oh for heaven cakes

LAURA PARKE, a girl who makes

2012-01-22T18:15:00.004-06:00

i realize it's been practically silent on this blog for a while, but it's for good reason! i've been working hard on a new project with the help of that handy, photographer husband of mine. i've been putting my love for crafts and handmade things to use to create a new site called a girl who makes.

this blog will remain, but will become more of a personal blog where i will document the my life's happenings. the new blog will become a showcase for all things crafty and DIY, so follow me there and thanks for your continued support!!

WINNER!

2011-12-14T09:33:00.003-06:00

big news today...we have a winner from the shabby apple giveaway. thanks to all who participated!

the third comment won, which would be cara, who said "how cute!" cara, please email me your contact info and shabby apple will mail your necklace soon!

A GIVEAWAY!!

2011-12-06T07:00:00.001-06:00

who needs help finishing their holiday shopping? lucky for you, i have a fun giveaway starting today! shabby apple has kindly offered one of my readers the chance to win this key to my heart necklace. wouldn't this be a fun gift to give? (or keep for yourself!) all you have to do is "like" them on facebook which you can do so by clicking here AND make a comment on this blog post. easy enough, right? i figured the holidays are hectic enough, why make people jump through one more hoop than the million they're already jumping through to have the chance to own this lovely necklace. the deadline will be this sunday, december 11th at 9 p.m. (central standard time). i'll announce the lucky winner next monday, so head to facebook now to be entered!

our wedding movie

2011-12-02T13:54:00.002-06:00

we hired the incredibly talented, passionate and kind, mike varel to document our wedding day and what he created for us is nothing but phenomenal. he filmed us a few weeks before the wedding as we worked like mad on the details. having that footage is so special, because i can feel the excitement and anticipation in both of us leading up to the wedding day. i love the songs mike chose. they fit us so well and the audio he paired with the footage just amazes me. mike has some sheer talent and we feel so blessed to have had him alongside us on our wedding day. mike, thank you from the bottom of our hearts for creating the most incredible film. we love it now and it will be a cherished piece in the story we are writing together.

let the film load and enjoy!

Eric + Laura: Forever Ever from Mike Varel on Vimeo.

hairdo.

2011-11-10T14:01:00.004-06:00

a few weeks ago kansas city kindly welcomed their very own kate spade store and i was lucky enough to attend this fun event! co-hosted by mimi + meg, the party was of course, full of adorable things! eric shot the party and got some fun images you can see here and here. i bought some cute tights and a gift for a friend and oohed over each cheeky piece in the store. i'm adding things to my wishlist left and right i tell ya.

i decided to do something different with my hair and i wore a bun on the very tip top of my head.

chunky knits

2011-11-04T10:34:00.005-05:00

as the weather cools down i'm beginning to crave chunky sweaters. i found these at zara.

{L-R: rib knit dress $35.90, striped dress $59.90, polo neck dress, $35.90}

baby needs boots.

2011-10-28T10:22:00.001-05:00

cold fronts are coming and baby needs boots. i can't decide which ones to take a chance on. can someone please help me narrow it down to the pair destined for my closet???

a love for vintage.

2011-10-12T19:00:00.000-05:00

this website called fab.com has daily design deals for people. all you have to do it sign up to become a member and you can be in on the deals too!! lots of fun eye candy to enjoy. today? vintage typewriters. be still my heart!!

available in an array of color combinations, it's like my dream come true!! though let's be honest, these typewriters aren't seeming like so much of a deal when the cost a few benjamins at the minamum. sometimes i use my blog to design my dream life.

alt. summit

2011-10-11T13:30:00.000-05:00

do you know what alt summit is? i've heard it be described as a summer camp for bloggers, so it sounds pretty awesome if you ask me. one exception...the girl that practically becomes paralyzed in temperatures below sixty degrees will be traveling to salt lake city, utah in JANUARY!!! but, going to alt. summit is an opportunity i couldn't pass up!! tons upon tons of great bloggers and business people will be there to inspire, encourage and help the attendees figure out what they want their blog to be and be about. i'm excited to hang out with a bunch of like-minded people to share ideas and dream up new ideas!

and i get to go along with tobe and morgan & carrie!!! i feel like i'm living in a dream and can hardly wait for out trip!!! now it's time to dig through my closet to find the warmest clothes possible. yikes!

