Made By Girl

Our Holiday Inn Asheville Vacation

2017-10-06T17:39:00.005-04:00

Hey again! Its been only a month since our last getaway to Aruba, so we took a family trip to Asheville, North Carolina & brought Noah this time! To be honest, when I think of vacation locations, this would not have been at the top of my list but maybe it should have been.

You see, Asheville is a very pretty, artsy city in western North Carolina. Reminds me of a cross between Seattle & Portland. It's pretty famous for the Biltmore Estate built by the Vanderbilt family (as in Cornelius, & Gloria, and Anderson Cooper) but it also has a great downtown with lots of vegetarian + local dining options, a brewery community and lots of art galleries. I also like that it has lots of Vegetarian places to visit!

Once again, Holiday Inn surprised us with something way out of the expected. The Holiday Inn Asheville Biltmore-East was a mix of local charm along with tons of nature! Right off the bat, one thing I really liked at the Holiday Inn Asheville Biltmore-East was the staff - super friendly & always willing to help.... and I'M NOT kidding they all knew my name! Even the man cleaning the pool!

Our room was all the good you expect from Holiday Inn rooms - clean & efficient - with a fridge and a microwave (even though my family no longer uses microwaves anymore) it was nice. We were one of the first to trial a new room called an H4 which is designed especially for families with kids traveling. One especially nice feature was the rolling desk which could be used as a long table between the beds. We DEF used that.

One of the really super neat things the hotel is doing, like many of the businesses around town, is partnering with local farms & vendors to supply farm-to-table and + fresh foods. The town and hotel are also very vegan-friendly which was a pleasant surprise considering that I am trying to stay on a fairly vegetable heavy diet. Aside from lots of vegetarian places right near the hotel, the Holiday Inn staff surprised us with a beautiful amenity basket filled with local goods! How cool was that?! We actually had them ship it back tour apartment in NYC.

So what is there to do? .....Well of course we took a day to visit Biltmore Castle – amazing!! The tour goes through the house, the gardens & the grounds and though it's rough to get a 2 1/2 year old to appreciate this amazing architecture, it was neat to see...I mean, 43 bathrooms & 65 fireplaces?!?! Woah. Def recommend! - We even got to ride in the original elevators, which were the first ones installed in a private home and the oldest Otis elevators in operations (with the original equipment).

Nicely situated in the mountains, Asheville is right in the center of a ton of hiking, amazing greenery and rustic activities. We were hoping to get to see Chimney Rock but the elevator wasn't working so instead we took Noah to the Western NC Wildlife Center – a wildlife preserve & conservation just a few miles from the hotel. This wildlife center was huge and well worth the visit! We loved our trip & would love to return again sometime in the new future.

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Holiday Inn. The opinions and text are all mine.

Our Holiday Inn Aruba Vacation

2017-09-13T07:49:00.002-04:00

Hey Guys!! We recently took a vacation & I wanted to share it with you here. When we decided to head to Aruba for our trip - I must admit that Holiday Inn Resorts was not the first place that came to mind! But....thanks to Holiday Inn, Mat and I got to visit Aruba and right up front it defied pretty much every expectation.

Aruba is a small island right off the coast of Venezuela. With a slogan like “One Happy Island” you can pretty much envision festive Caribbean fun which isn’t necessarily what we look for in a vacation so we weren’t quite sure what we’d find. But Aruba is much more than that and most definitely the highlight of the island are the beaches. Pristine, soft, white sand with beautiful turquoise-looking waters. We flew down during the shoulder-season so it was quite hot and humid but that was all forgotten once we woke up the first morning.

The hotel - Holiday Inn Aruba Resort - retains a lot of the basic elements that you’d expect from Holiday Inns like clean and efficient rooms and easy-access restaurants. We arrived at night so we didn’t get to see much ......but we woke up to a gorgeous BLUE sky with a balcony facing the ocean...OMG!!! The view was straight out of a movie as you'll see in the pics below! Our room was a corner room with a balcony over the beach, mid-size fridge and all the amenities you’d expect.

The resort is laid out in 3 sections with guest towers breaking breaking up the activity areas. This is AWESOME because most of the family activities were happening on one end, leaving a much quieter and relaxing section for adults seeking a bit of solace. That was something we really liked since we visited without our son. There were several interconnected pools as well as hot tubs, but I have to admit.....we didn't get in any of them because the ocean was much more inviting!!

Right on Eagle & Moomba Beach, the resort has 100 palabras - straw covered umbrella huts - but even in the 90°F sun, we didn’t really need one. Being our first vacation at a beach location in years, we took advantage and spent plenty of time just reading and relaxing within feet from the ocean.

