Favorites: Ziraffe Store + Instagram Takeover

June 24, 2016 lisa jackson

Last week I partnered with the super cute modern kids online shop Ziraffe, to take over their Instagram feed. Owner and mama Yunyi Zhang sent over a couple of outfits for Lucas and Theo and she was spot on in choosing for their personalities. We discovered some cool new European brands including Macarons, Munster Kids and arsene et les pipelettes.

I shot Lucas and Theo in their cool outfits just doing everyday things like playing Pokemon with daddy, eating a giant bowl of noodles, drawing, wrestling and visiting Nana and Grandad in Santa Rosa. We also went on a mama and Lucas day date to visit Tartine Bakery in San Francisco where we had croissants, hot chocolate and an almond latte. Lucas would always say how much he loves croissants and that the ones he's had from Costco are so yummy. It only took one bite of Tartine's croissant to declare them the best he's ever had.

Check out my takeover on Ziraffe's Instagram feed. And here are all the outtakes!

Favorites: Ziraffe Store + Instagram Takeover / www.goodonpaperdesign.com/blog/favorites-ziraffe-store-instagram-takeover / @good_on_paper

+ Find me on Instagram (@good_on_paper), Twitter (@good_on_paper), Pinterest (@goodonpaperdes) and Tumblr (hellogoodonpaper)
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Father's Day Camp Grilling and Beer Tasting with Whole Foods Market

June 6, 2016 lisa jackson

Father’s Day is just around the corner on June 19th. I've partnered with Whole Foods Market to bring you a little Father's Day camp grilling and beer tasting inspiration for all you dads out there--new dads, single dads, grandads, animal dads and every other rad dad out there.

We invited our good friends Brad and Nancy and their son Ben, along with Eric and Susana and their boys Nico and Mateo, over for some urban camp grilling (think foil-wrapped camp food cooked on a backyard grill). We also roasted s'mores over a portable fire pit, set up an outdoor movie screen for the kids, and had a blind beer tasting for the dads. Oh, and we can't forget the Warriors playoff game that happened to be playing that night. Go Dubs!

Take a look at our drool-worthy dinner menu:

Two Kinds of Cool Kebabs: Grapes/Cheddar and Caprese (recipe from Sunset Magazine's new Camp Sunset cookbook)
Candied Rosemary Hazelnuts (from Camp Sunset)
Crackers/Olives/Cheese plate
Grilled Wild Alaskan Salmon Foil Packets (recipe from the Whole Foods Blog)
Simple Grilled Asparagus
Hot Dogs from Fork in the Road (made with sustainable pasture-raised beef)
Cabbage Crunch Salad from Whole Foods
Pull-Apart Garlic Bread (from Camp Sunset)
Peach Crisps in Foil Packets with Creme Fraiche Whipped Cream (from Camp Sunset)
Classic S'mores

For the beer tasting, I wanted two IPAs and two Stouts, I wanted them to be from local or California breweries, and of course, the label had to be cute--Rachel from Whole Foods Gilman was amazing at helping me select a few craft brews for me to choose from. Here were my final selections:

Almanac IPA (San Francisco, CA)
With intense aromas of grapefruit and tangerine peel, melon, pineapple and pine trees. The finish has a clean bitterness and light saltine cracker note.

Iron Springs Casey Jones Imperial IPA (Fairfax, CA)
This double IPA has twice the hops and grains as its counterpart. Significant floral, citrus, and peppery notes on the nose, yet even with the enormous hop profile, the huge grain bill results in a very well balanced brew.

Modern Times Beer Mega Black House Imperial Stout - Special Release (San Diego, CA)
An imperialized version of Black House loaded with their house-roasted coffee. Thick, chewy, and bursting with coffee aroma & flavor.

Bike Dog Brewing Company Milk Stout (West Sacramento, CA)
A sweet stout with chocolate notes and a hint of coffee and milk.

I hand painted a rough buffalo plaid pattern onto kraft butcher paper to line the tables. I designed some cute beer tasting cards for the dads to rate each beer.

