I'm slow to announcing the Pen + Paper Flowers Book Club Selection for September...
BUT...that doesn't mean I'm not totally excited about it!!

I've picked "Live Happy" from Compendium Books and it looks as though it will be yet another a beautiful, short + sweet, inspiring read once again, by M.H. Clark.

I have to say this woman is brilliant. She has authored so many incredibly inspiring books, many of which you and I have read together this year, and I can't seem to pull myself away from her specific works of art when it comes to choosing a new book each month.

This book promises to inspire us to really look for the happiness that surrounds each day.

"Every day is an opportunity to bring good into your life. Every day is a chance to find more happiness. And every day, you can find your happy simply by deciding to look for it. This colorful, uplifting book is a reminder to invite delight wherever you are."

I love that!! "Invite delight!"
That just may be my next art print...*wink*

Want to read along with me starting September 1st?
Grab your copy of Live Happy right here on Amazon!!

I'm absolutely LOVING the August Book Selection - if you haven't started it yet...
get going!! As always, my book picks are quick reads so you still have time to finish it before we focus on "Live Happy" for September!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My girls are back in school...first day was yesterday.
Ella started 1st grade and ADORES her new teacher!!
Ema kicked off her Junior year in an Epic way...by not going to school at all. *frown*
She's sick. Sick as in "can't-go-to-school-until-Thursday-or-Friday-we-hope-per-the-doctor" kind of sick. *frown*

Meanwhile...I'm working on a super pretty project for an upcoming magazine feature.
Sneak peeks are always being shared on my Instagram when you are missing me on the blog.
I'd love for you to follow me over there!

BOOK CLUB | August Selection :: Today, Tomorrow, & Every Day

I'm sooo excited about the book selection I've picked for August!

It's a brand-new book from Live-Inspired entitled "Today, Tomorrow & Every Day" and it centers on living a brave + real + gorgeous life!

The book itself is beautiful with gilded edges, laser-cut end sheets and a foil-stamped cover.

It's written by my favorite inspirational author - M.H. Clark and the pages hold words of wisdom + thoughtful insight about how "Her life is her journey...it is her art. She makes it, day by day, hour by hour, into something she is proud to call her own. You recognize her, and you recognize her life because it is your life, too." (words on the back cover)

This is so eloquent...and so true...isn't it?

I hope you'll join me in August as we dive into this simple + uplifting read.
I've got an extra copy to send to someone too!!

All you have to do is read the "She hadn't always been this way..." quote pictured above and leave a comment here on the blog answering the question below:

I haven't always been as...

I'll pick a winner and announce it in the comments on this same page at some point over the weekend! So check back or follow me on Instagram or Facebook to await the announcement!

In the meantime, here's my answer:
I haven't always been as good at letting little things go, being prayerful in my decisions and trusting in God and his plans for me. I still have a lot of work ahead of me...because I'm still learning and arranging and rearranging. *wink*

And if you want to go ahead and order the book for yourself or a friend you can find it RIGHT HERE.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I awoke this morning with a completely different book selection in mind, ready to announce it to the world. And as much as I don't really like to change things up at the last minute, upon further research I realized that particular book was not going to fall in line with the standard guidelines of the PNPF Book Club after all - which should be a super easy inspirational read for busy people without a lot of time to commit to reading. 

I was led to the "Today, Tomorrow & Every Day" book and was inspired to go with that one instead.
Not even 10 minutes after my decision to switch up the book, (and ordering it online), I received a package from UPS; a box of goodies from Live-Inspired. Guess what book was in that box? Yep! What an awesome confirmation that this book truly is the one meant for us to read for the month of August!

On a more serious note, if you missed the news about my friend, Heidi Swapp, unexpectedly losing her 16 year old son last week, please see this post or this post or this post on Instagram.  There are ways you can reach out to her and her family to offer some comfort and love, should you feel moved to do so. 

BOOK CLUB | June Selection :: "Find Your Happy" Book + Giveaway

June's PNPF Book Club selection, "Find Your Happy", was inspired by the fact that the month of June marks the 1/2 way point of the year. Yeah. Can you believe we are almost there?

Anyway...I really felt like this would be the perfect book to kind of get re-motivated about the goals + dreams we were all gung ho about at the beginning of the year.

"The path you're on this very moment is going somewhere good."

This book is filled with powerful, thought-provoking words that are sure to energize us and motivate us.

