Easter is less than 3 weeks away! I’m excited to play Easter Bunny for the first time this year so today I put together basket ideas for both (little) boys and girls.

Most of the items are from one of my favorite shops for cute toys, My Sweet Muffin (I like that it carries brands that are sometimes hard to find in the states like Maileg). I’m in love with the bunny in the striped pants and I’m guessing he’ll be Beck’s favorite too. That or he’ll just want to stick the entire plastic egg in his mouth.

I’m available for Easter Bunny hire. Also tooth fairy. Santa is special order only.

girl’s basket sources: mini pom pom flower, Maileg mini rabbit, wooden instrument set, Shinzi Katoh lunch box set, crayon rings from Target, rabbit night light, tin Easter eggs, fairies finger printing art set

boy’s basket sources: carrot memory game, Lucas Rabbit cotton doll, mini pinwheels, crayon rings from Target, robot stencil kit, wooden instrument set, Gossie

The color palette of these items perpetuates my spring fever. As if I needed help with that. A spring Target commercial came on and I started crying. And it wasn’t because their creative team is so brilliant.

The one day a year where everyone pretends they’re Irish is coming up here are:
- Cute green clothes that will insure you don’t get pinched
- Lucky diys (rainbows galore)
- Ideas for your St Patty’s bash

If you’re not big on that holiday, here are:
- Girl’s clothes I actually want to buy for Beck
- The best diy projects of the week (and last week too!)

sources: rock party print from Leif Shop, CBY furniture interiors, The Mod Collective, Encledencle

Tis the time of the year where I want to banish all winter clothes and only allow color, florals and full skirts into my closet. I made an executive decision that the solstice scarf from Ash & Anchor would be the first purchase in my seasonal purge and surge and it’s been the perfect spring wardrobe pick-me-up. I actually make a little appearance in their lookbook sporting the pretty little thing. Bet you didn’t know I moonlight as a model, did you?

PS Speaking of spring fashion updates, here are 15 dresses that won’t leave you or your wallet bare and some cute flats to go with.

photo of me was taken by Jennifer Little 

As much as I love putting together a surprise package or finding the perfect gift, I’m rubbish at gift wrapping. I never learned how to properly fold the corners and it always turns out a mangled mess. So here’s an alternative to traditional wrap that’s customizable and takes about five minutes total.

All you need to create this look is:
- a light colored box (preferably non-coated)
- light fabric iron-on transfers (I got mine at Office Depot but they’re available at craft stores and Target too)
- an inkjet printer
- an iron

Design (I use that word loosely since I just used a Word doc for this) your text or image and print it off onto your iron-on transfer paper. Remember to print the reverse image so when transferred to the box, it reads right. Place the paper face down onto the box and firmly iron it using a hot setting. Let cool then gently peel off the backing for the big reveal. Done.

Fonts I used (from top to bottom): Futura, Wisdom Script, Cabin, Blackout Midnight, Sail

Before I had Beck I heard a friend remark that it took a lot of effort to dress her kids well. I kind of laughed because I thought all kid’s clothes were cute but then when I had my own, I realized that wasn’t the case. It’s almost as hard as dressing yourself! To make it easier, I’ve found some no fail brands that only churn out the best and the cutest. Winter Water Factory is one of those brands. Winter Water Factory is a Brooklyn-based company that specializes in screen printed textiles and organic kids’ clothing (and a few things for mom too). Since I know you’ll love the brand just as much as I do, I’ve teamed up with them to offer one YAMF reader a $100 gift card!

To be eligible to win all you need to do before Friday, March 8th is:
- Comment on this post telling me your favorite item from Winter Water Factory
- For additional entries: like Winter Water Factory on Facebook or tweet about the giveaway mentioning @WWFactory 

Winner will be chosen randomly and then contacted by me via email.

If I won I would buy this triangle tee for Beck, this gown for a shower gift, and this tote for myself.