2011-10-10T21:57:00.003-05:00

you might be asking where i've been for the last few weeks...probably one of three things: working, sleeping, biking. yup! eric and i both have road bikes and we've been putting them to use. it's so much fun!!

in the meantime, i've joined pinterest and i love it!! it's great for keeping my ideas organized. many friends told me it would be a total time consumer, but i just jump on, pin a few things, and then continue on with my day. i can understand how easily you can get sucked into looking at such fun projects and beautiful photos.

i've got a few fun things to show you that i've been up to, but i need my handy photographer to document those things first!

fashion week favorites.

2011-09-20T13:29:00.004-05:00

christian siriano was definitely a favorite of mine during the spring 2012 fashion shows. love the colors and i love the light and flowy materials.

stories worth telling

2011-09-12T15:09:00.002-05:00

because these are the stories worth telling and these are the stories too good not to share. another story corps story for you.

never forgotten. forever grateful.

2011-09-12T08:36:00.002-05:00

loved this state farm commercial that aired over the weekend as we remembered the awful things that happened to our country 10 years ago.

story corps

2011-09-09T14:36:00.002-05:00

have you heard of story corps? here's a little bit from their website:

these stories are sometimes played on npr and i just love them. i think the idea of capturing stories throughout generations is so so important for us now and for future generations. the art of verbal storytelling has been somewhat lost along the way. life is moving so quickly. the newest technology is deemed outdated within hours it seems, so i love the idea of just going back to the basics per se. just telling each other stories about our lives, to share insights into experiences.

here's a favorite:

photo booth fun

2011-09-01T08:08:00.005-05:00

about a month ago eric and i were invited to a going away party for a wonderful friend, christina, who we met through our wedding planning. christina was our go-to person for all of our questions about our flowers and decor because she worked at blue bouquet, the most amazing florist in kansas city!! at the going away party there was a photo booth provided by me photo studio and we couldn't help by participate.

while we were sad to say goodbye to christina, she's now in graduate school at duke and probably charming all of the new people she's meeting. she's the sweetest and oh so organized. good luck, christina!! we hope to see you soon!

the Help

2011-08-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

up until a few years ago, i wasn't much of a reader. i never finished a required book in high school, but i got passing grades due to my insane ability to pay attention to important class discussions and to improvise. fake it til you make it, right? well something came over me and i decided i had to read the help BEFORE seeing the movie. this experience was a first for me...you know the whole reading an entire book thing, but i did it! i raced through the book and surprised myself at how much i enjoyed it.

then my sister in law started reading the book, so we decided to see the movie together once we had both finished the book. well that glorious day came a couple of weekends ago and we settled in, popcorn in hand, to watch the movie and i was so entertained. what an incredible story about courage.

have you seen or read the help? what book/movie duos have been your favorites? i can't promise i'll do this rigamarole again, but i'd be interested in your suggestions.

hello gelato.

2011-08-29T07:45:00.002-05:00

how cute is this dri dri gelato place? if you want to visit, you have to cross an entire ocean. it's in london, but was too fun not to share.

they use all natural ingredients and the rest of the yaddy yaddy people are into these days, which is good! the more natural the better.

love the colors, love the space and what's not to love about gelato?

twirly and light and pink. oh my!

2011-08-25T12:23:00.004-05:00

i saw this skirt in person at anthro yesterday and just about flipped. it's amazingly twirly and light and that brightest of bright pink colors? my heart is singing!

i went home empty handed, as i usually do when i fall in love with higher priced clothes. while this skirt is on sale (still $90), that's a hefty investment for a frugal gal like me, so i play tricks with myself. i walk away from the item and give myself a few days to think about it. if, after those few days have passed and i'm still thinking about the item, i will go back to the store and if the item is there, i see it as a sign that it wants to come home with me!

so little skirt, since you weren't in my size at the store, i'm going to try this trick on myself and check the online stock in a few days...that is, if i remember. maybe this is how i budget things...forget to buy them which leaves money in my bank account. i've been labeled as a saver, but maybe the truth is i just forget to buy the things i like.

what's your budgeting secret?

i got bored...