So, the most challenging thing about being on vacation for me is trying to find a Vegetarian restaurant with some gluten-free & sugar-free items. The restaurants at the Holiday Inn offer a fairly diverse menu that I would call “local meets corporate” with of course the expected beach-type foods, but there were a few items that I was able to enjoy.

We looooved the Sea Breeze - an open restaurant right on the beach with a good lunch menu & even better dinners, and the staff was SUPER friendly & helpful! My favorite meal, though, was a sunset, beach-side romantic dinner with my husband where we enjoyed a chef’s-choice Vegetarian menu (note, just ask the front desk if you’re interested in getting the sunset dinner package). I had never done anything like that before, so this was very special!

As I said, we didn’t head out beyond the resort much.... but for those on Vegetarian diets, there’s a couple of places you could check out! On our second day we hopped in a cab and ate at Green Food Service, a luncheonette with only 5 tables featuring a very cheap daily menu of pescatarian/vegetarian items.

The other is Eduardo’s Beach Shack which is on the boardwalk just to the south of the Holiday Inn Aruba Resort which offers healthy options like smoothies, wraps, and CocoWhip - a soft-serve “ice cream” made from just whipped coconut water (no added sugar) and served with fruit! I swear I almost didn't believe it....but this place was AMAZING!

For me, a vacation wouldn't be a vacation until I've gotten a massage...or in this case, two! The Etnika Spa is right on the Holiday Inn resort grounds and has a full menu of spa treatments. I got the Hot Stone Massage which is my all time favorite....& the next day I convinced my husband (who normally doesn't go for spa stuff) to join me for a couple's massage - so relaxing! Aruba is colorful, gorgeous & full of friendly people! The sunsets were such a blessing to watch every night - especially from our room.

Craig Dress above by Wai Ming Studio

All in all we had a lovely vacation & only wish it was longer. We would gladly go back to visit Holiday Inn in Aruba!

This is a sponsored conversation written by me on behalf of Holiday Inn. The opinions and text are all mine.
Comments submitted may be displayed on other websites owned by the sponsoring brand.

Noah's Room

2017-08-24T09:57:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!

Welcome back and thank you for coming by to view the living & dining room reveal last week! This week I wanted to share a bit of my son's room. I wanted to focus mostly on one side of his room because I honestly haven't decided to put anything above his crib. The reason is because he's a toddler and if I add any artwork, he may actually touch it & knock it down! - I know other moms can relate to this.

I thought about some vinyl stars again, but just felt it would appear too cluttered. I already think it has a lot and that's due to the open West Elm Parsons shelf we added. BUT don't WORRY...the shelf is securely bolted to the wall! So remember, I would not recommend adding this to a toddler's room unless it is securely bolted, so safety first! My son is also NOT a climber thankfully!

So here it is, his little space that he enjoys and I think his favorite part is the table + 2 stools we got him from Sprout Kids. We also added two more chairs from Oeuf NYC which I absolutely love! We chose the Eco-Friendly Bear Play Chair set of 2 in Birch. You can also add these fun play stickers to your purchase as well! However, if you're feeling creative you can certainly purchase some craft paint & paint some faces yourself! Hope his space inspires you!

-images by jen ramos

Resources:

'lion book ends' not available but recommend these or these.

Oeuf Nyc Bear Ear chairs set of 2 via Barneys

beaumont white book ledge via Land Of Nod.

Star Lamp by Fromage La Rue

sensory play space divider by Edu2Toys

Living & Dining Room Reveal

2017-08-09T00:02:00.001-04:00

Hey everyone!

So, we moved to another apartment a couple months ago & I finally finished decorating a couple of the rooms! The main space I am sharing with you today is of our living room/dining area. This is where we spend most of our time reading, hosting friends or watching a movie! To be honest, I was SO tired of the previous decor here - that freshening things up made sense! The new apartment is still a 2 bedroom but it's actually SMALLER than our previous place. Smaller or not, I really think I made it flow quite nicely for our family.

This time around, I opted for more contrast patterns with a few hints of pink. You're probably wondering.....why PINK?!?? I know, I know.....well, it's not the first color people seek out when they're decorating but I really wanted a SOFTER tone that felt a bit more relaxing. Plus, it won't make the space feel dark & small.

