Hello friends!
Looking for a simple gift idea for Mother's Day?
The "Thank You, Mom" book by M.H. Clark from Compendium is a great way to really tell your mom how much you appreciate all that she's done for you through the years. It's filled with quotes and statements that touch on the care she's given, how she's really defined what family means and the love she shares. The book manages to wrap up all the "feels" a simple card can't possibly do.

Besides that, it's a pretty book she can leave on her nightstand and read over and over for years to come. (AND...you can order it on Amazon and it'll arrive in plenty of time - especially if you are an Amazon Prime member). *wink*

This is one of my favorite quotes in the book!
I'm actually considering personalizing the book I'm giving my mom by going through and adding any little extra sentiments or even memories I want to share.

I'm thinking this book would be perfect for pairing with this Wild Honeysuckle Candle from Anthropologie and a pretty bouquet of her favorite blooms. I'll be including this charming Mother's Day Flowers Card too! And I'll probably have to throw in a bag of her favorite candy...just because.

What ideas have you come up with for the moms in your life?
I'd love to be inspired so please share! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I'm typically a last-minute planner when it comes to gift-giving so I feel pretty proud of myself for being on top of things. Now all I have to do is figure out where we should go for brunch this year.

P.S. Want to know what I asked for? A gift card to Stitch Fix. *laughing*
I told you I was addicted already! 

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*

iNSPiRE | Support + Celebrate :: The Fringe Hours Book

The other day I was reading from The Fringe Hours by Jessica N. Turner and I was deep into the section about comparison and how toxic it can be...if you allow it.

I felt moved to share my thoughts with you about this subject and I hope you'll weigh in on the topic because I'd love your feedback!!

This concept of falling prey to comparison isn't new to me, in fact, after discovering how profound of an impact playing the comparison game can have on my own life, I'd like to say I do a pretty good job at keeping myself benched. *wink*

With that said, we are all broken. We are all imperfect. And we can all easily find ourselves behind the wheel of what I call the Comparison Clunker.

There are the "Pinterest Potholes" that leave us feeling deflated, the social media traffic jams filled with all things shiny + faster + better that leave us feeling out of gas and then there's the "race to the finish" mindset of our society that causes us to grip the steering wheel so tightly that we often spin out of control and end up finding ourselves wrecked on the side of the road...helplessly watching the rest of the world speed by.

It can really feel that way...IF we let it.

Here are some paraphrased excerpts that really drive home this point from the The Fringe Hours book:
• Comparison is doing just as much damage as guilt can often do to a woman.
• Comparison can eat away at us, distract us from our blessings and our need for self-care.
• We see others who seem to be doing it all and have it all with what looks like little effort, so we think that is what our lives should look like as well.
• On social media, comparison is a catalyst for nagging feelings of disappointment, discontentment, frustration, and self-doubt. 
• Pinterest cannot be your yardstick for who you are as a woman, what you should love, how you should cook, or what you should prioritize. It cannot be your yardstick for good parenting, thoughtfulness, or really anything in life.

That's good stuff right there!! Am I right?!

So how do we kick the Comparison Clunker to the curb?
The first thing Jessica N. Turner suggests is eliminating judgment....

She asks:
"Have you ever looked at another woman and judged something about her? Maybe it was the fact that she brought a store-bought dessert to the church potluck while everyone else brought homemade. Or maybe you judged a woman because you didn't feel like she was dressed appropriately. Or because you disagreed with the way she parented her children."

For me, I've come to the conclusion that judgment is often the act of deflecting our own ridiculous expectations + standards onto unsuspecting, innocent bystanders. 

I shamefully admit I am guilty of this - not 100% of the time but most certainly more often than I care to admit. 

Some of Turner's suggestions for overcoming judgment is:

1. Finding and recognizing the root of your judgment.

Once you've been able to determine the true emotion, (envy, dissastifaction, etc.), behind the judgment you are more likely to take a step back, turn the initial judgment into something different...something positive and perhaps be inspired to take the time to get to know the person and their story...which will lead to acceptance...and ultimately love.

