inspiration: wedding dresses.

I am a hugely visual person.
Photographs inspire me on a daily basis.
I would love to share my inspirations with you,
and then the following week I will share

what I created from these inspirations.

Want to play along?
I'll be linking up your creations through inspiration very soon.
It's simple.
Use my inspiration photographs that week in a creative way,
and we will all share what we made.
Fun, creative, and a bit of a challenge each week.
Let me know in the comments if you are thinking of playing along!

A few weeks ago, I blogged about bicycles as my inspiration.
Here is what I have created...

I adore these new "bicycles made for two" jumbo brown paper tags
that are now here in the shop!! Don't you?! :)

--------------------------------------

This week I am inspired by
wedding dresses!
We are headed out for the wedding of Andrew's "Auntie April" this weekend,
so I thought it was an appropriate topic for this week.
Andrew is the ring bearer,
so pictures will follow next week of course!

Note:
I'll combine my posts for bows and wedding dresses
next week to show you what I have made. :)

Onto the photographs....





















Happy Thursday!
xo!

{images via weheartit}

sweet shoppe adventures.

Sundays are always happy for me.
While my son has a day with his dad,
I venture up to Orange County where my boyfriend lives.
We always enjoy ourselves no matter what we are up to,
{being together with the man I love makes me a happy girl}
but this weekend we popped in and discovered a fun little place!


Powell's Sweet Shoppe is quite possibly the cutest candy store I have ever been in. Not only is it darling and bright and happy, but it is packed {I mean packed!!} with candy of all kinds. Lots of things you would never normally find make this place such a gem. I am always on the lookout for unusual candies, especially at this time of year when the Easter Bunny needs to make an appearance. :) I like to find things that my child hasn't seen a thousand times in the aisles at Target, and I am so excited to make a return visit next month to put together Andrew's Easter basket!

Places like this make me happy.
Vintage lunchboxes, posters, Willy Wonka songs playing...
the perfect trip to the candy store.
And of course, it helps to have a cute man at your side
buying you a gigantic peanut butter cup.
Yeah... He's pretty amazing. ;)

Find out if there is a Powell's near you here!
And make sure you fill your Easter baskets
with vintage-inspired candies and confections.

I need to remember...
The Easter Bunny doesn't shop at Target.
Find some more fab vintage candy goodies here. :)
Happy Monday!
xo!

PS.
Linking up to Life Made Lovely Monday today!
Check it out here!

inspiration: bows.

I am a hugely visual person.
Photographs inspire me on a daily basis.
I would love to share my inspirations with you,
and then the following week I will share

what I created from these inspirations.

Want to play along?
I'll be linking up your creations through inspiration very soon.
It's simple.
Use my inspiration photographs that week in a creative way,
and we will all share what we made.
Fun, creative, and a bit of a challenge each week.
Let me know in the comments if you are thinking of playing along!

Note:
Last time, I blogged about bicycles as my inspiration.
I'll combine my posts next week to show you what I have made. :)
xo!

Happy Thursday!
xo!

{all photos via weheartit}

idol excitement!

I am a HUGE American Idol fan.
This year is no exception!
In my opinion, the show is better than ever.
Love the judges, love the contestants,
and I think it is seriously hard to pick a favorite.
But if I must,
here are my top picks as of now. :)


Lauren Alaina
She is the cutest thing ever. Seriously. I adore her country voice and think she is already amazing! Plus, the girl has nice hair. {Blonde on top, dark underneath??? Sounds familiar and lovely. ;) }

Casey Abrams
He is the funniest looking guy, but his voice is incredible. Plus, he is semi-local, being that he is from Idyllwild. Gotta root for that. :)

James Durbin
He is my fave among faves, for sure. If I have to pick an overall winner, James is it. I love his story, love his voice, and love his super cute face. He is so comfortable on the stage and I always feel like I am already watching a star!!

Pia Toscano
She is just so amazing- super strong voice and she is gorgeous. Bright career ahead of her? I think so! :)

Not that I don't like others,
but these are probably my stand out picks so far.
Who are your favorites?
Thoughts about the season so far?
Happy Wednesday!
xo!

easter goodies!

New Easter goodies
have been added to the shop!

Stock up on tags and supplies for the holiday next month
and feel super prepared when the week of Easter comes along! :)
Let me know if you need to set up a custom order
and I'd be happy to help you!