As for the pink, I ended up incorporating it with two pieces of artwork. Both pieces (which I painted) had very subtle tones of pink. The first one is the LARGE scale artwork behind our sofa. This piece was inspired by a beautiful vision God showed me with 4 BIRDS. It has a very special meaning to me. I saw these four birds from our bedroom window & even though the sky was blue that day, I decided to place the birds against a pink sunset sky. I also decided I wanted a busier-looking rug so I chose the Linden Outdoor Rug patterned rug from Frontgate which provides lots of interest & contrast to the living room. Although it says outdoor, it can DEF be used indoors! Don't be fooled, it is soft & comfy just like any indoor rug. I always choose the thickest rug pad I could afford for all my carpets because I prefer a more cushion-y feel!

It seems that with EVERY single apartment I've decorated - I was always drawn to adding a rectangular or square table. However, this time I really wanted to make the most of the space. Because we have a 2 1/2 year old boy - space is essential. My son was basically the deciding factor on getting the round coffee table, and we are SO glad we did!! It gives our family a lot more leg room & in a smaller apartment - this is a WIN!!!!

Although there were many round coffee table options & it took me three days to decide, I finally chose the Hammered Metal Accordion Coffee Table by West Elm. It is a metal-wrapped engineered wood table in an Antique Brass finish! It's got a nice gold brass finish to it without being so bright & tacky. It's not too low & its a great solid piece that cannot be easily tipped over. Ideal if you have kids.

Vase on dining table from Flair Home Collection

Below you'll notice that we kept our IKEA floating cabinets that we made awhile back, see post here. Anyway, we shortened it to fit our current space by removing a couple cabinets & then added legs to it for a more GLAMOROUS look! The legs we got are solid, with a brushed gold finish which we purchased from Balasagun - an overseas company that makes custom metal pieces for furniture in a variety of finishes! The legs we chose are 8".

Plants are not my specialty. Although I love them, I am just not that skilled in caring for them! Because of that I decided to get a faux tree......something that was large & realistic-looking. I knew I had to invest a little money for that type of plant, so I went with the Majestic Fiddle Leaf Fig Tree from Houzz which also brought it's own Seagrass basket!

Other large Fiddle Leaf tree options you can check out are here from Pottery Barn and here from World Market.

The luxurious candles like the skull & the Back Elephant (which smell so good) are by Thomas Ferrier NYC - they have a wonderful selection of scents and high-end candles with some unique designs that I really like! Many of their candles are available in a variety of finishes like gold, black & more!

As for the side chairs - I was debating back and forth whether to get white or black leather chairs - but in the end I chose WHITE because it made the space appear larger & more open! Because they are leather.... they are easy to CLEAN, so I'm NOT worried with my son. He knows he's not supposed to eat on them, although he tries to sneak food there every now & then! The White chairs are by All Modern - you can get them here.

The lovely Grey Cotton Knit Jacquard throw over the white armchair is by my friend COCOCOZY.
This throw is so soft & comfy!

We decided we didn't want to have people staring into the living room the minute the front door was open, so I thought of a creative way to block some of the view by using this tall Parsons Tower from West Elm and filling it with books to make that happen. we anchored it safely into the wall - so now it's super sturdy and my son cannot tip it over. Remember safety always with children!

Art by Jen Ramos via Made By Girl

Worlds Away Biggs Stool by Candelabra

Cushions are so important when decorating. I've had so many people tell me how they are really bad at selecting different cushions and how they end up settling for 2-3 solid colors. I know how they feel! Selecting a variety of patterns for a sofa can be very challenging but I tend to select one common color among all the pillows (in this case black) and then choosing patterns I feel compliment each other.

Trust me, we don't all have the same tastes and my selection may not appeal to some people. But the key is to make sure YOU LIKE IT! So unless you're competing in a design contest or posting it on your blog etc...... make sure you're happy with it!! I love how different the cushions are but how well they feel together!

I ended up keeping a few cushions from before but I selected new ones from a shop called Stuck on Hue. The owner, Hollie has a great selection of chic-looking pillows and so I went with these:

Serengeti in Tigre by Schimacher 17X17
Kelly Wearstler Graffito 17X17 in Linen/Onyx (My fave)
Kelly Wearstler Feline 12X20 in Ebony/Beige

Dining chairs are from West Elm - but no longer available. The Marble tulip dining table can be purchased here. We have the 40". Art by Jen Ramos via Made By Girl.

This Swerve End table is one of my favorite pieces of furniture in our living room. It is nestled between the two white leather armchairs and it really warms that area. This table is sturdy and heavy......the color is beautiful and rich. We got ours from Houzz, but you can also get it here at HayNeedle.