2. Trading judgment for celebration. 

I have to tell you, I immediately thought..."Oh I can do that...I already do that." And there are plently of women out there I know who do it as well. But then I took a minute, from a personal perspective, to dive deeper into what "celebrating others" should really LOOK like and more importantly what it should FEEL like.

Ask yourself this the next time someone you know, admire or follow on social media posts or shares something exciting about something they've accomplished and are proud of.
• Do you jump right up and offer them praise and support?  Or do you pause?
• Do you "like" their post immediately and leave an encouraging comment?
  Or do you scroll past and then scroll back up after the guilt sets in?

"Liking" or "commenting" can LOOK as though you are celebrating that person...BUT are you really?

Are you actually applauding her success from a place of judgment? For instance, are you happy she's successful but are you quietly reveling in the regrets you think and perhaps even hope she'll have eventually because she must surely be sacrificing one aspect of her life, in one way or another, to be as successful as she is. (her family, her children, her health, her identity, her authenticity),

Do you look like her cheerleader but then find yourself judging her creativity, styling, home decor picks, baking, handwriting, art, parental decisions, hair style, weight, shoes, clothing, etc.?

The way you FEEL - what's coming from your heart - and the driving force behind your celebration of another person's successes are even more important than the act of you celebrating with that person.

Will you be superficial?
Or will you be sincere?

I have to tell you, from personal experience, I have been on both sides of the coin.
I have had superficial support from people I thought were my friends - & that feels pretty crappy.
I've also had sincere support - which  feels WAY better and feels noticeably different.

I think we all know when we are GETTING superficial and when we are GIVING it too.

With all of this weighing heavy on my mind...I've decided to really make this "Support + Celebrate - with sincerity" something I'm doing and thinking about on a more consistent basis.
If I feel judgment more than I feel genuine...I plan to correct that...immediately.

I'd love to hear what you think about the subject of comparison and your own experience with it.

I'm loving The Fringe Hours book and highly recommend it.
It's been very thought-provoking and inspiring.

"The Fringe Hours is not a book about doing more....it's a book about empowering women to do more for themselves so they can BE more...more creative, more fulfilled, more alive." - Jessica Turner

xoxo -  my sweet friends!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
This post was written and has been sitting for over 2 weeks.
Various projects, life and some challenges have kept me away from the blog.
I'm so glad I came back to it today because I needed to hear this all over again.
I feel so inspired...I hope you do too!!

GIFT IDEA | I Love You Mom Book by M.H. Clark + Giveaway

If you are fortunate enough to still have your mom here on this earth with you, you are going to want to add this "I Love You Mom" book to your gift list for her.  Although it's perfect for Mother's Day coming up, it's also equally perfect for her birthday, Christmas or even just as a surprise for no reason at all...except with the intention to show her how much you love her.

This sweet question + answer book is filled with space and opportunity to for you truly express gratitude for the things she has done and continues to do, as well as gives you a place to write down the memories and the little things you love about her.

The sweet prompts on the left side of the pages, ("When people tell me I'm so much like you, it's usually because... OR "Even though I sometimes disagree with you, when I look back now, I'm so grateful that you... AND "Looking back, I don't know how you found the energy, but you always managed to...and so many more), make it easy to then share your feelings, thoughts or memories as it relates to the prompt. I just LOVE this whole concept and idea.

In addition to the blank pages provided for you to write your thoughts + answers, there are wonderful quotes within the pages as well.

My own mom will be receiveing a copy of this book along with a pretty kitchen dishtowel + a set of dish cloths from The Vintage Home Studio.  I'm certain we'll also be doing a combined Mother's Day Brunch or something along those lines.

The generous people at Compendium would like to send out a copy of "I Love You Mom" to three different readers. If you'd like to get your name in the pot simply stay tuned to my Instagram feed for a giveaway coming later this afternoon/evening!

If you'd rather skip the giveaway you can just order the I Love You Mom book by M.H. Clark.

