It’s the fact that he comes home bearing gifts. And, that gift is usually from Erica Weiner. I’ve been a fan since Kevin & I were just dating… I saw a handcuff necklace in a magazine, and somehow it was so ‘me’ that both my boyfriend & my good friend ordered it for me. And, what’s crazy, is that I didn’t even show them the magazine tear. The main reason it was so clear that I’m a fan is because of how feminine, yet edgy it is. See for yourself…

Excuse, my freckles. But, I just had to show you how cool it looks on. This particular necklace has a cool story! Kevin stopped in the NYC Erica Weiner boutique and was greeted by the one & only Erica Weiner. She showed Kevin some options, but he really just loved the necklace she was wearing. She said it was a mould of a bat jaw (how cool, right?) and that it was just a prototype… but, she took it right off her neck & sold it to Kevin. I just love that, as of right now, it’s a one of a kind.

So, thanks to my love for always thinking of me… I’ll never have enough Erica Weiner (just so you know). And, now I have a new everyday necklace. (I literally haven’t taken it off since he gave it to me)

xx beth

ALL PHOTOS BY BETH DOTOLO VIA INSTAGRAM

Last weekend we decided to head out and attempt to kill two birds with one stone. Kevin had been in desperate need of a haircut & Max was looking a little shaggy. We had been unhappy with the kids places we’d found to cut Max’s hair, so we decided to let him tag along with Dad.

I’ve got to tell you, Max has gotten the best hair cuts when he’s gone to barbers, as opposed to the salons geared towards kids. If your kids can sit still with a lollipop, I suggest you try it! But, back to Rudy’s…

I fully anticipated to enter in to one of those ‘we’re cooler than you’ hipster joints (after all, the founders of Rudy’s also founded the Ace Hotel. Watch this cool video to see their story about how Rudy’s and the Ace Hotel came to be). We had the friendliest hair stylists. Everyone was incredibly kind to Max. And, Kevin was chatting it up with his stylist (who let me take a photo of his ‘I Will Cut You’ shirt above). I always love a company with creative & edgy branding, that manages to create a sense of community within their concept. They make you feel like going there is a part of a lifestyle.

Now, I wouldn’t go there for my hair, but I loved the place! I loved the vibe, the understated decor, and the people there. Most of all, I loved that we could hop on the bus as a family, stroll around the hood, and experience Max & Kevin being dudes together.

It was precious!

xx beth

All photos by Beth Dotolo via Instagram

So, who knew lemons were so hard to find in Mexico? Since I was on cocktail duty on our vacation, I fully planned on making this elderflower cocktail for the family in Mexico. Not only were lemons hard to find, but so was the St Germain. So, I got a little creative and the result was absolutely delicious!

I had so much fun playing mixologist, that I just had to share the recipe…

Get the printable recipe: Pom-Limón Cocktail

I hope you’ll try. It’s perfect for summer!

xx beth

PHOTOS BY BETH DOTOLO VIA INSTAGRAM

Sometimes it takes leaving the country to have a full appreciation for what you have at home. That being said, we had the most amazing time with my mom & new family. We stayed in an incredible villa with an ocean view that (literally) brought me to tears. My mom’s wedding was beautiful and private (there were only 6 of us there). And, the service was incredible. I’m one of those people who can just be on vacation. I don’t need to run around and keep myself busy, and this vacation was perfect for that.

Everything was just perfect… Until it wasn’t. We ended up making two ER visits. One in Mexico & One in Seattle upon immediate return. Max ate a rogue nut & had a severe reaction in Mexico (like blue lips, and all)! And, after spending the night in a Mexican hospital (with almost no one who spoke English) which made us have to stay an extra day, we returned to the villa only to have me slip & fall. Some severely torn ligaments in my foot & ankle later, we’re back in the US (wearing a big sexy hospital boot) and remembering the good times. We are glad to be back home!

