Wow! Wow! Wow!
It's been killing me not to have time for our weekly chats.
With that said, I'm leaving the guilt on the floor as I pull up a chair today and spend some time with you favorite people of mine...answering a really fun question this week, by the way. Let's go...

Q: "Hi Jessica. I love your blog. I really do. I'm a mom that has similar interests as you and your blog keeps me motivated and inspired. My question is pretty random. You mentioned in a recent post about the personal stylist websites. I immediately went and checked them all out and it sounds so fun. Before I take the plunge, I'm curious if you've actually signed up with one of them yet? If you have, which one did you decide on? And I hope you'll do a blog post about it. I want to sign up but a little hesitant and your feedback might be just the push I need. Thanks in advance." - Sabrina T.

A: This question couldn't have come at a more perfect time since I received my first "Fix" from Stitch Fix last week. Yep. I signed up with Stitch Fix you guys and I'm telling you something...it's incredibly fun. I absolutely LOVE it. I know...I've only gotten one box but I'm already hooked.

FULL DISCLOSURE: My reasoning behind signing up for Stitch Fix is to change some really bad habits I've formed over the last few years. Working from home keeps me sitting at a desk the majority of my day and I find myself wearing yoga pants and sporting a messy bun almost everyday. I've gotten lazy about my appearance and I ended my relationship with clothes shopping due to the extra "fluffy" I've put on from such a sedentary lifestyle. I want to change all of that.

So how's it work and what do you do to sign up?

Go to the Stitch Fix website and sign up. It'll include you answering some questions to help your personal stylist understand your needs, interests, size, shape and budget. Based on those answers, your stylist chooses 5 items personalized JUST FOR YOU and ships them to you.

Here's what came in my box: (one dress, two shirts, one pair of jeans and a pair of shoes)

FIX #1

When your shipment arrives there is an invoice detailing each item you were sent along with the price of each item. There are also instructions in the box explaining how the process works. You are encouraged to try on everything in the box...whether you think you like it or not.

So that's what I did.

Omgoodness! Those TOMS!? I couldn't wait to try on those adorable shoes!! Look at the darling fabric lining on the inside of them too! I just love everything about them...the color, style, EVERYTHING! I'm not sure I've ever seen a cuter pair of TOMS. But then again...I haven't gotten out in a long while to do some real shopping.  

I confess that I rolled my eyes at the thought of trying on a pair of jeans. Honestly, I can't remember the last time I wore a pair. I just don't like the way I look in jeans right now. But I don't really like the way I look in anything these days...see FULL DISCLOSURE above. *wink*

I read the personalized note from my stylist named Liz, and here's part of what it said... "I think a good first step is to exchange the yoga pants for a great fitting pair of jeans. This pair was designed specifically for the curvier gal and should provide you with amazing comfort day in and day out while still looking stylish." 

I completely chuckled at her kind use of "curvier gal" and was inspired to take the challenge to try those bad boys on. Omgoodness. You guys!! I cannot tell you how perfect these jeans fit me...AND they are super comfortable too. WIN!!

I didn't love the grey striped shirt at first. But then I tried it on.

And I'm actually wearing it right now! *giggle* 

I love the color of it but was concerned the stripes would make me look wider than I am. But it's super comfortable and has 3/4 length sleeves. Plus, I think it will continue to look better on me as I work on decreasing my "fluffy". WIN!!

I immediately snubbed my nose at the colorful top...because it had purple in it.
But I tried it on anyway...just like the instructions said. I love the way it fit on me. The cut was great for my current shape and size. It was super comfortable material too.

There was also a navy blue dress. I didn't like the way it looked before I tried it on.
and it was no better after trying it on. *frown*

The last step of the process (and you have to do this within THREE DAYS of receiving the items), is to figure out what you want to keep and what needs to go back.

After you've tried everything on and determined what you love, if you have items to return, there's a USPS priority envelope included in your box and you just stuff everything inside of it and drop it off at your local USPS location. CONVENIENT!! (there's already a label on it and it's FREE SHIPPING). Done.

So...here's what I ended up sending back...

TOMS: No!!!! I did not want to send these back. I really loved them. BUT...the right shoe was slightly too big and the left one was a bit too tight. So weird, right? I contemplated adding a heal insert or something to the right shoe to make it fit and then just deal with the uncomfortable tighter left shoe but for $88 I decided I should be completely happy with how they fit and not have to make adjustments or "deal" with it.  I was sad to put them in the bag. *frown*

CHEVRON TOP: I couldn't get past the colors you guys. Also, I felt like it was something my mom would wear. (sorry Mom). *grin* But the fabric and the way it felt when I put it on was dreamy. Seriously. Hoping my stylist sends the same shirt but in a different color pattern?

NAVY DRESS: Was not flattering on me at all. I didn't like anything about it and couldn't package it up to send back quick enough! *wink*

So, you sign onto your Stitch Fix account to "checkout" (ie. pay for the stuff you are keeping). This also requires you giving feedback on the items you received...marking items you are keeping and items you are returning and the reasons for both. Whatever your balance is for the items you are keeping, your $20 "styling fee" you've already paid is applied and you just pay the remaining balance for your new kicks! *wink*

The feedback you give at check out will help determine the selections for the next "Fix" you receive. You also have the option at ANY time to change your "Fix Frequencies": 

- Every 2-3 Weeks

- Every Month

- Every Other Month

- Every Three Months

And that's it!