Original Art by Jen Ramos via Made By Girl

After recently spotting this bench in the one room challenge - I fell in LOVE!!! - I realized I had seen it before but not in a room setting.....& that made all the difference! Thanks to Candelabra - it's now part of our decor! It comes in 3 different colors, red, wood & black! It is delivered with a linen upholstery but can easily be re-upholstered in any other fabric to suit your families needs!

Below was the original plan I put together, as you can see..... it developed slightly different! I'm def happy with that final outcome! Stay tuned for next week when I post pics of my son's room!

RESOURCES:

Linden Area Rug
White Leather Upholstered Chairs
White parsons tower
Worlds Away Biggs Stool
Jacquard Grey Throw via Cococozy
Serengeti in Tigre cushion by Schimacher 17X17
Kelly Wearstler Graffito cushion 17X17 in Linen/Onyx
Kelly Wearstler Feline cushion 12X20 in Ebony/Beige
Marble dining table via LexMod
Floating Cabinet Brushed Gold Legs by Balasagun

thanks!

-images & post by jen ramos

Mass Produced vs. Original Art

2017-08-07T00:02:00.001-04:00

When I paint a painting - it involves a lot of time & effort.

Big home stores may be selling printed art from original paintings, and that's great but in my opinion, it doesn't replace an original painting. Expect to pay cheaper prices for mass produced items, but if you want something truly original where each brushstroke was created for you & your home, then go with original art. There is something special about original art & the feeling that it coveys to people.

Sadly, some large websites have saturated the art market by allowing anyone to buy a large piece of art (around 23"x33") for under $35...and YES, it's still a printed version of the original. Because of this, I'm guessing some people may not understand the "original painting" market & tend to underestimate the uniqueness of an original painting. People will usually email me expecting prices to be in the same range as printed art they see on big art websites or in big home stores. Some people even find it a little over their budget. That's ok. Perhaps it's over-saturation & ease of availability, but nonetheless some of these big 'art/poster' companies have taken away the connection between the artist and the buyer. Instead leaving the buyer with a mass produced product with no real individual element to it. I know that's harsh, but it's true.

You see, mass produced prints are STILL printed versions, (even if they are high quality) and the price range is justified for that print. People cannot expect an original to be in the same price range. In the same way we cannot expect a replica Louis Vuitton to be the same price as the real Louis Vuitton. Original means there is no other and in my opinion......this deserves to be valued as such.

Hello Again, it's me.

2017-08-06T16:34:00.001-04:00

Hello everyone!

I remember when I first started this blog and how exciting and new it all was. This is the first time since I started blogging that I haven't written much. But that's ok. Life threw a few curve balls - as some of you may know I was diagnosed with Stage 1 Breast Cancer back in February (2017) & my life has gone through some major changes. Not only did my diet completely change but the food that feeds my soul needed more attention & so I went ahead & tended to it. I had surgery to remove the cancer & thank the Lord I am doing well. It is a day to day thing ....sometimes fearing the unknown and whenever I get a strange pain I think "What if?" But I know I need to always remind myself of the blessings that God has already given me & that is what keeps me moving forward.

As for blogging I'm not sure where it's headed or what direction I will take. But what I do know is that I've learned to be more present in my life. That social media along with blogging takes away from the beauty of 'real life' - as difficult as it may seem sometimes.

So with all that said, thank you for visiting once again & stay tuned photos of my newly decorated apartment!

-post by jen ramos

Cupcakes Cups

2017-02-15T12:54:00.001-05:00

Hey guys!

When you're looking for a clever way to brighten up a party, consider baking cupcakes & placing them into bright & colorful cupcake cups. My husband & I made these yesterday for Valentine's Day - even though it was for a party of 3 (hubby, me & our son) I thought it might be fun to try this together! We purchased a fun cupcake cup pack with decorative hearts from Eli's Market here in NYC. Eli's Market is a great place to get fun & unique sweets for entertaining or just to eat at home!

How cute are these?

Hope you enjoyed your Valentine's Day yesterday!

FOOD: Chocolate-Dipped Smashmallows

2017-02-08T13:45:00.005-05:00

Yes, I said Smashmallows.

The team over at SmashMallows sent us these organic & gluten-free marshmallows & they are Mmmmm! They are known as America's first snackable marshmallows. All of their snacks are made from the best natural ingredients along with a variety of flavors. Since Valentine's day is coming we were inspired to try one of their recipes using the Strawberries & Cream flavored marshmallows!
Recipe below.

Their current flavors include: Toasted Coconut Pineapple, Mint Chocolate Chip, Root Beer Float, Meye Lemon Chia Seed, Cinnamon Churro, Espresso Bean & Strawberries & Cream! The links I included are to purchase them in packs of 4 or to buy their variety pack here.

