charley harper.

I love modern, but I've also come to the realization that I really like modern combined with classic. Adding a touch of new-age modern to a room does just enough for me. I'd really like to put some Charley Harper art up in my daughter's room.

One could sensibly design an entire nursery around just one of his prints. His combination of colors along with abstract animals leave me speecheless. He also does a lot of the National Parks {like the Grand Canyon}.

My personal favorites below:

a huge cupcake.

Goody Blog posted about the gigantic cupcake baking pan {via not martha}. I can't get enough of it. I want {seriously need} it for all future holiday parties and birthdays and maybe just for a lazy Sunday evening treat with ice cream of course.

elephant.

Another lovely find from the Museum of Modern Arts: an Alexander Calder 3D Elephant Puzzle. Solid wood and bright green makes the playful and inventive design a perfect inspiration for any nursery or bedroom needing some.

wish I may...

It's really when I find online shops such as Jasper Wren that I wish I could sew and create tanks like the one above for my little girl.

For now, I'll settle on purchasing...

{winner!}

Thanks for all the participation! We love a good giveaway and thank you FLOR for sponsoring it.

The winner of the new FLOR Square Dance area rug is "blythe" who said "I love, love, love this! Pick me please!"

We're excited for you {we think it's pretty cool too!}. Email us your name and shipping address tangledandtrue@gmail.com and we'll have it sent out soon.

It's going to be a fun week around here readers, ending in a little gem of a giveaway this Friday.

Thanks for reading!

salad recipe #2

I'm on a salad kick around here lately. They can just be so refreshing on a hot summer day after the morning pool stop with the kids.

Romaine + Red Leaf Lettuce
Strawberries
Raisins
Avocado
Pine Nuts

Topped with Briana's Strawberry Vinagarette.

I ate this today with two slices of whole wheat toast topped with cinnamon and sugar. Yum!

bring back the tie dye.

Remember when every family reunion or summer camp had to involve tie dying? And you would find some way to wear that new favorite shirt regularly. Those were the days: homemade and cool. Well it's back. One of my favorite children's clothing brands {previously featured by Missy}, among others, have brought it to the front again. You can easily find the look but what about the nostalgia for creating your own masterpiece?


The SFMOMA sells an amazing tie dye kit! Complete with dyes, squirt bottles and instructions {all enough for 15 shirts- shirts not included}, can we say hello to the coolest of party favors, reunion activities or birthday gifts! I love this idea!

p.s. Remember Cole's favorite outfit at only a couple of days old? He's been a fan with me from the beginning!

in the mood for change

I've been itching for something different. I'm craving {and have been for a while now} change in my home. I want to paint or rearrange furniture. Maybe I just want new furniture altogether? Regardless, now is not the time to shop for new couches or a particular dining set. But, I'm always on the lookout for new home tips. Simple ways that I can change things up and walk into my home feeling refreshed {without spending loads of money}.

When I found How To Give Your Home A Makeover - 8 Easy Steps, I got excited. The kind where you think something you really want might actually happen.

Granted, the photos in the link are not what you picture a home with a one year old to look like, but the tips remain useful. Things like, Add Flavor to the Walls and Get Indoor Plants {did you know "experts" suggest having 8 indoor plants?!} make me cheer out loud for doable change.

stylish dinner seating.

If you are looking for a stylish alternative to the average booster seat, The Spotted Goose has just the item for you.

Red diner oil cloth fabric, tiny backing for padding and just enough height for your toddler to reach the table.

kelli's recipe.

Why Kelli has not chosen to post this recipe on here is beyond me {wink}. It's simply delish though and easy to make too. If you're thinking of menus for the week, this one is sure to make the cut.

Tortellini Salad

1 package (fresh) cheese tortellini
Cooked 2 chicken breasts grilled and diced {optional}
1 can artichoke hearts, drained and quartered
2 cups (packed) torn spinach (I used a lot more)
1 small bottle sundried tomatoes, drained
6 oz. feta cheese, crumbled
1/4 small red onion, diced.

*Mix all ingredients in a large bowl

Dressing
2 cloves garlic, minced
1 tsp. Oregano
1 Tbs tomato paste
6 Tbs balsamic vinaigrette
1/2 cup olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

*Whisk all dressing ingredients together and pour over salad.

Enjoy with fresh baguette and Simply Lemonade {I'm partial to this, obviously}

FLOR {grand} Giveaway!

Hooray for a Friday readers! We have a giveaway for you and today it is a GRAND life in the nest giveaway. It's exciting and I can't hold it in so I'll just cut to the chase. Have you heard of FLOR? The super modern, super chic, super eco-friendly carpet squares that you can piece together and create an entire living space? If you have, be happy. If you haven't, let me tell you more.