So fun, right?

Are you going to try it?

Have you already tried it? Good experience? Bad?

Let me know. I'd love to hear what you all think about this!!

I'm so happy to have been able to chat with you guys today!

I guess I got my "Let's Talk Tuesday" fix too! *wink*

xoxo,

Jessica

KEEPiNG iT REAL

Okay, so I've been wearing my new outfit like it's a uniform...ha!

And I was so happy with my first fix, I changed my frequency from monthly to every 2-3 weeks. Ha!

May 5th can't get here fast enough. *laughing*

I do wonder if everyone's stylist is named Liz! *wink*

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 8 :: Party Inspiration + Ideas

Very excited to be meeting up with a friend today for lunch...
but equally excited to be spending a few minutes this morning with YOU for our weekly "Let's Talk Tuesday".

By the way - you all are blowing me away with your fun questions! I hope you are getting as much out of our "LTT" meet-ups as I am!!

Q: I've been following your blog for what seems like forever and your party ideas are always so clever. They always seem to be "on trend" while always being a little different from the masses. I'm curious about your process for coming up with ideas. I like to plan parties for my kids and I will help on occasion with a baby shower when family or friends ask. It's coming up with the party theme that always has me a little stumped in the beginning. Of course Pinterest is always a great source of inspiration. Is that the same for you? Or do you have a specific approach for figuring it all out? Thanks Jessica. Loving your LTT posts and thankful to have you take time to answer my question. Nancy B.

A: This question really made me think. First of all, this may or may not work for some of you, but I stay away from Pinterest when I'm formulating my ideas for a party because I don't want to be influenced by what's already out there. I really try to create unique party ideas and if the concept isn't new, I at least try to make it my own. That being said, once my theme has been picked and I've got a basic concept and direction, THEN I'll head on over to Pinterest for inspiration.

Funny piece of trivia:  Pinterest didn't even exist when I first started party planning for my kiddos and it wasn't around when I started my blog seven years ago either. *laughing*

Anyway, I'd first have to say that my brain operates from a "theme" perspective - if that even makes sense. I have always felt the most "creative" when I first have a firm foundation or theme to jumpstart from. This applies to organizing a women's luncheon or dinner, decorating my children's rooms, designing a church cookbook, creating a Valentine's Day classroom exchange idea, and of course...hosting and styling a party. Give me a solid theme and that's when my creative ideas kick into high gear! 

Arriving at said theme can come from a number of things:
1. favorite things of the person being celebrated.
2. Pantone's color of the year and seasonal palettes.
3. Cute new party accessories I'd like to use/try.
4. the season in which the party is being held.
5. specific requests from the person being honored.

Let me give you a few specific examples of how the process unfolded for a few of the parties I've hosted over the years...I think this will be the most helpful way to explain my process.

LEMONADE AND SUNSHINE  PARTY

When I hosted the "Lemonade and Sunshine" themed double birthday for Clara and Emalyn SIX YEARS AGO, they were both celebrating milestone birthdays. Clara was crossing over into "teen hood" as she was turning thirteen and Ema was turning double digits for the first time with her tenth birthday.

Clara was smack dab in the middle of adolescence and she was getting really good at giving me attitude about anything and everything and she did NOT want a party. On the other hand, Emalyn was kind of caught in the middle.  She was being heavily influenced listening to her older sister gripe about a birthday party and yet I know she was quietly excited at the thought of getting to celebrate with her older sister...whom she idolized.  (and still does to this day, by the way). *wink*

So, needless to say, I had a little bit of "sweet and sour" going on in our house at the time.  The "Lemonade" portion of the party theme was born out of wanting to represent Clara and her mix of emotions as a brand new teenager, and "Sunshine" was the epitome of everything Ema was as she approached her tenth birthday...a girl with a sweet spirit, big heart and wonderful sense of humor. *grin* Combine the two and you've got a great mix and a darling party theme. Besides that, the theme also allowed me to create something that felt a little more "fancy and grown up" for Clara while still having a whimsical feel for Ema.

CLASSIC RED BALL BIRTHDAY

When I started planning Ella's 2nd birthday, I just went down the list of the things she was excited about at the time. At the top of that list was her infatuation with inflatable balls. Each time we'd be at a store, she immediately gravitated towards those big ball cages that held all of the play balls. She absolutely LOVED them. 

I went with the classic red ball instead of a beach ball theme because Ella has a Fall birthday. Inflatable balls...let alone beach balls...were not easy to come by. Besides that, I liked the simplicity of the color scheme and it made for an adorable invitation and even more adorable dessert table selections! *wink*

BUBBLES BABY SHOWER :: SHE'S ABOUT TO POP

SIX YEARS AGO,  (man time flies), I was approached by a friend who was hosting a baby shower for one of her best friends. She'd already decided she wanted to do a "She's About to Pop" theme and although it was a new-to-me theme at the time, I quickly realized as I began researching, the concept wasn't really all that new. I really like to try to make my party themes original. So, my challenge became to find a way to make this party stand out and be something that hadn't been done before. 