LOVE all of the inspiring gifts + books from Compendium. They've gotten a lot of new products in recently and I'll be sharing some more with you soon!

Speaking of books...don't forget we started The Secret Language of Flowers on May 1st.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My mom just recently had to say goodbye to her other Jack Russell, Skippy.  He's been with her (and as part of our family) for 17 years and she's been devastated. Skippy + Maggie were her children and having lost Maggie about 8 months ago, losing Skippy 2 weeks ago was even more difficult. I think she and I should skip the Mother's Day brunch and have a spa day together. We both could use a day of relaxation!

BOOK CLUB | April's Selection :: Keep It Simple by Atlanta Bartlett

In my search for simplicity not only in my day-to-day life but in my home decor as well, I decided to pick something for the PNPF Book Club for the month of April that ties all of that together in a nice NEW book by Atlanta Bartlett called "Keep It Simple."

The book is SO brand-new /"hot-off-the-presses" that I thought I would have to skip it for April's selection and choose it for May instead because pre-orders on Amazon said the book would be ready on April 5th. BUT...I received notification my book will arrive TOMORROW!!  

That means this is OUR official book for April, friends and I'm excited!!

A brief overview of the book mentions, "Keep It Simple" reveals how to create a happy and relaxed home that looks fabulous and works brilliantly for everyone who lives in it."

I encourage you to flip through the pages of the book before purchasing and make sure this is a selection you feel you'll be inspired by. If you decide it looks like your cup of tea...join me in reading it in April.

I took the liberty of trying to find a couple of images to share with you about the design style of Atlanta Bartlett, the interior stylist and author of this book. I found these pictures on Pinterest since the Atlanta Bartlett website didn't seem to be working very well with regards to images. I made the most of the what seem to be really low-quality images being shared around the world-wide web. But you'll get the idea, I'm sure, as to what her decorating style is. Take a peek...

And here's a little bit of information about the interior stylist herself, as mentioned on her website:

Atlanta Bartlett is an interiors stylist well known for her relaxed, accessible style. Having started her career at Homes & Gardens, she became a successful freelance stylist and has worked for magazines including Elle Decoration, Living etc, House & Garden, Harpers & Queen and Marie Claire, as well as contributing to the launch of Red magazine as the Interiors Editor. Her client list includes high profile names such as Habitat, Laura Ashley, John Lewis and Marks & Spencer and she is the author of the internationally best-selling books The Relaxed Home and At Home with White, Easy Elegance and Pale and Interesting.

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

I'm looking forward to the inspiration that awaits!
Speaking of which...how are you doing with the PNPF Book Selection for MARCH?
I've tried a couple of recipes out already with great results.
I'll share pictures in the book review and discussion coming up at the end of March.
I hope you are being inspired as well.

KEEPiNG iT REAL
My middle daughter turns 16 on March 16th!! (her golden birthday)
We celebrated with family on Saturday.
I'll be sharing her birthday dessert soon!

In the meantime, we've got new shingles on the roof and it's time to pick an exterior paint color!

I'm having SUCH a hard time deciding.

I've posted some pics on my PNPF Facebook Page but I should totally share some here too so you know what's going on, shouldn't I?

BOOK CLUB | February Discussion :: May You Live a Life You Love

TAKE YOUR LIFE AND LIVE IT WELL

Be kind to yourself. Dream great dreams. Listen to your heart. Celebrate your strengths. Appreciate your talents. 

Delight in your own uniqueness. Find time for joy. 

Give of yourself. Lean into the hard work. 

Seize new opportunities. Find wonder.

MAY YOU LIVE A LIFE YOU LOVE

And that was just the first page, my friends.
What a darling book this was to read for the PNPF Book Club during the month of February!
For those of you who read May You Live a Life You Love, I KNOW without a doubt, you were inspired.

This simple read is just filled with thought-provoking and inspiring quotes.
I found the bright colors and lettering to be invigorating and added even more depth to the inspirational words - simply from the energizing colors. Do you agree?