Um, luckily I printed out four cards! And please note that Theo did not actually taste test any of those beers. ;)

Three rad beer-loving dads with their winning selections from the beer tasting--so fun that they each had a different favorite! They had a lot of fun discovering these new beers and were pleasantly surprised that Whole Foods had such a great selection of craft brews.

Delicious olives and cheeses including ones from Kite Hill (made with almond milk and so good!), Mitica Cana de Oveja Mitica and Fromi Brebirousse D'Argental.

These Candied Hazelnuts from the new Camp Sunset cookbook were so easy to make and highly addictive. You could also find the recipe here.

These Cool Kebabs from the Camp Sunset cookbook were super easy and quick to make. Even Theo helped out--he made the one with all grapes and one cheese cube ;)

And can we talk about these delicious little goodies? A Whole Foods Market exclusive, they're from Fork in the Road, a company that acts responsibly, humanely and compassionately and are made with sustainable, pasture-raised uncured beef without any antibiotics or added hormones.

I used this recipe for Grilled Salmon in Foil Packets for the main dish using fresh, wild Alaskan salmon from the fish section at Whole Foods, organic cherry tomatoes, lemons, olives, and fresh thyme, oregano and parsley.

For dessert I made these Peach Crisps in Foil Packets with Creme Fraiche Whipped Cream from the Camp Sunset cookbook.

It wouldn't be urban camping without s'mores by the firepit, right? Nick put together our Stahl Firepit in a jiffy. Should have started the fire earlier so it would be perfect for s'mores but the guys were too busy beer tasting!

Now THIS is urban camping! Go Warriors!

Setting out all the ingredients in a pan made it easy for everyone to assemble their s'mores. I used Elyon Natural Vanilla Marshmallows, and 365 Fair Trade Dark Chocolate, and Organic Honey Grahams from Whole Foods.

Let's not forget the amazing Father's Day gifts you could get at Whole Foods. These include a Kleen Kanteen, grilling tools, books, Allegro coffee and mugs, Kikkerland Bike Phone Holder, 3-in-1 Mini Screwdriver, TrueFlask Soft Touch Flask, Herban Cowboy products, and Thrive skin care products.

And my favorite photo of the night...

Special thanks to Whole Foods Market for sponsoring this post. All content, ideas, and words are my own.

Favorites: Swoop Mini Bags

June 3, 2016 lisa jackson

I don't know what's worse--a million Lego pieces all over the house or a few Legos on the floor that you step on with your bare feet. Ouch, right!?! Either way, Legos need a place of their own. Lucas and Theo were so lucky to inherit their cousin's gazillion Legos which they love and play with on a daily basis (remember our trip to Legoland?). And Lucas just got a bunch of new Legos for his 6th birthday. Though we have some Ikea storage bins, we could always use more storage for all those tiny pieces. So when Sarah at Swoop Bags sent us their new Swoop Mini Bags, we were thrilled! Not only are they perfect for storing the Legos and MagnaTiles they're playing with at the moment, but they are also great for traveling--we just took them to visit Nana and Grandad in Santa Rosa last weekend! And I swear they encourage cooperative play! Win Win! ;)

Designed and made in Seattle of tough, water-resistant nylon fabric, they have an inside pocket, heavy duty nylon cording with locks, are machine washable (yay!) and have a lifetime warranty.

Scroll to the bottom to find a special discount from Swoop Bags.

Hello, mini pocket!

Took our Legos and MagnaTiles to Nana and Grandad's house for the first time!

I love that these Swoop Mini Bags can hold so much yet cinch up easily and feel so compact.

+ Sarah at Swoop Bags is kindly offering 20% off in their Shop with code GOOD20 through Sunday, June 5th.
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Lucas' 6th Birthday Party

May 13, 2016 lisa jackson

A couple of weekends ago we celebrated Lucas' 6th birthday party. Time sure flies--I just can't believe he is now 6! Remember his 1st, 2nd, 3rd, 4th, and 5th birthday parties? As usual, I ask Lucas what kind of party he wants each year and then I put my own modern spin on theme. This year Lucas initially asked for a Pokemon party but later decided on a magic theme after having seen a magician called Magical Nathaniel at Playland-Not-At-The-Beach.

