few days I have been seeing a larger presence of Proteas in bridal bouquets. You might think it odd at first, I know I did. But after discovering some truly beautiful bouquets I had to change my opinion! Here are some different examples of how you can use Protea in your wedding. Click on each photo to see more!

What's in Now: LOLO Pouches

This week we have a new arrival at Christoffers, LOLO Pouches are now in! While at the Atlanta Gift Show we saw these vinyl pouches used in some really creative ways. Some people were using them as gift bags and others were filling them up with candy and other promotional items. The key case is a great gift for a new driver as well! It's a great stocking stuffer for children and I'm so excited to have them in! Below is a selection of some of the pouches we have in at the moment.

Food: Banana Bread

Now normally I wouldn't post two recipes in a row, but I just couldn't resist. This morning I stepped into my kitchen, cross at myself again for letting the bananas go brown. I decided that instead of tossing them in my compost I should make banana bread. I've made it many times before but decided to go online and experiment with other peoples recipes. Upon searching, I found tons of different ways to make and create with banana bread. Here are some cool ideas that I hadn't thought of. Click on each picture to see details! The original recipe is a great after school snack for kids too!

Grilled Banana Bread with Maple Bacon Butter Recipe

Roasted Banana Bread with Cream Cheese Swirl

Grilled Banana Bread Ice Cream Sandwiches 

The Classic Banana Bread Recipe

Food: Black Pepper Tofu

Here's a great recipe that I've been making this summer, it's great if you're looking for ways to use those veggies you have lying in your fridge. It's a tad spicy and I have made a few changes, take a look below! If you really like this recipe here's a link to the book!

Celebrate: Kids Halloween Party Games

With Halloween just around the corner it's the perfect time to start planning a party for your children. This is also a great idea for Party Moms this month, if you're having trouble thinking of activities for your child's class this is a great place to get some inspiration! Here are some great games that I found on the Martha Stewart website!

This activity is probably my favorite, click here for more details!

If you're planning on doing this activity I'd recommend the cinnamon doughnuts at your local farmer's market, they're always the best!

For more instructions to create these bowling pins click here!

Lifestyle: Living in the Catskills

In an age where we as a society are shunning all things natural for all things touchscreen it was refreshing to read this NYTimes Home & Garden article on Jared Handelsman and Portia Munson, a couple of artists building, (sometimes growing) their home into the land of their 83 acre plot in the Catskills. I'm supremely jealous of their treehouse turned camera-obscura and their bathroom covered in reclaimed birch bark not to mention the beautiful blue and yellow tiles covering their kitchen. Below are some of the images of their home and land, you can click here for the full article and set of images!

Newspaper Clip of the Week: The Writing Revolution

So this isn't usually something that I would talk about on the Bamboo & Fern blog, but as many of you are parents I thought you might be interested. As someone who hasn't always had the greatest confidence in this government's educational system, particularly in the english department, it is a relief to see that someone is trying a new formula. Below is an excerpt of the story of how New Dorp High School was able to turn itself around. If you'd like to read the article in it's entirety click here!

"For years, nothing seemed capable of turning around New Dorp High School’s dismal performance—not firing bad teachers, not flashy education technology, not after-school programs. So, faced with closure, the school’s principal went all-in on a very specific curriculum reform, placing an overwhelming focus on teaching the basics of analytic writing, every day, in virtually every class. What followed was an extraordinary blossoming of student potential, across nearly every subject—one that has made New Dorp a model for educational reform."

Lifestyle: Movie to see this week

Today the film Diana Vreeland: The Eye has to Travel has been released in NY and LA. If you are lucky enough to be in the area do try and see this vibrant documentary on the woman who shaped fashion as we know it today.

Here are some of my favorite Diana Vreeland quotes

"The only real elegance is in the mind;

If you've got that, the rest really comes from it"

"The best thing about London is Paris"

"Never fear being vulgar, just boring"

"I'm a great believer in vulgarity - if it's got vitality.  A little bad taste is like a nice splash of paprika.  We all need a splash of bad taste - it's hearty it's healthy, it's physical.  I think we could use more of it.  NO taste is what I'm against"

Things to Do

We are so lucky to live as close as we do to the Watchung Reservation, this weekend take your dogs, kids or a book and hike the trails in the Deserted Village! It's an amazing time of year to watch nature start to change drastically as it prepares for the fall. Last weekend the pup and I took a walk near the Trailside Nature Center, here are some pics that I took along the way!

After cooling off in the stream we had to dry off in the sun!

Music: Rainy Day Playlist

As yesterday was a very rainy day, I was inspired to create a playlist that went along with the wet and windy weather. I've posted the playlist on youtube for you guys to take a listen to and one of the videos from it below so you can get an idea of what's on the list, to hear the whole playlist click here!