2011-08-18T09:50:00.006-05:00

last night while taking a much needed night to just relax and catch up on season 25: oprah behind the scenes i got a little restless. for a while now, i've been wanting to try to make cinnamon rolls from scratch, so that's what i did! after searching for a recipe to start with, i had to toss the ones aside that called for the use of a bread maker. we don't own one, nor do we have room in the kitchen for another countertop appliance.

i got to work on this recipe, which clearly states 90 minutes. well, i lost track of time, but let's just say it took me a little bit longer, because i'm not one for reading. i'll skim a recipe, think i'm good to go and halfway through, realize i'm on the wrong step or have forgotten a pile of ingredients all together. and some people call me a baker. hilarious!!

after making the dough, i got right to it, kneading it, letting it rise, rolling it out, making the rolls, letting them rise again and finally they made their way to the oven to bake and i made my way to the couch for another oprah episode. the cinnamon rolls came out of the oven looking beautiful.

an hour later i realized they needed frosting, so i whipped up a batch and you better believe eric and i enjoyed one before heading to bed.

i've got one packed for work today, but i had to hide it in a drawer so i won't dig into it until after lunch. we'll see how long i last.

oh orla.

2011-08-15T12:46:00.004-05:00

orla kiely has been a favorite of mine for a long time. with her usage of color on the most adorable things, what's not to love? i recently spotted this radio and hello? almost fell out of my chair at the cuteness!!

i don't even have a need for a radio, but come on. this one is the most precious one i've ever seen. it comes in two different patterns.

multi

and blue.

for now, i'm printing out a photo to go on my inspiration wall!

friday frocks

2011-08-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

all images from asos.

calling all crafters

2011-08-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

do you like to craft? you'll LOVE this book! i know it's called handmade weddings, but it's chock full of so many fun projects to use for everyday.

lots of invitation ideas that could be translated to parties, table settings and more. grab your glue gun and get your craft on. it'll make you feel good. promise!

let's go green.

2011-08-03T07:00:00.000-05:00

photo credits: anthro, etsy, dwr, boho farm and home, wellie boots

record heat calls for a cool treat

2011-08-02T09:18:00.004-05:00

in honor of ice cream sandwich day today, eric and i celebrated a little early by digging into this homemade ice cream sandwich as a late night treat last night. it was as delicious as it looks and we just might have to indulge in a repeat this evening.

photo by eric. i must say it's pretty awesome and convenient to have a live-in photographer. and he will admit he loves using his new fancy schmancy lens to document our silly celebrations of life.

so, as we in kansas city enter into record high temperatures today (supposedly it's going to get to 108 this afternoon), i can't think of a better treat to make than a big 'ol ice cream sandwich. enjoy!

similar but different

2011-07-27T15:38:00.002-05:00

this movie trailer

reminds me an awful lot of this movie trailer from last year

chock full of celebrities, multiple plot lines and both named after holidays. but you can believe that i'll be seeing this one too!!

hairdos

2011-07-22T08:38:00.000-05:00

i've been growing out my hair for almost two years and can't wait to try hairdos like these!!

partial french braid with tutorial.

three twisted buns with tutorial.

LIFE=

2011-07-19T12:55:00.018-05:00

in 2009, LIFE = was born from the minds and hearts of graham ripple, kyle fitzgerald and abby fitzgerald got together to catch up on life, but what became of that conversation is something much greater. it's changing lives near and far. "Their conversation soon turned to the difficulty of keeping up with the demands of their full-time jobs, busy personal lives and responsibilities of their small business. They wanted a healthy product that conveniently provided focus and energy without the sugar and calories. Unsatisfied with available products they created the first of the Life Equals products: LIFE= Focus+Energy. As they shared their original formula with friends, they heard story after story of its benefit in their friends' lives. From that initial inspiration, they began crafting products that provide healthy solutions to everyday problems." (quote taken from their website with permission)

but they wanted to do more than just help their own lives and of those they knew close by. they decided to team up with vitamin angels, which provides supplements to undernourished children. "for 16 years, Vitamin Angels has been providing undernourished children with essential nutrients through high-dose vitamin A capsules and children's multivitamins. "

so for each purchase made, an equal amount of vitamins are donated to children in need. thus LIFE=LIFE. the first product the LIFE= team has come out with is focus+energy.

