Tiny Iron Fists

Reach for the Stars! Thank You, Astronaut Olivas!

Look what Lulu got!

I'm incredibly excited that Astronaut John "Danny" Olivas, a real live spacewalker, took the time to write a few inspirational words for my little Princess Scientist!

Dr. Olivas is a retired American astronaut who spent 27 days, 17 hours, and 5 minutes in space. He was selected by NASA in 1998 and served on two  missions. On spaceflight STS-117, the 118th Shuttle mission, Dr. Olivas accumulated 14 hours and 13 minutes of extra-vehicular activity experience (the first on-orbit EVA repair to Space Shuttle Atlantis). On spaceflight STS-128, the 128th Shuttle mission, Astronaut Olivas accumulated 20 hours and 15 mins of EVA experience. The mission included three spacewalks!

Dr. Olivas also gave Lulu a patch and sticker; insignias for his two missions!

These incredible gifts would not have been possible without the help of Lulu's tatie Monica, who listened to us everytime we talked about space and astronauts. THANK YOU SO VERY MUCH, Monica!!!!

Thank You! Merci! Cám ơn! Gracias!

Dear Friends and Family,

Thank you very much for the awesome presents. They are so colorful and full of fun, it feels as though you have given me 100 hugs made out of rainbows. Thank you for thinking of me and for making my third birthday super special!

Love,

Lulu

 

Rainbow Convection!

I test baked Lulu's birthday cake this past weekend, for her upcoming big Woodland Fairy and Elf birthday party. I used closet-master baker Gesine's vanilla cake recipe for the foundation and famous pastry chef Gaston Lenotre's French buttercream recipe for the icing (I added raspberry to the latter).

My volunteer cake tasters told me it was yummylicious and since there was not a scrap of cake left on any plate, I believe them. I'm excited to add two more layers of color and cake decorations for the final cake. Baking instructions coming soon, too.

"An Awesome Book!" by Dallas Clayton

After hearing Dallas Clayton recite An Awesome Book! at work a couple of weeks ago, I immediately pre-ordered it. He was mesmerizing... charming... and full of love. And I wanted to share his good vibes with Lulu.

The book and its complement, An Awesome Book of Thanks! are wondrous. They focus on what's really important -- our happiness! As a parent I'm awed by Clayton's childlike sincerity.

And just like Dr. Seuss' Oh, the Places You'll Go!, An Awesome Book! will be my go-to-grab for awesome and adventurous kids!

To Lulu: David Choe's Munko

Nearly everything art-related in Lulu's room is a gift from the amazing artists who surround us daily. I haven't been good about documenting everything she's received but was recently reminded of the many colorful people who've gifted Lulu presents when crazy art pal David Choe splashed headlines last week for the much speculated $200 million he may bank when Facebook IPO's. Upon hearing the news, I thought, "Good for David!!! I can't wait to see what incredible art he will make with his new found F-YOU money," and then remembered the Munko (his signature whale), Michelle picked up for Lulu awhile back [THANKS, again both of you]!

Get your own Munko Blind Box Figure at Giant Robot for $11.

To Lulu: Paris Versus New York

A few weeks back, this wonderful link was circulating in conversational threads with my design-friendly posse: Paris versus New York: A Tally of Two Cities, hitting a welcomed nerve with our Francophile family. Lulu is half American, half French (although her bloodline is half Vietnamese, half Italian) and we tremendously enjoyed the visual comparisons of two of our favorite, often-visited, destinations.

Realizing we would be visiting Manhattan and staying at The Standard Hotel during Vahram Muratyan's book signing for 'Paris versus New York', we made plans to wait in line and grab a copy. While Lulu and I waited upstairs in our hotel room, my siblings and company patiently waited downstairs in a long snaking line with hordes of fans to celebrate what was once a blog, then exhibits at Colette in Paris and at The Standard New York, and eventually a book we now have in hand!

Before running out of copies, my sister Kaly was able to buy a copy for Lulu. And Vahram was kind enough to sign it to her. Thanks, Vahram, we love your book very much!

Outfit: DPAM top and skirt, hand-me-down leotard, and American Apparel kids shiny leggings.

"Lulu's Art-Filled Dogtown Digs" on Apartment Therapy

One of my greatest pleasures is to get lost in other people's homes on Apartment Therapy. So it was very exciting and an honor to have Gregory interview me and showcase our home office/bedroom for Unplggd back in May of last year.

Fast forward a few seasons and Lulu's art and beach-inspired nursery is live on AT today. It's been a long work-in-progress and I'm happy it's done. I hope you enjoy noseying around her room as much as I've enjoyed doing the same for so many other homes!

