{photography by Rita Rojas-Sullivan}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It! Posted in: Decor Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

Finca Rosa Blanca has individual apartment-type rooms, we had two ...]]> We just returned from an amazing week in Costa Rica! Our good friend Stacey had wanted to make a trip to the rainforest, so we decided to tag along and I’m so so glad we did. It was a fabulous week full of good food, rainforest adventures, and lots of pool time! We used Latitudes to book our itinerary and our first stop was the organic coffee plantation Finca Rosa Blanca.

Finca Rosa Blanca has individual apartment-type rooms, we had two right next to eachother, Pino and Higuron.  Both had balconies and super-comfy king beds.  We absolutely LOVED staying here, the food was quite simply out of this world, and it was such a tranquil, beautiful spot.  This was our view from breakfast:

We took the tour of the coffee plantation and heard about all of the work it takes to grow coffee!  No wonder it costs $4.90 for my latte!

This is what a coffee bean looks like before it’s shelled, dried and roasted.

Then we got to taste some different types of grounds.  Was so interesting to see how the different methods of producing coffee make it taste differently!

After two lovely nights at Finca Rosa Blanca, we made the 4 hour trip to La Fortuna and the Arenal Nayara.  If you are visiting Costa Rica, I highly recommend hiring transportation (this is what we did) - don’t try to drive yourself!  The roads are quite simply terrible.  That 4 hour trip?  It was a 90 kilometer distance. 

Our room at the Nayara was very pretty.  We had an outdoor rain shower and jacuzzi tub, as well as super comfy beds.  Travelers take note: I was disappointed in the service from the front desk staff here, and their website states there is high-speed internet in each room.  There is not internet in-room and what you can find in the common areas is very slow and unreliable.  I wasn’t pleased that their website advertised something they didn’t have, and although the bar and waitstaff were amazing and the rooms are quite nice, I would not stay here again.

Our first rainforest excursion was a hike at the base of the Arenal volcano.  We saw all sorts of beautiful flora and didn’t even get rained on!  That night, we visited The Springs Resort (if I were rich, this is where I’d stay!) and played in their hot springs.

The next day was waterfall rappelling!  This was seriously freaking awesome.  Hard work, but so worth it!  The highest waterfall was over 200ft, and we loved traipsing through the spring water in the Costa Rica heat.  This excursion was through Desafio Adventure Company and I would highly recommend them.  Our guides were so friendly, we felt super safe, and we had a fabulous time.

And last but not least, we went ziplining!  This tour was through Arenal Paraiso, and I can’t even describe how amazing it was to fly through the jungle.  We had been ziplining before but nothing like this.  There were 11 ziplines, and the longest was over 200ft off the ground and 1200ft long.  And you flew 40 mph!  It was crazy awesome and if you visit Costa Rica, this is a MUST do for you, seriously.

There you have it, our whirlwind week in Costa Rica!  We absolutely loved it – so fun, relatively inexpensive, and even though it was rainy season, it didn’t bother us much, and we definitely didn’t have anything stopped because of the rain.  In fact, we got lucky and it really only rained while we were ziplining, which actually made it even more incredible. 

Have you visited Costa Rica?  Did you go to Arenal?  I have heard awesome things about Guanacaste and Manuel Antonio too, but with as long as it takes to get anywhere, we couldn’t do it all!

*rappelling images by Desafio Adventure Company, ziplining images by Arenal Paraiso, all other images my own. I was kind of proud of my picture-taking skills this time around! :)

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 6 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Travel

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

Lady came into our lives late one night while we were on the way to pick up some dinner, running straight at our headlights, out of the darkness.  We spent most of the following day trying to find her ...]]> Hi everyone!  Rachel here for Furbaby Friday!  As some of you might know, we like dogs in our household.  That is kind of an understatement – we love dogs!  And we are now the proud parents of dog #5 – Lady the Labrador.

Lady came into our lives late one night while we were on the way to pick up some dinner, running straight at our headlights, out of the darkness.  We spent most of the following day trying to find her owner – checking for a microchip, driving around all the nearby neighborhoods to look for “Lost” posters, printing and posting our own “Found” posters all over the area, and posting ads online at Pets911.com and Craigslist.  After 4 weeks and no inquiries, we just couldn’t believe that somebody hadn’t come forward to claim such a well-behaved (for a 1 year old!), sweet, and healthy dog.  After losing our big dog last November, it was almost like it was meant to be.

1) Her favorite toy?  Tennis balls, anything that squeeks, rope toys….. she’s 1, so really anything she can get her mouth on she loves.  Including her brother JJ, her best furr-buddy (see him in the background above, with a big smile??).

2) Her favorite treat is ice.  Really!  We can’t even give ice to any of the other dogs because she’ll steal it from them!  She also really likes Milkbones, cheese, and apples.