this product contains a natural source of caffeine, a healthy source of B vitamins, herbs and amino acids. i have used this product and can talk to the benefits of using it. my usual "i need a nap now!" time is about an hour after lunchtime. i'm always wondering if i should get a second coffee for the day, but try to power through, watching the minutes on the clock tick by until it's time to go home from work. after using focus+energy, i noticed a difference in my afternoon productivity. it wasn't like i was on a sugar rush or was bouncing off the walls, it was just a subtle lift in my mood and energy to get my through the day. this product is natural, contain no sugar or calories and is the perfect compliment to my daily schedule at work. beyond enjoying the benefits of focus+energy supplements, i feel good knowing that my purchase is helping children worldwide grow up to be healthy adults.

it's that simple. you can purchase supplements to provide a more productive day for yourself and as the same time, children are bring nourished and taken care of. feel free to ask me questions about my experience or follow LIFE= on twitter and/or on facebook. more products are in the works including women's multivitamins, fish oil and more! check out their products here.

right now, LIFE= is offering free shipping on orders over $25. coupon code is over25.

ready for red.

2011-07-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

photo credits: a creative mint,the sweetest occasion, little bits and blogs,

short story.

2011-07-15T07:00:00.000-05:00

i'm in need of some shorts. just some simple black shorts. so i naturally went to jcrew online and started shopping. well, i found the black shorts...

cute & functional

but leave it to the people at j.crew to get me to fall in love with more than i need. behold...

adorable and PINK.

i mean. come on.

i've waited til this weekend to order, hoping my holding out is worth it and i can pick them up with their weekend factory sale. please oh please!

stripey straws = party time!

2011-07-12T07:00:00.000-05:00

the table was set

the flowers were arranged

the stripey straws were out

and it was high time for a little party! i hosted a girls dinner this past weekend and had the most lovely time. we laughed, caught up, had plenty of wine and enjoyed each others company. i made these fish tacos and the rest of the girls brought lots of things to munch on. two types of salsas, guacamole, quesadillas, beans, roasted veggies and more. it's nights like these that make me thankful for the girlfriends in my life.

happy crafting.

2011-07-11T08:38:00.001-05:00

hello!! today i'm blogging at love is rising. this blog is written by my friend, rachel, who with her husband and daughter, are in the process of adopting a baby. go check out a simple DIY project i did and happy crafting!!

summer lovin'

2011-07-07T12:41:00.003-05:00

this photo makes me just sigh and want to breathe in all the summer air that i can. it's my favorite season by far and i feel like it's going by too fast!! why can't winter move along more quickly than my beloved summer?

photo cred

our little house.

2011-07-05T13:31:00.003-05:00

back in may eric and i were asked to be featured in a local publication, kc weddings magazine, and we happily agreed. they ran a story about newlywed nesting, wrote a cute little story and took some photos of the house we've made together so far. it's crazy to see ourselves in print and our home, but we are happily settling into life together and this will be a fun thing to keep and bring back memories to this time in our lives!

see the full story here.

sweet liberty.

2011-07-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

eric and i enjoyed a lovely, long weekend full of an empty schedule. it was restful, spontaneous and just what we needed. on sunday night, we were settling in to watch our new favorite show, parenthood, when we started hearing noises outside. we thought it was some neighbor kids shooting off fireworks, but they were persistent and sounded loud. i got up from the couch and realized that meadow brook country club, which is so close to us, was shooting off their fireworks on sunday the 3rd. we quickly made our way upstairs and got the most amazing fireworks show from our bedroom window! it was magical.

monday was a day filled with sweet moments in life. we were able to visit two of our dearest friends. one who just adopted a baby who is in the NICU and will be for the coming weeks and another who just moved into their dream house just down the street from us. it was a day full of dropping off treats, loving on people and just enjoying the sweet liberty we have in this country. the afternoon was filled with a nice, long nap, followed by a sunset bike ride and finished off with grilled turkey burgers for dinner.

though this years celebration was small and somewhat quiet, we were festive with our meal, just like the majority of the country. i printed off these templates from the sweetest occasion and stuck them in our burgers. so cute!

happy independence day!

tune in tuesday.

2011-06-28T08:57:00.003-05:00

allie moss

all better now.