WHAT WERE TWO OF YOUR FAVORITE PAGES OR QUOTES?
I love every one of the quotes and inspirational thoughts in the book. Narrowing it down to just two wasn't easy but here are my picks:

(1) This one actually came from the back flap of the book cover:
"May you find your life filled with every good thing - epic challenges, deep joy, great accomplishments, and plenty of silliness, patience, courage, and adventure. May you find yourself surprised, humbled, and honored at the gifts that come your way. May you find yourself, every moment of every day, living A LIFE YOU LOVE."

(2) A wonderful reminder to stop taking life so seriously:
May You Cultivate Silliness - "I still listen to instinctual urges. I play with leaves. I skip down the street and run against the wind. I never water my garden without soaking myself" - Leo F. Buscaglia
What a wonderful reminder to stop taking life so seriously!!

WHAT WILL YOU DO WITH YOUR BOOK NOW?
Now that you are done reading the book - and I'm sure many of you actually took the time to read it through multiple times - what will you do with it now?

Will you leave it on display somewhere in your home?
Will you pass it along to someone else who may need the inspiration?

For me, it's just too cute to just stick up on a shelf to collect dust.
I'm going to leave mine out to help usher in Spring and to remind me to read one page every day for ongoing inspiration. I'm hoping my girls will see it and be inspired to pick it up to and flip through the pages.

I've also already given a copy as a gift to Ella's teacher, for Valentine's Day.

I really enjoyed this book and hope you did as well.
Leave your feedback in the comments below! I'd love to hear what you thought and get a gauge as to how our first month of the PNPF Book Club and February's selection impacted your life.

Are you starting March's PNPF Book Club selection with me?
xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL
There are going to be some happy Instagram friends who will finally receive the copies of the May You Live a Life You Love book and the sets of matching note cards to go along with it that they won when I hosted the giveaway a couple weeks ago! So sorry for the delay. When I finally got to the post office for boxes - they ended up not being big enough and I've had to go back to find something more suitable. Thanks for your patience as you've been waiting!!

Ella was a bit under-the-weather this weekend but we got her out of the house on Sunday afternoon. She's at home with me today...bored...but resting. *wink*

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*

BOOK CLUB | February Pick :: May You Live A Life You Love

I'm really super excited to announce the very first book we'll be exploring together to kickstart the official PNPF Book Club!!

I went back and forth on which book to choose since I have a whole list of fun books I'm looking forward to diving into with you all.

In the end...choosing something from the beautiful line of Compendium books was really my only option since it's my very favorite company...hands-down!

My pick for this month is perfect too...seeing as how goals and dreams are top o' mind for all of us after ringing in the new year AND because the PNPF Book Club officially begins in the month of February - when all things are centered around love! 

Don't you agree this is such a fitting book to get us started and for us to read together during February??

"May You Live the Life You Love" by M. H. Clark

May You Live a Life You Love is a sweet + simple book with an inspiring thought/quote on each page. It's a really quick read (as in 10 minutes or less) so I'm hoping you'll read through it at least several times before we have our Discussion on February 28th.

If you are confused at this point about why I would select a book for a book club that only takes 10 minutes to read than you missed the original post explaining the inspiration behind the PNPF Book Club and how it differs from your typical book clubs. Be sure to read it.

The idea behind my selection this month is to help add fuel to the fire of our "life dreams".
Whatever goals we have set for 2015...I hope this book will serve as a reminder of how important it is for each of us to be engaged in doing what we love so that we are able to embrace and share our gifts and talents in such a way that we really are living a life we love.  I intend to read carefully through this book once or twice a week during the whole month of February...taking time to think about the words on each page so that they really sink in.  I hope you will too.

Now...with that said...I'm sure you noticed the matching set of May You Live the Life You Love Boxed Note Cards in the photos too. I actually shared all of the cards with you when I posted "A Christmas Story"  a couple of weeks ago. Just in case you want to peek at the whole set.

Well...I have a little surprise for you.
I'm going to pick someone to win a sweet little package that will include a copy of the May You Live the Life You Love book along with the matching set of May You Live a Life You Love Note Cards my kind, generous friends at Compendium sent me AND....

