LIFESTYLE

LAISSEZ LES BON TEMPS ROULER

January 14, 2018January 14, 2018by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

7516774896_IMG_5343 IMG_1821_polarr “Who has the baby!?” is something you often hear this time of year in South Louisiana. And by baby I mean the King Cake Baby.

King cakes are a big deal around here. From January 6th, the Epiphany, till Mardi Gras day, you’ll find these cinnamon sweet, bready, colorful cakes in just about every house, often consumed in multiple “slivers” at at time – breakfast, lunch, dinner, and dessert. Am I right? You know you keep going back for more. These cakes signify the three wise men finding baby Jesus as a tiny King Cake baby is hidden in every cake.

If you have “the baby” that means you bring the next King Cake. I’ve always been a fan of King Cake and everyone has their favorite. People around here often show their loyalty to their favorite bakery. Just last year, I began baking my own King Cakes. While the idea of it was intimidating, it’s actually a super-fun and super-easy project to do with your kids … just make sure you have time to do it!

I’ve used the recipe found on The Kitchn. I’ve followed this recipe multiple times, and it’s proven consistently delicious! I do, however, use my own recipe for the icing. I prefer something with a bit more “substance” versus a light glaze. I also love to jazz it up with lots of sprinkles!

King Cake Icing

What you’ll need for the icing:

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

4 oz cream cheese, softened

2 to 2 1/2 cups powdered sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 teaspoon milk

food coloring

Using a stand mixer, mix together butter and cream cheese. Slowly add powdered sugar. Mix for about 10 minutes until light and fluffy. Add vanilla extract and milk and food coloring. Mix until combined. Traditionally, King Cakes are purple (signifies “justice”), green (signifies “faith”), and gold (signifies “power”); however, we’ve had fun this season using various colors for our King Cakes. Use an icing bag and snip the end to ice your King Cake. We also love a good sprinkle around here. We’ve ordered sprinkles from Sweetapolita and Fancy Sprinkles.

CELEBRATIONS, LIFESTYLE, MAMA'S STYLE, STYLE

Behind the Scenes: Thoughts behind the Christmas Card

January 9, 2018January 9, 2018by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

Y’all I live for Christmas cards. Creating them and receiving them. They are one of my “things”. I literally think about them all throughout the year. I’m inspired by everything around me: playful patterns on clothing, unique color combinations, various typography, saved Instagram posts, design layouts in magazines or on billboards … the list goes on. Each year, I try to keep my personal card fresh and different from past years. It’s a way for me to push my creativity, but also a way to make the card special for those receiving it. The ideas live in an organized disarray in my head until I start the design process. This year, I compiled my ideas, outfit choices, inspiration, etc. in a secret Pinterest board … do y’all have secret boards?

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This year, I knew there were a few elements I wanted in my card: playful family shot at home that was backlit with a bright and airy feel, pops of color, simple design. After I nailed down our outfit choices (a mix of old and new pieces), I called in my favorite go-to, my sister-in-law/amazing photographer, Stefanie Cascio. She, too, had been invited to my “secret” Pinterest board so she knew the feel I was going for, and boy did she nail it this year! Not only did she get the look and feel, but she captured us in a way that is so real.

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After seeing the photos, my crazy, design-oriented brain gets to thinking. I usually have at least five different ideas come to mind right away, and I usually always mock up various cards before coming up with one that feels just right.

One of the girls’ favorite Christmas movies is the Santa Clause (among Home Alone, Home Alone 2, Christmas Vacation, Elf, the Grinch, Eloise at Christmastime … we’re Christmas people). I used a quote from the Santa Clause movie that is so fitting for the girls this Christmas, “Seeing isn’t believing. Believing is seeing.” In other words, you don’t need to see something to believe it; according to Judy the Elf, if you believe in something in your heart, it exists. I know the idea of Santa will begin to be questioned in the next few years, and this year I wanted to hold on to and savor every bit of magic associated with the Big Guy.

This is the final product. A 5.5″ x 8.5″ flat card enclosed in a vellum envelope filled with pink confetti. Magic! I think it will always be one of my favorites.

flat card Outfit Details: H&M Rib-knit sweater // Mignonne Gavigan Mini Jackie Earring // Distressed high-rise jean // Girls’ drop-waist dress in pink // pink hair ribbon

CELEBRATIONS, GIRLS' STYLE, LIFESTYLE

HALLOWEEN 2017

November 2, 2017November 2, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

“Are you crying? Are you crying? There’s no crying in baseball!”

Literally one of the best movies of all time! Who doesn’t love A League of Their Own? This summer we brought back the 90’s movies at our house – Free Willy, The Mighty Ducks, Father of the Bride, The Cutting Edge, and, of course, A League of Their Own (just to name a few)! It’s been fun reliving my own childhood watching my girls fall in love with these movies for the first time.