Beck is wearing the High Seas Navy Lap Tee

My love of garlands runs deep and colorful papel picado is no exception. I’ve been wanting to come up with a way to make my own but I couldn’t figure out how to create the look without the use of a die cut machine or tedious razor blade skills. And then as part of the 12 Months of Martha program I was sent one of the new Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Edge Punch Kit and I whipped this up in five minutes, no kidding. Here’s how to make your own:

Step one: Cut tissue paper in a variety of colors into rectangles.

Step two: Use a Martha Stewart Crafts Circle Edge Punch to create your design. Kersey taught me that to punch through tissue without getting the punch stuck and shredding the paper, you have to use several sheets at a time. Fine by me, it makes the job quicker.

Step three: Admire the cool confetti the punch makes.

Step four: Pile up the finished tissue paper rectangles then string by folding the top edge of the paper over the string and adhering with a glue stick.

Step five: Hang up and eat a taco.

As part of my faves box I included the book Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal. It’s not a new book, in fact I think I’ve written about it before, but I’ve been leafing through it since I pulled it off the shelf and busting a gut on nearly every single page. It’s like reading through your funny friend’s twitter stream except with a bit more heft and you feel smarter doing it since it’s a book and you can review it on Good Reads afterwards.

I like rediscovering something awesome.

all images are excerpts from Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, illustrations by Jeffrey Middleton

Today’s post is from Alana Davis of Humunuku Shoppe.

These are sweet little hearts to throw in clothes drawers and linen closets to keep everything smelling nice.

To make your own you’ll need:
- fabric (cotton, fleece or felt work well)
- scissors
- needle and thread
- scented filler

1. Cut out two heart (or any) shape from your favorite fabric. I used soft fleece here.
2. Pin the right sides together and sew around edges, leaving an inch or two un sewn.
3. Clip corners or around curves of fabric (only in the seam allowances – do not cut through sewing).
4. Turn heart shape right side out.
5. Fill heart with scented sachet pouch. Good fillers can be pre bought, dried flower petals or lavender.
6. Turn the open end (un sewn section) inside the pouch and stitch by hand or with a machine.

Done and smelling oh so fresh.

See a lot more pretty from Alana by visiting Humunuku Shoppe. 

Inspired by the Lite Brite of my childhood, I created this colorful pegboard sign. The best part is that the message can easily be changed for any occasion like your birthday or national soft pretzel day, which are two in the same really. Click here for the full tutorial on Julep. It didn’t photograph as well as I would have liked but it’s swell in person.

Here’s some more reading for your Monday that you’re sure to love:
- 20 of my fave baby gifts
- 10 interior blogs you should be reading
- Make cool things with contact paper
- You’ll want to purchase and display each one of these affordable art pieces
- The most universal material for party crafts (and how to use it!)
- Best diy projects of last week

This week I’m posting five different in-a-boxes and each one will be available for you to win. Today’s box features a logo designed by Kirsten Bingham of January Jones Prints and is a random mix of some of my favorite items.

In addition to the items you see in the box layout, the winner will also get to choose one of the tots sized floral paintings from Lulie Wallace (pictured in the third photo down).

To be eligible to win all you need to do before Sunday, February 24th is:
- Comment on this post complimenting me on what a great job I’ve done for 5 years (or a simple “pick me!” will suffice)
- For additional entries: like YAMF on Facebook, tweet a link to this post using the hashtag #youaremyfaveturns5, pin one of the photos directly from the post, and/or check out my feed on instagram to re-gram a photo of the box

Winner will be chosen randomly and then contacted by me via email.

Thanks for all your support this week friends. Happy five years yamf!

items: Encyclopedia of an Ordinary Life by Amy Krouse Rosenthal, white cake stand from West Elm, hand painted clutch from Proud Mary, happy notes from Tokketok, patterned socks from Gap, Old Navy and Target, pom pom flowers from Bando, Essie nail polish, Clinique Lip Colour Balm, instant Polaroid camera w/ pack of film