my week in color: honeysuckle

my week in color began yesterday with none other than shades on honeysuckle.  selected because it is pantone's color of the year!  

yesterday was like looking at the world through rose colored glasses :)  Here are some lovely things I discovered!

 vintage wallpaper in opossum lodge.  we worked all day on saturday to gut the second story and accomplished it!

 my contact case...happiness!

 i love these shoes from target, i love the colorful lining even more.  yesterday was so beautiful, i couldn't help but let my toes peak out into the world!

 the best candy ever is in the shade of pink...STRAWBERRY MENTOS!

 this note hangs on my refrigerator and is a reminder every single day to keep my priorities in check.

 the entry way to my house :)

 in this picture they look red, but i promise you, my toenails are an amazing shade of vibrant pink.

 colorful straws make life so much more fun!

 and say hello to today's color.  cheery and bright....yellow!

would you like to join me in my photography challenge?

starting sunday....

starting this sunday: one week of color.  i hope all of you photographers will join me in capturing the beauty of the world around you.  its simple, just snap pictures of the items in your world that match the color for that day :)

ten ways to make it special- march edition

i'm back to start this month off with 10 ways to make it special the march edition.  check it out, and make march 2011 your best month yet!

1. do a wardrobe remix on your closet.  look at the clothes you have and try and put together at least one new outfit that you might never have thought about before.  try a new color combination, mixing prints or adding unique accessories like a scarf or belt.  then, the most important part....wear it confidently :)

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2. write a letter to a friend just because.  who doesn't love getting snail mail?

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3. in kansas, during march, the signs of spring begin to show (i just saw some today...eek!!!!)  take advantage of those days that warm up to above 50 and go for a walk with your camera or camera phone, and snap pictures of the signs of spring that begin popping up everywhere.

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4. secretly purchase dessert for a table of people you don't know at a restaurant.  this idea comes from my fiancée.  it will not only make their day, but yours as well.

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5. this one is for you journalers out there.  instead of writing all about your day, draw your favorite part of the day or draw something that you are thankful for.  it adds interest to your journal pages, and encourages both right and left brain usage (and we all need a little more of that!)

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6. play a board game with someone.  i really think we forget how enjoyable board games can be.  call some friends up, grab some simple snacks and delicious beverages, and go for it.  here are some of my favorites:

the farming game

apples to apples

mall madness

nertz

perfection

catch phrase

7. try nutella.  if you have never had this delicious treat then you are missing out.  i recommend it on toast with sliced bananas, used as dipping sauce for sliced apples, or straight on with spoon in the jar and lick.  by the way, i'm going to make nutella hot chocolate tonight.  you can too. check out the recipe here.  yummmy!

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8. build a fort.  you know you had amazing fort building skills when you were a kid.  start to embrace your inner child and try it again.  (you'll probably find you're even better at it as an adult).  now, what to do with your fort?  sleep inside it for a night.  have a family dinner inside.  get cozy with your friends and watch a movie in it.  or just lay there and marvel at the new little happy world you created.

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9. put a little spring in your life.  add a pop of pink or green to your home, go outside and cut something natural and bring it in.  Change of the scents in your home from winter cozy cinnamons and vanillas to springtime freshness like clean cottons and peony.  

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10. join me in my "live in color week," march 20-26th.  each day will be assigned a color. then, as a professional or amateur photographer we will snap pictures throughout our day of objects we find in our environments that fit into that color category.  throughout the week we'll be sharing these pictures on our blogs, facebook, and flickr pages.

have a wonderful march everyone!

seize the day february 28th

so my february 28th was not a typical type of day for me, but that is what this project is all about, finding the special in the ordinary.  here's my life on february 28th!

 6:00am- super early wake up call to take my mama to the dentist

7:00am- a beautiful sunrise

8:00am admiring the necklace my aunt gave me while in the waiting room

9:00am- devotions, journaling, and blog plans

10:00am- ahhh the shamrock shake.  this pic is for brady, jaydinn, and sarah

11:00am- the mail, one of my favorite parts of the day

12:00pm-3:00pm because i had been up super late with youth activities the night before and had to wake up way early this morning, i found myself here for several hours.  it was much needed!

4:00pm my daily workout

5:00pm new favorite snack humus + pita

 6:00pm a gorgeous sunset.  cameras never do them justice!