I'm also including your own copy of the inspirational book, Shine, which was the inspiration behind my One Little Word for 2015! Are you excited?

To enter to win simply choose one OR choose all of the options listed on the Rafflecopter app below. More entries = more points = more chances to win.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I will pick and announce a winner on Friday, January 16th so the winner will receive their February pick prior to February 1st.

UPDATE: I made an "oops!" - I failed to send out the email to my subscribers notifying them about the giveaway so I've extended the entry date to Sunday, January 18th at midnight to give them a little more time. Winner will be picked and announced on MONDAY morning!!

Good luck everyone!
I hope you are all excited to get this PNPF Book Club started with me come February.

If you decide you just want to go ahead and get the book you can order May You Live A Life You Love Book so you are ready to start reading on February 1st. (if you are able to resist the temptation and hold off diving into the pages before then).

KEEPiNG iT REAL
I've been without internet service for 5 days.
Finally got it up and running today - thank goodness but I was freaking out  REALLY bummed to not be able to post the Book Club pick on Friday last week as I had originally promised. I'm sure you all were waiting on pins and needles for the announcement so I hope you weren't too disappointed to have to wait. *grinning*  I'm convinced you are now thinking it was worth it. *wink*

iNSPiRE | One Little Word 2015 + A Book :: SHINE

A photo posted by Jessica Kirkland (@pnpflowers) on Dec 12, 2014 at 1:30pm PST

That's my One Little Word for 2015…SHINE!
I posted this photo on Instagram a few weeks ago before even realizing this would be my word for 2015.

I'm excited about it and I have to say…it completely found me.
I'm pretty sure I felt that way about my One Little Word for 2014 too.
BUT…"Shine" actually found it's way to me in the form of this book from Compendium…called SHINE! It literally fell into my lap! *wink*

I LOVED it as soon as I saw the cover and fell madly, deeply in love with it once I started reading through all of the inspirational quotes that fill the pages. Not only are the quotes related to "shining" or "light" or being "brilliant"…the pages themselves "sparkle" with gold and metallics.

I've attempted to photograph some of them to convey the gleam on the pages - they aren't wonderful photos but I'm pretty sure you'll get the picture...

 "She just had a presence, an energy, a sort of light coming from within her"

"To be beautiful means to be yourself." 

"It is our privilege and our adventure to discover our own special light."

"It's a far brighter world because you're in it."

I just LOVE inspirational books like this!

They are a quick read, they're pretty enough to leave out on a coffee table to inspire those that come into your home, (and of course those that live there too),  and they make BEAUTIFUL gifts.

Find out how I intend to make 2015 a beautiful year using my One Little Word, "SHINE" as inspiration!!

If you want the book for yourself you can order Shine by M.H. Clark right now.

OR…you can hold tight and wait for me to announce a giveaway I'll be doing that will include your very own copy!! Woot! Woot!

Happy New Year everyone!!

Here's to a great year ahead…with lots of opportunities for us to SHINE!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL

I had wanted to share all of the information about my One Little Word pick in one post but truth be told, I feel like I've been trying to write this post all day now and the non-stop interruptions from my sweet family just will NOT allow for anything more than this today. 

I've learned to stop fighting against the current…I'm going with the flow. *wink*

INSPIRE | Giving Thanks :: Compendium

Hi you guys!!
While I'm working on a different post that will go up tomorrow…
I thought I'd share with you this "Giving Thanks" book by Compendium.
I'll be using it for my own Thanksgiving Dinner with family next week and thought you might want to hurry and order one for yourself as well.

The thought of sitting around the table this year…
knowing there is forever an empty seat with the recent loss of my cousin…
well…I just figured this book would be a great thing to use to continue the healing process for all of us. I'm a believer that when we acknowledge our gratitude for the smallest of details…especially during the difficult, trying times...we continue to find things to be grateful for.

Hope you are inspired to start this new tradition with your family this year as well.