That's when I came up with the idea of making "bubbles" the focus instead of the popular balloons, popcorn and bubble gum concepts I kept seeing everywhere. On top of that, the mom-to-be was very modern and on-trend so I immediately referenced the hot Pantone colors of the season at the time and built the party elements and details around those.

So there you go...just a few examples of the method to my madness with regards to party planning.

I hope you've been inspired and PLEASE...keep sending in your questions!! I love answering them.

By the way...you can find more details about each party mentioned today under the "My Work" tab at the top of the blog. (along with other party ideas and themes). 

RANDOM GIRL TALK

1. Super excited about this new book arriving tomorrow!

2. Newest song added to my playlist - and what Ella is considering using for her talent show music. 

3. Latest crushes on Instagram: Jessica Wasserman and Brittany York

4. My doctor recommended I look into a neti pot after my third visit to her last week. So, while looking at them at my local Health Basket, I left with THIS instead, on the recommendation of one of the employees there. I've been using it on myself as well as Ella since she caught a cold last week too. Anyone else use either? 

5. A friend of mine was telling me about how her sister has tried StitchFix and loves it! Anyone else use an online personal stylist? I'm seriously considering joining. There are a couple of other similar services: Keaton Row, Tog + Porter, Stylit, The Refinery and I'm certain there are more out there.  Here's a helpful article comparing StitchFix, Keaton Row and Tog + Porter - just in case you are interested. 

And if you've tried ANY of them - I'd love to know what you think.

xoxo my friends!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

To this day, the Lemonade and Sunshine party that Clara absolutely wanted nothing to do with ended up being one of my most popular parties - and was even featured in a magazine publication all the way in Italy. 

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 7 :: Camera Q&A

As I'm settling in to type this post today I've got Pandora blasting on the birthday present J got for me back in November and the house is ROCKING!!

I'm currently listening to "The Chainsmokers" Station - in particular this new-to-me-song called Faded by Alan Walker. Currently crushing on "Don't Let Me Down" by The Chainsmokers  - it completely booms!!! (and I like boom). *wink*

So let's get to the question this week...

Q: Hello. I've been wanting to ask you about what camera you use? I think I saw Nikon mentioned somewhere but can't remember and don't know what kind. I just love your photos and hope to invest in a new camera soon to help improve on the quality of my photos. I have a Canon point and shoot and it's just not cutting it. Did you ever take photography classes or do you just have a natural ability for taking such pretty pictures? Sorry. Guess there's more than one question here. 
Thanks for answering. - Nikki C.

A: I am one lucky girl, as I was given a new camera for Christmas - the Nikon D750. Prior to that though, I'd been using the Nikon D70 for over 10 years. It was an awesome camera and my first DSLR. It took great photos and the only time it was ever in the shop for repairs was after my daughter, Clara, accidentally dropped it one Summer while we were on vacation. Yikes! 

I decided on going with a "full frame" camera this time - which is what the Nikon D750 is. 
It's a dreamy camera with beautiful resolution, video capability and wifi built in - making it so easy to send the photos I've taken with my DSLR straight to my iPhone for easy uploading to Instagram - or other social media outlets. 

And YES!! I did take a fantastic online photography class many years ago. The gal's name is Karen Russell and when I went to grab the link for you I was sad to hear the news that she has decided, after 10 years, to close up shop. *frown* But her class is where I REALLY learned some key things about photography...and when I got brave enough to switch to "manual" mode. *wink*

With that said, I do still take plenty of photos with my iPhone too! Just not as often for the blog. Over the last couple of years I'd been getting lazy and found myself just reaching for my phone instead of my DSLR - but my passion has been reignited with my new camera. 

If you are looking to upgrade or invest in a high quality camera, you do not have to spend a ton of money - and I would advise against it unless you are considering a career or serious hobby in photography. I was instructed in the beginning to pick a brand and stick with it. Nikon or Canon are the two most popular brands out there and you can't go wrong with either. Of course, I'm a very happy Nikon girl and would push you in that direction. *wink* With that said, great photography is really about learning composition, understanding lighting and PRACTICE!! If you can take a photography class, I would highly recommend it. 

I hope that helps!

RANDOM GIRL TALK
Do you all have a favorite iPhone case you'd recommend?
I recently upgraded to the iPhone 6s Plus and as much as I love the really "pretty" cases out there, I need something that offers serious protection. I ended up going with this OtterBox but I just feel like there's got to be cuter options out there!! And to be honest, I also ordered this Lumee case but it's not really all that cute and I don't take enough selfies to justify the cost - so I'm sending it back.

Thanks for being here my friends!!
And KEEP ASKING YOUR QUESTIONS!
Ask me anything, anytime, by emailing me, leaving a comment here on the blog or by asking your question as a comment on Instagram! (email: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com)

 xoxo!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
For those of you who noticed, I have to apologize for missing our LTT last week.
I've been sick since the end of January and have had zero energy. Two doctor appointments and I'm finally starting to feel the "head cold cloud" lift. #sograteful Thanks for your prayers and positive thoughts - they most certainly helped!

Confession: I've only gotten through about 2 chapters in the owner's manual on my new camera...which means I'm barely using the perks this camera actually comes with.

