Mini Me Look - Inspired by J Crew Mens Fall 2013 Lookbook

There are some colors that only look good when you wear them in the Fall. Case in point: mustard yellow. I love this casual look from the 2013 J Crew Mens Lookbook.

 

 

And now the mini me look.

Mini Me Look - J Crew Fall 2013 by marychu on Polyvore

Joojos Toddler Girls Boys Soft Suede Desert Ankle Boots / Gap Knit Waist Cuffed Jeans Medium Wash - medium wash / Zara Sweater With Buttons And Elbow Patches / Cherokee® Boys' Suiting Tie - Black Basin : Target

$10 Ikea High Chair

Ikea family is having a sale on their easy to clean Antilop highchairs! For $10 you can buy one of these simple and functional high chairs. What a steal! If we didn't already own the Phil and Ted's Poppy chair, I would be all over this. Click here for more info.

 

Modern Advent Calendars to DIY or Buy

There are a few things I am obsessed with right now.

1. Fancy rice crispy treats. I want to make these, these and these.
2. Anything pumpkin flavored. Trader Joes FTW.

3. Advent calendars

 

Random right? I really want to make an advent calendar for Parker since this will be his first Christmas. Here are some fun ones that I think will be the most baby friendly. There's a good mix of advent calendars to buy, to make and to download so there should be something for everyone below. Enjoy! You have about a month to make/buy a calendar and fill it up with fun treats for baby.

 

 

[Love the graphic look of these boxes. Free download available here.]

[Easy idea that would double well as home decor for the fireplace. Click here for more details.]

[Simple and festive. Free download + instructions here.]

 

[Love this! Such an easy sewing project. You can buy it here or just make one.]

 

[The different size pockets and simplicity of this pocket calendar is so charming! Available on Land of Nod.]

 

[Mr Printables has to be one of the best sites ever. Love this little town calendar.]

Babies in Halloween Costumes + Parker as Run DMC

Last Friday we threw a Halloween party at our house. This year is the first Halloween for a lot of the babies and we wanted capture all the fun in photos. My SIL and I decorated the house with spooky decor and set up a photo backdrop. As always, there was too much food and plenty of alcohol. 

 

 

[I'm so happy with how his costume came together. Haha My little rapper baby]

 

[The only photo with no crying babies! I love the expression on Eden's face and that Kayson is in full Spiderman character]

Mini Me Look - Red Sweater & Jeans

A handsome man with a beard, in a canoe, on a lake, in the rain. Inspiration indeed.

 

 

Just as much style with not as much sex appeal. Enjoy!

 

Mini Me Look - Red Sweater & Jeans by marychu on Polyvore

Zara Leather Blucher / Gap Knit Waist Cuffed Jeans Medium Wash - medium wash / Amazon.com: Darice 9610-17 Painted Wood Canoe Cutout, 9-Inch: Arts,...

San Diego Kids Expo - Review

This write up is going to be quick because a lot of the activities/offerings did not apply to us. There were tons of hands on craft activities for kids, an outdoor play area and a lot of big kid vendors (dance classes, superhero training, robot building etc). I was unimpressed by what we saw in the baby area. Where were all the daycares and baby products/boutiques? Overall, the hall kind of just looked sad and bare. I will probably not attend again until Parker is 3-4 years old.

 

[Best thing at the show. Balloon Utopia booth. Def making a balloon pit for Parker's birthday party]

 



[Discovered the sweet potato puffs at the show and then went and bought some at Target. Parker loves them!]

 



 

[Free samples? We love free samples!]

[After the expo, we had lunch at Panera with Tuan's dad + my fave brother in law Johnny]

SoCal Candy Buy Backs

Such a great way to unload the mounds of candy you will have at your house after trick or treating! Good tip Red Tricycle.

Once trick-or-treating ends, do you look at that big pile of Halloween candy and wonder how you’re going to keep your little one (or yourself) from eating it all? We thought so! For families looking for an alternative to sugar and want to teach their kiddos about doing something positive for the community, consider participating in the Candy Buy Back Program. Participating dentists and orthodontists throughout Southern California will purchase unopened candy from trick-or-treaters for $1 per pound. The dentists then coordinate with shippers to send the candy to Operation Gratitude, which sends thousands of pounds of candy to the troops overseas.

Click on this link to see the full list of dentists participating in the program!

6th Annual Chu Family Pumpkin Carving Party

Yesterday we held the 6th Annual Chu Family Pumpkin Carving Contest and the winner was...Tania with her lion fish. It's always a good time when we get together with my crazy, loud family and yesterday was no different. We dined on fish tacos (thanks Andy!), the kids and I made mummy dogs and my mom made vietnamese dessert and stew. There was also a game of football, some yoga and other random fun. Can't wait for next year!   

 

 

[Pre party yoga! Tania is studying to become a yoga instructor. I can't believe Tuan participated. He surprises me everyday.]

 

[Mymy's angler fish.]

 

[Pumpkin guts!]

 

[Tania tracing her lion fish design]

 

[Me and my powr tools]

 

[Mymy in her squid brain shirt]

 

[My nephew Nolan cleaning out his pumpkin]

 

[Pumpkin gutter action]

 

[Parker and grandma]

 

[Karen brought a beautiful white pumpkin from Tanaka Farms]

 

[The kids aren't quite old enough to carve yet so they just put stickers on pumpkins]

 

[1st place]

 

[2nd place]

 

[My giant squid]

 

Tips for winning next year:

Pick your design early

Buy a really big pumpkin. The size itself will be impressive.

 

Big Boy Monster Shoes

I bought Parker these monster slipeprs from Gap because they were on sale and, well, who doesn't love monster slippers? Now he's obsessed with them and loves wearing them around. Good job, Mom! I think I need a pair too.