I designed the invitations with a clean but slightly vintage feel, complete with custom photo envelope liners and a custom rubber stamp that would be used on favor bags and food packaging. The double thick invitations were mailed in kraft envelopes and sealed with wraparound address labels.

The party took place at the Padre Picnic Area in Tilden Park in Berkeley and the we couldn't have lucked out with better weather--you never know in April! Guests set out blankets and flew kites, played soccer, baseball and tag. We hired Magical Nathaniel to perform a magic show for 45 minutes. He was amazing and kids and adults alike were in awe by his tricks. Funny how every 6-year old seems to think they know how he does his tricks.

The amazing food for the party was generously provided by Whole Foods Market. In case you didn't know, Whole Foods Market cater kids parties too and can customize a menu for you. To go along with our magic theme, the catering team made Popcorn Chicken, Grilled Corn on the Cob, Mini Chicken Corn Dogs (a kid favorite), "Magic Wand" Fruit Skewers, Classic Mac 'N' Cheese, their signature Cabbage Crunch Salad (my fave!), and Potato Salad (several people told me this was the best they have had). They also provided Organic Juice Boxes, Mochi Ice Cream by Bubbies, and Annie's Homegrown Fruit Snacks for the pinata. Thank you Whole Foods Market (specifically the Berkeley and Gilman locations)!

Per Lucas' request, I made him a chocolate cake with vanilla frosting and edible gold stars and a gazillion cupcakes for his friends.

A Jackson birthday party tradition, we had donut holes with custom designed cones--always a huge hit with everyone!

Nick and I made this awesome playing card pinata and giant magic wand for busting it open. It was actually really easy and full DIY instructions can be found on Oh Happy Day blog.

I used the custom rubber stamp for the cotton favor bags that each held Pocky Sticks (they look like magic wands!), a coin trick, fortune teller fish, and mini word game books.

Lucas had the brilliant idea of having a Make-Your-Own-Wand station. Using a wooden dowel with eye hooks, kids could use Japanese washi tape and choose colorful ribbons to make a fun magic ribbon wand.

My baby is 6!! Whaaaaat?!?

Theo ate fruit skewers for lunch.

Classic Mac 'N' Cheese and awesome Popcorn Chicken with two kinds of housemade dipping sauces--BBQ and ranch.

Grilled Corn on the Cob was a crowd favorite.

Okay, how cute is my friend Jeanne's daughter Hayden sipping her organic lemonade? And my niece Tallia waving her wand and my friends Aaron and Corrine's daughter Josephine who LOVED the corn on the cob.

Mini Chicken Corn Dogs were a kid favorite.

Whole Foods Market Gilman provided delicious Mochi Ice Cream from Bubbies. I packaged and labeled them individually in glassine bags and stamped them with Lucas' birthday logo. I chose four flavors--Mango, Green Tea, Strawberry and Vanilla.

If you don't know about this Cabbage Crunch Salad at Whole Foods, you're missing out. Not sure if every location has it, but damn, it's good.

I usually prefer the vinegar-based kind of potato salad, but this was the Best Classic Potato Salad ever!

Magical Nathaniel was awesome! He's a Cal student and does magic on the side but plans to make it his full time gig. If you need a magician for your party, you need to hire him. Nearly every kid sat still for the 45-minute performance. He was entertaining and engaging with the kids, often asking for volunteers to help him with his tricks. The kids loved it!

OMG, Magical Nathaniel solved this Rubik's Cube in a minute and 30 seconds--blindfolded!

This is the look of a 3.5-year old who missed his nap and ate nothing but fruit and donut holes for lunch. Poor Theo.

This pinata was awesome because no one could bust it open which meant every kid got a chance to hit it. Ha!

Eventually, Nick had to discreetly stab a few holes into it.

*This post is in partnership with Whole Foods Market. All words and ideas are my own.