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 6 :: Ideas + Staying Inspired

So fun!! Another opportunity to curl up on the coach and have a little conversation today!

Since my energy reserves haven't gotten back to normal yet (this darn cold and cough), I'm answering ONE simple little question today:

Q: Hi Jess. Where do you come up with your ideas and projects to share on the blog? I've been thinking of starting a blog and I'm thinking I'm just going to run out of ideas...and then what do I do? Or maybe the better question would be, do you ever run out of ideas and if so, what do you do? Amanda T.

A: Hello!! This is a great question and I think it's one a lot of people wonder or worry about when considering starting a blog. If you've been here awhile you probably know by now my brain never really shuts off. I have ideas circling in my head constantly. So I wouldn't ever say I run out of ideas because my brain craves learning and trying new things. I'm always searching, keeping my radar open and pushing myself to experiment with new techniques, colors, designs, what have you and I think doing this provides ongoing inspiration.

However...the motivation to actually follow through on getting a blog post up due to a busy work or family schedule, sickness, or experiencing seasonal "blahs" are what seem to be my greatest hurdles.

To keep myself inspired when feeling a little "meh", I'll either put on some good music, get outside, explore a craft store, read a few blogs, dive into a good book or get lost in the pages of a magazine. Oftentimes it's just a pretty color palette or cute packaging that fills me with inspiration. Like these cute new "candy by color" hershey kisses from Hershey!

Now, with that said, if you are looking for something tangible and fun to help keep you inspired, I've used these "Creativity Exercises" by Rhonna Farrer through the years too. The daily prompts are a fun way to push yourself and sometimes add to a project you are already in the middle of. I hope you find them interesting and helpful.


RANDOM GIRL TALK
Before I crawl back into bed, feel sorry for myself and take a little snooze before picking kids up from school, I can't help but wonder if you all know about the Spoonful of Comfort website?
I found it a couple of years ago when a friend of mine was sick. With as many people around me (including myself), that seem to be battling colds and feeling yucky, The "Get Well" basket would be perfect to send them. They have lots of other packages for a variety of occasions and I think it would be awesome to be on the receiving end of any of these.

xoxo my friends.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I started battling this cold on January 31st.
Today is Feb. 16th. That's 23 days folks. 23 days of "make it go away"!
I'd love your prayers!! Mmmmwah!

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 5 :: Pens + Gold Foiling

Hello hello!!! It's our 5th segment of "Let's Talk Tuesday" folks and I'm soooo ready to sit down with you again for some girl talk! Grab your cup o' joe (mine looks something like this),  and let's get comfy!!

QUESTION #1
What pens do you use to do your hand-lettering? (and doodles). Monique S.

A: First, just in case you didn't know, I absolutely LOVE pens and have a slight addiction to them. (Hence "pen" being part of the name of my blog and brand). Anyway, I always carry around this little bag of assorted pens with me everywhere I go. It's small enough to stick in my purse and it keeps me occupied when faced with long waits. (I also always have a clipboard of clean white sheets of paper on hand too - or a sketch book).

I keep an assortment of writing tools in this bag - everything from ball point "gel" pens to sharpies to fancy brush lettering pens.

For sketching and hand-lettering, I keep a graphite pencil, click eraser and a couple of different sharpeners in here too. (I like the Prismacolor Sharpener for catching shavings and sharpening my watercolor pencils and a super sharp magnesium wedge).

Here are a couple of my favorite brush lettering pens - Tombow Fude Brush Pen, Pentel Fude Touch Sign Pen and here's the link to both the soft + hard set of Tomboy Fude Brush Pens. I also have a set of the Tombow Dual Brush Pens but haven't used them much since purchasing them a few of months ago - I guess because they are colorful and I seem to like to stick with the black ink.

With that said, not pictured in this post are my go-to pens: ZIG, manufactured by Kuretake. I love this 5-pack of ZIG Millennium Collection pens because it contains all five of the different tip sizes and they are great for lettering, drawing and scrapbooking.

Not that you care much about my "every day" pen but since we are talking pens I figured I may as well show you my current favorite. (current as in the past couple of years). *wink* And I prefer to write with it on stacked white paper instead of a hard surface. Is that weird?

So that's it for pens - I hope that was helpful?

QUESTION #2
Hi Jessica. Love your blog. I thought somewhere I'd read that you have a gold foiling machine?
Is it the Heidi Swapp one? And do you think it's worth the money? Alex J.

I DO have the Heidi Swapp Minc! And I LOVE it!!
For those of you who don't know, it's an amazing tool that allows you to gold foil anything you've printed on a laser jet printer. It's technically called a "gold foil applicator" because it's a way for you to get gold foil sheets to"stick" to the black ink from a laser jet printer.

If you love crafting and DIY's and gold foil, of course, it's totally worth the money because the projects turn out SO darling!!  For instance, here are some personalized "Sparkle + Shine" stars I made for Ella and each of the girls on her gymnastics team last year.

So fun, right?
And do you remember the "Keep Your Fingertips Sprinkled With Stardust" art print I made?

