blogging

10 things I’m loving right now.

February 10, 2012

I saw it while strolling on Newbury Street this week and I have to have this for spring. You’ll find me wearing it on warm breezy Saturdays on my way to the Buttery in the South End. I’ll have on my brown boots and a top knot. YES.

2. This song.

I almost forgot about Ani until she popped onto my Pandora after work yesterday. LOVE.

3. This weather.

There might be a good amount of snow in the forecast, but for today, this is perfect, and I’ll gladly take it. But seriously, what’s up with winter this year?? (Goodness knows I’m not complaining, just curious.)

4. This recap.

Another great Boston Bloggers event! Loved seeing old friends and meeting new ones too. I am completely smitten with this blogging community and am feeling more connected and pleased with it with each passing week.

5. This book.

I just finished it and was pleasantly surprised at how much I enjoyed it. I’d heard it was good, but have been having trouble getting through “adult” books lately. This one held my attention well enough for me to finish it in under two weeks, and it was very interesting and unique.

6. This food.

Chocolate for breakfast? Don’t mind if I do.

7. This accessory.

I’m thinking about getting a new iphone case. I just feel like it’s time and I need something new. Society 6 has such nice ones to choose from, and you can really get one that fits your style. I like this one too. And this one. And this one. Okay, I’ll stop now.

8. This typeface.

It’s just so lovely and classic. I want these as fonts on my computer, but even more I want to be able to write like this. I would write a handwritten letter every single day if my print looked like this. My favorites? Kate and Sasha. But really, I love them all.

9. This memory.

Colleen was remembering this concert yesterday and her description of it sent chills up my spine. I know what it feels like to be at a concert like this. Where everyone is one with their love for the music. It’s some kind of magic in the air and there are very few experiences that can compare. Dave Matthews does it for me. Does any particular artist do it for you?

10. This post.

I read this post when Elizabeth originally posted it almost a month ago, but it’s something I’ve been thinking about a lot. I’m guilty of the occasional gossip and jealous thought just as much as the next person, but they aren’t my best moments. In fact, they’re close to my worst. I really want to try to focus on the the peaceful things in life. Negative thoughts and comments only make you and everyone around you feel negative. And this life is short so why not make it sweet. Let’s just be nice to one another, okay? And above all, let’s be nice to ourselves.

Happy weekend, friends!!

12 Comments · Filed Under: blogging, life ·

things i saw, things i love

January 20, 2012

FRIDAAAAAAY.

{Drumroll please…}

Presenting…

The latest and greatest pretty things gracing the internets…

(in my humble opinion)…

First up this week, is my best friend Maureen’s appearance on Style Me Pretty! I was so excited for her when she tweeted the link! All photography was done by the terrific Alice G. Patterson. You can check out her post about their wedding here. Yay, Mosie!

I kind of love these dresses from two. I saw these on Eat, Drink, Chic and couldn’t help but think how lovely these would be to wear in the heat of the summer. Sigh.

Speaking of summer (can you tell I’m yearning for it?), it’s just not complete without a few dives into the waters of a clear, clean lake. I loved this post by Butter and Brass. It just made me want summer just that much more. Did you know Minnesota has 10,000+ lakes? I didn’t! Lake prints by Nicole Meyer. Read about her project here.

Do you love this purse as much as I do? DREAM! Anyone know where I can get it?? Seen via One of a Kind.

Um, hello. This is the cutest idea EVER! I originally saw this on Making it Lovely, and was then led to Minifanfan. I want.

Do you think it comes in chevron/ikat?

A Cup of Jo’s Bedroom makeover? Did you see it? I was basically drooling all over my keyboard as I scrolled through the pictures.

LOVE the colors and all the tasteful patterns. Love the headboard, love the Dwell Studio Sheets, love the wall of frames, LOVE IT ALL.

This bedroom is absolutely incredible.

Earlier this week both Molly and Elizabeth posted about their lovely friend Lady Lee’s new etsy shop. I am just smitten with all the prints she’s selling (words straight from the minds and hearts (and blogs) of these fantastic ladies). I love how she did that. Just love.

Plus, I am eyeing that cream necklace.

So pretty!

I think I might be addicted to patterns? Just a thought. At any rate, I LOVE this DIY from A Beautiful Mess.

Now all I need is one of these cameras.

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Aaaaand I just realized I said “love” about 500 times in this post. But whatever, it’s the gosh honest truth.

And IT’S THE WEEKEND!

I’m heading to Maine tomorrow to spend time with Hannah and enjoy some of the snow they’ve gotten. I’m hoping for a beach walk (if possible) and a chance to take some more winter pics with my camera. I haven’t visited since summer, so I’m really looking forward to it… snow and all. Maine is one of my favorite places on earth.

Hannah + Maine = Happiness

What are you up to this weekend??

7 Comments · Filed Under: blogging, design, fashion, friends, handmade ·

thursday thoughts.

January 19, 2012

Happy Thursday, everyone!

Thursday is the best, isn’t it? Ohhh, I love.

I just made up the line “Thursday Thoughts.” (At least I think I made it up.) And I thought I was so clever I gave myself a pat on the back. The creativity is just running wild over here.

So this post is a bit of a random mish-mash of things.