A flavor I'd LOVE to see would be.... Chocolate & Cream. Come on guys! That would be ideal to add to my hot cappuccino in the mornings! Kids really love smashmallows as you can see below, my son ate 2 of the Chocolate Dipped Smashmallows I made! He's got a SWEET TOOTH but for some reason he didn't like the melted chocolate as much..so I had to place his in the freezer to harden for a bit, then he ate it! This Valentine's Day surprise a friend, your hubby or a co-worker with some smashmallows.

Recipe: CHOCOLATE-DIPPED SMASHMALLOWS -

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups of semi-sweet chocolate chips or chocolate cut into squares
1 4.5 oz bag Smashmallows (any flavor)
Edible Gold Leaf flakes (optional) This will give it a professional bakery look. You can purchase some here or here. (Make sure it says edible).

PREP:

Melt chocolate in a microwave-safe bowl in 30 second intervals, stirring after each interval until melted. Do not overheat or you will burn the chocolate.
Using a toothpick or fork, dip Smashmallows half way in melted chocolate, then place on waxed paper or aluminum foil & let harden.
Felling extra adventurous? Garnish with edible gold leaf, a sprinkle of nuts or a dusting of powdered sugar.
Makes 16 one-bite treats!

"Love Affair" original lip paintings available for purchase here.

pics by jen ramos

FASHION: TOP 5 FAVE TOPS

2017-02-06T13:50:00.001-05:00

It's pretty chilly outside, being it's only February. I've got my eye on a few tops this season & I recently ordered this one from Vici Collections. Even though it's more for June weather...I couldn't pass up on how cute it was!

I am also loving all the ones from Lingua Franca - like the "We are all Immingrants" cashmere sweater & my personal fave, "I Miss Barack" which is one of their biggest sellers! I want one. However, it's currently over my price range. Anyway, if you're into splurging or not, here are a few of my faves this month!

Hope you enjoy your Valentines day!

X: Slayin distressed mesh tee

XO: Rebecca Taylor ce'st la vie sweatshirt

XOX: LA NY sweatshirt by Rebecca Minkoff

XOXO: "we are all immigrants" by Lingua Franca nyc - here.

XX: Red sweatshirt with heart via ILY Couture

Kids Clothing Available!

2017-02-01T14:10:00.002-05:00

Hey guys, we have been going through a lot of changes in the last day or two. It's been very tough and at times stressful. Unfortunately, I also decided to close down my Cocoa & Hearts kids shop because I was spreading myself too thin. But we have a BIG SALE there and all tees & sweaters are now 30% off, everything must go!

Also, many moms have asked about Noah's clothing & if I was selling the items that no longer fit him. I've been meaning to do this for a long time now! he will be 2 years old next month, and I finally got around to posting some online for sale. Finally. Please visit that sale here.

-post by jen ramos

Creative Toys for Kids: edu2toys

2017-01-25T11:02:00.003-05:00

Hey guys! I wanted to highlight a new learning toy we got recently.

edu2toys is a company based out of Lithuania that believes in the power of creative education. They understand that each child has his or her own unique greatness. So, they developed tools & toys that nurture & empower kids to become their best self! I'm totally down with that!

As a mom, I find myself wondering what types of activities to do with my toddler. I've tried playing ball, coloring & even making a spider out of a craft materials, he wasn't that interested. Throughout the 'trying' I found myself wondering if I was doing something wrong? - I've had better luck when he & I painted together & read books. As a mom, I am realizing more & more that early childhood is an important stage of development where my little guy is exploring & curious about every single thing! He's obsessed with looking into everything.

I came across edu2toys & I love that they believe that developing creativity in our children is a duty to be shared by both teachers & parents. So true! They also explain that in order to understand children we need to try & listen closely to what they say, their facial expressions, the look in their eyes & even analyze their drawings. KIDS tend to communicate via emotions, shadow play, music, art of sculpture, storytelling, drawing, drama and a multitude of other verbal and non-verbal means of self-expression. So, my husband I wanted to bring more creativity into Noah's play area where he would be able to express himself more....so, we chose a few items from edu2toys.

The one I'll be sharing with you today is the - Sensory Play Space Divider. It's a modular space divider. It helps develop sensory skills & also imagination! You can also use this to divide an area in their room and create activity zones & quiet reading time. I love toys that help Noah develop skills, for example this space divider is valuable because it helps with:

fine motor skills
self-expression & imagination
communication skills
aesthetics

You can do a lot with this space divider such as folding the panels in a circle to create a house! We did that for Noahs's room & we also got the felt wool berries - which I LOVE!! I must admit, he hasn't quite mastered the creativity aspect of it, but I think the more we practice.... the more he will understand that play time is about imagining & creating!