Here are some shots from our vacay…

That was our trip to Mexico in a nutshell (though, we’re staying away from nuts of any kind for a while)… the good, the bad, and the ugly. But, aside from the ugly, it was a pretty amazing trip! Thanks mom & michael, for bringing us out and letting us celebrate with you.

xx beth

photos by Beth Dotolo via Instagram

And, it all really started with Hello, Splendor. I started that little blog as a personal outlet and it kind of blew up in the best way possible. Then, last year when I decided to take the plunge in my business, Pulp Design Studios, I gave the blog over to Pulp Design Studios. That’s when it (meaning I) sort of lost focus. I wasn’t sure what was business and what was personal… after all, my business is very personal to me. And, I wasn’t sure how much should I share of my personal life on which is now my business blog. It was a blogging personality crisis, if you will. Well, today launched what is a new focus for Hello, Splendor…

She got a brand new makeover (Thank you, SWOON, the studio) and the blog has a brand new direction. We are going to be showing more of the design projects we’re working on and the inspiration behind them. But, we also feel that a beautifully designed home just isn’t enough… we want people to live beautifully in their homes. So, we’ll also be sharing home, entertaining, and lifestyle inspiration, as well, to show our clients and readers how to make the most of their abode.

It’s sure to be beautiful, inspiring, and…. focused.

And, the best part is that I get to scratch my blogging itch here on bethdotolo.com. If you know me at all, you know I have a lot to say & there’s more to me than just my business. So, here we are. The perfect solution… I get to share my love of home living & design there and share my love of life & living life here.

So, please… go visit the new Hello, Splendor:

Hello, Splendor

I can’t tell you how happy my heart is with the new look & new direction. I hope you enjoy.

xx beth

photo by Beth Dotolo via Instagram

This year is just flying by! As of this month, we will have officially lived in Seattle for six months. Part of me feels like we just got here and other part of me feels like we’ve always lived here. Oh, back to July… I’ve listed a few things for July that I’m excited about & a few things that I think everyone should add to their calendar. Television events, holidays, and the relaunch of my company’s blog. Mark those calendars…

July 1

TELEVISION // Showtime’s Weeds premieres! Let’s see what high jinx Nancy Botwin gets herself into… This is the show’s last season, so I hope it’s a good one!

July 4

HOLIDAY // Happy Independence Day! Celebrate with a patriotic cocktail.

July 6

CELEBRATE // Happy Anniversary Ma & Pop! xx

MOVIES // Savages opens in theaters. Not that we make it to the movies much these days, but this looks like a good one!

July 8

CELEBRATE // Happy Birthday to my Sis-In-Law!

July 9

MARK YOUR CALENDARS // The brand spankin’ new Hello, Splendor (the PULP blog) is re-launching with a brand new look and brand new content. It’s really exciting for me & I hope you’ll enjoy.

July 14

HOLIDAY // Bastille Day! I think some French macaroons are in order.

July 20

MOVIES // The Dark Knight Rises premieres! I love a good Batman flick, especially when Christopher Nolan is directing.

July 21

FUN // Our family is coming to visit! We have a week of wine tastings & ferry rides planned. The best part about having people come to town is that we get to explore our new city with them. I’m sure you’ll catch it all on my Instagram feed.

July 25

FUN // Yankee game in Seattle! Our first Seattle baseball game… Let’s see what the ballpark food is like in the Emerald City.

TELEVISION // Top Chef Masters premieres! I’m excited that one of the cheftestants is competing for Cystic Fibrosis Foundation & we also have a Seattle chef. Here’s the lineup.

July 27

TELEVISION // Olympic Opening Ceremony!! I love some Summer Olympics… Hello London!

What is my calendar missing? I love a new iCal addition, so please let me know if I need to mark my calendar for something exciting!

xx beth

FEATURED IMAGE BY BETH DOTOLO VIA INSTAGRAM

My mom is getting married & I’m so excited to see her and her new husband to celebrate!

I’ve actually never vacationed in Mexico, so I’m excited to relax ocean-side with my shades on and a margarita in hand. (By the way, those shades are a pair of men’s aviator sunglasses from Target that I get compliments on all the time. I’ve bought handfuls of these & just throw them in my purse without worrying about scratching them up. The perfect pair!)

So… back to the part where I’ve never been to Mexico! Anyone got pointers? So far, here’s what I’ve got:

- Don’t drink the water.

- Bring lots of sunscreen.

- Bring pesos.

Anyone got any other tips for me?? I’m all ears!

Cheers to Mexico & holy matrimony! You’ll be seeing plenty of photos of our trip posted on the blog when we come back to reality (or if there’s wifi). Taking a deep breath and a sigh….. ahhhhh, vacation. 

xx beth

Photo by Beth Dotolo via Instagram

For Father’s Day breakfast, I made a great baked egg recipe that I’ve been making for years (will share that one at a later date!) and decided to make some sides out of the fixings I had for a picnic sandwich later that day. I baked some italian meats instead of bacon and I just threw together a fruit salad with some fruits we had on hand. Little did I know….