TIPS: Don't have a laser jet printer? Neither do I. I just have everything printed by Office Depot and then bring it home to gold foil it. Although I am contemplating purchasing this HP LaserJet, recommended by Heidi herself! It's quite affordable. (Have a laser jet you love? Let me know).

If the 12" Heidi Swapp Minc is out of your budget, there is also a 6" Heidi Swapp MINI Minc for half the cost.

Do you have one already? If so, do you love it?

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

So that's it for this week my friends...
but before we rush about and get on with our day here's some...

Random Girl Talk
1. For those of you who don't know...Barbie has a new body. 
2. Did you know Hershey now has "Candy by Color" available? You can find colored kisses (and other candies) in a variety of colors to match your events! Check out the Pink Foil Kisses, Blue Foil Kisses, Purple Foil Kisses, Green Foil Kisses and there's red, black and light blue, light green, and more.
3. Did you know there were TWO colors when Pantone announced their "Color of the Year 2016"? Loving the Rose Quartz. Serenity is pretty okay too.


P.S. Keep sending me your questions! I love hearing what you are curious about!!

DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
1. Email me directly: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com
2. Leave a question on my Instagram feed anytime.
3. Leave it as a comment here on the blog.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
It took all the energy I had to finish this post you guys.
Still dealing with a nasty cold and finally went to the doctor yesterday and got some antibiotics.
But nothing was going to stop me from our Let's Talk Tuesday! I actually really look forward to these posts and I hope you do too.

Now...I think I'd better go take a little nap before I get the kids from school.

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 4 :: Fonts + Blogging Tips

Good Morning friends!
I'm so excited to sit down with you today for our weekly meet-up.
I mean who doesn't love a little coffee, cocoa and conversation...right?

I think you are going to love today's "Let's Talk Tuesday" (LTT) questions I've picked to answer so let's get right to it...

QUESTION #1

Where do you get all the fonts for your art prints? Thanks! Monika W.

As a designer and someone who loves to do hand-lettering and doodling, I use a combination of my own hand-lettered fonts as well as fonts I've purchased. Anytime a person uses a font to create something for resale, a "Commercial Use" or "Extended License" for each font must be purchased. (which is why I try to use my own lettering a lot of the time - fonts can get expensive).

Although a lot of my fonts have been purchased from www.myfonts.com, you guys are going to go nuts over the new place I've been using for the last six months or so...Creative Market!!

They have a wonderful selection of modern calligraphy fonts and LOTS of other fun stuff over there!!   I LOVE it over there and I know you will too. It's easy to become addicted.

My most recent font purchase was Ink Bandits. I used it to help create this NEW "Our Story is My Favorite Love Story Art Print in the shoppe!

::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::::

QUESTION #2

Q: Hi Jessica! Have you ever or would you consider "mentoring" someone who wanted to start a blog? Or maybe a LTT question with a shorter answer would be: Do you have a list of 5 tips for someone to get them started? I have wanted to for probably 5 years and just haven't done it for whatever reason and just need that little push. Thank you, Andrea B.

A: Wow! This question totally made me blush. First, I've never thought about mentoring someone who wanted to start a blog because honestly, I've never been asked...so I'm completely flattered by your interest. That's not to say I haven't been asked a variety of questions through the years by friends, family and others who are curious about blogging and how it all works exactly. I'm certainly no expert but with seven years of blogging under my belt, I'm happy to share what I've learned and what has worked best for me.

So...here are my SIMPLE blogging tips for starting a blog:

BE TRUE TO YOU
First answer this question: "Why do you want to start a blog?"
Your answer will help guide you on your blog journey.
Next, figure out what YOU love. What makes YOU happy? What warms YOUR heart? These are the things you should write about. These are the things your blog should be built on. These are the things that will fuel your passion as you begin your blog and these are the also the things that will continue to keep you motivated on your blogging journey.

LESS IS MORE
Keep your blog and the process of starting one simple - especially in the beginning. I've been using the Blogger platform forever. It's simple and it's FREE. Try out a free blogging platform to make sure you love it before committing to a monthly or annual fee. Here's a roundup of "The 10 Best FREE Blogging Platforms"

INSPIRATION 
Take some time to really look at the blogs you follow and read to figure out the things about each one you love. Is it the layout, simple design, color palette, content, photography? More than likely, you'll notice a pattern of elements you are drawn to that will help you define your own style. Use the inspiration to guide you as you design your own blog.

PRETTY PHOTOS
Imagery is what draws people in; Your words and content are what keeps them there.
Posting photos is a BIG part of blogging. You do NOT have to be a professional photographer or hire a professional photographer or have a fancy professional camera. For awhile there, I was posting photos from my iPhone because I got lazy and the process was a lot more simple compared to using my old DSLR. Just know that large, high quality, photos are essential.

If your photography skills leave you feeling intimidated or discouraged, you may want to try:

PHOTO EDITING APPS to help enhance your pictures before loading them onto your blog.
My favorite is Pic Tap Go because it's SO super easy and I've just recently played around with A Color Story.

PHOTOGRAPHY BOOKS for inspiration and learning the basics.
Here are a couple of suggestions:
1. A Beautiful Mess Photo Idea Book - I have this one and it's great for visual inspiration.
2. Picture Perfect Social Media: A Handbook for Styling Perfect Photos for Posting, Blogging and Sharing - I don't have this one but it sounds super helpful.

