I’m so glad that both of my girls love to be read to. They are always down for a good story time and when I can get those snuggles in, I take them. The only issue with that is occasionally, they can get stuck on a certain book or two and want to read it over and over again. This is actually a crucial way children learn so I usually oblige them, but I’m human. I can only take a Pete the Cat book so many times in a week before I am going to go crazy.

So that is my main motivator to do seasonal books. These are books that are put away with our holiday decorations and only come out during that season. So far, every time the girls act like they’ve never seen these books and get so excited to get them out. It gives Drew and I a break in reading some of the same books over and over again year around. These books also help us prep them for what to expect for that season regarding weather, holidays, and history.

I’ve done a little round up of some of our favorites from past Halloween seasons and a couple of new ones I’ve added. Let me know what books I need to add! Also, you can get these cute and comfy pajamas here!

1. The Little Kitten by Nicola Killen

2. One Black Cat by Robie Rogge

3. Little Witch Hazel: A Year in the Forest by Phoebe Wahl

4. Gilbert the Ghost by Guido Van Genechten

5. Mother Ghost: Nursery Rhymes for Little Monsters by Rachel Kolar

6. Cats Night Out by Caroline Stutson

7. Gustavo, the Shy Ghost by Flavia Z. Drago

8. Vampirina Ballerina by Anne Marie Pace

9. Day of the Dead: A Count and Find Primer by Greg Paprocki

10. La Catrina: Emotions - Emociones by Patty Rodriguez

This post contains some affiliated links, however I wouldn’t recommend anything I don’t already love!

An apple a day keeps away anyone if you throw it far enough.

If you’ve been around these parts for awhile, you know that one of my favorite fall activities is apple picking. I posted about it in a blog post here. However, I am pretty particular about when we go. I like to wait for (usually) the one cool day in fall we get here in Southern California.

We got lucky this past weekend when a storm moved in, and despite early reports saying it would be a pretty bad storm, it basically brought a touch of rain, low lying clouds, and some much needed cooler temps. We headed off to Los Rios Rancho, in Oak Glen California.

I’ve added a few more tips here now that we’ve gone with two kiddos, I hope you find them helpful! Don’t forget to read my previous blog post with more tips too!

1. Go early in the season if possible. We went two years ago at the tail end of the season and the apples were pretty picked over. You had to really search which was frustrating for Evelyn when we told her “no” to every bruised apple she tried to put in our bag. This year, we came so early in the season, the girls had no problem finding great apples to pick! You’re paying a premium price for these apples because of the experience so you want to get good ones! I also think the premium price for these apples is well worth the memories we were making.

2. Bring layering clothes. This is for mostly cool days but even on those warm days. The temperatures in the mountains can fluctuate depending on wind, cloud coverage and time of day. It was in the high sixties most of the time we were there and coming from 100 degree temps all week, it felt pretty cold when we first got up there. But after hiking around the orchards for an hour, we all got hot and were grateful to be able to start peeling off the layers.

3. Get there right as they open! If you are there to grab some special family pictures, get there first thing. Otherwise, you’ll have people walking into your photos for the rest of the day. We were one of the first families in the orchard. We also make sure we take pictures first before we let the girls go since it’s harder to stop them once they realize how fun it is. So we make sure we grab those family pictures early in the morning right when we get there!

4. Call the orchard before you go! These are working farms generally and times and offerings can vary depending on things at the farm, including weather. The day we went was the day after they had wind gusts of 70mph. I called and made sure they were open but they were opening a bit later so they could start fixing up the damage they got from the wind the day before. So always check, it could really ruin your day if you get there and they are either closed or half of their offerings are unavailable.

I’m so grateful we are able to get find a weekend to make these memories and start this little tradition with our girls. Now I’ve got this bag of apples and I need to use up! Anyone have any good recipes?

A neutral color palette and a koala themed baby shower is everything right now! We just can’t get over all the cuteness. We were so excited to be part of this adorable event for Kat and the talented planners at Beijos Events. We had a great time working with them. Corrie Lynn Photography captured all the beautiful details and the gorgeous parents-to-be beautifully!

This party just goes to show you that neutrals aren’t boring! They can be just as vibrate and interesting as any other color palette. My favorite is how they used multiple types of textures to create depth in this gorgeous display. The rentals are from Create a Party and Crowned Rentals.

No party is complete without balloons nowadays and we are loving these inflated accents from The Pop Shop. They tie in perfectly with the floral palette to make the transitions just seamless! The florals are soft and luscious but I love how Love Struck Blooms included some dry palms to help create that “wild animal” and “koala” theme.

The super talented Pirouette Paper did all of these cute stationary details. They turned out so cute and flawlessly fit into the whole theme without shouting it in your face. She killed it with the light shades she used and the fonts! I just always love her work.

Obviously, one of my favorite parts of this party are the stir sticks we did for her. To say I’m obsessed with these koala stir sticks, is a complete understatement. I had so much fun with these and I think they turned out so cute! Any drink is automatically elevated when you have a little koala hanging off a branch in your drink right? Of course, our traditional hashtag stir sticks are still as popular as ever. They are legible, trendy, and always a hit with guests. We are always honored to be part of someone’s special occasion, but we really had a great time working with Kat on this event. I hope she loves them as much as we did!

The desserts you guys, lets talk about these adorable desserts! These amazing goodies come from Really Cute Sweets and she just knocks it out of the park. The cake is still in those neutral colors but full of texture to keep it within theme and eye catching. I’m sure it was just as delicious as it looks! And then there are these ridiculously precious koala cookies. I can’t handle the cuteness! She’s so talented!

The delicious catering is from the always amazing, Taylor Made Catering. They had such a yummy display for the party guests. I can’t look at the pictures for too long or my stomach will start to growl.

We are so excited for this couple to embark on this new parenthood journey. It’s such a blessing and we know they are going to be head over heels for their new bundle as soon as they arrive. We wish them the absolute best!

Vendors

Design & Planning - Beijos Events

Photographer - Corrie Lynn Photo

Rentals - Create A Party & Crowned Rentals

Balloons - The Pop Shop

Florals - Love Struck Blooms

Paper Goods & Signage - Pirouette Paper

Laser Cut Items - Delovely Details

Desserts - Really Cute Sweets

Catering - Taylor Made Catering