See more details and photos of the book on the Compendium website.
Although it's currently sold out on the Live-Inspired website...
you can still purchase Giving Thanks on Amazon.

Love you guys!!
xoxo

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Hand me a box of tissues please.
Between the cold I'm fighting, thinking about Holly and the emotion this video conjures up about family and family holiday traditions...I'm just not able to hold back the tears or the sniffling today! #emotional

ELLA | Tuesdays are when the magic happens

Tuesdays at my house have become my favorite day of the week.
It's my day to take Ella to our local library before she heads to pre school for the afternoon.
She's got her own library card now and looks forward to swapping out her current five books for five new ones. (We picked the number 5 since that's her age and it completely eliminates the need for me, or her, to remember how many books we need to return every week).

This week, however, Ella did not want to return one of the books we found last week…Carrot Soup.
She was really upset about the thought of having to take it back so we re-checked it out and have it for another 5 days. She's been enamored with this adorable story about a rabbit whose carrots go missing in the field after he's worked so hard to plant and harvest them. He'd been so excited to finally have carrots to make his very favorite soup.

There's even a simple recipe included on the very last page of the book…and I've already made it!
It's DELISH. (I'll be sharing it on the blog soon).

I love the crumbs stuck to the back of the book - 

she was hiding her face because she was done with me taking pictures. Ha!

Books are magic. Strangely enough I didn't feel that way when I had to read them as a kid. It felt more like a chore or a good way to lull myself fast asleep. Guess I just wasn't reading the right ones? I remember my friends being peculiarly into them and not understanding AT. ALL.

This all changed though when I became a mom. I vowed to read to my kids before bed every night and that's when I really developed a love for reading. It's truly one of my favorite routines and trust me when I say I get into character. I do "voice-overs" and sometimes get creative by singing the books instead of reading the words...just to spice things up a bit. *wink*

This week, when we re-checked out Carrot Soup…we also brought home one of the books I remember reading (and actually loving) as a child: The Little House.  For whatever reason, I remembered it one day in the library and asked if they happened to have it. They didn't have it and had to order it from another library so I was thrilled it was there when we came this week. It's such a charming little book and I find it interesting that the elements of a story I adored as a child actually define the very essence of my personality today as an adult…touching on things I adore and things I hold near and dear to my heart today… cute little cottage-style houses, country living, open fields, star-filled skies, nostalgia, family history, and  giving new life to old architecture, etc. 

Anyone else remember this story too?

Anyway…on this particular day, Ella was on the kitchen counter reading Carrot Soup to me and as if that wasn't magic enough…what happened next was even more magical.

I had the window cracked open a bit (and the french doors to the back patio open). Ella laid her book on the counter as the sound of the wind coming through the screen caught her attention. Next thing I know, she begins plucking off the petals and leafs of some wilted flowers we'd put in small bud vases the week before.

Ella discovered the wind coming through the window created just the right amount of "pull" to hold the petals and leaves up against the screen. I know it sounds silly but it truly was magic in Ella's eyes and the magic for me was in her sweet intrigue…and the fact that she was taking the time to do this.

I was mesmerized by her sweet little five-year old fingers and hands gently pulling and placing each leaf and petal…just as much as she was fascinated by the wind holding everything in place.

And then I took a moment to snap a picture from behind because I know one day, Ella will be too big to sit up on this counter; Too big and too busy to pick petals anymore. The quality of the photo isn't all that great but you know what…it doesn't even matter. I simply wanted to record how small Ella is right now, at five years old. She's tiny compared to the size of the window but we all know how quickly this will change. Her curiosity will change too…because we all know as we get older we don't take the time to engage in the magic of the world all around us. I'm so grateful today for moments like these. Tuesdays, for me, really are when the magic happens. I wish it could be Tuesday every day! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Reading books to Ella is a ritual I look forward to every most nights. (sometimes when I find myself having to work on the computer after dinner I get irritated having to stop and interrupt my train of thought on the particular project I'm in the middle of). On those particular days, it never fails. As I march my grumpy self to the couch to meet Ella with the book she's picked, my heart kicks me in the gut as I look at Ella's sweet little face and realize yet again…these days are numbered.  Having 2 older girls 10+ years older than Ella makes the reality for me that bedtime routines change dramatically as they continue to age and I will ache for the days when she was small enough for me to cuddle in my arms and young enough to actually still WANT me to read her a book. I experience that ache right now with Clara and Ema.

iNSPiRE | Hands Free Mama

I've been doing a bit more of this lately… investing time in the people I love.
Library visits and field trips with Ella…

Saturday lunches with Clara…

and some occasional outside time with Ema.