Check out these Photography tips and tools from Melissa over at Design, Eat, Repeat.  (again, the phone cameras these days provide great quality photos for posting on the web so don't get hung up on the equipment). I just thought you might find it interesting.

Last but not least, my final "simple" tip for starting a blog is...

JUMP
If you've been thinking about starting a blog for a long time, it's time to stop "thinking" about it.
Jump in and try it! Whether you love it or leave it, at least you will actually know either way because you took a chance. Don't overthink it. Just do it. Jump!!

And that's it for today my friends!
I hope you are inspired and feel like you've just sat down with your best girlfriend for some quick trade secrets. *wink*

Keep sending in your questions...I'll keep on answering them!!

DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
1. Email me directly: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com
2. Leave a question on my Instagram feed anytime.
3. Leave it as a comment here on the blog.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Battling a headcold over here people. My left ear is completely clogged. Ugh!
BUT...our master bedroom got painted this weekend - thanks to J's help.
Want a tiny peek? Check out my Instagram Feed!
Here is the BEFORE  and a teeny tiny peek at the AFTER.

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 3 :: Bedding, Blogging + Bakery Envy

Good morning everyone!
Have you thawed out from the cold temperatures that have had us all wanting to stay bundled up in pajamas for the past two weeks? Give me another mug of S'mores Hot Cocoa from the Hot Cocoa Bar!! Seriously!!

To be honest, I'm in a big hurry this morning with a few different work + life projects going on so I'm going to keep our "meet up" this week super short.

I've picked a couple of super simple questions to answer today AND...I have a couple of fun things to share with you too!!

QUESTION #1

Q:  Can I just say I'm jealous of the bedding you keep sharing on Instagram. Anything from Anthropologie makes my heart skip a beat but the photos you keep sharing are really making me want to go out and buy it too. It looks super soft and cozy. Did you buy the whole set? (duvet, shams, etc.) And when do I get to see the full set up in your bedroom? I'm just dying to get a peek. - Samantha A.

A: Oh my goodness you guys. Yes. The new bedding I purchased from Anthropologie back in July is soooo dreamy. I fell in love with it at first glance when I saw the beautiful, oversized flowers sewn onto it. 

It's called the Georgina Collection and it's gorgeous. I love it. I do have to tell you, I was expecting it to be softer than it is. It has a crepe-paper like feel to it. (not sure how else to describe it). It's soft on the underside though and because it's a duvet cover, when it's stuffed with a down comforter...it's so billowy and soft. Of the four color options available, I ended up choosing the creamy white (because duh...that's my favorite color and I'm not even sure why I was debating going with the white in the first place). I don't ever buy "sets" because I like to mix and match and make things my own. However, that being said, everything was so beautiful, I just couldn't resist. I got the Georgina Duvet, Georgina Bed Skirt,  Georgina Shams and the Georgina Euro Shams. No regrets! 

And yes, I'll be posting the full set up once I finish painting my master bedroom. (I've got one wall done)! Woo Hoo! And you guys!!! I LOVE the color I decided to just go with.

QUESTION #2

Q:  I've been following your blog for quite some time and I was wondering how long you've been blogging for? No real reason other than I'm just curious to know. - Jenn M.

A: Well...in blogger years, I would be considered ancient for sure. I started my blog in 2009. In fact, when I looked through my archives to see when my very first post was to be able to answer this question accurately, would you believe TODAY marks exactly SEVEN YEARS!! Yep! My very first post was January 26th 2009 - my Ella Pie was only 2 months old. (insert tears).  Don't you think that's so ironic and coincidental that I'm answering that specific question TODAY, of all days. (I really had no idea until I looked it up this morning).

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Okay, so before I let you go, I just want to share a couple of favorite finds from the past week.
You know...just like girlfriends would share with each other!

A COLOR STORY APP
I've been playing around with this new FREE photo editing app created by A Beautiful Mess. 
I'm liking it so far and I think you might enjoy it too - especially those of you who post on Instagram frequently. It's free. (There are plenty of extra filters and add-on options to purchase though). CLICK HERE FOR FULL DETAILS ON THE APP.

WHITE ON THE WALL
My new favorite Instagram feed (and website) filled with beautiful vintage furniture projects by a sweet lady named Karen. Best part is she sells a lot of her beautiful vintage pieces and is just 20 miles west of Orlando in Minneola - making her about 35 minutes from me! #cuetheconfetti You'll love her stuff! Here's one of my most recent favorites that I wanted to snatch up!

MAGNOLIA FLOUR + THE STORY OF JOANNA GAINES
Okay, so this isn't something I discovered last week but it's something I just HAVE to share with all of my Fixer Upper fanatics that don't already know or haven't already seen The Gathering Testimony: Joanna Gaines' video or the announcement about the NEW Magnolia Flour (bakery) - coming in 2016! And if that's not enough for you...read this fun "11 Fun Facts you Never Knew About Them" by Glamour.  (my personal favorites are that (1) Joanna has NO interior design background and (2) they do not own a television and haven't for 12 years)! I could SO totally do that - except I'd have to come to your house to get my Fixer Upper fix. *wink* Anyone else seriously contemplating a move to Waco?