And let's face it...
isn't that the ultimate goal for us all...to "Find your Happy"?

You can order the Find Your Happy book by M.H. Clark right now to make sure you have it by June 1st. OR...you can take your chances and win a copy here on the blog!!

That's right, the wonderful folks at Compendium are offering up three copies to three lucky PNPF readers this month. Enter below.

Points = entries. More points = more entries.
Choose only one option or choose ALL of the options to earn points. The more options you select the more number of times your name goes into the hat!! 

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Winners will be notified via email + names announced on the widget above when selected.

I hope you are enjoying the book selection for May!
It's a beautiful little book and something you can keep out on the coffee table too!

If you are new to the PNPF Book Club read all about how you can jump right in any time and the inspiration behind the easy-read, inspirational selections each month.

Have a beautiful weekend, friends.
See you back here next week!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
The exterior of our home is being painted as I type this blog post.
It looks SO different already and it's only been primed with some of the trim work painted.
Looking forward to sharing the before and after pictures.

BOOK CLUB | May You Live the Life You Love :: Author + Illustrator

Just a reminder that the PNPF Book Club kicked off on February 1st...
Are you reading along and feeling inspired?

I've added a Book Club button to the menu bar at the top of the blog AND on the sidebar so that you can easily keep up with the current book selection and follow along with the discussions/reviews every month.

I've got a couple of fun surprises for you today related to the fabulous book selection for February: May You Live the Life You Love by M.H. Clark

SURPRISE ONE
I received an unexpected box from Compendium last week filled with more copies of "May You Live the Life You Love" book AND the matching Note Card Sets. They were sent to giveaway to YOU!! That's right. More books and Note Card sets are waiting to be given out.

Since I've already done a giveaway on the blog, I'm going to be doing this next round of giveaways on Instagram. (you are getting advanced notice so you can be ready)!!  Be sure to follow me on Instagram today and stay tuned for the surprise announcement over there in the next day or so.

SURPRISE TWO
In the meantime, the other surprise I have for you is that I've got exclusive "Behind the Scenes" information about the creation of this book! - directly from the brilliant author, M.H. Clark, and talented illustrator, Sarah Forster.

I just LOVED learning about the creative process and inspiration behind this fun book and I think you will too...take a listen...

WRITING THE BOOK
Both M.H. Clark and Sarah Forster say they wanted to create “a collection of bright wishes to offer someone”.  I think they absolutely reached their goal!

M.H. Clark said she wrote this book at the library. She would look at people that walked into the library and think “What would be a good thing to wish someone?” I just LOVE this visual of M.H. Clark sitting at the library being moved to come up with things she'd like to wish the people surrounding her in that setting.

BOOK DESIGN
Sarah wanted to design a book that was “uplifting, joyful, celebrating life.” Accomplished!
She also used a broad rainbow of colors: “I wanted the book to appeal to a colorful and vibrant life.” She tried to make the words feel like they were dancing on the page. She totally did that!!
The quotes are also done with a handwritten type because she wanted it to feel “Like its someone speaking to you personally.” I love that and really appreciate handwritten type!!

THE MESSAGE OF THE BOOK
Both of them had lovely things to say about the overall message of the book.
M.H. Clark says that through this book she wanted to impart the message “I hope you get a chance to do the things that inspire you”.  She wanted to encourage people to live the life they want. An inspiring life looks different to everyone – live it on your own terms. There are big and small ways to live a vibrant life – whether it’s traveling or just picking up a colorful bouquet of flowers at the farmer’s market. Her words: “Know that there’s always room to do the things that make you feel alive.”

I love everything she had to say here. "Live the life you want". "Live it on your own terms." "An inspiring life looks different to everyone". "There are big and small ways to live a virbrant life." And "there's always room to do the things that make you feel alive!!"  So inspired by her words!! Aren't you?

THE BACKGROUND MUSIC 
Sarah, the illustrator,  shared her soundtrack for the book. While she was designing this book she was listening to a lot of reggae and Caribbean music…and imagining herself in a sunny place. Here are some of her selections she shared with us:
Toots & the Maytals
Desmond Dekker
Bob Marley

Wasn't that SO fun?
The book was brilliant all on it's own...
but now having this background information on the creation of it makes me love it that much more!!

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!!
And don't forget to to stay tuned to my Instagram account for the surprise announcement!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Pretty sure I'll be playing those music selections from Sarah around the house this weekend.
Who doesn't need a little more sunshine in their life? *wink*