First, just so you know, the winner of the giveaway will receive the Square Dance Area Rug [in colors blue + brown].

Includes 8 {19.7" x 19.7"} velvety carpet tiles which you can piece together three different ways, for three different geometric patterns.

Ok, so let's get to the nitty gritty. What is FLOR? Simple. They are carpet tiles that one can piece together in varying colors, textures, prints and patterns to create your own {one of a kind} rug. The site's Design Center allows you to accurately pick how many tiles you need while planning your virtual room on screen for you to see.

How do you install FLOR? Well, it's as easy as following the arrows on the bottom of the flexible carpet tile and placing the FLOR dots underneath them to keep them in place and secured together. How to choose your FLOR? This can be tough, but luckily the website spells everything out for you. Pick how you want to begin: by Color, Pattern, Texture, Solids, Outdoor, Area Rugs, Martha Stewart exclusive line, Flor Kids, or Sale.

Yep, they've got FLOR Kids filled with fun and fanciful designs that would make any kid {or parent} get down and play. Then, you can begin mixing and matching to create exactly what you want. From there, you can count on the FLOR experts. The website indicates what each type of FLOR square looks like, feels like and how best to use and match them together.

It can be a difficult task to choose what FLOR pieces are your favorite. If you click around on the site, you'll realize just how many FLOR choices you have to work with. But, I'll give you my top three picks:

Toy Poodle Solids

Easy to match with patterns, feels soft and curly under the toes and provides a modern clean cut finish. $13.99/square

Walking on Clouds

Love the look of beveled edges and it is the thickest and most plush of all the FLOR products. $15.99/square

Jigs Up

How could you not love this? $15.99/square

I could probably go on and list my Top Ten since there are so many cool ones. Like Outdoor FLOR? Or the Martha Stewart line? Or if you are indecisive you could have a lot of fun with the pre-selected Area Rugs.

Enjoy! And thank you FLOR!


[life in the nest giveaway rules:]
*you must enter a comment on this post-with your name.
*please only enter once.
*entry will be open until midnight PST Monday. {comments posted after this will not be considered.}
*at this time, we can't guarantee international shipping of giveaway prizes. {do you have a friend with a domestic address? is he/she nice enough to accept the package for you? comment away.
*winner will be announced on Tangled and True on Tuesday morning.

-Tangled and True

{reminder!}

{click here}

We just wanted to remind you about the incredible offer (by MomSpit) through Pacifier Online to receive one free (2 oz.) bottle when one 7 oz. bottle is purchased. It saves you $9! and introduces you to the most convenient and cool Mom product available!
Offer expires August 10th.

p.s. I'm thinking that it makes a perfect gift: pair MomSpit with your favorite organic onesie, toss it into a diaper clutch {and gift it} or tie it on top of a stack of pretty bibs and burp cloths {and gift it}. Or just keep it for yourself.

luau lamp

Granted, it is called the Luau Lamp but I think I would put it in my family room on an end table. It doesn't claim a Target pricetag {$250}, but it is pretty darn cool.

Suitable for indoor and outdoor use, this lamp lightens a room sans cords and sockets. It's simple, you lift the luau lamp from it's base and it lights with up to 50W {it is dimmable} for up to 10 hours. Carry it around with you, hang it from a tree, party all night long...it rocks. File it under "disaster preparedness" because it's like a ginormous {and super stylish} flashlight.

Just look at how pretty it is in a beautiful modern-esque setting.

Available at Design Within Reach

sevi.

As always, Oompa proves a perfect source for perfect toys. I'm really loving Sevi: an Italian company steeped in tradition and founded on innovation and quality.

The mini pull along zebra, with a "happy, uneven gait and gentle bell that chimes when the zebra is pulled along really fast" is toddler perfect. It's hand made (solid wood) and hand painted (non toxic) and the price is right.

vase trio.

Aren't these amazing?! Very cool that I could be fashioning a mini green house on my kitchen table. {Shout out to outblush.}

p.s. I also love the...

cloth votives and funky dinnerware from Wisteria.

gear up!

Boden is having a great sale!

Like..

strawberry tulip printed swimsuit for girls:$14

stripy applique t-shirt for boys: $14

spot and print cardigan

salad recipe #1

Anyone who knows me knows that I love Trader Joe's. It's my absolute favorite market. One that I could frequent {too} often if I didn't abide by any grocery budget whatsoever. They always offer food samples which make for a tasty trip. I'm not talking about cheese on a toothpick either. They bake/cook/toss together a tiny meal right in front of you. And they always have recipe cards for you to pick up. Double bonus!

When I was there last, I came upon a fabulous salad. I made it for lunch yesterday...wish I had taken a picture. I don't even know the name of it. Anyboy want to name it for us?