That's it for this week my friends!
Feeling warm fuzzies having been able to meet up with you today!
Until our next "Let's Talk Tuesday" make sure you get your questions in!

DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
1. Email me directly: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com
2. Leave a question on my Instagram feed anytime.
3. Leave it as a comment here on the blog.

Love you guys!
xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I wasn't sure whether to love her or hate her when I found out about the Joanna Gaines' new bakery opening up. Seriously? Could she not be any more perfect? She's already living so many of the dreams I'd love to be living...but for her to continue to add to that list of dreams...especially in the form of baking...well...I was feeling the feelings, if you know what I mean. And then I watched The Gathering Testimony video and all of the "feeling the feelings" I was feeling disappeared. *wink*

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 2 :: Book Club, App + Paint Color

Brrrr! It's another cold winter day here in Florida my friends!!
(currently 39º - high of only 55º). That's cold for this Florida girl.

Let's warm up together with our "Let's Talk Tuesday" No. 2 today. (click here if you missed No. 1 and find out more about the inspiration behind the NEW LTT blog series here on Pen + Paper Flowers if you missed the original announcement).

I have another set of fun questions I'm excited to answer today.
I'm just loving this little bit of time we are carving out each week to connect for a few minutes on a very real level - like friends meeting up over coffee or hot cocoa!


QUESTION #1:
Q: I loved the Book Club you were doing last year but I haven't seen any updated posts in awhile. What happened? Am I missing something? - Maria B.

A: Oh my! I'm embarrassed to admit this but the truth is...life is what happened. After going strong from January until August, I missed posting in September...and then October and before I knew it, it'd been three months and there was no way to catch up at that point.

The good news is, I've been brainstorming some ideas to update the PNPF Book Club to make it a little more simple...a bit LESS complicated. How about I skip the "review" part of things, which was the original concept of the Book Club, and just do a quick list of my current reads every month? What do you think? BTW: Here's one for you: "Whatever You Are, Be a Good One" by Chronicle Books. (Clara gave it to me for Christmas).

QUESTION #2:
I just love the inspirational thoughts you share on Instagram and I'm wondering if there's a specific app you use to create them? I think it might be the Rhonna Designs app but I thought I'd just ask.  - Amanda G.

My favorite app to use is called Phonto. It's SUPER easy and allows me the flexibility I prefer for manipulating fonts and letters. I actually just select the "plain image" option and then select the blank white square to add my wording. That's it. Now, having said that, I do love using the Rhonna Design
App when I want to add some cute design elements. And of course, I'm always using my favorite design program, Adobe Illustrator, for designs as well.


QUESTION #3:
Q: I just love your simple style - both with your designs and some of the images I've seen of your home decor. You'd mentioned awhile ago that you were in the middle of deciding on a paint color for your master bedroom. I'm in the middle of a master bedroom makeover and I'm curious as to what color you ended up choosing. Natalie P.

That's so funny you asked about this because I was at the paint store just YESTERDAY having a gallon mixed up to test out on the master bedroom. I never did paint the master as previously mentioned a year or so ago because I still wasn't convinced of the colors I'd chosen and I just sat on them. In fact, I've still got paint swatches on the walls and I just keep adding to them any time I'm inspired by a color I see on Pinterest or social media and any color recommendations from family and friends.

I'm not sure why, but I've been really stumped with what to do or what direction I want to go in for that room. I can't tell you how many "this is the one" moments I've had with paint colors only to sit on it for a few days and then change my mind altogether. (what is that?) Grrr. So...in keeping with my One Little Word (LESS)...I'm doing less second guessing, less procrastination and I will be moving forward..with confidence by the way...with the custom paint color I had mixed yesterday!

It's a color of happenstance because it was two different leftover paint colors Emalyn decided to mix together on a whim when she re-painted her bedroom a few months ago. Can you believe that? I LOVE the color she ended up with (shown on the top paint stick) so I had it custom matched and then used 50% of the formula for a lighter/brighter hue in the master bedroom. (bottom paint stick). And...yes, it's another creamy white neutral. My mom is SO rolling her eyes right now. And maybe you are too!? *blushing*

I'll share before and after pics soon! For now, I wanted to share a photo of the final Behr paint formula I'm using in the master bedroom, just in case you want to run right out and try it yourself!! 
Let's call the custom color: Happenstance.

Okay, and one more thing...
Have any of you seen the SureSwatch™ sheets? I noticed them for the first time at the Home Depot paint counter yesterday while waiting for my paint to be mixed. The concept sounds pretty cool - but I left without paying the $3 for one sheet. Now after having watched the how-to SureSwatch™ paint and SureSwatch™ Primer Decider videos online to learn more, I'm even more curious about whether or not they'd really work and if they'd be worth it? If you've used them I'd love to know what you think!! And if you haven't, would you consider using them?

Was that fun? Feeling a little more connected? I know I am.
Until next week friends...keep your questions coming!!