Looking for items in Lulu's room? Check out Lulu's bedroom board or the following links (a million thanks again to our generous friends who've gifted Lulu art over the years):

Lighting

Buddha Buddha Love Light

Pigeon Light by Ed Carpenter for Thorsten van Elten

Sticky Lamp by Chris Kabel for Droog

Sun Jar by Tobias Wong for Suck UK

The Panto Beam by Verner Panton

 

Decorative Items

Flensted Mobile Cheese Mice

Flensted Mobile Shoal of Fish

Flor Metadoodle (Sassy Silver) Carpet Tiles

George Nelson Omar the Owl Clock for Vitra

Hysteric Glamour Pillow

“Jeff Koons” inflatable toys

KleinReid vase

Les Dames (Gift from France)

Lourdes Sanchez Coral Pillow

Lourdes Sanchez Whales Pillow

Momeni Lil Mo Hipster in Surf

Mongolian Dream Catcher (Gift from Mongolia)

Native American Dream Catcher (Gift from Arizona)

Tokion x Bathing Ape Pillow

Upper Playground Joystick Pillow

 

Art

Adam Wallacavage “Alyona”

Adrian Tomine “Shortcomings”

Albert Reyes “She’s Gone”

Alexander Girard “Love Heart” panel

Amanda Vissell “We Are All Kings”

Christy Thomas Untitled “Kittens”

Dave Kinsey “Headspace”

Deanne Cheuk "Mushroom Girls Virus"

Edwin Ushiro Untitled “Lizard Man”

Enjoi Jerry Hsu Cat Collage

Gary Baseman “Giggle and Pop!” Serigraph

Gary Baseman “Hint Mint”

Gary Baseman “La Noche De La Fusion” Letter Press Poster 

Gary Baseman “Lulu”

Gary Baseman “Pink HotChaChaCha”

Geoff McFetridge “Fang Frame Pack”

Hanna-Barbera Studio “Wilma Flinstone” Cel

James Mattison “A B Sea”

Jane Mount “Ideal Bookshelf 1, JMM”

Jim Houser “Stormfront”

Kozyndan “Atari Godzuki”

Kozyndan “Fishy Greetings”

Little Ballerinas (Gift from Souris’ Childhood)

LostArt Untitled “Boy” Photograph

Mike + Doug Starn “alleverythingthatisyou sno7.1_003”

Nikki McClure “Surrender”

Obey Giant “Tony Alva”

Os Gemeos Nike Brazil Invitation

Paper Culture “Counting Sea Creatures 1 - 9”

Penny People 13 x 19 Alphabet Print

Punta Cometa Print (Gift from Mexico)

Rostarr “Mothers Milk (5,4,3,2,1)”

Ryan McGinness “Growing Handplants” Skateboard

Ryan McGinness “Pathetic Lucky Ryan Charms of the Hipster Doofus”

Sharon Rubin Untitled “Sand Wave”

Super Rural “For Like Ever”

Tiffany Bozic “Key”

Todd St. John “Wave Fade”

Tony Hawk’s Birdhouse Skateboard

Uglydolls (Handsewn by Sun-Min)

Uglydolls x Giant Robot – Uglycon II Skate Deck

 

Furniture

DwellStudio Storage Bins

Eames Elephant

Eames Molded Plywood Children’s Chair

Ecotot Book Shelf

Educo Gourmet Chef Kitchen

Ikea Expedit Shelving Unit

Itso Full Size Fabric Bin

Kalon Studios Hut-Hut Resin Rocker

Kalon Studios Stump

Oeuf Sparrow Crib

 

Room in progress: LMPP's Dogtown Digs

Munchkin Muse!

 

Some wait a lifetime to have an artist paint their portrait. Lulu had to wait all of two and half years. Three-time Emmy award winning creator of animated series Teacher's Pet, Cranium illustrator and contemporary artist and uncle Gary Baseman doodled Lulu's portrait during a hearty family lunch in Little Saigon. She is a lucky one!

Outfit: Polarn O. Pyret top and eco-every day leggings and Native Corrado shoes.

LMPP'S Dogtown Digs

Here's a sneak peek at Lulu's Dogtown digs (it was totally inspired by our surf/skate neighborhood and all the outsider artists we know). I'm not exactly sure what constitutes a nursery, but I guess it's that too. Lulu's room has been a work in progress for over a year and we finally finished it this week. While there are still a few things to tweak, it's pretty much done now. I've never seen another room like it and I'm stoked with how it's turned out.

If you follow the kick ass kid's shelter blog, ohdeedoh, they'll be profiling it soon. I'm also trying to catalog everything in her room for a future post, but since some of you have been following the room's progress, I thought you'd enjoy a look now.

Thank you to all our artist pals for the art on her wall and to all our friends for picking up such unique gifts for Lulu. It goes without saying that our kid is loved and one lucky little gal!

"On A Stick" Book Party

Matt (via Dana) invited me to his book launch for On a Stick at Border Grill in downtown LA. It was a night of small bites (lots of them) and smiles for miles. Which perfectly fit the theme of the book: party-perfect recipes... on a stick. Because eating anything on a stick is always more fun.

Seeing as I'm Vietnamese, I'm excited to try Matt's tasty looking recipe for Bo La Lot (betel leaf wrapped lemongrass beef), Caprese Sticks and Pizza Skewers (I know my French-Italian husband will love), and Grilled Fruit Skewers (for Lulu, our resident fruitcake).

Lulu loves food -- even in books. So I gave her Matt's book to review. Following are her thoughts caught on video:

Final verdict? On a Stick is good enough to eat. Like, for reals, eat!