3) Her favorite place to nap is curled up right next to someone, preferably one of us, of course!  Have I mentioned that she thinks she’s a little dog??

4) Her favorite place to go is most definitely her training class at PetsMart!  She’s realized that when we go there, she gets lots and lots and lots of treats.  Sometimes whole bagfuls.  Her second favorite place to go to is the dog park to chase frisbees and tennis balls.

5) Lady’s best move is definitely “sit” right now.  She’s learning to lay down, and all the other great stuff they teach you in beginner classes, but she has “sit” down pat.  She’s learned that most of the time, if she comes up to you and sits, she’ll get lots of love and attention (and possibly a treat!).

Want to have your little one featured on Furbaby Friday?  Send an email with furbaby pictures to [living at elizabeth anne designs dot com] with the subject “Furbaby Friday” with your furbaby photos (at least 600px in width please), a couple of sentences about their stinkin’ cute personalities, and answer these questions on their behalf:

1) Favorite toy
2) Favorite treat
3) Favorite place to nap
4) Favorite travel destination (ex: petsmart, grandma’s house, the park, etc)
5) Best trick (or as I like to say “best move” – as in, Charlie’s adorable stretch where he pulls his little wrists up to his face and then pushes his arms down his chest is his best move!)

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 2 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Pets

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

{photography by Cheryl M. Photography}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 ...]]> Crafty mom alert! This adorable first birthday party is all about Ethan and the Frog Prince.  Ethan’s mother handmade all the desserts and decorations, including the cupcakes, cake, fondant frog prince and all the darling peace frog accents. I just love the precious pictures from Cheryl M. Photography (especially the ones of Ethan and his birthday cake!), the sweet baby blue and sea green colors, and Ethan and the Frog Prince’s matching crowns. :)

{photography by Cheryl M. Photography}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 5 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Birthday Parties, Real Parties

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

Photography – Kim Robbins \ Styling – Brier Rose Design \ ...]]> This is such an adorable little mother-daughter shoot!  Collette from Brier Rose Design styled the sweet vintage lemonade stand setting, and spent a lovely afternoon with her daughter Brierlyn playing and laughing while sipping lemonade and enjoying the gorgeous California weather.  Brierlyn is cute as a button, and the images from Kim Robbins are ones I know they will treasure forever.  Love this idea for some “Mommy and Me” keeper shots!

Photography – Kim Robbins \ Styling – Brier Rose Design \ Vintage rentals – Smoke Tree Junction Antiques \ Mother’s clothes – Maple Boutique \ Girls clothes – Gap Kids

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 1 comment · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Children, Photography

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

We’re quite busy laundering and folding itty bitty baby clothes and blankets; hanging artwork on the walls of the nursery; stacking diapers; and tackling the million other odds and ends on our to-do list. But I also know how important it is to find time to pamper myself. Between an expanding waistline, an achy back, and regular heartburn, it’s sometimes the ...]]> We are just weeks away from meeting our little Peanut, and I honestly can’t believe how quickly time has passed.

We’re quite busy laundering and folding itty bitty baby clothes and blankets; hanging artwork on the walls of the nursery; stacking diapers; and tackling the million other odds and ends on our to-do list. But I also know how important it is to find time to pamper myself. Between an expanding waistline, an achy back, and regular heartburn, it’s sometimes the small indulgences that make all the difference.

Here’s a list of my current favorite finds:

Bella B Tummy Honey Butter: Not sure if I can credit good genes or this belly butter, but I’m still stretch mark-free at 36 weeks pregnant! Plus it keeps my stomach from itching throughout the day.

Clinique Repairwear Intensive Night Cream: Typically my skin is oily during the summertime. But not this year. And so I’ve incorporated this silky face cream into my nightly routine. I use it after Clinique’s 3-Step products, and my husband jokes that I now have about 12 steps to complete each night. It’s true.

St. Ives Oatmeal and Shea Butter Moisturizer: Speaking of dry skin, I am in love with this body lotion. It smells sweet and goes on smooth. I use it twice a day.

Snoogle: I simply cannot sleep without this pillow. It hugs the natural curves of my body and forces me to remain on my (preferably left) side all night. And its soft jersey cover is comfortable enough to replace my standard pillow. So far hubs is okay with the new guest in our bed. He even “snoogles” after I get up to shower in the morning.

Crocs flats: Wedges and stilettos may be stylish, but I just can’t wear them. Not before and definitely not now. And even my flats don’t feel as supportive as they once did. Fortunately, I found the most comfortable pair of shoes: sling back flats by Crocs. They basically haven’t left my feet since I bought them.

Jersey Dresses and Tanks from Old Navy: Comfortable. Versatile. Affordable. Love everything about them. And they’ve become absolutely essential in these final weeks when nothing else seems to fit.