After watching A League of Their Own, Eloise and Charlotte Cate were quickly role-playing as Dottie and Kit. We ordered the Rockford Peaches costumes from Amazon. And they soon decided that was going to be their Halloween costume – in July! We’re planners when it comes to Halloween costumes.

Halloween Costume Details: Rockford Peaches costume // Red knee-high socks // Cienta pink shoes (similar) (girls’ Cientas from Oh Pair in Baton Rouge, LA)

CELEBRATIONS, GIRLS' STYLE, LIFESTYLE, MOTHERHOOD

A ROUND-UP OF OUR FAVORITE COSTUMES

October 29, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

I can’t believe Halloween is in just a couple of days! It’s one of my favorite holidays (second to Christmas and Thanksgiving is a close third). See below for some of my most favorite Halloween costumes for my girls over the past few years.

Eloise as a Peacock

One of my dear friends and co-teachers at the time, owned peacocks and was so kind to share some of his feathers with me. I used them to create Eloise’s costume. The ruffled leotard came from Etsy. This is still one of my most favorite costumes to date!

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Eloise as Eloise at the Plaza

From the time she was born, I knew Eloise would one day be “Eloise” for Halloween. Thanks to Etsy, I was able to find this precious costume. This, too, is one of my favorite Halloween costumes!

Eloise and Charlotte Cate as Vintage Clowns

Ok, so these may be my favorite costumes to date … really! I found vintage patterns on Etsy and had my seamstress create these precious costumes! I knew I wanted a fun pink and orange fabric with a pop of turquoise. I couldn’t be happier with how these turned out! It was also the perfect sibling set! These costumes have already been “saved” for future generations!

Eloise as a Catholic High Bruinette and Charlotte Cate as Madeline

This was the girls’ first year to dress up differently. As you already know, we live for Catholic High basketball games and love to see our Bruinettes dance. Eloise was excited to have a “real” Bruinette uniform and couldn’t wait to wear it for Halloween (she also wore it all Basketball season to the games). Charlotte Cate’s favorite book at that time was Madeline. Her favorite line was, “To the tigers in the zoo, Madeline just said, “pooh, pooh.” These costumes were so fitting for the girls!

Eloise as a Rainbow Unicorn and Charlotte Cate as Batman

Again, the girls dressed up differently this year. However, I found a way to make them coordinate. We used simple long-sleeved leotards and tights for the start to their costumes. Eloise’s mask and tail was by Opposite of Far. Charlotte Cate’s Batman accessories were from Etsy. The girls both wore Converse sneakers. Their treat bags were from Pottery Barn Kids. Their bows were, of course, by Two Sisters Bows (our favorites)!

This year, the girls are matching. I’ll give you a clue, we’re bringing back the nineties movies. Post to come soon!

CELEBRATIONS, LIFESTYLE

SPOTLIGHT: THE QUEEN BEE

October 1, 2017October 1, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

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7585925472_IMG_0961 I love a good birthday party! And with any good party comes exquisite details – the cake, the balloons, the invitation. Details that shouldn’t be forgotten include the wrapping paper and the stationery to be used for proper thank you notes! I’m a lover of paper and paper design, and Baton Rouge’s The Queen Bee should be your go-to stop for unforgettable paper details and top-notch customer service.

Owner Michelle Beauboeuf, was a dream to work with when creating custom stationery, enclosure cards, and one-of-a-kind gift wrap for my girls. She simply asked for their interests and favorite colors. My seven-year-old girly-girl Eloise chose “rainbows and unicorns” and the color turquoise; my four-year-old candy-junky and frequenter-to-the-dentist, Charlotte Cate chose “lollipops” and the color pink. From there, Michelle and her staff worked their magic to create the most amazing pieces for my girls! Y’all it was all designed in-house … the note cards and enclosure cards were printed in-house, too.

7585925472_IMG_0948 7585925472_IMG_0950 7585925472_IMG_0940 7585925472_IMG_0947 For those interested in the process, Michelle says, “Typically, the customer will come in, and we will get some information from them. We will ask who the recipient is, what they are into, what colors they like, and any other information that will help us with the design.” Michelle and her staff will walk you through all of the options including paper, fonts, colors, envelope color, envelope liners, return address and addressing options. Once all info is gathered, the design begins and a proof is sent to the customer. Upon approval, the customer should have their stationery within days of ordering.