DIFFERENT WAYS TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
1. Email me directly: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com
2. Leave a question on my Instagram feed anytime.
3. Leave it as a comment here on the blog.
If you ever have any issues at all being able to leave a comment on my blog, please email me directly to let me know so I can figure out how to resolve it for you: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com

xoxo!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I thought it'd only been a little over a year ago that I started putting different paint swatches on the walls in the master bedroom but when I went back to look at the original post about choosing a paint color I realized it was from August of 2013! Oh my goodness. That's just ridiculous. Now I'm embarrassed. See!! I've REALLY been stuck. For too long. Here's to LESS procrastination! *blushing*

LET'S TALK TUESDAY | No. 1 :: Hand-lettering, Less + Valentine's Day Ideas

Welcome friends!! It's a very chilly Florida morning here today;
Perfect for a hot cup of cocoa and getting cozy for our first official "Let's Talk Tuesday".

After having shared this idea of gathering as friends on a weekly basis to dive into some friendly conversation, I have received some awesome feedback and great questions from you!!

Let's dive in, shall we?

QUESTION #1

Q:  I've been a reader of your wonderful blog for a long time.  I wanted to ask if you have always loved to draw and have always had that talent since a child or was this something you cultivated later in life?  I love to draw and doodle and have really nice handwriting too.  I've been this way all my life, though. :) Karen W.

A:  I love this question!! As I sat down to begin to answer it, I stumbled upon a blog post I'd completely forgotten about...specifically about my love for hand-lettering. It was so fun to read back over it and it addresses this question perfectly. Hop over there to read it and then come back here - I promise you're going to love it and that I'll be here waiting when you are done. *wink*

Back already? Did you love that little bit of insight?  Do any of you remember purchasing pens + stickers from the Hallmark store when it was all the rage? I definitely think that's where my obsession for paper products and stationery really began. And as far as being able to "draw" - I don't think I'm very good at that. But I do love to DOODLE!! I thought it'd be fun to share this photo I found from 2006 (above)!

QUESTION #2

Q: What made you decide to make your life more enjoyable by doing less, and how do you decide what is less without finding yourself back in the trap of taking on too much?
I am also trying to prioritize with doing less and living for purpose and not for perfection. I find myself back into taking on more again, although I know it takes away me time and family time.  - Kathlene T.

A: I chose LESS as my focus word not because I've perfected the concept. I chose LESS because I firmly believe by continuing to work towards this concept, I will be left with MORE OF WHAT MATTERS. I was once the person who said yes to everything and wanted to do and be everything! It's super easy to get caught up in the rat race or even in the comparison game and fall into the "trap of too much"!   Expect mistakes + regrets along the way because this is life + it's a learning process. Just know that despite the mess ups along the way, you have the opportunity to get it right the next time.

How do I decide what is less? Life provides us with refining moments we don't always ask for or want to experience. (see this Life + Loss post). These moments provide us with the chance to "re-evaluate" the direction we are going. Figure out what really matters to you and write it down. Reference it often when faced with decisions related to time + commitment and re-evalute often.

And by the way, I'm always re-evaluating! (see this post on time management,  periods of re-evaluation, The Fringe Hours Book, + Navigate just to name a few.)

Here's a glimpse into what makes up my "What Matters Most" list

Ella and I - November 2014

As Lara Casey says...progress not perfection!! I've gotten really good at saying no. And I've gotten even better at stepping back and taking a minute to really evaluate something before saying yes.  Now that's progress!!

QUESTION #3

Q:  I know I'm a little early but I like to plan. Do you have any advice on making cute classroom valentines? Melissa S.

A: It's never too early to start planning - especially for fun classroom Valentine's Day treats!! Here is one of my my favorite ideas from last year...

Sparkle + Shine Classroom Valentines

MORE VALENTINE'S DAY IDEAS
Sprinkles to My Cupcake Valentine's Day Cards
Colors in my Rainbow Valentine's Day Treats - includes links to some other fabulous ideas!
Sprinkles on my Sundae - great for a teacher gift
"Crush" Collection : candy + soda printable

I'm working on a NEW set of FREE printable Valentine's Day tags for you guys.
I'm skipping the sugary treats for Ella's classroom this year and will be handing THESE out instead.
I'll be sharing the cute packaging details for gifting THOSE so if you like that idea too, stay tuned for the upcoming post.

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It's been so fun sitting with you to answer a few of your questions.
I hope you enjoyed it as much as I did.

If you've been inspired to ask a question, here are some
DIFFERENT OPTIONS TO SUBMIT YOUR QUESTIONS
1. Email me directly: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com
2. Leave a question on my Instagram feed anytime.
3. Leave it as a comment here on the blog.
If you ever have any issues at all being able to leave a comment on my blog, please email me directly to let me know so I can figure out how to resolve it for you: pnpflowersinc AT gmail DOT com

KEEPiNG iT REAL
In keeping with my one little word LESS...I'm attempting to do LESS sugar this year. (not my favorite choice by the way). Hence the non-sugary Valentine's Day treats for Ella's classroom this year. Yep! That was intentional. And...because I won't be making anything in the kitchen, it will take me LESS time to prepare these...giving me more time for other things. See how that all works out like that.  *wink*

And man...this whole "LESS" concept has certainly been challenging when writing blog posts.
I'm so used to getting "a bit wordy" and now I'm finding myself erasing entire paragraphs at times in order to keep things simple. This is so good for me. And for YOU too! *giggling*