Five Loves

1) How precious is this little one?

2) I love all the different umbrella colors in this shot.

3) Nothing better than refreshing floral and fruity ice cubes.

4) Oh, the colors! (Image source)

5) I love this necklace. How lovely.
I'm looking forward to a nice, peaceful weekend. Nothing better than a relaxing Saturday. 

Inspiration Boards

All the best designers have an inspiration board. (Linda Rodin has a huge one on the back of a door.) They're places to put ideas for new lines, sketches, magazine clippings, fabric swatches, you name it. 

I am determined to create an entire inspiration wall. Literally, covered with pictures from floor to ceiling. I'm sure my brain would be ten times clearer if I could put everything inside of it on one wall. But then again, my brain is always cluttered.

(1,2)

Coffee Design

If you are a Starbucks fan, you may have seen their new 3 Region Blend. I noticed the beautiful palette for the packaging. How gorgeous is the design? The tone-on-tone background pattern, and the poppy floral design behind the label. Because coffee wants to be stylish too.

(Image source)

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day! My very deepest thanks and appreciations goes out to the men and women who have given their lives for our country. Freedom is ours because of you.

(Image source)

Opportunity

When you work with a lazy person, usually you end up doing all of the work. (That is, unless you are the lazy person.) It's such a joy to work alongside a hard worker. You can count on them to get the job done every time. They will not wimp out on you.

Sometimes in order to achieve a goal you need to put in some elbow grease. Proverbs 10:4 says "Lazy hands make for poverty, but diligent hands bring wealth." Think about it. If God was lazy, you wouldn't be here. If He just quit on the second day, He would have never created people. Just because the work is hard doesn't mean you can just quit.

Let's use another example. What if you wanted to lose 20 pounds. Sitting on the couch watching paid programming for Zumba wouldn't make that dream a reality. You need to sweat, and work out, and eat right. But it's all worth it when you zip up those jeans you haven't work since high school. 

Hard work isn't a bad thing. Roll up your sleeves and dive in headfirst.

(Image source)

Cheeseboard 101

I love cheese. I mean really, really love cheese. At a party, there could be a tower of chocolate or a huge dish of chips, but I still make a beeline for the cheese. 

Cheeseboards are supposedly hard to put together. What cheese to use, what accents, all of the different choices can surely make the process confusing. But it's really quite simple if you know the basics. (For the cheesboard itself, I like this one.)

1. Choose the right cheese. Three different cheeses will provide enough variety for a cheese plate that serves six to eight people; add more choices if you're hosting a bigger party, and estimate about a pound of cheese (total) for every five guests. Aim for a variety of different tastes and textures. A helpful clue: Cheeses that look different usually taste different. For a good mix, try one fresh, smooth cheese such as a mild goat or mozzarella, and a buttery one with a soft, edible rind, like Brie or Camembert. Then add one or two semi-hard or hard chesses: Go for a milder one, like Gruyere or Manchego, or a dry, sharp variety, such as Pecorino Romano or Parmesan. If you like, swap one of these cheeses out for a blue cheese (creamy Roquefort or pungent Stilton both work).
2. Pick the vehicle. For the most part,  we view crostini and crackers on a cheese plate as just a way to get cheese into your mouth. Set out some slices of crusty bread or baguette or, if you prefer something crisp, try water crackers, which are plain enough that they still let the cheese shine.
3. Make some sweet selections. The natural sweetness in fruit complements the saltiness of cheese. Serve something fresh, like grapes or pear slices, or dried fruits, such as figs, prunes, and apricots.
4. Just add crunch. A good cheese plate is about more than just taste -- texture plays an important role, too. Add nuts, crunchy apple slices, or crisp crackers for a crunchy texture that offsets rich, creamy cheeses.
5. Get a board. You don't need a dedicated cheese board -- a clean wooden cutting board will work just fine. We like the rustic look of the sheesham wood board pictured above. Buy it here.
6. Consider timing. Cheeses taste best at room temperature, so let them sit for an hour or so before serving (longer of large chunks or hard cheeses). That said, no one will complain if you forget and serve your wedges and wheels straight from the fridge -- it's still cheese after all!