Inspired by my desire to find ways to stay connected to what matters most, I bought a book called Hands Free Mama. It's all about finding ways to "unplug" from the devices that seem to be glued to our hips, purses, hands, eyes…you get what I mean…and instead, being engaged in what matters most - our LIFE! (and of course, the lives of those we love).

My efforts are not perfect by any means. Nor do I think they are supposed to be.

FUNNY STORY
One night after dinner, Ema asked if I would come outside with her and Ella to toss the ball around.
I, however, was exhausted and did NOT want to do anything after having made dinner and was just finishing the dishes. After telling her "No…I'm too tired" and watching her and Ella head outside disappointed I was overcome with guilt. Excerpts from the Hands Free Mama book flashed through my brain so I changed my mind and surprised them by showing up in the backyard ready to "play".

Ema had the baseball gloves ready and challenged me to a friendly competition while Ella was swinging.
Em likes to throw a racquetball against the side of the house and catch it so she thought it would be fun to turn it into a competition; whoever had the most consecutive catches would be the winner.

I still wasn't feeling completely "into" it at that point but there I was…outside…doing what I knew was right...so it was game on. When it was my turn, I was determined to beat Ema's 10 or 12 consecutive catches and after the first throw the ball bounced back and hit me...right. in. the. eye. Seriously!? I was so angry I wanted to cuss (but didn't) and then I wanted to throw down my glove and go inside and pout (or cry) like a baby…but I didn't. I immediately thought, "Here's what I get for trying to do the right thing!? This is so freaking awesome!" Once I breathed a few deep breaths after realizing my eye didn't get poked out and was able to come to terms with the fact I may end up with a black eye, I soon lost myself in Ema and Ella's laughter and allowed the humor of the situation to sink in. I mean really. It was funny. And honestly, it was exactly what I needed to kick my butt in gear and get rid of the "ho-hum" attitude I had and just loosen up and be in the moment. Black eye and all. *wink*

By the way…I ended up with high score for the night! (52 catches) BAM!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
The shoppe has been busy this past week and I've had lots of requests for the Art Prints I've been sharing on my Instagram Feed - like this one:

I'm going back and forth about just opening my own shoppe (through Shopify or some place similar) or if I should just keep everything in Etsy. Or maybe I should just do both? Not sure.  Any of you have any suggestions? Are there specific E-commerce Platforms you really like or recommend? I could use your feedback and suggestions.

I've also been dealing with the "ugly side" of manufacturing…again!
Will be making some tough decisions with regards to all of that soon!

LIFE | Happy Birthday, Birthday Dessert and Surprises

Before you go jumping to conclusions...this is NOT a Banana Split.

In fact...this dessert is completely sugar-free. I couldn't believe it either!!

I celebrated my birthday this weekend and when Clara mentioned wanting to come up with a creative birthday dessert for me that didn't have any sugar in it...I reminded her that watermelons weren't in season so she couldn't do the Fresh Fruit Cake I normally create for Ema's birthday.

She said she had something different in mind...and I was definitely intrigued.

Nothing could prepare me for what her and Ema created on Sunday.

This birthday dessert is made of nothing but fruit. 

The "faux scoops of ice cream" are really peeled apples, cored, cut in half, and meticulously covered with homemade sugar-free whipped cream. (the girls even took the precaution of sprinkling the apples with lime juice - we were out of lemon - to prevent the apples from browning)! 