{happy brown paper bunny rabbit cutouts}
These fabulous little bunnies would be darling for your kids to use in crafts and art, they would be great tied to an Easter gift or teacher's gift as well! :) So many uses for these little guys!


{brown paper tags - bunny silhouette}
Ah, I adore silhouettes, and nothing is cuter than this cute bunny on brown paper tags. Maybe the Easter bunny could write a little note on here for your kids?! :)


{sweet white Easter gift tags}
I love, love, love the motif on these tags. These will be what I use to wrap up Andrew's teacher gifts. {More on that soon.} :)


{brown paper tags - funky chicks}
Chicka, chicka, chicka. These sassy little birds need a place in your craft room, am I right?! :) I love these!

Happy Easter planning to you all!
I am planning some cute teacher gifts and kids crafts
that I will share with you very soon.
xo!

sugar jumbles.

The rain has hit us in Southern California once again.
What happened to the warm springtime?! :)
I do love stormy weather though,
and am making the best of it by baking!

Sugar Jumbles are the easiest little cookies to make, and they are so delish. From the old Better Crocker Picture Cookbook that was first printed in 1950, these cookies can be made a million different ways. Here's the basic recipe, which I adore.



Sugar Jumbles
{from Betty Crocker's Picture Cookbook}

Preheat oven to 375F.

Mix together thoroughly:
1/2 cup soft butter
1/2 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla

Sift together and stir in:
1 1/8 cups sifted Flour
1/4 tsp. soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Drop rounded teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart on lightly greased baking sheet. Bake 8-10 minutes until delicately browned (cookies should still be soft). Cool slightly then remove from baking sheet.

Simple, yummy, and perfect for a not-so-sunny day.
These are also perfect to whip up for an after-school snack for the little ones. :)
Happy Monday!
xo!

PS.
Participate in Life Made Lovely Monday!
These cookies are making my life more lovely for sure. :)
These, and a cup of coffee.
Yum.

happy friday!

It has been beautiful here in Southern California this past week.
Sunny days,
blue skies,
and a touch of a warm spring
has arrived.
Makes me want to twirl around in a fluffy dress! :)
{Although I hear rain is imminent this weekend as well... hmmm.}
Hope you all enjoy a fantastic weekend!
xo!

let's do our part!

The news coverage about Japan is making me so extremely sad.
I feel like there is so much to do there, and so much help to give,
yet I am feeling a little helpless myself.

So I am going to do my small part to help in whatever way I can!
That is why you will find brand new Easter greeting cards in the shop...
all proceeds will benefit Red Cross in the earthquake relief!!



These fun little bunnies are hopping in to help as well!
Again, all the proceeds to these listings will go straight to the Red Cross
to help out in the little way I can.

Please do a little benefit shopping...
we can all do a little something
that might add up to a big something in the end. :)
My little donation through these orders may give
a little more hope
to all of those people who are suffering,
and I am feeling pretty good about that.
We are so very fortunate, so it's nice to give what we can.

Hope
is faith
holding out its hand
in the dark.
~George Iles

xo!

peanut butter smooches.

I needed to figure out a way to use up the leftover Valentine's Hershey kisses I had sitting in my pantry,
so Andrew and I decided to toss them on top of some easy peanut butter cookies!
This seriously is the easiest recipe ever created. :)
You've all seen a variation of this cookie, but here's my take on it...



Peanut Butter Smooches

Ingredients:
1 cup peanut butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 bag of Hershey's chocolate kisses

Stir together peanut butter, sugar, and the egg in a medium bowl until blended and creamy. Drop by teaspoonfuls onto a greased cookie sheet. Bake at 375 degrees for about 8 to 10 minutes. When you remove the cookies from the oven, add a chocolate kiss to the center!
That's it?! Yep, it is seriously that easy.

Happy baking, and happy eating! :)
xo!

funny bunnies. :)

These cute little chubsters have popped up in my shop!
Wouldn't these look adorable tied onto your child's Easter basket?
Or used as Easter favor or gift tags?!
I can't stand how cute that little bunny is.
Let me know if you need more than three tags
and I'd be happy to post a custom listing for you! :)

Happy Wednesday!
Now I am off to have a fun dinner date
with a certain handsome six-year old man. ;)
See you here tomorrow for a yummy and easy recipe!
xo!