2011-06-27T12:28:00.003-05:00

trusty husband has a book about stains and how to get them out, so i tried out a technique on my purse and it totally worked! all i needed was a hot iron and a paper grocery bag. i just ironed over the wax with the paper bag between my purse and the iron and the bag soaked the wax right up. i was so amazed!

before:

after:

bag lady.

2011-06-24T07:00:00.000-05:00

last weekend i did something silly and ruined my purse by spilling candle wax all over it. darn it! but now i'm on an adventure to find a new one! i'm not one to drop a bunch of cash on items, but these two caught my eye. it's fun to dream...

hinkley karen from kate spade {$325}

jericho tote from jcrew in dark pewter {$258}

happy summer!

2011-06-21T08:56:00.001-05:00

wishing i could spend the first day of summer at this stunner of a pool...

elle decor.

let's get real.

2011-06-20T11:54:00.002-05:00

you know what i just realized? this saying below is nice and makes you feel all "i can do anything" inside, but let's get real. what does it really mean and where did it originate? i'm curious. aren't you?

keep calm gallery

happy friday.

2011-06-17T07:00:00.000-05:00

i've been a bit m.i.a for the last couple of weeks, but for good reason! we've been working on the house tirelessly. it's coming together quite nicely and quite timely as eric's sister is going to be our first house guest this weekend!! i can hardly wait to hang with her.

and on an unrelated, but oh so cute note, my dear friend ashley is letting me babysit her flowers at work for the rest of the week til she gets back. they're from her very own garden and have really brightened up my workspace these last couple days. thank you, ashley!! after an unfortunate event last month, our lawn service (who we actually love!), mowed over all of our hydrangea plants, cutting them into mere toothpicks poking up from the soil. but, fear not, they're alive. small, but alive and growing leaves, so i'm hoping from some flowers from those babies next year.

happy weekend.

2011-05-27T14:20:00.007-05:00

it's finally the kickoff to summer and that means it's time to make some strawberry sorbet!!!

image

happy weekend. happy summer.

blue box delivery

2011-05-26T13:48:00.002-05:00

after debating, rearranging and brainstorming ideas, eric and i decided we needed more drawers in our bedroom. let's face it, combining houses has been lots of fun and has included lots of reorganization. after pricing out dressers, we decided to look at our ever so loved ikea. we then realized it would be at least a couple of months before we could find the time to make the trek to the nearest ikea store (8 hours away). here enters blue box delivery. they are a small company that fetches any item that you want from ikea and brings it back to kansas city. how awesome is that?

you can get a quote before you order so you're well aware of how much its going to cost you, but let me tell you, it's an amazing deal!! it saved us 16+ hours in the car and a ton of waiting time til we could get to ikea. eric and i ordered some malm dressers for our bedroom along with some brackets to put open shelving in the kitchen and we could not have been more pleased with the experience. andy from blue box delivery is kind, professional and very helpful. i'd recommend this service to anyone!!

and now eric and i are enjoying our much needed drawer space!!

wedding photos

2011-05-25T08:55:00.008-05:00

we got our wedding photos back last week and could not be more pleased with what becca and jewel captured on our wedding day. the photos tell the complete story of the day and they managed to capture some amazing moments. it's so fun to relive the entire day through these photos.

we loved going through our photos and to our surprise and delight, becca put together a slideshow, complete with audio from our cinematographer, mike varel. to see the blog complete with the slideshow post click here.

we cannot thank becca, jewel and mike enough for capturing our day so perfectly. from the silly, lighthearted moments, to the anxious energetic ones, we feel so fortunate to have these photos that we can look back on forever. we love you guys!!

summertime.

2011-05-23T16:38:00.003-05:00

last night i had my first taste of summer. we attended an outdoor movie night at the domingues' house. the weather was perfect and as the sun went down, everyone settled in to watch the movie.

i'm looking forward to many more days of staying outdoors way into the night. summer is definitely my favorite. what is your favorite thing about summertime?

ready for the weekend.