Check out more cool toys and tools on edu2toys

-pics by jen ramos

Home: Katie Kime

2017-01-13T16:19:00.002-05:00

Katie Kime is an Interiors and + Fashion designer based in Texas. She has a colorful & bold preppy style that captures the eye immediately. Her prints are eye-catching & so is her home which was featured here in Lonny Mag back in 2015. You have to check it out for some amazing home inspiration! Katie Kime seems to live her life in color, from green foliage to animal prints, her patterns are a must-have in a home or wardrobe.

Personally, my favorite area in her home are the spotted wallpaper in the dining area + the large closet with the banana leaves wallpaper. All which can be purchased via her online shop.

I hope to one day collaborate with Katie Kime, she's amazing!

-post by jen ramos

ART: Ombre Hearts Available!!

2017-01-12T15:35:00.000-05:00

Time is so precious these days. If I stay still I feel like I am either going to fall ASLEEP or die of boredom! So, I keep moving. Ever feel like that?

Anyway, with some time on my hands, I managed to paint (2) more pieces yesterday!

The Ombre' Hearts original paintings have now been added to my online gallery! We no longer have a timer, so you can buy at your own convenience as well as choose the frame style you like, directly off the site. These watercolor+acrylic pieces are 30"x37" and are so much PRETTIER in person, I guarantee you!

I think they would look FAB in a home office, or in a nursery. The Ombre Hearts painting represents many things, but it is mostly a happy painting - that reminds me that we do NOT have to be PERFECT......hence the imperfect details on the hearts. Hope you like them!

You can see them both here.

If you are looking to commission a painting, please contact Jen with more details. Include measurements, colors & style you would like.

Fashion: Golden Goose Sneaker Trend

2017-01-03T14:54:00.002-05:00

Hey guys! Hope you all had a fantastic New Year! I have been spotting the coolest sneakers around the blogosphere called Golden Goose. They're on the top scale of prices for sneakers, so you def have to love these to splurge on them. However, if you think the price tag is a bit much for you, these are a similar, more affordable version available at SheIn.

They come in a wide variety of colors, I personally like all the colors but my favorite is the more neutral all white with black seen here. As for trendy sneakers, I've seen SO MANY young girls sporting shell top Adidas...and although I had a pair when I was 15 years old, I think they're WAY TOO popular now. Personally, I'd rather invest a bit more money & get something like golden goose. Or even get a cheaper pair that look like the real deal! They're trendy, comfy & not every single teeny bopper is wearing them. Happy New Year!!!

uno.

dos.

tres.

cuatro.

cinco.

FASHION: 5 Vavoom dresses for NYE

2016-12-22T15:36:00.001-05:00

Hey guys! I am so excited for the Holidays! BIGGEST reason is because I will get to spend time with my family. Also, I'm excited about going on more than (1) date night......thanks to my mom! With that said...anyone have plans for the New Year??

We hadn't been out on New Year's Eve since NYE 2015, right before Noah popped into the mix & we became a family of 3. So, this year even though we may not make it out to party, I wanted to inspire those of you who would be. I put together some dresses that are sure to draw some attention & get you noticed while ringing in 2017.

Hope you all have a great Christmas!!

which one is your favorite?

uno. | mesh ruffle dress via topshop

dos. | nude pink sequin dress via zara

tres. | green sequin print dress via topshop

cuatro. | metalllic camellia dress via rebacca taylor

cinco. | black sequin pleaded midi dress via topshop

Design: Throwback of My Apartment

2016-12-19T13:27:00.003-05:00

Earlier this year, I was featured in a popular Decor magazine called Casa e Jardim from Brazil.

I don't believe I ever shared all these photos on my blog....so I wanted to post them today. The photos were shot earlier this year when Noah was much younger & wasn't standing or walking yet...hence, why the coffee table is styled so nicely in the pic below! Ha! These days, the apartment is not as nicely decorated because having a toddler changes everything! Simple things like a glass vase are now considered "armed & dangerous." haha

This apartment holds so many memories but one of my favorites was decorating it. I hope my home decor will inspire you! Please feel free to pin these pics!

area rug by madeline weinrib

| Art by Jen Ramos

| zig zag blk & white ceramic vase by Emilia Ceramics

small spotted rug by Caitlin Wilson

desk by west elm

blue abstract art set + gold frames via Jen Ramos

indian chief art by jenna snyder-phillips

pillows are old by cb2 and west elm

| velvet sofa by Jayson Home

-pic by jen ramos

FASHION: 5 Comfy Holiday Sweaters

2016-12-12T15:23:00.002-05:00

Many of us will be attending Holiday parties or just family gatherings this Season. For me, I'll be heading to a family gathering where we will (for the first time ever) do a Christmas sweater theme. This is NOT a common thing for my family, but my brother suggested it 2 weeks ago along with some hot chocolate - & I said, "Um, YEA!!"