The New Sunset Magazine Test Garden and Kitchen at Cornerstone

May 6, 2016 lisa jackson

Earlier this week I got to tour the new Sunset Magazine Test Garden and Kitchen at Cornerstone in Sonoma as they prepare for their annual Sunset Celebration Weekend on May 14-15. For the first time, Celebration Weekend will be held at Cornerstone, a marketplace
with food and wine, shops, gardens and event spaces that will serve as Sunset's
beautiful new wine country location. Remember their rad new headquarters in Oakland?

The new Outdoor Kitchen was still under construction but promises to showcase the best in Western living. Complete with a standalone wine bar island and a double island cooking peninsula with two grills, refrigerator, sink, and four gas burners, the Outdoor Kitchen has been designed to showcase food and wine pairing demos and educational sessions.

On May 14th and 15th, 2016, Sunset fans will join editors, celebrity chefs, vintners, craft beer brewers and renowned lifestyle experts at Cornerstone in Sonoma, CA, for this two-day series of culinary, wine, garden and lifestyle events including the debut of the new Sunset Test Gardens, Outdoor Kitchen, and "Airstream Village". Featured presenters include celebrity chefs Ludo Lefebvre, Tanya Holland, Andy Ricker, Russell Moore, Ayesha Curry, Amanda Haas, Cindy Pawlcyn, Ellie Krieger and more.

To purchase tickets and find more information, go to www.sunset.com/cw

Sunset Wine Editor Sara Schneider about to take us on a wine tasting tour at the three tasting rooms on the premises--Meadowcroft, Keating and Poseidon Vineyard & Obsidian Ridge. Too bad I'm allergic to alcohol! I sat back, took photos and chatted it up with Irene Edwards, the down-to-earth, no nonsense, very cool Editor-in-Chief of Sunset.

Designed by Homestead Design Collective, (co-owned by Alethea Harampolis of Studio Choo), the new Sunset Test Garden is divided into distinct garden “rooms,” including the Cocktail Garden, the Farm, the Backyard Orchard, and the Flower Room, bursting with blooms like classic David Austin Roses and specialty chrysanthemums. The Gathering Space is the outdoor living room of Sunset’s dreams: Olive trees offer shade, and borders of low maintenance and drought tolerant Sunset Western Garden Collection plants mingle nicely with graphic succulents.

Custom walk through trellises were fabricated in LA by TerraSculpture.

The Frank Lloyd Wright inspired greenhouse is courtesy of Portland-based NW Green Panels.

Sunset Garden Editor Johanna Silver will be joined by some of the West’s leading experts in drought tolerant landscaping, edible gardening, and garden design at this perennially popular area of Celebration Weekend.

I was really excited to see the camp cooking demo from Associate Food Editor, Elaine Johnson. We each received a prepub copy of Camp Sunset: A Modern Camper's Guide to the Great Outdoors. Elaine showed us how to make a simple mezze platter, a cocktail, a mocktail, and how to build the perfect campfire. I can't wait to delve into Camp Sunset and go camping with the boys this summer.

Elaine shows us the best way to make a fire.

A complete schedule of Celebration Weekend 2016 presenters and events, event information and online tickets is available at www.sunset.com/cw

Family Trip to Lake Tahoe

April 22, 2016 lisa jackson

A few weeks ago we were fortunate enough to take a family trip to my friend Lisa's cabin in Lake Tahoe. It was SO beautiful and the perfect little spring break weekend getaway with good friends Brad and Nancy and their son Ben. Remember our last trip to Lake Tahoe two summers ago (Theo was still using a pacifier!) and our family vacation to Maui last year? Another reason we wanted to go to Tahoe was because Theo had never seen snow before--of course he LOVED it. How could you not love this place?

All photos taken with my iPhone6.

Before...

And after...

And then the clothes came off!

We can't wait to go back! :)

Ready Made Party Invitations are Here

April 21, 2016 lisa jackson

Hey friends! I finally made these popular birthday party invitations readily available and customizable in my online Shop. Choose from 5 designs for now--Go Wild, Modern Superhero, Modern Circus, Colorblock and Summer Watermelon. Each one will be printed onto double thick recycled paper and comes with printed envelopes. Let me know what you think!