Romaine lettuce
Handful of blueberries
Craisin/Golden Raisin/California Raisin mix
Chunks of buffalo mozzarella cheese
Raspberry Vinagarette {my personal favorite is Brianna's Strawberry Dressing}

Toss together and enjoy with some Simply Lemonade!

backyard umbrellas.

We already have an umbrella on our patio, but these umbrellas made me want to choose a new one. You can't help but smile just looking at them. They remind me of an old lady's swimming cap. Flowery and ready to take a dip.

Check the rest of the umbrella's out here.

petunia petunia.

Several months ago, I emailed Missy with the news that I found the perfect crib bedding. Petunia Petunia's Pebble Boy bedding merges the classy with the unique to create just enough color for character and just enough neutrality for design outside of the bedding. I really, really love it.

Also available at: baby geared.

super!

French Bull always makes a statement! And because eating is definite {hopefully! Cole started a throwing-food phase again}, why not do it with a little attitude?! I'm pretty sure any child would love any of the {above} monster/superhero plates.

little bird vase.

I want this little bird vase from Rare Device. The description reads, This chubby guy has a funny, placid stare - he is just four inches tall but weighty, and is ready to decorate with a flower stem in his noggin.

Oh dear, that might have just sold me.

abc.

I have to say that I love this life size puzzle from Pottery barn Kids. A ginormous ABC puzzle? I'm in! You can see how pretty it looks all together here.

$19 at Pottery Barn Kids {a steal, I think}.

burst.

Burst necklace from Dreams and Jewelry via Minted. Suck a pretty {and pink} Summer accessory! Only $41.83.

wall pocket.

Forget bulletin boards! This Grid Wall Pocket is incredible. Available at Branch, "Grid gives any setting a contemporary fresh look." Simply install on any wall (with the three brass grommets) and fill this poster-sized goodness with magazines, remote controls, pens, and miscellaneous trinkets.

$66 {available in hot pink, blue and hot rod red}

bloom, grow, love.

I was looking for nature images when I wrote this post last week.. and found Bloom, Grow, Love {via Flickr}: an account of Alicia Bock's photography. It's simply amazing.

She says, "I am a self-taught photographer in search of light and shadows, pretty things in pink, the feeling of the ocean, and a blue moon. My inspiration is found in the simple, beautiful moments of our everyday life."

She has an etsy shop and a website. It's worth a look!

{winner!}

kate durtschi said...
"This has got to smell better than the original! Why didn't I think of this? Such a cool idea..."

Kate, we agree! It smells great, we wish that we were as clever as the MomSpit team and the results are just as cool as the idea. And you'll see for yourself soon enough because you have won the entire MomSpit product line. Lucky you! Please email us your name and address and we will forward your information to MomSpit right away.

To everyone else: the promo exclusive to you, our readers, is valid until August 10th. buy a 7oz MomSpit Countertop ($18.00) and receive a complimentary 2oz MomSpit Mini ($9.00 value). Simply click the MomSpit banner in our {left} sidebar for details.

Thanks, MomSpit!

Have a great week. And we have a truly grand giveaway on Friday. Be prepared for some goodness!

love and peace.

If you feel a need to splurge for the cause, these amazing shirts should quickly be added to your want list. Made out of bamboo (70%) and cotton (30%), they not only claim organic, but $2 from every sale will benefit Healthy Child Healthy World.

via Daily Candy.

tea collection... SALE.

Cheers to a good Summer sale. I've always loved the simplicity of Tea Collection. I envy mothers in the position to buy for a little girl. Just take a look at my favorite Summer sale finds:

baby peasant dress, $28.

suki bubble wrap dress, $29.

byzantine 1 piece swim suit

merry poppies.

I'm a sucker for fresh flowers {especially during Spring and Summer} and these are beautiful! I found some professional tips for caring for poppies {which I used to coin my favorite flower}:

From its crepe-paper petals to its bulbous seed pods, the poppy is a study in contradictions. In the garden, poppies turn their faces skyward; but at home, when cut, they do a shy dance, bending and bowing and swirling their ruffled flowers. To capture a bouquet of these elusive beauties for as long as possible, cut the flowers as buds early in the morning. Put the stem ends in boiling water for 30 seconds or sear them with a flame so the milky sap doesn’t block water uptake—and always use warm water in the vase.

Who would have known? {via Gardening Life.} This is a good source for fresh flowers sold online.

thoughts.

dear Friends,

Thank you for playing part in the survey we had running last week. Although I have to frequently remind myself that Tangled and True is my hobby, I love that I have a hobby as cool as blogging for an audience; learning about new, amazing products; meeting perfectly pleasant {and inspiring} business owners and determined women. That being said, I am encouraged by your suggestions to be better. I hope to find inspiration for more home design and fashion posts {per your request}. After all, I need the tips as well!