 7:00pm homemade pizza

 8:00pm ice cream + the time traveler's wife

 9:00pm journaling + an early bed time for me!

that's my february 28th.  if you participated, i would LOVE to see yours!

seize the day

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i want to invite each one of you to participate in a fun little project with me on february 28th i'm titling "seize the day."  

here's the plan.  on february 28th, take one picture every hour, from the moment you wake up to the moment you go to sleep.  it might be a huge moment of your life or something beautiful you do or see everyday and you pass it by without noticing.  now is our chance to love the complex and the simple.

after the day, put your pictures in hourly order on your blog, facebook, or flickr page.  then, post a link in the comments section of my "seize the day" post so you can share with other readers in the blogging world.  

i hope you'll join me in making february 28th a special day!

ps: don't have a camera, don't worry.  use your cellphone :)

february calendars

day two of a new month.  i have this weird obsession over calendars and thought i would share some of my favorite sites to obtain them from.  check them out and pick one for your own computer :)

this one is from christiane engel.  while you're visiting her site, check out some of her artwork.  her aesthetic is so fun!

the calendar of the month club always has a cheery spin on the month.  these 3-D calendars are meant to be printed off and built; keeping you happy throughout the entire month.

a wonderful desktop calendar from shanna murray.  just a warning, you are going to be craving blueberry donuts ALL month long if you throw this one up on your desktop.

the desktop calendar from free people is the one that adorns my desktop almost every single month.  i love how they combine creative elements to make a cohesive artwork.

and finally, this is the calendar i printed off to hang on my studio's wall.  thanks to the always inspirational creature comforts blog!

ten ways to make it special- february edition

i'm going to start a new feature on my blog, called "10 ways to make it special."  so many of us have traditions at christmas time, or certain ways we celebrate a holiday, but i think it is important to celebrate the everyday parts of life as well.  i will make it a personal goal to accomplish all ten each month.  you can join me on this adventure, or make your own list and see what you come up with.


1. leave a love note in an unexpected place for someone near and dear to your heart.

get your own sparkle banner here.

2. it's bound to snow in february where i live and where most of my readers live.  when the snow is falling, go to sleep that night with your blinds open and allow the snowflakes and soft glow of the sky float into your dreams.  creeped out by this idea, just sit in a dark room with the windows open and watch the snow fall :)

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3. make a list of all that you are thankful for.  i realize we just celebrated thanksgiving a couple months ago, but during the coldness of winter (which has many of us holed up inside) it is easy to get down.  making a thankful list not only helps you realize how blessed you are, but will also pick up your spirits.

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4. make your own valentines.  use items found in your house to save money and keep them uniquely yours.  who really enjoys the store bought, cliche, valentines day cards anyways? (i know many of you hate valentines day, but there is always someone in your life you who love or who needs to know they are loved, so suck it up, and make their day!)

this one is made out of brown paper sacks.  you could cut images out of magazines to create your own designs. (source)

these are super adorable and made out of matchboxes.  (source)

i had to include this one because i remember making these with my mom one year for all of our family members on valentine's day.  such a sweet memory. (source)

and finally valentine cupcakes?  well you know me and my love for cupcakes!  (source)

5. instead of take out, make a homemade pizza.  it is healthier, cheaper, and you can be really unique with your toppings.  try spreading cream cheese on your crust before adding your sauce (the most delicious secret that my dear friend brady taught me).  try different cheeses or adding spinach.  plus you can get cute with it, laying your toppings out in the shape of a face or spelling out someone's name.  here's a crust recipe if your need one. 

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6. cover your bedroom ceiling with glow in the dark stars.  it makes going to bed at night magical.

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7. Memorize a Bible verse, poem, quote or saying that enriches your life.  I've been working hard learning two Bible verses each month thanks to a challenge from Beth Moore and her blog.  The verses I have learned so far this year are 1 Corinthians 2:9 and Psalm 31:14-15.  This month I am learning:

Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you.  I have called you by name; you are mine.

When you go through deep waters, I will be with you.

When you go through rivers of difficulty, you will not drown.

When you walk through the fire of oppression, you will not be burned up;

the flames will not consume you.

For I am the Lord, your God, the Holy One of Israel, your Savior.

Isaiah 43:1-3

8. Make your own hot cocoa.  Skip that whole instant packet stuff and try this recipe on for size. "Creamy Hot Chocolate"

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9. go bowling.  i know my friends can only think of jim gaffigan jokes right now.  (get in on the inside joke here).  but seriously, i haven't been bowling in years, and i think it would be a fun alternative to movie night :)  plus the shoes are really cool :)

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10. seize the day.  i'm going to be doing a blog post about this in the near future, inviting you all to join me for this little adventure.  stay tuned....

happy february everyone!