The apple ice cream scoops are sitting on top of a banana cut in 1/2, surrounded by fresh fruit, drizzled with a raspberry puree and sprinkled with crushed nuts. I even LOVE that the girls got out my piping tips to squirt on the decorative whipped cream to put the candles in. The details blew me away!!

I'm all about presentation and I'd say they hit a home run with this one!

I love that they used one of my favorite Gail Pittman serving dishes that I've had forever!!

Creative...am I right? 

I'm sooo impressed (and proud) of their efforts. I LOVED it!!

Now...before I was presented with this amazing dessert on Sunday, my birthday weekend began with a last minute dinner with J on Friday night...a surprise spa day on Saturday...a birthday breakfast J and Ella made for me on Sunday morning, a birthday dinner I didn't have to cook and then this fabulous birthday dessert on Sunday evening with my family!
It was a weekend filled with family and beautiful weather and I really couldn't have asked for more.

Feeling so grateful...I've been inspired to get you involved in my birthday celebration...
by doing something special for YOU!

As an ambassador for Compendium Inc. I was sent a copy of one of their beautiful, new, inspirational books...

Fight On...

"Just because your miracle doesn't look like the miracle you were expecting,

that doesn't mean it isn't the one you've been waiting for."

"You were made for something special. Be Patient. The world is rearranging itself."

"At every moment, the world is whispering opportunities. Listen closely."

As with all Compendium books...this new "Fight On" book is empowering!! The motivational quotes that fill the pages have a way of making you stop and listen. There are some quotes that jump off of the page at me...and others that draw me in closer. I'm in love. And more importantly...I'm inspired. I love that! I want YOU to be inspired too!!

I actually have 3 copies of this book.
I'm wrapping up one of the copies to send to my aunt - an incredibly strong woman who's been faced with a handful of intense back-to-back trials over the past 4 months.

The other copy I'm considering keeping for myself, although I have two other people in my life I feel could use this book.

And then I've got one other copy I'd like to send to one of YOU!!
In addition to the book...I'll be including a set of these adorable Pop-Open Window Cards too!
They remind me of the little pop-open lunch notes I used to pack in my girls' lunches...
but these are an "adult" version.

30 little cards in each box...
each box with a different focus/theme...
each card with a different message...
and each box...a little treasure box filled with gold nuggets of inspiration!
I think the pretty packaging and cute design make it a fun, quick way to be inspired.
On top of that...these make such a sweet, simple gift!!

I actually gave Clara the "Be Happy" box and Ema the "Dream" box.
The morning after I gave Clara her box she was heading out the door to school and mentioned to me she'd opened her very first card that morning and it was exactly the inspiration she needed for the day! LOVE hearing that!!

So anyway...back to my gift to YOU!!
It's easy to enter to win. Just use the Rafflecopter app below!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

I'll pick a winner on Saturday, November 9th.
That's it!!

I hope you'll check out all of the amazing products on the Live Inspired website!
They have so many beautiful gifts for every person in your life - including CHILDREN!!
I love that I can't keep up with the new things they are always adding to their site and there's nothing I don't love.

You can check out the Live Inspired Blog too for more inspiration.
Or just go straight to the Live Inspired Website!

As a long-time lover of Compendium Inc. products...I continually feel blessed and grateful to be a Live Inspired Ambassador and it's with sincere thanks and appreciation to the Live Inspired team for making these giveaways possible...and for constantly reminding me to live inspired! *wink*

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Remember the Family Reunion I went to over the Summer?

My aunt and uncle from Boone, North Carolina are the ones who hosted it.

The same aunt I mentioned I'll be sending the book to.

She's had an incredibly challenging time over the last 4 months...and so has my uncle.

My uncle ended up having emergency back surgery right after the reunion and she's been helping him recover from that.

Soon after, she lost her very best friend.

She then had to put two of her beloved dogs down unexpectedly.

And then...just a few weeks ago...my uncle had a stroke.
My heart aches for her...for them. This book will be a simple way to reach out and do "something" even though we are miles apart!! (Love you Joyce and Michael)!!