I've posted photos here before of the beautiful roses I'm fortunate to have growing in my yard...

As simple as it sounds...

slipping on my garden gloves in the morning...

grabbing the garden shears...

snipping a few of these beautiful flowers...

and bringing them inside the house...

Well...

it's like bringing in a little sunshine...

and it just makes my heart happy.

And for me...

for some reason...

the vintage bottles I use as bud vases make my heart even happier.

What's the one simple pleasure in your life that makes YOUR heart happy?

What's YOUR sunshine?

If you aren't sure...

pay careful attention as you go about your day.

When you feel a little warmth in your heart...

or a quiet little peace fills your soul...

stop for a minute to find out what's causing the sensation(s).

And you will have discovered your sunshine...*wink*

I really needed this little bit of sunshine today...so I'm grateful!!

And I'm wishing you all LOTS of sunshine of your own!!

hugs!!

press | Casa Chic Interior Design Magazine

Pinch Me!!!
It's official...
Pen N' Paperflowers is now international!!!

I'm beyond thrilled to finally share with you my latest magazine publication news.

I was contacted a couple of months ago by an interior design magazine publishing company from Rome...
Lotus Publishing.

They wanted to include my Lemonade & Sunshine party I hosted last June
in a special issue of Casa Chic focusing on the "Arte della Tavola". (Art of the Table)
I was completely flattered and jumped at the opportunity.

It wasn't until after I submitted my photos did I know the publication would be available throughout Europe...

Paris, Rome, Italy...oh my!!!

Thank you SO much Annarita from Lotus Publishing for including me in this beautiful issue!!
I feel so fortunate and I was so excited to receive my two official copies in the mail.
They are gorgeous...
I've been completely inspired by all of the other talented designers that are part of this special issue.

If you happen to be in Europe or have relatives that can pick you up a copy...
It's available on newsstands now!! *wink*
I seriously feel so completely honored.
One of my biggest dreams is to travel to Italy...(see this post)
At least some of my photos and design work made it there! *wink*
This is definitely going down as one of the highlights of my journey!!!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
Although I can't read a lick of the magazine - I can easily spot my name and website
and the other articles included are complete eye candy.
My neighbor friend is going to help me translate some of it! *wink*

it's the little things...

here's what i woke up to yesterday morning...

let me explain...

earlier in the evening j and i shared a conversation about

- the letter i'd found earlier in the day - a letter i wrote a couple of valentine's days back but never gave to him...

- his account of that same valentine's day when he found himself standing at the florist counter demanding to know why the flowers he'd ordered for me weeks ago still hadn't been delivered.

- how NOW the only time he gets flowers for me is if the grocery store rewards him with a free bouquet as part of their grand opening. (true story)

- the "now and then" of our relationship

- the challenges we both face in our day-to-day

well...

i was completely exhausted...

not feeling 100%...

and knew i'd be getting up at 4a.m.

so i went to bed early. (like eight o'clock early)!

while i was asleep...

j went outside in the dark...

ten o'clock at night...

clipped a yellow rose...

placed it in one of my favorite bud vases...

wrote me a little note filled with love and encouragement...

and put both on my desk where he knew i'd see it first thing.

the last line of his note?

"Yes, it's another "free flower"...but I picked it at 10p.m."

how sweet is that?

what a wonderful way to start my day.

and i'll take those kind of "free flowers" all day long!!

i share this with you because it's the little things that make all the difference.

as women...you know exactly what i'm talking about.

this little gesture of his sparked in me the desire to do something sweet for him.

and that's what it's all about...isn't it?

Have a fantastic weekend everyone!

KEEPING IT REAL

Ella actually found the note. She'd gotten a book out of my office and was carrying it around. The letter slipped out and there I was - transported back-in-time a couple of years. It doesn't get any more real than that! *wink*

No...I didn't forget about "thirsty thursday" - still compiling some fabulous things to share and it's been a busy week!

Am I ever going to post the new challenge? Yes. I'm gearing myself up for it. It's going to take some dedication and I need to be on point. I'm also doing a little research that I'm going to need to include. Don't you love the suspense? Just gear yourself up next week. I'll be announcing it early in the week so the challenge can begin on Monday, August 2nd!!

{thirsty THURSDAY} vintage blue

THIRSTY THURSDAY"

defined as a day to share something...ANYTHING... that makes my mouth water...

quenches my creative tastebuds...or satisfies my thirst for inspiration.

it's amazing how a color can become YOUR color...

without you even recognizing it!

i've got a SERIOUS crush on what i like to call: "vintage blue"...

and until recently, i didn't even realize it.

as you can see,

it comes in a variety of shades.

sometimes it looks green...

other times there's a touch of grey...

some people would just call it a shade of turquoise...

always a soft, soothing feeling associated with it.

it seems to pop up in the most unexpected places for me;

as if the color follows me around...

waiting to surprise me.

but here's the biggest surprise...

at first...

i thought it was just a coincidence.

but then, as i looked around me...

- the things i've created...

- the things i'm inspired by...

- the purchases i've made...

- the parties that make my heart beat faster...

most all of them have this color associated with it.

that's when i realized it's NO coincidence at all.

in fact, this color has been sneaking into my life for some time now.

i can trace it as far back as 7 years ago when i acquired this bowl with hints of vintage blue...

(remember the "it was just a bowl" post)?

it seems EVERYTHING that gives me "warm fuzzies" has this color associated with it!

don't believe me?

take a look:

from a party recently posted by the TomKat Studio

this gorgeous inspiration board from Postcards & Pretties

this adorable recipe box posted by Farm Chicks

beautiful wedding color scheme posted by Sheek Shindigs

this sweet print from vol25's etsy shoppe

these next two BEAUTIFUL images from Enjoy Cupcakes

AND it's managed to find it's way into my own creative things...

like these berry baskets & candy I recently purchased from Bake It Pretty

and invitations i've recently designed:

this one for tiny belles boutique

and this vw collection invite available in my shoppe:

this "Be" print i created some time ago...

i even managed to squeeze it into ella's 1st birthday party elements...