Just some recent thoughts of mine for you to mingle over as you ease into Friday (let’s throw our hands up in the hair and praise the LORD!).

Here we go…

1. This is my new jam.

It makes for such good driving music. And blogging music. And keep-me-feeling-happy music.

The whole album is currently on repeat in my car.

It’s good, guys. Real good.

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2. Did I tell you my parents came to Boston last weekend? Our time was swell.

We did some eating, some book shopping, and mostly a lot of just being together. Which is the best kind of visit.

My dad is watching the Syracuse game in that last picture. In the restaurant. On an iPhone.

What can I say? The guy’s addicted. Can’t help but love him.

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3. This week was a 3-day week at school for the kids. Why do those weeks always seem to drag on the longest? Right? I can see you shaking your head yes. What is it about them?

Tuesday we had a professional development day at school. We had a keynote speaker in the morning that was absolutely fantastic. He talked all about how we as teachers can help set the tone for our classroom in terms of motivation and resilience.

It’s about creating a positive classroom environment.

A safe place where children can grow and learn and take risks and make mistakes.

All without ever having to worry that they won’t be accepted. Or told they’re wrong.

It was very powerful for me and helped me think about how I can make sure my classroom is a welcoming, nourishing, safe place. For all of my kids, but especially the ones that don’t have a lot. The ones that struggle at home or have a low self esteem. It’s these kids I need to reach the most.

Because it only takes one person to believe in a child to change their life. To give them strength. To give them courage. And if I can be that person, that teacher, that is when I will have done my job.

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4. I know I’m not alone out there with my love for Downton Abbey.

Really, how terrific is that show?

When I am watching this show I am reminded of my love for Titanic (oh, Leo), but I am also brought back to my childhood and Anne of Green Gables and Avonlea. Oh, how I wish I could be part of those times! Dresses and horses and petticoats and tea and biscuits.

The characters on Downton Abbey just came into my life by storm and now have a most special place in my heart.

Lady Mary!

BATES! ANNA!

My friend Clair had a fun post earlier this week all about Downton Abbey recipes. It made me smile and made me hungry too. I’ll take some of those crepes suzette, please. I was drooling in that episode.

Do you watch it too?

(Also, sidenote to my HWS friends: Who thinks Lady Mary is Marissa Greechan’s other twin (besides Dana)?????????? Can I get a heck YES. I can’t get over it. Every single episode I just can’t get over it.)

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5. Blog Friends DINNER!

We did it!

Clair and Mackenzie and I finally got together!

We stayed at Veggie Galaxy for 2 hours and talked all sorts of wonderful things. We talked blogs. And twitter. And blogging and more blogging. And stolen bikes and our love for long rides on the T. And children’s books. We all have a special place in our heart for children’s books. This is ultimately how we found each other’s blogs and how we can now call each other soul sisters.

This is my favorite part about blogging.

FAVORITE.

Making connections. Making friends.

It just makes me happy.

SO very happy.

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One thing that stuck with me from last night is how Mackenzie so perfectly described blogging as reading/writing a letter to a friend. It’s so true. And then this morning I was thinking, of course. That’s how my blog name came to be in the first place, after all. How could I forget?

And so, friend. I wish you a happy one. A very happy Thursday, indeed. ♥

12 Comments · Filed Under: blogging, family, friends, life ·

the best new app that ever happened to me

January 16, 2012

Oh my goodness. Oh my goodnessssss.

Do you people know Flipboard yet?

It’s super fun and really amazing. A m a z i n g.

My friend Hannah told me about it last week and I have been raving about it ever since. I decided I needed to blog about it for two reasons:

1) To get it out of my system.

2) To let you in on the goods!

Unless of course, you already know about it, which just would be the case. I’m usually behind the times in the trends. If this is the case, just shake your head at me and move along with your day. I can handle it.

For those of you that don’t yet know about Flipboard, it’s basically an app (for iPad and iPhone) where you can organize all your social media in addition to your favorite daily reads (i.e. blogs, online magazines, etc). It’s like your own personal magazine of sorts. Because you design what you want to put on your dashboard.

Here’s mine:

You choose what you want to read about.

Imagine that!

Originally I linked my personal facebook here, and then promptly removed it when I came to the realization that it’s mostly filled with JUNK. For serious. People posting links, youtube videos and the like that I couldn’t care less about. One “friend” even posted her boyfriend hanging out with no shirt on showing off his newly shaved head. NO thank you.

I think I need to reprioritize and start giving people the boot.

Anyways, that’s neither here nor there.

What was this post about again?

OH YES.

Flipboard.

So anyways, each button on your dashboard brings your further into your “magazine” and this is where you can keep up to date on what’s happening out there in the internet universe.

Want to know what’s happening on the twitter?

{Pictures included and everything!}

Care to check out some sweet instagram photos?

{you can “like” and comment right on Flipboard. LOVE.}

Feel like catching up on your favorite blogs?

The iPad app is incredible, because you can see so much at once and your eyes are literally beaming with glee, but the iPhone app is perfectly fine too, for on the go web-reading…

You just easily flip through the pages of your personal magazine to find all the latest of what’s going on with your friends and favorite bloggers.

JACKPOT!

Here I’ve taken a few pages and clumped them together (usually you’ll just see one page at a time):