With that said, I spent the last week looking for the right sweater that wasn't going to have me sweating up a storm while indoors! I finally decided on this one.

If you're thinking of the same, I pulled together 5 sweatshirts that I thought would work nicely for a family gathering or office party. In the meanwhile Happy Shopping! I will shoot a few pics for my instagram + show it on my SnapChat: CocoaAndHearts around Christmas time. Stay tuned!

1. Noel Red sweater

2. Meet Me Under the mistletoe sweater

3. Only a Morning Person on Dec 25 sweatshirt

4. Snow man sweatshirt (on sale)

5. Fleece Navidad sweater (on sale)

ART: Birds Painting

2016-12-09T16:48:00.001-05:00

I recently launched another sale with 8 paintings & only 3 are left.

Today I wanted to highlight a piece I've done more than a few times for clients called "Birds".
This painting is one of my favorites & probably one of the prettiest in person. People ask me why this piece costs more than the other large ones...and the reason is because this painting takes around 3-4 days to complete. I literally have to do this piece in layers to make sure it turns out the way I want it. I also add oils which takes longer to dry.

Looking at this piece of art, I can picture it in a little girl's room, a home office or even a bedroom! It's versatile & seems to mix well in any space even with the pink colors! This Large BIRDS painting is currently available in my online gallery, see it here.

Hope you have a great weekend!! Happy Holidays.

-1st pic by mia baxter (superimposed with my painting) + 3rd photo via Domino with painting superimposed.

FASHION: Top 10 SheIn fashion picks

2016-12-08T12:40:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, a friend recommended I visit this shop called SheIn.

I really loved all the cute outfits they had available and the best part was they were unique & also VERY affordable! The every day gal could shop all the time on this site because they have sweaters, t-shirts, makeup brushes, shoes, gorgeous skirts (a la' Carrie Bradshaw) & more! I rounded up my top 10 pics from their site & will be purchasing a few of these faves for myself. Ladies, check them out here, you will not be disappointed. They also have amazing sales to save even more!

happy holidays!

1. vertical striped ruffle collar blouse

2. choker v neck zipper sweater

3. 12 pc white and black makeup brushes

4. star sneakers similar to GG

5. white star studded sneakers

6. black lace top

7. asymetrical shoulder blouse

8. cut out lace up knit sweater

9. letter pattern keychain

10. lace up sweater

New Sweatshirt for the kids!!

2016-11-22T12:31:00.000-05:00

Hey guys, I know many of us are anticipating Thanksgiving for some time off......but I wanted to give you a heads up & let you know we launched a new design in a sweatshirt! Check it out here in our kids shop : Cocoa & Hearts. - perfect timing as the weather is already getting chilly! - This unisex sweatshirt is only available in gray & in sizes 2T-4T for toddlers!

PLUS...you will get a FREE Hot Pink heart print with each sweater purchase!

available at cocoa & hearts

TOP 5 Picks from SJP Shoe Collection

2016-11-17T13:34:00.001-05:00

Hey guys, I have been contemplating if I am going to continue blogging. Each day that goes by I think I get more 'unmotivated'. Wonder if anyone else feels this way? - Call me crazy but today out of nowhere, I saw Sarah Jessica Parker & felt inspired to write a NEW Year's Fashion post. As many of you know...the uncertainty our country faces can seem a little daunting & often times we need to put our minds on other things to get through the day. Normally, when I feel inspired... it allows me to create & get away for a bit. In this case, to start planning an outfit for the New Year.

If I know I am going out on New Year's eve, I tend to put together an outfit a few days after Thanksgiving. Since shoes are a BIG deal, SJP has a great line & although it's not SUPER affordable, it's just one option. However, there are other budget friendly options at some of my faves like Mango & Zara you might like! Here are my top 5 picks from the SJP collection.

P.S. I will try my best to blog, if not......then feel free to join me on instagram.