Prenatal Yoga DVD: I miss my power yoga class, but this DVD does the trick for now. There are planks and warriors and triangles — with modifications for each trimester. And I feel amazingly loose and relaxed after my 50-minute living room session.

TUMS Smoothies: I thought I knew what heartburn was until I entered the third trimester of pregnancy. Now, no matter what I eat, heartburn accompanies it. Enter TUMS. I eat at least three per day.

Other things I can’t live without: Honey Bunches of Oats, fruit of all varieties, Annie’s cheddar bunnies and macaroni & cheese, English muffins with Grandma’s strawberry preserves, and ice cream. Also: my husband. But that goes without saying, right?

What are your favorite products, pregnancy or otherwise?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 1 comment · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Beauty, Good Things

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

Some of you are probably scratching your heads right now. She doesn’t want a baby’s room to look babyish? So I’ll explain.

My goal is to create a comfortable space for my son and for myself. ...]]> When JB and I learned we were having a boy, I immediately started daydreaming about how I would decorate the nursery. As I scoured the internet and magazines for inspiration, the only thing I knew for sure was that I didn’t want it to look babyish.

Some of you are probably scratching your heads right now. She doesn’t want a baby’s room to look babyish? So I’ll explain.

My goal is to create a comfortable space for my son and for myself. Yes, I’m decorating partly for him and partly for me since I anticipate I’ll be spending quite a lot of time in his room.

First, I thought about colors. Specifically, paint colors. I don’t think a nursery should be limited to candy coated shades of pink or blue or yellow. And truthfully, I don’t care for pastel colors anyway. My office, which will become the baby’s room, was painted a bright shade of green called Dill Pickle. I actually had nothing against the color for a boy’s room. In fact, one of my closest friends painted her baby boy’s room Dill Pickle. But after two and half years surrounded by green walls, I was ready for a change.

So I began seeking inspiration, and when I stumbled upon Hawken’s room and Finn’s room I knew I found exactly what I wanted. Their striped walls appeared sophisticated, preppy and masculine, which I loved. I also liked the fact that stripes would add visual interest and dimension to my baby’s small room. Once JB and I agreed on the walls, the rest of color scheme sort of fell into place.

My painted doubted my vision from the beginning, but when he pulled the last piece of tape off the wall, he acknowledged that my idea worked. No, the room doesn’t look exactly like Hawken’s and Finn’s… but you’ll have to wait a little bit longer for the big reveal.

Stay tuned for part 2: nursery furniture.

 {images via Project Nursery and Ohdeedoh}

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 3 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Children, Decor

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook

Our friend Robin, of Robin Cain Photography, was ...]]> One of the great things about living in Colorado is the great access to farm-fresh produce during the summer.  From fresh corn to fragrant tomatoes, everything seems to be in season right now, so we decided to take advantage of the abundance of wonderful food at a summer “Farm to Table” dinner party last weekend.  The meal featured local, organic produce and flowers, and herbs and other goodies right out of the garden!

Our friend Robin, of Robin Cain Photography, was able to come and photograph the festivities.  She’s such a talented photographer–check out her blog or site if you’re looking for a Colorado wedding or portrait photographer!

It’s such a great feeling to work with farm-grown produce, especially when you know where it came from.  It doesn’t have to be fancy (as you’ll see here), but be inspired by the flavors of the season!

Above: Salami, figs, and a goat cheese spread.

Warmed goat cheese spread:
Simply combine equal parts cream cheese, marinated feta, and goat cheese; add whatever herbs you have on hand (I used chives and thyme; but rosemary would be a wonderful addition!) and bake in dishes at 350 degrees for about 30 minutes, until hot and bubbly.  Serve with crusty baguettes or crackers.

Our cat, Butters, had a great time with all those savory smells!

Above: These wonderful fingerlings came from a local farm and were seasoned with garlic and rosemary, roasted in olive oil.

Roasted Fingerlings:
Slice fingerlings thinly. Drizzle with olive oil, fresh diced garlic, and thyme, rosemary, or other favorite herbs.  Roast at 400 degrees, in a single layer on a  baking sheet for about 25 minutes, or until browned and slightly crispy. Finish with a dusting of sea salt.

We finished off the meal with a delicious dessert of lemon curd cakes, drizzled with lemon syrup and dolloped with a creme fraiche whipped cream, poppy seeds, and a sprinkling of pistachios.  The best combination of salty, sweet, and tangy–and a perfect end to a summer meal!  Recipe via Food & Wine.

What recipes are you enjoying this summer?

© Elizabeth Anne Designs, 2011 · Permalink · 4 comments · StumbleUpon It!
Posted in: Cooking and Food, Entertaining, Real Parties

Follow Ami on Twitter · Join us at EAD Weddings too! · EAD on Facebook