(remember the cake topper i made?)

and did you notice i just HAD to throw some in the recent Lemonade & Sunshine party I hosted?

(the antique step ladder is something I purchased five years ago...)

this color makes me HAPPY!
i've even painted my laundry room this color and it's my most favorite room in the house...
(minus the laundry...*wink)

and the brilliant thing?

it goes with SO many shades of color perfectly...

vintage blue/brown

vintage blue/yellow

vintage blue/red

vintage blue/pink

vintage blue/black

you've seen the gorgeous combinations out there...

how many of YOU are addicted to this color too?

i just can't get enough...

i hope it's quenched your thirst for some "color inspiration" on this "thirsty thursday" morning!

Keeping It Real:

I have to laugh at myself because I'm truly surprised at my addiction for this color.

I've said for YEARS that I'm not a big fan of "blue"....

and that I'd never incorporate the color into my home decor.

And although this isn't a "true blue" by any stretch of the means...it's still a shade of blue!

What's next...an subconscious obsession for my next least favorite color on the color wheel...

Purple? No way! I can't even imagine it!!

(even though i remember painting my bedroom lavender when i was a teenager)...*wink*

this feeling - year round...

ever have a feeling inside...warm fuzzies...genuine laughter...pure comfort?

a feeling you felt for just a moment but felt it so deeply you knew you never wanted it to go away?

i get these feelings sometimes when i come across inspired photos of home decor items.

it sounds silly...i know. but i think as a female, i'm always trying to convey that warm feeling in my home - so my children feel it - so that anyone who walks through my door can feel it.

these photos from stylemepretty (via grey likes weddings) took my breath away when i found them the other day.

because i found myself with that "feeling inside"...

i was moved to the point that i wanted to throw out every holiday decor item i have and re-create this mood...this ambience...

and although these are pictures of "holiday" items...

they convey a feeling i want in my house...not just through the holidays...but year round.

the wrapping...

the pompoms...

the glass...

the rosemary...

the mix of burlap, lace & yarn...

it's organic...

wholesome...

soft...

fluffy...

pretty...

comfy...

it's "home"...

what's "your" definition of "home"?

find what inspires YOU.

and surround yourself with whatever that is.

now...i'm off to finish holiday shopping & errands today.

looking forward to attending a company christmas party with j on saturday night.

and also looking forward to the fact that this is the girls' last day of school before holiday break. (i see gingerbread houses in the very near future)...*wink*

a beautiful tuesday...

hello world. it's a beautiful tuesday morning. and here are some beautiful things i have found that i'd like to share with you:

first of all, it's all bakerella's fault. (if she hadn't posted these beautiful cupcake stands yesterday, i wouldn't have been led to the other beautiful things i found from victorian trading co.)... thanks bakerella...*wink* go see her post with her snickerdoodle cookie cupcakes beautifully displayed on these stands...

(i'll take the window in the background, the piece of furniture AND the cupcake stands...please)

i was then led to these retro/vintage-gorgeous-pieces-of-refrigeration-goodness...

i would be soooo happy to wake up everyday and pour myself a cold glass of rice milk from one of these gems! are these NOT spectacular? (thank you victorian trading co.). for a measly 5k, one of these could be yours...*wink*

next on the list...(also from victorian trading co.)

something about this cookbook holder just screams, "this belongs to jessica!"

there's that darn blue color again...perfect for those dream kitchens i shared with you...

and skipping right over to martha's site...a random picture that just made me happy...

i LOVE the color of that car and i LOVE that car

and then throw the pompoms on there and it's soooo perfect!

and the "just married" font used on the sign ties in the entire "vintage feel" - it's delicious to the eyes...

and then i have a crappy picture to share with you...being that it's from my phone...

the quality just does NOT do justice to the beautiful things pictured here.

these are the elements that are finally coming together for little ella pie's party!

see that gorgeous fabric i picked up over the weekend...it was a steal!

thanks mom...for making me make a decision - i love the fabric even more each time i look at it! it was the right choice. *wink*

and so, there you have it. some beautiful things on this beautiful tuesday.

and if things don't seem so beautiful in your little corner of the world...find a way to make it beautiful. hugs to you all!

in the thick of thin things...

loved this quote posted by @dearlizzy on twitter. (it was a reference from the lds conference yesterday). i decided to turn it into a work of art by incorporating it into the "scalloped circle" element i created this morning. i definitely feel like i can be in the thick of thin things at times...how about you?

hope you all had a great weekend and i'm looking forward to a productive week.

i've got to finalize my thoughts on ella's birthday invite and get those finished. here are the magnetic bookmarks that helped inspire my idea for the "mini french bakery" theme for her party.

see my dilemma with the colors? aren't they JUST deliciously spectacular. seriously. (and no word back from amy...hmmm...she can't possibly be too busy for me?!) *wink*

oh...and one more random thing to share:

i ADORE bubble glass. it just makes me happy. if i could have all of the windows in my house filled with bubble glass, along with kitchen cabinet glass inserts...oh my heaven. i JUST love it.

(these cute little bowls were something i found at target). they are perfect for dipping sauces or for holding assorted ice cream toppings. (or possibly the cupcake decorating candies & sprinkles that may possibly be involved in the upcoming birthday party for little ella pie...hint...hint).

have yourselves a beautiful monday...and don't get caught up in the "thin things".