Pretty straight forward, right? It takes almost no effort to put together, but looks so polished and is sure to make your guests feel special.

(Image and instructions from Martha Stewart)

Theresa Himmer

Theresa Himmer is an amazing Dutch artist. She takes sequins and creates beautiful art pieces on buildings. I don't know about you, but I think I would pay her to sequin-cover my whole house. Gold, please. 
This is the best thing since yarn bombing! Gorgeous? Yes. Technically illegal? You could say that. But all the trees are now cozy, so you've got some give and take action going on.
(1,2,3)

Wedding Dresses

A friend of mine is getting married soon, and as is my custom around weddings I start looking at gowns. It's a problem that I should probably seek help for. Seriously, even the slightest hint of a wedding has me scrolling through pages of gowns on David's Bridal.

I think my favorite is the third one, with the beautiful bow. 

Now back to scrolling.

(1,2,3,4)

Don't Judge

Sometimes it's hard to love people. That neighbor who always blares their music, that stalker guy at the Walmart deli (true story), or that coworker who always wants to tell you her life story...in perfect, awkward detail. 
But do you realize that we are not called to judge and condemn the world, but to love it? The Bible talks about love so many times. Just one of these is 1 Corinthians 13:1-3, which says "If I speak in the tongues of men or of angels, but do not have love, I am only a resounding gong or a clanging cymbal. ² If I have the gift of prophecy and can fathom all mysteries and all knowledge, and if I have a faith that can move mountains, but do not have love, I am nothing. ³ If I give all I possess to the poor and give over my body to hardship that I may boast, but do not have love, I gain nothing." 
If you are honest with yourself, you will come to the conclusion that sometimes you are not easy to love, either. But God still loves you. He never has and never will give up on you. It's your job to take His love and spread it around. 
(Image source)

Black as an Accent Color

Black is such a great color. Strong, graphic, and powerful, it makes a perfect addition to any home. But too much can make your home feel like a cave. Which, unless you happen to be a grizzly, is undesirable. 

I love when black is used as an accent. It gives grounding and substance to a space, especially when used on a piece of furniture. But, like beige, this guy needs some friends. When used with white and bright colors, you get the perfect balance in your space. Because in design, as in life, balance is key.

(1,2,3,4)

Nutella Smores Bars

How delicious do these look? I believe it's time for smores.

Nutella S'mores Bars

Yield: One 8x8 pan (16 squares)

Ingredients:
1 and 1/4 cups flour
1 cup graham cracker crumbs
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 stick unsalted butter, softened
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 large egg 
pinch of vanilla powder (or 1 and 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract)
1/2 cup Nutella
7 ounces marshmallow creme
1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray an 8x8 glass baking dish with cooking spray, then line with parchment paper, leaving an overhang on opposite sides. 

In a bowl, whisk together flour, graham cracker crumbs, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

In another bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Add egg and vanilla and beat until creamy and well blended. Add dry ingredients and beat until just combined. 

Press half of the dough evenly onto the bottom of the prepared baking dish. Spoon marshmallow creme over the dough, then use the back of a greased spoon or a greased angled spatula to spread it out. Spread Nutella over marshmallow creme. Sprinkle chocolate chips over Nutella. Break apart chunks of the remaining graham cracker dough and scatter on top of the chocolate chips, like so.

Bake for 30 minutes or until golden brown. Let cool completely in pan, then lift out using overhanging edges of parchment paper and cut into bars.
(Image and recipe from Culinary Couture)

Click, Click, Click

Very few people know that Dorothy's ruby slippers were actually silver. I love silver shoes. Target has some really cute ones, like these or these. Super cute when worn with cuffed jeans, like in the second picture. Or you could wear them with a skirt like Atlantic-Pacific did. 

How would you wear them?

(1,2,3)

The New Classics

I've always been a classics girl. I still have a copy of Little Women from when I was 8 years old...signed by myself. How adorable are these copies of the classics beautifully designed by the team at Mr. Boddington's Studio?