It would be the best fruit salad I’d ever eat. And, for the record, I’m not the only one who said so. My hubby and Wildcat both agreed. It was like eating healthy candy!

And, it didn’t last long! For such an easy little dish, it sure did make for some happy campers. Give it a whirl!

Enjoy!

xx beth

Photos by Beth Dotolo & Kevin Dotolo via Instagram

Yeah, I know it’s a hot button issue. Well, let me tell you that being on an airplane with a toddler is worst for the parents than it is for the poor souls sitting near the toddler. There’s truly is nothing fun about flying with a little one… except landing at your vacation destination. Having family all over the country, we’ve flown with our little guy quite a bit and have become quite good at it, I think! I thought I’d share some of our favorite apps for keeping the kids entertained for hours.

Our 8 Favorite Apps for Kids

1. PBS Kids, for iPhone & iPad, FREE

Streams all the great PBS Kids shows, like Curious George, Cat in the Hat, and Sesame Street with no subscription required. It’s completely free! Thank you Public Access. The only downside is that it requires an internet connection, so an in-flight wifi purchase is necessary (but, so worth it!).

2. Netflix, for iPhone & iPad, Free With Subscription

This isn’t a kids app and does require a Netflix subscription, but the options for children and family movies and television seems to be endless. You need to be connected to the internet to use. The biggest downside we’ve found is that it requires supervision. Our son can whip around this app better than I can, so if you turn your back you might find that they’ve selected their own show that’s not kid approved. It’s a lifesaver, but you’ve got to keep an eye out.

3. Toy Story Read-Along, for iPad

Great little read-along story book that also has a digital coloring pages that keeps them occupied.

4. Another Monster at the End of This Book, FOR IPHONE & IPAD, $5.99

Ok, this one’s a little pricey, but our little guy loved The Monster at the End of this Book, with Grover, so much that when they thew Elmo in the mix we just couldn’t help ourselves. It’s a good one!

5. Thomas & Friends: Day of the Diesels, for iPhone & iPad, $6.99

Another pricey one, but this one has surprised us. It’s got interactive stories, puzzles, and matching games. It’s completely intuitive for the littles ones. When I looked over to find Max playing the matching game all on his own without me even showing him, it was worth the 7 bucks!

6. Art Maker, for iPad, $2.99

This is a chance to let your little creative genius run wild. It’s got fun digital art projects, mixed with puzzles. You can pull in photos from your iPad and create art with fun family photos. Just beware of what photos you have in your photo library. I looked over one day to find Max making a beautiful beach scene with one of my childbirth photos. A dolphin swimming out of my lady parts was not part of the plan!

7. Curious George at the Zoo, for iPAD, $0.99

This curious little app is a must for Curious George lovers. Kids can clean, feed, and take care of the animals all while hanging out with their favorite monkey.

8. Elmo Loves ABC’s, for iPad, $4.99

Filled with Sesame Street clips, the educational app teaches children letter association, tracing the shapes of the letters, and has fun puzzles and music to go along. With activities for every letter, this app keeps children occupied for hours.

Hope this helps you get through your summer travels with your little ones!

Anyone got any foolproof apps they love? I could use some suggestions for our long flight to Mexico!

xx

beth

Photo by Beth Dotolo via Instagram

This year I had the pleasure of celebrating Father’s Day with two great Dad’s. Not my own, sadly! But, my husband’s (and my) great friend, who we fondly call Wildcat, just moved to Seattle from Dallas and is staying with us. He had to make the journey out here before his family, so it was our job to make it a special day. It was an all day affair! After a great breakfast, we headed to the beach for a picnic. It was serene, gorgeous, and best of all…. delicious.

There just happened to be a sailing event of some sort (something I know nothing about, but am completely in awe over), so it made for a really colorful view.

It really was a great little picnic. (And, it helped that our little one was sound asleep in the stroller so Mom & Dad could partake!)

We enjoyed some local Freya’s Gold brew by a Seattle brewery, called Odin. It was great and paired perfectly with our lunch. We will definitely be trying that beer again. So, about that lunch!

Our Spicy Italian Fig Sandwich was originally an open-faced recipe that came from Spoon Fork Bacon. I’ve had it printed and stowed away in my recipe book since last year waiting for the perfect time to try it. This little sandwich had so many layers and flavors packed into one sweet pretty little bite. Give it a try!

Hope you enjoyed your Father’s Day!

xx beth

Photos by Beth Dotolo, Kevin Dotolo, & Whiskey Mustache via Instagram