2011-05-20T10:08:00.003-05:00

one would think i'd tire of black and white stripes after staring at them regularly while planning my wedding for 9 months, but it seems i still love them. and this dress is no exception. isn't it fun?

diane von furstenberg

and this evening eric and i get to visit the wirken photo studio and view our wedding photos!!! we are so excited and have packed some champagne to celebrate adequately. other weekend plans include a trip to crate (surprise, surprise), making progress on the house, preparing the vegetable gardens (weather permitting), attending dining by design saturday night, a graduation party on sunday and ending the weekend with an outdoor movie night at the domingues' house.

cupcakes in california

2011-05-19T07:00:00.000-05:00

last weekend i made a quick trip to the west coast to celebrate eryka! there was a bridal shower on sunday and it was so fun seeing everyone and celebrating this joyful time in her life. i made some cupcakes for the event, and besides having to watch those cupcakes very carefully in the oven, all went well by the time the shower was in action.

lemon and vanilla cupcakes...

and i couldn't help but pull out that quill pen again. it's becoming a favorite tool!

why not?

2011-05-17T16:18:00.002-05:00

image found here

all i wanna do is bake you a cake.

2011-05-11T10:49:00.000-05:00

ever since we got back from the honeymoon, where we visited countless bakeries and sweet shops, i've been wanting to bake! all sorts of things...cookies, pies, cakes and even lollipops, which i know isn't technically baking, but rather making something cute in the kitchen. my latest inspiration is this wedding cake. isn't it gorgeous?

found here.

prep before the big day.

2011-05-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

the weeks leading up to the wedding included lots of to-do lists, meetings with vendors, anticipating the arrival of out of town guests, feverishly putting things together and trying to turn my brain off from thinking of more things to make! eric made all of the centerpieces and they turned out exactly how we planned. he's a meticulous worker that doesn't stop at anything, but i think he was more than pleased when they were finished and i doubt he wants to see bright yellow paint anytime soon.

before;

after:

we taste tested more than a few black and white cookies until we found the perfect ones at our neighborhood grocery store! the ones we went with came from whole foods, by way of a bakery in brooklyn, new york. the photo below is of one option eric brought back from a business trip to new york. it was delicious, but gigantic, so we moved on.

i spent many hours punching out confetti. we filled each centerpiece to the brim with three colors of confetti and i took it upon myself to cut all of the yellow and white. we found the perfect pink confetti from pom love on etsy, but to save money, i took care of the rest. i punched so much confetti that my hand became cramped more than a few times, but a bride's gotta do what a bride's gotta do.

tune in tuesday.

2011-05-10T09:33:00.001-05:00

"hey mama" by mat kearney

just doodling.

2011-05-09T09:14:00.002-05:00

last week at work, i was fortunate enough to take a one hour lettering class where i was taught how to use the quill pen. and let me tell you, i've been doodling with it ever since.

i even made fancy placecards for mother's day yesterday. too fun!!

my first pie.

2011-05-06T07:00:00.001-05:00

for easter i decided to bake my first pie. a strawberry pie in the cutest yellow pie dish, which was a wedding shower gift from lauren. it was such a fitting gift, as lauren made me fall in love with pies because she bakes the best ones. ever.

eric willingly helped document the process. oh how sweet it is to have a live-in photographer around to document my silly projects.

it was enjoyed by all so quickly that i didn't even snap a photo. yum!

recipe is from the joy of cooking cookbook and it's so simple!

filling:

5 cups of any berries you want
3/4 c sugar
1 tsp lemon juice
1 tbsp. corn starch

1-2 tbsp. butter (cut in cubes)

put all those ingredients in a bowl, stir well and let sit for 20 minutes. then pour them into your pie crust (i used store bought). pour out any excess juice from the fruit, sprinkle cut up butter across the pie filling. then make your lattice (using the other sheet of store bought pie crust or your own) or other top and bake in the oven for 45-60 minutes at 350 degrees. the edges of mine got a bit too dark, so be sure to check your pie halfway through baking. if the edges seem to be getting dark, put some aluminum foil over them and continue to bake until the rest of the pie is done.

enjoy!

what we've been up to.

2011-05-05T09:12:00.005-05:00

we are slowly settling into the house, combining our belongings and finding new places for all this stuff. we've got boxes galore, but are enjoying making our home together.

i've been trying to get used to my new last name. my mailbox at work is helping.

and we've been trying to get back to cooking dinners at home and are really loving all of our new dishes, utensils and kitchen things!

on the short list of things to do around the house: paint our bedroom, plant the vegetable garden, and organize, organize, organize!