One of The Queen Bee’s newest ventures is custom gift wrapping. I was so excited to have custom gift wrap designed for the girls. How exciting to show up to a friend’s birthday party with a gift wrapped in your own custom paper? Just like an invitation or note card, Michelle and her staff can create something personal and custom, each design different from the last. From monograms to specific party-themed paper, this service of custom-designed gift wrap is going to be popular! I can already imagine Santa’s custom gift wrap this holiday season …

The Queen Bee is located in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. Follow The Queen Bee on Instagram @thequeenbeebatonrouge.

ADVENTURES, GIRLS' STYLE, LIFESTYLE

LEMONADE FOR SALE

July 3, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

This past Saturday, we were asked to pop in to Oh Pair’s summer sale. Oh Pair offers affordable, durable, high quality shoes and accessories in an assortment of sizes, widths, and styles to accommodate every parent’s needs. The children’s shoe store, located in Baton Rouge, was offering a “Pop and Save” sale where customers could pop a balloon to save 20%, 30%, 40%, or 50% off their highest priced item. The store also had a sale table with shoes priced as low at $15. Charlotte Cate and Eloise each choose a pair of pink Cienta sneakers for $15. What a steal!

In conjunction with their summer sale, Oh Pair, hosted a Lemonade Stand benefiting Cure for Daisy. Daisy is an amazing 7-year-old in South Louisiana with Juvenile Myositis, a rare incurable disease. She’s raising money and awareness for CureJM. Daisy was diagnosed with Juvenile Dermatomyositis (JDM) at the age of 3. Juvenile Myositis (JM) is a group of rare and life-threatening diseases in which the body’s immune system attacks its own cells and tissues. Juvenile Dermatomyositis is the most common form of JM.

Charlotte Cate and Eloise enjoyed selling lemonade knowing it was benefiting Daisy and those with JM!

Follow Oh Pair @ohpairbr and Cure for Daisy @curefordaisy on Instagram.

Outfit Details: Red Beans seersucker bloomer set // Red Beans seersucker halter top // Old Navy skinny jeans (only $9) // Gold Salt Water Sweetheart Sandals // Gold Salt Water Surfer Sandals

CELEBRATIONS, LIFESTYLE

I HAVE A THING WITH PAPER

June 27, 2017June 28, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

I love paper. Invitations, stationery, gift tags, Christmas cards, LSU Football schedules, Halloween cards, Valentines, etc. The list goes on. I love the design and layout of cards and the feel of thick, luxurious paper. One of my favorite pastimes is designing paper products for myself, family and friends, and clients who have become friends over the years.

I’m a sucker for good design. I find I’m always inspired by the world around me. Font combinations I notice as I’m driving, color combinations seen in magazine and catalog print, beautiful designs in womenswear and children’s clothing, stunning locations which would make for the perfect photoshoot location, etc.

While it’s only June, I’m constantly brainstorming ideas for Charlotte Cate’s birthday invitation (because she’s the next birthday in our little family) … and her birthday is in December. I also find myself thinking about this year’s Christmas card … again, I know it’s only June. I know this is unusual, but it’s me. And it’s what keeps my creative juices flowing.

Below are some of my personal favorites that I’ve designed for our family throughout the years.

Charlotte Cate’s Birth Announcement // antique “CC” monogram incorporated into a hot pink letterpress flat card

Charlotte Cate’s Breakfast with Santa Birthday Invitation // hand-glittered vintage Santa

Eloise’s Picnic in the Park Birthday Invitation // collaborated with Rifle Paper Co. to design a custom silhouette print gifted with each invitation // custom calligraphy // hand-tied with gold bakers twine

Eloise’s Kindergarten Valentine’s Cards // ring erasers were attached to cards

Eloise’s Ice Cream Social Birthday Invitation // hand-glittered watercolor ice cream sundaes

2013 Cascio Christmas Card // tri-fold card designed around Charlotte Cate and Eloise’s portraits done with Fred Frey Photography

2014 Cascio Christmas Card and Moving Announcement // Santa-themed folded card to share our new address and Santa’s new stop // Stefanie Cascio Photography

2015 Cascio Christmas Card //tri-fold card designed around Charlotte Cate and Eloise’s portraits done with Jeannie Frey Rhodes Photography // hand-tied ribbon to coordinate with lettering, “Oh, What Fun!”

2016 Cascio Christmas Card // Custom holographic foil // Eloise and Charlotte Cate’s artwork was incorporated into card design

Eloise’s First Grade Valentine’s Cards // Heart glasses to coordinate with “All the Heart Eyes” emoji theme

Christmas Gift Tags // 3″ x 3″ custom gift tags to coordinate with girls’ portraits and personalities

GIRLS' STYLE, LIFESTYLE

DIY: DIAGONAL PATTERN FRIENDSHIP BRACELETS

June 22, 2017June 22, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

Nothing screams summer quite like friendship bracelets. As a child, I have a vivid memory of making these with my cousins and best friends – especially on rainy, summer afternoons.