Nothing better than a rainy day and a good book. Oh yeah...and some Saltine crackers. Bingo.
(Jane Eyre, Alice in Wonderland, Little Women, Pride and Prejudice, Sense and Sensibility, Wuthering Heights)

Five Loves

1) How gorgeous are these flowers?

2) I want to sit under scalloped umbrellas!

3) This picture of popsicles by Aaron Dyer is so beautiful. 

4) Let's go to the cupcake cafe!

5) This should be my neighborhood.
You can probably tell that I want summer. Just in case the popsicles threw you off. 

Pantone Tarts

How fabulous are these Pantone tarts? Yummy and beautiful.

I was so excited to find out that emerald was the Color of the Year. I went out and bought an emerald top, as is my usual custom after the big announcement. Then I commenced to enthuse over every green thing in my closet. (I get super color happy.)

(Image source)

Beloved by God

People are like Rubik's cubes. Our personalities are multi-faceted. (Not two-faced, just having many different aspects.) 
For instance, I love art. But I also enjoy music and cooking. I'm still the same person. But I have multiple interests.
It's important to remember that the only part of ourselves that will never die is the part that was made new when we accepted Jesus as our Savior. Everything else will pass away with the earth. Sure, Jesus loves your hobbies. That chili you make? He adores it. But if any hobby or interest becomes more important to you or takes time away from your time with Jesus, it has to go.
Matthew 5:29 says "If your right eye causes you to stumble, gouge it out and throw it away. It is better for you to lose one part of your body than for your whole body to be thrown into hell." Sounds a bit harsh, right? But the principle is still right on the money; don't let anything get in the way of your relationship with Jesus.
(Image source)

May Wishlist

1. Topshop dress | 2. Balenciaga Paris perfume | 3. ASOS sandals | 4. JewelMint necklace | 5. Essie nail polish | 6. Modcloth earrings | 7. Madewell swimsuit
As I was putting together this post, I realized that the majority of the things I picked were red. Maybe I really want warm weather. Or it could be because my nails were red last week. Who knows. 
Red is such a nice color; when put near the face it gives you energy and makes you look awake. For an early morning, throw on a red scarf and no more sleepy face.

Chloe Fleury

Chloe Fleury is an amazing artist. In her work, she takes paper and creates beautiful little vignettes. She did a book trailer for Joy Cho (Oh Joy!)'s book, Blog, Inc.. How adorable is it? Super happy and colorful.
I wonder how many papercuts she gets in a day. But, hey, art takes sacrifices. (Like always having glitter all over your jeans...true story.)
(1,2,3)

Helping People

This is one of my favorite quotes. I always remind myself that Jesus never asked to be repaid when he healed people. He never had any ulterior motives. There was no dubiousness to Him; He just truly loved people and had a compassionate heart. 
It's easy to help people when everyone is watching. How about doing something kind and telling nobody? There's a verse in the Bible, Matthew 6:3 that says, " But when you give to the needy, do not let your left hand know what your right hand is doing." I think that pretty much sums it up. Give for the sake of giving, to show the world who Jesus is. Don't set off the trumpets and cheerleaders.
(Image source)

Floral Pom-Poms

This is a super easy tutorial on how to make beautiful tissue paper flowers. I made a whole bunch a year or so, and they turned out great. Wouldn't they be gorgeous at a bridal shower?

Tools and Materials

Tissue paper
24-gauge white cloth-covered floral wire
Scissors

Hanging Pom-Poms How-To

1. Stack eight 20-by-30-inch sheets of tissue. Make 1 1/2-inchwide accordion folds, creasing with each fold.

2. Fold an 18-inch piece of floral wire in half, and slip over center of folded tissue; twist. With scissors, trim ends of tissue into rounded or pointy shapes.

3. Separate layers, pulling away from center one at a time.

4. Tie a length of monofilament [found here] to floral wire for hanging.

It's very simple, and super fun. Great for a rainy day craft with some gal pals.

(Image and tutorial from Martha Stewart)