New items!

The new items are now up for grabs in my shop. About 24 hours later than I expected but oh well, they are worth the wait! 

There's one more dress that will be listed later tonight.. And there's still a few kinks to work out but most everything is finished.

I also gave the whole shop a mini make-over. I'm working on making it all look cohesive.. so I replaced all but a few old photos. Head on over to vanillaandlace.com to check it out.. and please feel free to to blog/tweet/whatever about the new stuff! 

Oh yeah! And coming May/June, 

Little Vanilla and Lace! 

I've been working lots and lots on a big expansion for this little dream come true.. and i'm aiming for a beginning of summer release for my first baby and little girls line. It'll be chock full of darling dresses and blouses and everything I'd want my girl to wear. Here's some (rough) finalized sketches but there will also be mini versions of just about everything in my shop right now.. everything is better mini right?

I'm so so SO excited about this! 

Thanks again for all your support... Today feels so happy!

over the weekend..

I've been a little beet obsessed the past couple weeks.. I just can't get enough. Beets make an especially pretty juice too.. which i've been guzzling down every day. (Heads up: it'll turn your pee rather pink. which always freaks me out just a little..)

I juiced 3 beets, 2 apples and 2 oranges and it made two large glasses. Yum!


i started this book last weekend. it's really great so far.

On saturday morning i helped throw a surprise baby shower for becca at the doug fir. It was super fun and i'm anxious to meet her new little guy.



don't worry, it's not all beets and healthiness around here. i also made the most delicious ice cream ever.. Jeni's salty caramel ice cream. Oh! And we made a video recipe for it and that'll be up tomorrow. You won't want to miss it..




p.s.
some new designs and new items  will be coming to my shop tomorrow! six.. to be exact. as well as the announcement i mentioned a while back..

head to toe and other things

an outfit for grocery shopping, our pretty blooming street, white on white blouse, hi-chews and washi tape from the asian market, a new french press, and some new fabrics.
and i'm finally all caught up from all the orders i got from the sale i posted in my shop.. i thought that to-do list might never end (in the best way) but i sent the last of them today.. phew!

I'm working all this week to sew up the new patterns and prints and hoping to have them listed on Monday. I'll also be announcing a whole new something/s with the new items. I'm way too excited about it. how's that for a tease?

Hope you're week is going well! 

michael & chelsea

I had the privilege of taking some engagement photos for my darling friends..(yep.. that is miss seablanket) It was a beautiful day in portland and we had a blast running around town to different locations. These two are some of the sweetest people you'll meet and they are so in love, it seeps out of every photo.

Here's a few of my favorites. It was so hard to pick out of the 100+ I gave them..

i'm still working on putting together my real photography website.. it's taking longer than i'd like. In the mean time, if you're looking for a photographer for a wedding, engagement or anything else really, please email me! I live in Portland, Oregon but I'm willing (and wanting!) to travel world wide and would love to chat about making it happen!
email me: vanillaandlace @ gmail . com

Strawberry Mango Bubble Tea - VIDEO

If the video isn't showing up in your reader or to see it much bigger, click below!

Strawberry Mango Bubble Tea

Serves 2

1/2 cup boba pearls*

a sprinkle of brown sugar

1 cup frozen strawberries

1 cup frozen mango

1 cup almond milk (or milk of your choice!)

Boil 2 cups of water in a medium pot. Swirl the water with a spatula while its boiling and add in the pearls. Cook 5-10 minutes, stirring occasionally. I usually drain mine after about 7 minutes so they don't get overly mushy. But test one and cook to your liking!

Drain your pearls and place in a bowl and sprinkle with brown sugar while still hot and set aside.

Blend strawberries, mango and almond milk in a food processor or blender.

Spoon half of the pearls into a glass and top with the smoothie part. And enjoy!!

*you can find the boba pearls at most asian food stores and also online.

I had so much fun making this little video and I want to do plenty more in the future! Would you like that too? I hope so!

p.s. Much thanks to Josh for helping me film and edit this.

spring showed up today

after an insanely busy week (trying to finish up orders from the sale..), i spent yesterday in full-on relax mode. we got a weekly pass to the gym and spent the morning working out with a few friends (my legs still feel like jello), then ate lunch at new seasons, took a nap, walked around our neighborhood, and just relaxed! It was so refreshing. Oh, and the sun was out the whole day! Warm enough to shed some layers and it actually felt like spring.

back to normal(ish..)

Things are mostly back to normal in our house, meaning MOST everything is out of boxes. Now I just need some help in the decor department. If I had an unlimited budget, it'd be no big deal but alas, I barely have a thrift store budget so I'm working with what I've got.

Filling up my studio will be pretty simple. Living room on the other hand.. well, i have a rather large wall that the couch is on and I have no idea what to do with it. Any ideas? (Paging miss rachel denbow!)

Our bedroom also has two big plain walls where our bed is that need help too. I normally don't mind bare walls but in really old houses it can feel kind of dungeon like.. with uneven wall texture and all that. So feel free to send me any ideas and links!

a few studio peeks, it's my favorite spot in the house.