1. satin pump

2. carrie metallic leather pump

3. windsor satin pump

4. fugue glittered sandal

5. windsor satin pump

-post by jen ramos

Real Life: Balance

2016-08-18T16:49:00.001-04:00

Being a mom & running a business is HARD work. There aren't enough hours in a day to do both as well as I'd like. I admit it. There are days I wish I had my nanny even longer, but then I'd never spend time with my son. It's all about perfecting balance I guess.....& that, I am still working on. Today I looked down at my little guy & he was wearing this t-shirt I designed. Says "mom & dad are my heroes" .... It made me smile. ...that maybe he thought I was doing just great... That in his eyes, I was HIS HERO.

It made all this hard work today...feel a little better.

Follow more on my instagram.

T-shirt from my shop - Cocoa & Hearts

Hey Moms, Check out the new shop!

2016-08-17T14:26:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! I have been working on some new things theses days, my apologies that I am not on here as much. However, for those not following on social media, you can now see the new Kids shop I've launched!

The t-shirts are for KIDS (boys & girls) 10 styles in the launch collection! We just LAUNCHED today! Shop for your kiddos give them as gifts ...Check them out at Cocoa & Hearts & take advantage of our launch discount code.

-pic by sage and sparkle

Cocoa & Hearts News

2016-07-11T16:16:00.000-04:00

Hey everyone! Hope this Monday is going good for you! - I thought I'd pop in & update you on this NEW Kids t-shirt line we are putting together!! We are actually re-doing our entire Cocoa & Hearts website + re-branding it. The Cocoa & Hearts site will no longer be paintings, but you can go to Made By Girl if you're looking to have me paint an original painting for you. Sound good?

The new Cocoa & Hearts logo will look like this (below) & we will be seeking out a few K-I-D-S brand ambassadors. That means.... we will send them a few t-shirts in exchange for some cool pics on social media, tagging us & letting others know where to find the line! The kids will be carefully selected based on your social media account, follower count etc. Excited to introduce this to all of you! I know this is a different route and I may have many people un-follow me or stop reading the blog all together...because you you preferred to see home decor....& that's ok. When I first started Made By Girl, I had only 7 followers, so I understand what it's like to be at ZERO pretty much (if I have to be). BUT, I really hope to have your support through this in any way, especially all YOU moms!

As I mentioned before - we'll be launching about 8-10 t-shirt designs to start with. Can't wait to see which is your favorite. Sizes will range from 18 Months old - 4 years of age. Please don't forget, if you'd like be notified of the launch date - SIGN UP to our mailer at Cocoa & Hearts. XO

-post by jen ramos

Revealed: What's Next

2016-06-22T11:58:00.004-04:00

Hey guys! I am finally REVEALING the main reason why I haven't been on my blog much.
For those of you who've been with me since the beginning in 2006 - and remember my first post ...it may seem odd that I've been taking such a BIG break from blogging! But like everything else in life, this too gets a bit boring. Sometimes we just need a break, a refresher.... to re-think what else we'd like to try & hopefully accomplish in our lives. So, here's a small look into what I've been working on lately.

Ever since Noah popped into the mix - I've been thinking more & more about clothing for KIDS. I LOVE TO CREATE. I love painting, drawing, designing & coming up with new ideas & concepts. In fact, both of my businesses were about ART that I created for people's homes. So, after contemplating this for quite some time, I decided to try my hand at a market that is completely saturated & competitive. I'm talking about kids apparel.

Trust me, I realize I am taking a BIG risk in jumping into an industry that is already full of wonderful talent. Even with the same hesitation & fear many of you felt at first... I am ready & here I come!

As I said, this is a NEW market for me. My head keeps going back & forth between fear & excitement. I had forgotten what this fear felt like after running my previous business, Made By Girl for over 10 years. Throughout that time, I remember many women emailing me & asking how they could start their own businesses. They always wondered if they would be able to put aside their own fears & introduce their business ideas to the world. I often wonder what many of those women ended up doing. Well, here I am, back at the 'starting line' with another adventure ready to be introduced.

For me, this is yet another medium to express my art. I am super EXCITED about these hand-drawn designs for kids tees I created. I really think other moms will love them too! The t-shirts are all screen-printed & we will be launching ONLY 8-10 designs to start! We will ACTUALLY be RE-branding the Cocoa & Hearts website & launching it into this new brand. Hope it doesn't cause too much confusion! If you want to know the launch date + news updates - feel free to sign up to the newsletter here.

I hope you will welcome this NEW & fun kids brand we are launching SOON - from one MAMA to another, THANK YOU in advance!!!!

-images & post by jen ramos