Last summer, Eloise dabbled in making friendship bracelets. She learned how to make the Chinese Staircase pattern and practiced until she made them perfect. She enjoyed choosing color combinations that she knew friends and family would find special. As school started up, she let the craft take a back seat to homework, soccer, and gymnastics. However, with the rainy, summer days upon us again, she has picked up the craft once again.

This summer, Eloise has learned a new design – the Diagonal Pattern. She’s excited again to choose unique color combinations for whom her bracelets are designed. Her first bracelet, designed for herself, includes neon brights in orange, coral, pink, and lavender. Good choices, Eloise!

Diagonal Pattern Friendship Bracelet

Materials:

embroidery floss
scissors
safety pin

Directions:

Choose 3 or 4 colors of embroidery floss
Cut each thread to a length of 60-65″
Fold the floss in half and knot to create a loop at one end
Use a safety pin to anchor floss
Loop thread 1 over thread 2 to form a number “4”
Take thread 1 and go under thread 2 then up over thread 1
Pull thread 1 up to tighten (hold thread 2)
Repeat steps 5-7 with thread 1 (you should have two knots now)
Use thread 1 to make two knots on each of your remaining threads
Repeat process with remaining threads until desired bracelet length is achieved

If all else fails, there’s a YouTube tutorial for everything! I hope your little one enjoys this classic summer activity as much as my Eloise does.

ADVENTURES, GIRLS' STYLE, LIFESTYLE

SUMMER BUCKET LIST

June 6, 2017June 8, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

Eloise and Charlotte Cate are officially finished with school, and summer is upon us! Today we wrote out our first-ever Summer bucket list, and we are ready to start checking things off the list! Compiling the list got the girls excited and helped to add some fun to the monotonous rainy days we’ve had over the past week. If you haven’t made a bucket list with your little ones, I highly recommend it!

I can’t believe Charlotte Cate will be starting Pre-K soon! I am trying to soak up every last minute of having the girls home together before they are both in “big” school. Even when they get sick of each other, we are going to make this the best summer yet!

SUMMER FUN Outfit Details: Everbloom Girls Cotton Sundress // Everbloom pompom headband // Everbloom dot capri leggings // Everbloom panda t-shirt // Everbloom Lola skirt // Everbloom pompom headband

LIFESTYLE

OUR FAVORITE CHILDREN’S BOOKS

May 23, 2017by KRISTEN CASCIOLeave a Comment

We love books around here – board books, picture books, chapter books, fiction books, nonfiction book, the list goes on and on and on. Our love for children’s books really comes as no surprise as Eloise was named after the main character in one of my childhood favorite’s, Eloise.

As a preschool teacher, picture books and board books have always been important. I’ve always loved that my girls can sit for what seems forever to read and look through them. As Eloise has grown as a reader, it’s been fun to watch her share her love of reading with her sister. Often, I will find her reading to Charlotte Cate.

Story time has evolved in our home, and as a mama it makes my heart smile big. What once was a time led mostly by me, has turned into a time shared between my girls and me. It’s amazing to see them self-select books, read predictable texts, decode new words, make real-world connections, etc. Oftentimes, Eloise will fully lead story time now; it’s incredible to see her interaction with a book, and her ability to bring books alive for her sister.

I’ve completed a round-up of some of our favorite books throughout the years.

Shopping Details: Pantone Colors // First 100 Words // Goodnight Moon // A Night Night Prayer // Brown Bear, Brown Bear, What Do You See? // Mr. Brown Can Moo! Can You? // This Little Piggy Went to Prada // You Are My Cupcake // Big Girl Panties // You Are My Sunshine // Teeth Are Not for Biting

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Shopping Details: Jesus Loves Me! // Llama Llama Red Pajama // Press Here // Once Upon a Time // When Sophie Gets Angry — Really, Really, Angry // Goldie Locks Has Chicken Pox // Baby Beluga // Down By the Bay // My First Book of Girl Power // Even Superheroes Have Bad Days

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Shopping Details: Little People, Big Dreams Coco Chanel // Madeline // Eloise // Chloe, instead // American Girl: Ultimate Visual Guide // The Bear Scouts // Pete the Cat Too Cool for School // Elephant and Piggie The Thank You Book // Henry and Mudge the First Book // Junie B. Jones First Grader (at last)

Here’s a video clip of Charlotte Cate “reading” Big Girl Panties, one of our favorites for zero to two-year-olds!

I’m always on the hunt for more books to build our little home library. Do y’all have any great recommendations? I’d love to try them out! Please share your favorites in the comments.

Category: LIFESTYLE