inspired ideas

I discovered another free online digital holiday magazine (via doe-c-doe). Amy from the blog, inspire co, worked with a team of fabulously creative designers (including Mary Englebreit!) to put together a fantastic holiday magazine, inspired ideas. 

It's chock full of vintage-inspired crafts.

Beautifully illustrated step-by-step how-to instructions.

It also includes templates for some of the designs at the end of the magazine.

Aren't these silhouette tags just the cutest idea?!

I am continually amazed and inspired by the enormous creative talent in the blog world. Thank you Amy for a truly inspiring holiday magazine.

Give yourself a treat and visit inspired ideas. Amy also has an archive, so be sure to check it out.

Thanksgiving Treats

The Holiday issue of Sweet Paul's online digital magazine, Thanksgiving Treats, is out. Sweet Paul has done it again - he has created a stunningly beautiful magazine, filled with inspirational and creative ideas for the holiday season. If that cover photo isn't enough to make you want to take a peek, I don't know what would. The recipe for that marzipan, pistachio, cranberry treat is included in the issue.

There are some simple and creative gift packaging ideas:

I absolutely love cranberries this time of year and there is a whole section devoted to them. Recipes included.

And, of course, it wouldn't be a Sweet Paul magazine without some chocolate recipes and there are some there are some chocolate treats that make me drool.

Simple and oh, so easy DIY projects. I thought these item were hand knitted, but they are made from sleeves and ribbing from old sweaters!

Look what you can turn an old whisk into? So unique and clever!

I loved this section on incorporating family memories into your holiday decor.

And the best part of all? It is free. Thanks, Sweet Paul.

Gifted

The uber-talented Ez of Creature Comforts just released her online holiday magazine and gift guide, Gifted, and it is FABULOUS! Here's just a little peek:

Two hundred and twenty pages of creative ideas, crafts, recipes, and a holiday gift guide for everyone on your christmas list. Go on over to Creature Comforts and check it out.

Post-it Art

How cool is this?

image from Post-It 0n Facebook 

In celebration of their 30th Anniversary, Post-it Notes partnered with a non-profit company, Publicolor, to hold a National Student Art Contest where the students had to create artwork that answered the question, "In 30 years I will..." The winning entries are displayed in a Student Art Exhibition at the Grand Central Exhibit Hall in New York City, along with the world's largest billboard made up of over 112,000 post-its. It took the artist, Eric Daigh (an amazing conceptual artist who creates art with push-pins), one month to take the winning selections from the contest and create the billboard. I would love to see this in person!

GOOP

Are you familiar with GOOP? No? Then you are in for a real treat.

GOOP is this wonderful Web site created by actress Gwenyth Paltrow where she shares her recipes, travel notes, books, and other things of interest. The best part is that you can have her newsletter delivered right to your Inbox. 

This week's newsletter has a list of places to go to when you are in San Francisco. Love it!

Five Senses Friday

Seeing:  American flags billowing in the breeze

Hearing:  the boom of fireworks 

Tasting:  hand-churned pistachio ice cream

Touching:  the sweet, soft hand of my husband's three-year-old niece

Smelling:  raspberry-blueberry-almond blondies baking in the oven

Please share your five senses from the week.

I hope you have a lovely weekend!

Five Senses Friday

Photos taken with my iPhone

Seeing:  Bees buzzing around the red salvia

Hearing:  Our neighbor's son and his friend jamming in their garage.

Smelling: Woodsy smoke. There must be a grass fire somewhere.

Tasting:  Shrimp and crab nachos.

Touching:  My new garden tools and breaking them in.

Won't you share your five senses from the week?

I hope you have a wonderful last spring weekend!

Five Senses Friday

Pictures taken at Fair Oaks Boulevard Nursery

Seeing:  Beautiful wisteria blossoms


Hearing:  The song "Already Gone" by Kelly Clarkson


Smelling: the old-rose smell of antique roses


Tasting:  Pan-seared scallops


Touching: fallen rose petals


Happy Friday! What do you remember from your week?

A Sweet Mag

One of my favorite stylists, Paul Lowe, also known as Sweet Paul, has a new online magazine. It is filled with outstanding photography, delectable recipes, and inspirational crafts and entertaining ideas. Check it out!

Speaking of online magazines, the April/May issue of Lonny is out!

A Mother/Daughter Memory

One of my fondest memories as a child is the day I traveled to London with my mother to see Swan Lake performed by The Royal Ballet. It was a special mother/daughter trip and was the first time I saw a real ballet. I was taking ballet and tap classes at the time and my mom thought it would give me inspiration.

To say that I was mesmerized by the performance is putting it mildly. I was spellbound and eagerly took in everything around me. I was enthralled by all the ballerinas and watched their feathery costumes as the dancers seemed to float in the air. And although I cannot remember every single detail of that day and night, I can still remember the music - how it moved me with joy one minute and to tears the next - how the costumes shimmered in the lights - how the audience buzzed with excitement - and how the applause at the end of the performance was deafening and seemed to last forever. It was a night that sparked a little girl's imagination and ignited a lifelong passion for the arts.


So, today, on the day that mark's the 170th birthday of Pyotr IIyich Tchaikovsky, I am thankful for that memory shared with my mom and grateful that I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to see The Royal Ballet perform one of the greatest ballets of all time.

Five Senses Friday

Seeing:  spring flowers in bloom everywhere!


Hearing:  frogs, frogs, frogs. Every night!


Smelling:  the sweet smell of jassmine


Touching:  lambs ear (plant)


Tasting:  cold glasses of Arnold Palmer


How was your week?  I wish for you a wonderful weekend!

Five Senses Friday

Seeing:  Blossoms on my Meyer Lemon tree. Could there be lemons in my future?!

Hearing:  My mom's laughter over the phone.

Tasting:  Enfrijolates

Touching:  prickly sweet gum balls

Smelling:  freshly mown grass

Have a wonderful weekend!

Five Senses Friday

inspired by abby try again

I hope you have had a beautiful first week of Spring. I know I have!


Tasting:  serrano peppers in the chilaquiles


Smelling:  freshly ground coffee


Hearing:  the low murmur of my husband's and son's voices from the other room


Seeing:  tiny buds on my meyer lemon tree


Touching:  the soft fur of my little cat's belly

What are the five senses you remember from this week?

Five Senses Friday

I don't know about you, but I have had a hard time springing forward this week. My work day usually begins with me waking at 4-4:30 in the mornings, so this week my body has definitely been feeling that it is really 3 ish when I have been getting up.

Hopefully, I'll have a chance to get adjusted to the time this weekend. The good news is that it has been in the 70s this week and gorgeous outside which has meant time in the garden after work.

Which brings me to the five senses this week. A time to reflect back on the week and savor little wonders. (inspired by abby try again).


Seeing: little goldfinches hanging every which way from their thistle sock.


Touching:  Newly turned soil as I plant my seeds in the garden.


Hearing: frogs croaking in the night.


Tasting: irish coffee cupcakes


Smelling: the pungent odor of compost as I work it into the soil.


Please share your five senses from the week. I have so enjoyed your comments!