Hello Friends,

I believe that teaching our children to choose healthy and nutritious food is the foundation for raising strong and happy kids.  However, many children in America simply don't have the choice. In fact, one in six kids struggles with hunger. No child should grow up hungry in America. Share Our Strength's No Kid Hungry campaign is helping to end childhood hunger in America by connecting kids in need with nutritious food and teaching families how to cook healthy and affordable meals. You can help surround kids with healthy food where they live, learn, and play.

A portion of proceeds this weekend (‪Nov 24th to Nov 26th‬) will be donated to No Kid Hungry Campaign by Share Our Strength.

Please help us give this holiday season.

Thank you & Have a happy Thanksgiving!

Vera 

Do you ever wonder who makes your favorite &NEST items, and how they come to be? This is our first post for our “Meet the Maker” series, where we’ll be asking makers of our products what you’ve always wanted to know.

Lulu Gonzalez, owner of the Brooklyn-based hair accessories company LuluLuvs, was born in Singapore and moved to New York City as a teenager.  She has two daughters with her Argentinian husband. Lulu first started her business by making chunky hand knit scarves and hats in the winter of 2011.  However, due to the seasonality of these items, she started thinking about something she could make to sell during the warmer months.  Inspired by her daughters, she figured hair accessories were a great addition to the brand.  We certainly agree!  Read on for more of our conversation with Lulu.

How did you learn your craft?

It was really a lot of trial and error. I have to admit the first few ones were not too pretty. But after making thousands of bows by hand myself, you just get the feel for it!

Do you have a favorite type of bow to create?

It's hard to pick a favorite, but I think my favorite hair accessories right now are the Bar Clips. I make them with Liberty of London floral fabrics, and also solid fabrics. The alligator clips are wrapped entirely with fabric and lined with non-slip grip for a very secure hold. They're classic, pretty and go with everything!o

What type of positive feedback have you received from customers?

My customers are looking for well-made, classic hair accessories, and I try my hardest to deliver that season after season. Many have said that my clips are the only ones that stay on their daughters' hair, or that their daughters only want to wear my hair accessories. I continue to strive to design and make hair accessories that both moms and daughters love! 

That’s great.  So it sounds like you have a lot of repeat business?

Yes I do! Before having my own website, I was on Etsy and I've had customers whose daughters have grown with me over the years. They started with the smallest itty bitty bows as babies, and are now graduating onto the big girl accessories. I love that!

Where do you see your business going?

I want to keep doing what I'm doing. Many have asked when I'll start hiring seamstresses, but I truly love and enjoy each and every step of the process, from sourcing fabrics, to trying out new designs, and making each and every bow! I truly love my job!

Well we love your bows, and your enthusiasm for making them.  Thanks for sharing with us!                                                     

"I can smell autumn dancing in the breeze.  The sweet chill of pumpkin and crisp sun burnt leaves" - Unknown

It's officially Fall friends!  Back to school, back to routine.  What better way to start the new season than a delicious and nutritious breakfast.  Here is a recipe that my family loves and I hope you will too. 

Sweet Potato Oatmeal

Serving Size 4 

• 2 cup rolled oats
• 3 1/4 cups water (more if you wish to have softer consistency)
• 1 large roasted/steamed sweet potato, mashed (bake the sweet potato the night before. (380 degrees for 60 minutes)
• 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice or cinnamon
• optional: Raisins
• optional: 1 Tbsp chia seeds/flax seeds
• optional: Favorite berries

1. To roast your sweet potato, preheat oven to 380 degrees and place the whole potato on a foil lined baking sheet and bake for 60 minutes or until soft and tender. (Most recipes recommend 400 degrees but I find that usually burns the potatos).  
2. Bring water to a boil in a saucepan. Once boiling add your oats and reduce heat to medium. Stir frequently until the oats have absorbed most of the water. 
3. Mashed your sweet potato and measure out roughly 1 cup. 
4. Once your oats are just about done, add the sweet potato puree, raisins, pumpkin spice or cinnamon and chia or flax seeds and stir to combine. Taste and adjust flavor as desired. To thin, add a bit of almond milk.  

Happy Cooking!  Happy Fall! 

It has been a solid two-year love affair that my son has with his Thomas trains.  For Valentine's this year,  I was inspired by the post from hello, wonderful co. of her "You make my heart race" card and wanted to make something similar but with trains. 

These Mini Thomas Trains came 20 of them for about $26.  I also had some neon color elastic cords and gold stripe washi tape (Sold out from sugar paper x target.  Here is something similar ) .  The card is simple and easy to do.  It is a great activity to do with toddlers.

You can download the template here.

Enjoy and Happy Valentine's Day! 

Here are some of our favorite gift tags.  They are simple, easy to do and best of all, they're free.  All you need is a printer, a pair of scissors and some strings.

No. 1 - We love these Monochrome fonts and graphics tags by Gather and Feast.  

No. 2 Every year, Creative Index publishes the most beautiful gift tags.  This year, the tags even came with 4 different color options.  Black and Gold is our favorite.  Which one is your favorite? 

No. 3  These gift tags from Mandi Nelson are simple and sweet.  Love "Kiss Me Underneath the Mistletoe" one.  

 No. 4 Kelli Murray, the brainchild behind children's clothing line "Rylee and Cru", designed these sweetest woodland theme gift tags.  Perfect for the little ones.  

No. 5  You know we love clean lines here at Andnest.  These sticker tags by Homeyohmy are simple and so cool!  You can even customize them and print out your own photos.  

Happy Wrapping Everyone!