lavendar cupcakes

Speaking of Martha...aren't these cupcakes beautiful?

I doubt I could replicate such beauty, but maybe I'll try. The actual recipe doesn't look too difficult. Anyone interested?

news alert.

My last day in America involved running a dozen errands, frantically trying to cross everything off my to-do list. One of those errands involved finding inspiration for my daughter's one year birthday party. I went to Michaels.

And guess what?

I saw two full aisles of a new Martha Stewart line, called Martha Stewart Crafts. I was in heaven. An endless supply of things I don't really need, but love (and therefore, need). Gorgeous paper, cards, craft accessories, labels, gift boxes and bags, etc, etc. I'm not even crafty, but I just love pretty things.

Alan was even semi-excited.

I picked up invitation supplies and gift boxes (mini take-out cartons that I will be filling with party favors). We're going with a strawberry theme, because Izzy loves strawberries. Oh, and we're having a barbecue outside.

Martha is officially at Michaels on April 29th. Check it out and let me know what you think. I wanted it all.

indulge.

My daily splurge is a warm bath with my hair pulled back in a headband and my favorite bath soak. It's become a routine that proves hard to break. I finish calm and tired and ginger-fresh. I try to justify indulgence in my life because it reminds me that I have a sense of self outside of everything that I choose to prioritize.

I was thinking out loud to Bradley today about Mother's Day. I told him {with the obvious hint of hopefulness on the verge of expectation} that if I were to choose to fully celebrate any one of the religious-free holidays, it would be Mother's Day. My entire life has transitioned into living and thinking and acting and reacting in the way that has the best influence on Cole. It's become my purpose and I've done it as best as I can with everything in me. That feels amazing: to commit to something so wholly. But Ginger Bath Soak {or the like} reboots that drive.

I thought it would be fun to focus on a series of all about me finds. Today's theme is indulge. Just three things that will probably never find their way into my life...because I tend to bring home toothpaste or socks or toxic free cleaning products instead.

one.

whirling dervish chemise.

two.
nature girl organic skin care.

three.
sun print eye pillow.

How do you indulge?

national badger GIVEAWAY.

We've been in search for the perfect art that will allow our nurseries to transition into bedrooms for an older Cole, Avery or Isobel {or your child's name}. Finding simplicity with color, character and style was our objective, and frankly a challenge if we were working within our designated decorating the nursery budget. And then I found National Badger and quickly called my husband with exciting news along the lines of "It's amazing! And they even have an AARDVARK!"

Now, for the news that will encourage a similar reaction in you: Tangled and True is announcing our first life in the nest giveaway. Enter to win {see rules below} and this dreamy idea of perfect art may materialize into this--

{dinosaur and car are for scale reference only}

3 custom National Badger prints, including: 10" giraffe {green}, 7" hippo {blue}, and 5" elephant {orange}, an incredibly generous package valuing in at almost $70.00.

National Badger's story? Christine says, "National Badger was born following the birth of my son in 2004. I couldn’t find any affordable artwork for his room that matched the aesthetic of our home and I didn’t want to spend a fortune on artwork that he would outgrow in a few years. Trained as an artist and a designer, I decided to create my own."

National Badger is the solution for modern children's art. Truly. With a selection of over thirty animals and an extensive tropical Starburst-ish color palate, we are tempted to promise you that you'll go crazy in the best way.

Maybe you're a traditionalist and this



is the perfect fit.

Or you can't get enough of different and you want your son or daughter to learn words like:

aardvark, leopardess and bonobo.

If you don't see what you want or are overwhelmed by choices..no worries. Christine's an artist {and a nice one}. Email National Badger at info@nationalbadger.com and she is quick to offer suggestions of prints and colors that go well together or do her best to sketch up an absent favorite of yours {at no extra cost!}. A template for wall placement of the art is complimentary upon request.

The product does it's own convincing, right?! Join the force of charming, modern, and happy by entering to win {see rules below}. Or go to nationalbadger.com for a 15% discount on your entire purchase when ordered by the end of June {with mention that Tangle and True referred you}. Wow! Good luck.

Thank you, National Badger!

[Update: in order to apply the 15% Tangled and True discount, send orders to info@nationalbadger.com and Christine will take care of the discount and direct you from there.]

Thank you, National Badger!

[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 12pm Wednesday. {comments posted after 12pm 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 Wednesday evening.

-Tangled and True: life in the nest.

wear green.

Green has become the color to envy lately. Green is Spring and Spring is earth and earth is happy and clean.

Kelly green has always been my favorite color, not only because we share a name, but because it's Irish and it's enthusiastic. I like to think that I'm both of those things. In addition to Missy's post about changing the world as best as we can, "with our own two hands", I say: why not take green to another level? Let's wear it.

1, Featherweight cotton long-sleeve crewneck tee. 2, flower forest tote

3, river of grass dress. 4, Clean plaid madras Bermuda shorts.

Happy Earth Day {April 22nd}

Jack Johnson's Curious George soundtrack is one of our favorites. The songs are filled with rhyming that both kids and adults can {and do!} enjoy. But, there is one song that stands out to me. With My Own Two Hands. Actually, I haven't been able to listen without brainstorming ways we can nurture Mother Earth with our little mini's beside us.

The lyrics are here and below are some ideas to "make the world a better place" with our kids beside us. Only a few as there are so many more ways, but for this Earth day I ask that we help the Earth by not only going green but making a change in humanity. It can be done.

Make it {Earth} a kinder place
- find a charity of choice and donate {time or money} www.sixdegrees.org
- write thank you notes
- help new neighbors move in

Make peace on Earth
- learn a second language
- don't hold grudges {whether it be deep rooted family issues or road rage}
- volunteer {after baby is in bed} at a women's shelter

Clean up the Earth
- pick up a piece of trash while walking outside
- find volunteer opportunities in your area www.earth911.org
- reuse your paper grocery bags {or purchase canvas bags to carry them in}

Make it a brighter place
- smile at people in line while running errands {community pool, grocery store, bank etc}
- change your lightbulbs to GE energy smart bulbs

Make it a safer place
- make friends with your neighbors
- plan and attend community events
- recycle old batteries {tiny Energizer ones and big car batteries}

Help the human race
- pray, think, or feel for others
- give money to the homeless {wo}man on the street

divine chocolate.

I love chocolate. It's quickly becoming a new passion of mine. So when I read about a company called Divine Chocolate which counts cocoa farmers as their biggest group of shareholders, it made me happy.

Here's why (according to the Economist article): "FUN though it is to pretend that a magic bunny provided the chocolate in your Easter basket, it is much more likely to have been grown by smallholders in West Africa, the region that produces 70% of the world's cocoa."

Global sales of chocolate are around $75 billion a year, although growers only see around $4 billion a year from the sale of cocoa beans. And sadly, the article says that most African cocoa bean harvesters have never even tasted or heard of chocolate.

But Divine Chocolate is different than the big name chocolate companies. They value the farmers that make chocolate possible. Kuapa Kokoo, Ghana's largest co-operative, with a membership of 45,000 cocoa growers, owns 45% of Divine and has two seats on its board. So the farmers have a say in their company and they also receive a share of the profits. And of course, cocoa beans are bought at the fairtrade price.

Read the farmer's stories here.

You can buy Divine Chocolate in the USA and UK at many natural food stores, online or at some grocery stores. I think it would make the perfect wedding, dinner and party favors.

What a wonderful company. I'm looking forward to buying Divine Chocolate when I get back to the UK and attempting their recipe for Divine Truffles. Mmmm...yum.