We are beyond excited to announce the latest addition to Monkeys and Mayhem, The Lark.

Whimsical and sweet, this bunting is made with the softest organic cotton fabric imaginable. Inspired by the impending arrival of the stork to one of my best friends from high school, this bunting is as special as the baby that will soon fill it! The Lark was custom-designed to complement the decor and theme my friend selected for her new baby's nursery. We’re so excited over here & can hardly wait until the Big Day! 

If you are interested in this style, please drop us an email to special order this Limited Edition style as only a seriously limited amount of fabric is available. 

Merry Christmas from Monkeys & Mayhem! 

The Merry-Go-Round Museum is located a hop, stampede and a jump from Detroit, in Sandusky, Ohio. Housed in a former U.S. Postal Office, the is a one-of-a-kind adventure into PonyLand! This space showcases carousels and all things associated with these machines. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the full scoop...         ↓↓↓

Beyond excited to be chosen for Core Detroit's Pic of the Day! Thank you so much. Check out their site & the image here.

Step into an enchanted wonderland filled with fortune tellers, antique arcade games and coin-operated amusements at Marvin's Marvelous Mechanical Museum. The carnival-esque atmosphere is infamous for it's approach to old-fashioned entertainment. 

This space is packed with one discovery after the other. Every inch is covered with an unusual display, a rare poster or something unexpected hanging from the ceiling. There are machines that move, rides that entertain and prizes galore. This museum also features a snack enclave that has concession-stand treats like cotton candy, popcorn and hot dogs.

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get the full scoop...         ↓↓↓

So ya wanna be hardcore? Go to Hamtramck for your paczki.

The Hamtramck paczki scene is one from which legends are born. Detroiters stand in line with their salted boots, bundled up with scarves and mittens, as television crews interview those waiting their turn to order their Polish treat. It is the heavyweight championship of the world- Hamtramck style, where only the hardcore survi- I mean- eat paczki. 

Those [two] boxes of paczki from the grocery store I paraded on instagram were only a countdown to the main event, a 'warm-up,' if you will. So this morning, everyone bundled up and we hit Hamtramck. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to hear how it all went down...   ↓↓↓

When I was six, we made an igloo in the yard one snowy winter. It was big enough that four of us could fit inside. We hung photos inside on the walls and I pretended there was a tiny fire where we could roast marshmallows, the swirls of smoke swirling out of the non-existent chimney.  

I don't enjoy spending hours outside in the cold anymore, especially surrounded by snow. But I still love igloos. So yesterday, as the snow fell outside, we had an awesome time making an igloo inside. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to get play-by-play instructions   ↓↓↓

One of my greatest dreams has been to spend an evening at an ice castle.

While driving around Colorado I discovered a postcard in some town I was exploring. It had a drawing of an ice castle on it, with a horse-drawn sleigh in the foreground. The problem was- the ice castle was built in 1887, and had melted that same year.

My love of ice castles has only grown deeper since then, seeping into the everyday life of those who aren't nearly as impressed with the subject  as I am. I make everyone watch documentaries about the "construction of an ice hotel." Repeatedly. 

No one ever wants to go with me on my expeditions. They are usually very specific and not popular with the crowd. [for example: a trip to New Mexico to recreate Ansel Adams' Moonrise over Hernandez. Yes- I totally did it. By myself. [And got yelled at by a guy with a shotgun- story some other time]  

This icy adventure to Quebec was no exception- nobody wanted to go. Except- guess what? Now I found that I could actually force someone to accompany me on my adventures- because now I had a child. How awesome is that! I was smart enough to leave the baby with my mom. 

So- yes. I brought a kindergartner with me to sleep on a block of ice.  To say it was cold would be the understatement of the century. My dream of sleeping in an ice castle had come true! But I really began questioning how this had ever made its way to the top of the list. 

But wait- There's More! Click 'Read More' to hear the unexpected outcome ↓↓↓