 

 

[Monster slippers. Gap. $14.99]

Kid Friendly Events - Oct 26 & 27

This weekend is Halloween weekend and there are a ton of events happening in San Diego. Here are my picks for things to do this weekend with the family! We will be hitting one of these activities on Saturday but Sunday is reserved for the 6th Annual Chu Family Pumpkin Carving Contest! Our annual carving contest has gotten more and more serious over the years and this year I'm determined to win with my giant squid design. Can't wait to post photos!!

Saturday, Oct 26

Halloween Bash on the Bay - 1 PM-5 PM -Seaport Village
Celebrate the arrival of fall at Seaport Village, where San Diegans are invited to join the fun at Seaport’s third annual Halloween Bash on the Bay on Saturday, October 26, from 1 to 5 p.m. A week of deals and events leading up to the fall festival will honor San Diego locals from October 21-26.
The third annual celebration invites little monsters, pirates, witches and superheroes out to the village for an afternoon of fall festivities, including photos with a living scarecrow, costume contest for kids and pets, a brand new mask making area, scavenger hunt, music including a monster mash band and Thriller DJ, and games for kids.

Enjoy 2 hours of validated parking for $3 in the Seaport Village lot with a minimum purchase of $10. $2 every 30 minutes thereafter or part thereof. Non validated parking is $8 an hour.

For more information, visit http://www.seaportvillage.com/entertainment/halloween-bash-on-the-bay

Sunday, Oct 27

First Annual Good Food Community Fair - 10 AM-2 PM - San Diego Public Market
Meet and mingle with San Diegans working towards a sustainable & delicious San Diego. This is a FREE community event open to the public. There will be prizes, a schnazzy Slow-photobooth, and of course... food! How cool is their website? RSVP today on their facebook page!
http://www.goodfoodfair.com/

Halloween Family Festival Day at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion - 1:30PM-3:00PM - Balboa Park
The Spreckels Organ Society invites little ghosts and ghouls of all ages and their families and friends to a free, special Halloween-themed Family Festival Day at the Spreckels Organ Pavilion in Balboa Park. Enjoy some spooky tunes and pumpkin carols played on the historic Spreckels Organ by former San Diego Civic Organist Jared Jacobsen and the San Diego Children’s Choir. Move to the music with hula hoop dancing by Spin Yang Hoops, strut in a kazoo parade, sit right up on stage for an up-close and personal look at the organist in action, then visit activity booths by San Diego Junior Theatre, the San Diego Civic Youth Ballet, the San Diego Humane Society and the San Diego Choristers Guild. Bring your friends and your friendly pets on leash. Costumes welcomed!
http://sosorgan.org/

None of these events excite you? Then we can't be friends anymore. Just kidding! Visit the events calendars on Red Tricycle or San Diego Family Magazine for more Halloween fun.




http://redtri.com/events/socal/

Giant is the New Mini - Sneak Peek - Parker's 1st Birthday Party

Giant is the new mini. That's going to be my motto for Parker's birthday party. I've been spending a ridiculous amount of time on Pinterest planning Parker's 1st birthday party and I think it's finally coming together. Tuan thinks I am crazy for planning this far in advance but I have to work on all my projects in stages since I have very little free time. Also, I want to give myself enough time to source everything I need to buy and time to get things on sale. Here's a sneak peek of what will be Parker's balloon/confetti/fringe extravaganza. The only thing that stands in the way of my plans is the helium shortage so I'm planning to do as much of my balloon decorations without helium as possible. It's better for the bottom line and won't be affected if I can't get my hands on enough helium tanks.

These are not new or original ideas. They are BIG ideas. Scratch that. They are GIANT ideas.

On another note, the blog is about to hit 10,000 views. WOO HOO! I'm doing a happy dance right now.

[Confetti balloon. Spotted on CakeEventsBlog]

[Giant wall confetti. Spotted on WeeBirdy]

[Giant fringe streamers. Spotted on Oh Happy Day]

Co Sleeping

Parker moved into our bed 3 months ago and I don't think he's ever going to move out. The situation was fine at first because it made it easier to nurse him at night and all he did was lay there. Then he learned how to roll. And crawl. And sit up. And stand up. Sleeping with Parker is like trying to sleep knowing an anvil is going to fall on you at anytime.

 

 

[How I feel at 2 AM when Parker head slams me]

 

I kid you not, this kid sits up and throws his body around in his sleep and hits us all the time. He also falls asleep wherever he lands. Most of the time it's fine but sometimes it is not fine. See example below.  

 

 

[Tuan is fake sleeping. Parker is really sleeping.]

Sometimes I really wish we would have stuck to our guns and followed through with sleep training but then I remember how much I like sleeping with Parker and how easy it is to nurse on demand when he's in bed with us. Ugh. He's never moving out.

ABC Kids Expo - What I'm Excited About

The ABC Kids Expo was held in Oct 15-18 in Las Vegas this year. I wish I could have gone but you have to own a business to attend. Luckily, some of my favorite bloggers attended the show and shared tons of photos info about all the new baby gear that is coming out next year. Here are the items I am most excited for.

 

[Maxi-Cosi is considering introducing this Bohemian Blue woven fabric. Love it!]

 

[Duxx's baby projectors are voice-activated nightlights!]

 

[The Ergo 360 carrier is the company's first that faces forward. It also can be used in four positions — front forward, front inward, back, and hip. Its leg pouches are specially designed to keep babies in the frog position — preventing hip dysplasia.]

 

[Luca & Co. will enter the toddler furniture area with this cool Art Desk.]

 

 

[Oeuf's new Perch toddler bed will be available in walnut or birch.]

 

 

For a complete list of new items seen at the show, visit lilsugar.com