Drinks made Dazzling

Martha Stewart

I love the idea of adding that perfect "something" to a drink to make it have that unique touch that you won't see at other events/parties/places. I also think that they are becoming more popular. They just really add that little something to a meal!

Yup. FACSY ideas are swarming in my head again as I'm typing.

Vintage Inspired Straws. Oh how I love thee. I've been drooling over these straws for months, but I just came across Shop Sweet Lulu and found this set, 60 straws in different colors, for $12! The best deal for these that I've come across so far. And, you don't have to choose which color to buy. I love the pink and white stripes and the teal with green stripes!


Martha Stewart Wedding

Yes, Yes, Yes! In every way!

Martha Stewart

I love the little flags!


Intimate Weddings

Perfect for the kids!

Which is your favorite? All of these pictures are really making me want to grab a cup of lemonade...

What I love on Roadtrips + Pillow Pet Giveaway!

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My family and I went on a two month trip this winter to California! However, the drive from Minnesota to California is crazy long, it took us around a week of 7-8 hour days, to get there because of the bad snow storm that came through. Semi Trucks were jack-knifing and tipping over and sliding off the road all over the place! It was terrible!

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With all that driving, you need some weapons. Some road trip weapons. With spending countless hours driving around in the past two months, I've developed a few favorites. Take a look....

Extraordinary Ipod image
(Podcasts are great to listen to while traveling - on my 'extraordinary' ipod nano - my favorite - "Stuff you Missed in History Class")

And what not to pack....


Sweet Paul

Ham sandwiches. Actually, I think I'm changing the spelling to "Ham Sand'witches'." When you start to eat them everyday for a week, the come to be unappetizing indeed.

Now! Did you notice that one of my favorite things to pack was my pillowpet? Its the perfect size for in the car, and it's so soft. Would you like to win one?

How to enter: Visit the new Pillow Pets website and look around. Let me know what your favorite feature is. Mine is look through their shop - it's fun to look with my cousins, they are ecstatic over some of the pillowpets!

Extra (please leave a separate comment for each!):

+1: Subscribe to this blog via email

This giveaway is only open to the US!

Giveaway ends 4/9/2011

Color! FACSY Planning 2011

Van Love

You might remember about a month ago, I wrote a post on my indecisive-ness upon whether I should host the FACSY Retreat Photography class or the Fashion Revue. Well, I'm sticking with Fashion Revue but I'm still wishing I could teach Photography, SO bad! Maybe I'll just have to weezle my way into helping plan it.....

Anyways! The theme of FACSY is going to be COLOR! How perfect for a bunch of kids in 4th-7th grade! Right? I've been finding inspiration everywhere, and wanted to share some of the amazing with you!

Which of these ideas do you think I should definitely keep, and which ones do you think I should pass on?

Also! The budgeting is TIGHT for FACSY. It is an overnight event and we are feeding the kids supper as well as breakfast, plus the kids take home a project from the class that they choose (3 classes on one subject) and we also have to pay the $300 fee for building rental and all of the "extra" stuff. How much do you think an acceptable registration fee for FACSY would be?

Wouldn't these little pies be adorable for the afternoon snacks? And the cake....oh the cake!


Decorations are a must.







And a fun photobooth!

Inspiration: 1 2 3 5 6 7 8 9

Live Ivy. Take Ivy.

Ever since I watched "Social Network" (a must see, by the way) the other night, I've been kind of obsessed with Ivy League schools. Harvard...Princeton...Yale...Stanford....







So when I came across a blog post on Miss Moss referring to the blog post on The Trad blog, on this book, "Take Ivy" which was published in, I believe, the 1950's! His post has the entire first chapter scanned in, lots of lovely Ivy league pictures! How I love this style!

Rome

When I was a little girl, I would always watch the Mary Kate and Ashley show "When In Rome" and of course, I would dream of visiting Rome! And Italy, and Greece, and Ireland, and, and and.... And here's the thing - I still do to this day!

I've been a big fan of Shabby Apple dresses for a long time now. They just released there Roamin Holiday line today! It's gorgeous! I just thought I'd pop in to share with you some of my favorites of the new line! Which is yours?

And my most favorite...

Jack Wills Spring

This Jack Wills editorial shot by the wonderful Elearnor Hardwick was for the Spring 2010 handbook, however, I think it is just as suitable to welcome us into Spring this year! Don't you agree? I love Jack Wills - perfectly British inspired, blazers, oxfords, and sweet skirts!

Twigs and Honey

The hair pieces are gorgeous enough, but the photo shoot to go along with makes it all them all the more gorgeous. I find so much inspiration from Twigs and Honey's hair pieces and website! Lovely!

I really like wearing bold statement pieces in your hair. I think it really makes a dress or even regular outfit stand out. I also think they look beautiful in pictures! What do you think? Would you wear one?

Sweet Hauntings

Anna Malmberg has a very haunting feeling to her images, very haunting. I love the unique processing that she does, quite lovely!

Photography: Anna Malmberg

Something New

Thank you to P&G’s Have You Tried This Yet? program and Kroger for sponsoring my writing about trying new things and breaking out of my everyday routine. Click here to find great savings on high-performing P&G products at a Kroger store near you. I was selected for this sponsorship by the Clever Girls Collective, which endorses Blog With Integrity, as I do.

Image Rockie Nolan

A while ago, I was reading a short little article on how "Twilight" books changes people. However, of course it does! Everything we do - everything we see - everything we come across and every experience that we experience, we are changed by it and effected in some way.

When I think of something that I've done in my life that has changed me, I think of a lot of little things, that when put together, makes something huge. One of these things that has changed me, I believe, is beginning to blog.

I began to blog two years ago, with my book blog. The whole experience really been quite experimental and I had fun trying it! However, I then began to focus on this blog, which developed into a fashion/design blog, and that's where things really became clearer and changes started happening. As I began to explore the blog world, I realized a whole different way of life. I was able to see things and gather ideas from sources that I never before new existed! I started reading blogs such as Sara Klassens, Sewing in No Mans Land, The Pioneer Woman, Twig and Thistle, and various Scandinavian blogs.

By reading these blogs, I began to find my style. My writing style. My fashion style. My life style. Even my music style! I have a huge love for indie/folk music now. I began to not care if other people didn't like what I wore because it was "different." Yesterday I wore my glitter oxfords from Urban Outfitters to a 4H meeting. Hahaha!

I also found myself being more creative, with fashion, with event planning, with sewing, and other endeavors. I also have found myself wanting to learn about different techniques that I never even considered before such as mixed media, and interior design.

I really believe that blogging has helped me become a more confident and creative person. What changes have you had in your life that have helped you?

For the last days of Winter

Tag on Image: Creature Comforts

I love hot chocolate, and while it's warming up a little bit outside, it's still delicious to have a cup of it while watching a good movie. I've been waiting to see "Life as we Knew It." Have you seen it? Was it good?

I think it would be especially delicious to indulge in one of these sweet personalized hot chocolate silverplate spoons from Ticket Kitchen. How clever that the message is revealed as your stirring your hot chocolate in! Wouldn't they make a great gift?