To Lulu: Todd St. John's "Wave Fade"

Hawaiian native, artist, designer, and pal Todd St. John sent Lulu one of his magnificent Wave Fade prints for her Dogtown-inspired bedroom. The big wave is crazy perfect with the bright blue colors and clean design. I especially love the message he inscribed to her... we should all inspire to stay young!

Produced in an edition of 220, the signed and numbered 1-color blended silkscreen is printed on white paper. More deets below.

Wave Fade
2008 (based on a design originally printed in 2003)
Silkscreen on paper
26 x 26
$165

Related: HunterGatherer and @HUGANYC

THANKS so much, Todd!

Super Natural Every Day!

Congratulations to our dear friend and James Beard Award-nominated cookbook author, Heidi Swanson on publishing another kick ass cookbook, Super Natural Every Day! Making and eating healthy foods doesn't have to be hard or intimidating and more importantly, it can be tasty and fun to cook (if you have Heidi's Super Natural Cooking, then you already know this). 

Heidi's new culinary compendium is filled with nearly 100 of her favorite nutrient-rich every day meals. Inside this carefully curated cookbook, you'll find doable recipes requiring five or less components. As Heidi states, "Simply put -- here are real foods and good ingredients made into dishes that are nourishing and worth eating and sharing." I am excited to incorporate her go-to recipes to our regular rotation of home-cooked family meals including her tasty looking yogurt biscuits, crepes (my French/Italian husband cannot get enough of Heidi's cooking), open-face egg sandwich, popcorn, black sesame otsu, and roasted strawberries (now that they're back in season)!

Enjoy the dreamy photographs (many shot by our other good pal Wayne), catch yourself drooling, and then hike on over to the Farmer's Market and stock up. We are in for a treat. You are in for a treat. And my seven-year-old-cooking-club, City Cooks Club is in for a treat! For delicious and sophisticated-but-simple foods, do yourself a favor and buy Super Natural Every Day, today!

And thanks for the shout out, Heidi! I can't wait to cook with you again.

RELATED: Hustler of Yum and Hustler of Words

Outfit: American Apparel Infant Baby Rib Long Sleeve Lap T

Eye Spy 2010

Even with the loss of Silvio's grandfather Marco Rea, my father Lieutenant Colonel Chuong G. Hong and our beloved cat-dog Godzuki, 2010 was the year of love. So many people surrounded us. And so many people openly loved Lulu.

THANK YOU to our extended family (born-into and adopted) for your friendship. 2011's going to be the best yet!

To Lulu: "Outstanding In The Field: A Farm To Table Cookbook"

 

We've just returned from a spectacular dinner in Malibu, hosted by Toyota to celebrate 10 years of Prius.  Along with 300 guests, we were treated to a gorgeous sunset dinner outdoors at the Wright Organic Resource Center hosted by Outstanding in the Field, a moveable feast known for serving local produce and collaborating with regional chefs.

Jim Denevan, OITF's founder/chef/artist autographed copies of his cookbook, "Outstanding in the Field: A Farm To Table Cookbook" for departing guests. He took the time to personalize Lulu's copy with a doodle. Jim's lifestyle choices are admirable and worth duplicating. I'm stoked to try his recipes in the near future.

Thanks, Prius for a very memorable 10.10.10!

To Lulu: "Beyond the Street"

We attended Shepard Fairey's opening for "Printed Matters" and on the same evening we also celebrated the book launch for "Beyond the Street: The 100 Leading Figures in Urban Art", a compendium of 100 of the most influential players in the street and urban art scene. Editor/Author Patrick Nguyen was kind enough to inscribe a lighthearted message for Lulu and Shepard signed his page too. We're happy to build a collection of books and art we hope will inspire Lulu someday.

To Lulu: Uglydoll Babo

I bought an Uglydoll Action Figure for Lulu at the "Photos from the Uglyverse" art opening at GR2. Since it was a blind boxed item, I had no idea who we were going to get but was very pleased to find a 3" Babo. I'm not sure why there's an "action twist" waistline, but go ahead and make your little guy dance! The collection also includes Wage, Jeero, Ice-Bat, Wedgehead and OX and is available in both classics and "Littleuglys" colors. $8.00 USD.

Hello!

Welcome to Tiny Iron Fists. My name is Souris. I love my family, food, art, travel, technology, and community. Prior to this little corner of the internet, I was Vice President of Interactive Media for an LA-based strategic consulting agency. I've been blogging about art and culture at Hustler of Culture since 2003. 

Tiny Iron Fists is a journal about life with our first benevolent dictator, Lulu. It's meant to be a resource for pregnant friends and (new) parents. I hope you'll enjoy the tips, interviews, anecdotes, and product reviews I write about. 

My posse nicknamed me "Tiny Iron Fists" because I once ruled our scene. Then I had a kid and now someone tinier than me, rules my world! How about that?! 

Thanks for dropping by, I can also be found on Twitter. Feel free to email me at tinyironfists [at] gmail.com. 

Lastly, I know you are probably wondering, who made my ridiculously cute banner? Why, my good, funny, and single friend, Slabco Steve did! You can find him online here, here, and here.