From the beginning, the purpose of Tangled and True was to unite women, parents and mothers by drawing from each other's experiences, by supporting smaller and women-run businesses, and by simply creating a commonplace for anyone to enjoy and contribute. We don't claim professionals, but we aim to illustrate how we try to live our lives as {realistic} women and mothers in a world that appreciates simple, modern, functional, eco-friendly and open-minded. No, we aren't paid for what we do {neither are the majority of our posts encouraged by free product}, and yes, we do try to post practical price-points. There are the occasional exceptions of wish list or dream room items that we feel to be healthy to acknowledge and we hope you can appreciate this. My point: this is a real forum from real women to real women. I'm glad that you're a part of it.

So, what about motherhood? I was a little taken back by a couple of comments that our attention on the origins of this blog {motherhood} has been a bit diverted. I love being a mother. It consumes me and it has changed me. I know the same to be true for my good friend {and fellow blogger} Missy. But at some point, I made the decision to keep the intimacy of motherhood to my close friends and family rather than sharing with a larger audience. The truth is.. everything that I'm passionate about, everything that I post about is some way inspired by my Cole. Rather than losing the focus on motherhood, I promise that this blog would be null without my experience as a mother. You can expect more of posts like this and this and this though. They simply come with time and inspiration.

I {we} hope to keep at this for a while. In doing so, I hope to make more friends, to become more creative, more design-inclined, more aware of my mark on this earth, and a better mother and friend. Keep the comments/emails/suggestions coming.

Have a great week and {as always}.. thanks for reading!

kelli.

momspit GIVEAWAY!

Kind of like the universal head bob from one biker to another, I connect with people who appreciate clean and organized. It's just a part of me. It helps my life feel together and fresh. As a matter of fact, if I were to start telling stories, you would hear about time after time when other women felt like that had to set it right and remind me that "it's impossible to stay so clean with children." {This was before I ventured into motherhood.} I love that it isn't. And I love that my daily commitment to simple cleanliness and organization gives me a life that I can enjoy.

Knowing this, you can imagine my bliss when I came across MomSpit.
Inspired by the original, it's for everyone, children and adults alike. Whether you're urban, suburban or good old country, a soccer mom, golf dude, fashion diva or business suit, MomSpit was designed with versatility in mind. It's for you when you're on the move and in your groove.

They nailed it! "Dirt affects us all and MomSpit knows no boundaries." But.. what is it? "It contains no alcohol, mousses brilliantly, moisturizes gently, absorbs quickly and feels great. It's not gel. It's not sanitizer. It's MomSpit - the universal no-rinse cleanser for hands and face. Works like magic, smells like heaven, cleans like soap and water without the sink."

Available in Fig and Green Tea, Lemon and White Tea, and Unscented, heaven is an accurate parallel. I've used it for months and quickly become discouraged if I realize that the 2oz. in my purse, the diaper bag, the car or stroller has gone missing. After all, since converting from a thumb lick to a modern pump bottle, it's hard to backtrack. I'm in love with the product!

**One reader will be showered with the entire MomSpit product line, worth $81!**

The lucky winner will receive 3 7oz. bottles {one of each scent} and 3 2oz. bottles {also one of each scent}. Fig and Green Tea stands my favorite! I'm already running low.

If you're ready to eliminate the milk mustaches, the sticky lollipop hands, or the playground dirt without swishing around the original, take advantage and join the fight for clean. {And it's okay to sneak in a couple of squirts for yourself too!} MomSpit guarantees user-friendly products that have not been tested on animals, are not manufactured anywhere using child labor, and contain no human saliva, " 'cause that would just be gross."

To make a good thing even better, MomSpit is offering all Tangled and True readers a free 2oz bottle (worth $9) when a 7oz. counter top bottle is purchased. Simply click on the MomSpit add in the sidebar or visit here for details. MomSpit is sold at Pacifier online.

Thanks Lucie, Kim and Shelley for your ingenuity!

[life in the nest giveaway rules:]
*you must enter a comment on this post-with your name.
*please only enter once.
*entry will be open until midnight PST Monday. {comments posted after this will not be considered.}
*at this time, we can't guarantee international shipping of giveaway prizes. {do you have a friend with a domestic address? is he/she nice enough to accept the package for you? comment away.
*winner will be announced on Tangled and True on Tuesday morning.

-Tangled and True

letterpress done cool.

I love this poster! Perfect to add next to the wall display in my dream office. [via Black Eiffel!]

glasses.

I love orange juice in the morning. I like it cold and fresh and I love it in a cool glass.

Alphabet Glasses $6

Glass Menagerie $32/set

Yellow Flower Tumbler $4