Favorites: Sweetgreen Berkeley

April 19, 2016 lisa jackson

I had the opportunity to check out the new Sweetgreen in Berkeley today. Taking over the old Oscar's on Shattuck Avenue, Sweetgreen brings healthy, vegetable and whole grain focused food to Berkeley using organic ingredients from local sources--honestly, I think it's about time something like this opened up here.

I had the Bay Bowl (organic wild rice + shredded kale, apples, sweet potatoes, toasted almonds, local goat cheese, roasted chicken, balsamic vinaigrette) and it was SO good! I really want to try the seasonal salads and the Omega Bowl next. I washed down my big bowl with the Hibiscus Lime Fresca. The building retained the overall feel of Oscar's with its signature arched windows and signage but now it has a more modern and fresh feel. The Sweetgreen team was working hard and churning out delicious bowls left and right. I'll definitely be coming back for more.

Check out the official opening of Sweetgreen on April 19th. All opening day proceeds will go to the Berkeley Technology Academy garden project and Sweetgreen in schools programming in the neighborhood.

How cute is Adella making my Bay Bowl?

Favorites: Pain Bakery

April 15, 2016 lisa jackson

A few weeks ago, I almost died from having the best bread of my life. It was a Country Loaf given to me by Theo's amazing preschool teacher Ayla's boyfriend, Chase, who bakes these lovely loaves for Pain Bakery. This loaf was 50 ounces of pure bliss--with a perfectly toasty crust and a super tender open crumb.

After eating one slice on its own, I decided to make avocado toasts the way they do at Bartavelle, one of my favorite spots in Berkeley--lightly toasted, drizzled with the best olive oil (I used ILA), smeared with organic avocado, a squeeze of lemon, a sprinkle of Maldon sea salt, and a little red pepper (if I had Marash pepper flakes I would have used that instead). SO. GOOD.

Man, if bread could be sexy, this would be Beyonce.

So this olive oil from ILA is the best one I've had with beautiful packaging to boot.

Look at that crumb! And I totally devoured that butt even though I normally don't even like bread crust :)

+ Find Pain Bakery bread here for now.
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Banchan Workshop No. 5

March 21, 2016 lisa jackson

Lately I've been having a love affair with kimchi. We've been eating it at least twice a week with rice, seaweed, and a stack of tofu slices dipped and pan fried in egg--an easy weeknightmeal (perfect for #meatlessmonday).

I had so much fun a few weeks ago shooting Banchan Workshop #5 for Selina at SKYCreatives at the EatWith kitchen studio in San Francisco. Unlike Banchan Workshop No. 2, No. 3 and No. 4, this workshop was all about making one dish--KIMCHI. The guests were so much fun and included some old and new friends including Shu from Aplat who also sponsored the event with her amazing totes, Leslie from Spotted SF, and my friend Carrie and her husband Chris (the class was her Valentine's Day gift to him!).

Here are some of my favorite shots. You could find more details, photos and recipes on the SKYCreatives blog and on her Instagram @skycreatives.

Shujan Bertrand, owner of Aplat, sponsored the event with one of her tote bags for each guest. It was my first time meeting Shu, and she was so sweet, easy going and kind. Stay tuned for an Instagram giveaway for one of her totes.

These cucumber ones were my absolute fave!

Selina's mom showing everyone how it's done.

Delicious kimchi pancakes!

Selina in action

+ Find more Korean food inspiration on Instagram @skycreatives
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So proud to put all his piano class books in the new tote bag he painted @randallmuseum—ready and so excited for piano, rushed to get to class on time...and there was no class today. 🤦🏻‍♀️ #momfail

I love the day after a big rain. Immediately got the kids and Frankie outside for some fresh air. 🌤

The coolest brothers next to the other coolest brothers 😜

Theo’s 7-year old legs and feet are growing so fast. 😭

Crossed three bridges today☁️

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