PSA

2011-04-27T10:02:00.002-05:00

tonight is going to be a glorious night. it's 31 cent scoop night at baskin robbins!! from 5-10 pm participating stores will reduce the price of their ice cream scoops to 31 cents. three scoop limit.

now go enjoy some amazing ice cream!!

photographer married baker.

2011-04-26T10:13:00.004-05:00

the above two photos were taken by the lovely and talented rebecca peters with her polaroid camera.

and this photo was one of the many captured in the photo booth at the wedding reception. more to share for sure!

it's true!! the countdown of to-dos are over, the never ending to-do lists are long gone and i'm already back from a blissfully relaxing honeymoon! i can't wait to share details with all of you about the planning, engagement experiences, the week leading up to the wedding, the day itself and the most amazing vacation we took to northern california. everything was dreamy and perfect and just plain fun. and the best part? eric and i get to drive home to the same place!! we're settling into our house slowly and are enjoying having one another around all the time. love is grand!!

hello yellow.

2011-04-22T07:00:00.000-05:00

clockwise from top left: art print from the love shop ($17.99), lemon bakers twine from emerald + ella ($24.16), kate spade seersucker bag, ($265.50), golden bouquet hair clip by twigs and honey ($175.00), and the most amazing clip on bowtie by band of outsiders ($125.00).

birks

2011-04-21T07:00:00.001-05:00

sandal season is on the horizon and my feet couldn't be happier. these might appear to be old school, but i'm loving them.

birkenstock sandals from madewell, ($120.00)

wishlist

2011-04-20T07:00:00.000-05:00

as if a girl can have too many cakestands? i think not!

adorable...

via sold out at the moment, but hopefully they will restock soon!

real style

2011-04-19T07:00:00.001-05:00

an etsy shop, called restyle has some cute prints. fun for a little chuckle or pick me up throughout your house.

happy ($19.00)

hot ($19.00)

an eggcellent idea.

2011-04-18T07:00:00.000-05:00

have you got your easter basket ready this year? fear not, this super simple and super cute tutorial from purl bee is here to help! just gather some felt, some ribbon and rick rack and you'll be on your way to delight!

book worm.

2011-04-15T07:00:00.007-05:00

some books i hope to find on my shelves someday soon or borrow from the library.

clockwise from top left: open studios with lotta jansdotter, twenty-four artists' spaces ($24.95), paper+craft, 25 Charming Gifts, Accents, and Accessories to Make from Paper ($19.95), my mom, style icon, ($18.95), my future listography, all i hope to do in lists ($16.95).

wishlist: measuring cups

2011-04-14T07:00:00.000-05:00

i'm out of words. so clever. so cute. so have to have.

milk bottle measuring cups ($24.00) from anthropologie

snazzy silverware

2011-04-13T07:00:00.001-05:00

would you believe at one time, the silverware pictured above used to be plain, silver utensils? to be charmed posted how to instructions to transform your blah silverware into blahmazing serving pieces!!

tune in tuesday.

2011-04-12T07:00:00.001-05:00

eliza doolittle is somewhat new on the music scene and i love her song, pack up. enjoy this tune on your tuesday!

wine-oh.

2011-04-11T07:00:00.000-05:00

check out these wine bottles from swanson vineyards. aren't they fun and so different from other wine bottles? wines for several occasions. how novel.

with love, just married, swell swill. each bottle is $25.00

toss time.

2011-04-09T17:10:00.000-05:00

flickr

gone dotty.

2011-04-06T07:00:00.000-05:00

i never tire of dots, especially when they're gray and white.

polka spot hand towel from terrain

tune in tuesday.

2011-04-05T07:00:00.000-05:00

i first found out about james vincent mcmorrow from my hilariously, honest friend jami. i'm loving his soothing, soulful voice.

cuckoo for color

2011-04-04T07:00:00.000-05:00

missoni swimsuit found on net a porter

working girl.

2011-04-01T07:00:00.001-05:00

check out this office space.

i feel like i could get a lot of work done if i locked myself in that office and couldn't come out til i was all done. and check out the lighting. amazing!! could you thrive in an office like this?

photo by giorgio possenti found via black eiffel.

mug shot.

2011-03-31T07:00:00.000-05:00

my talented and creative sister and i came up with this idea to give to hostesses of the many shower i've been so thankful to have thrown in my honor! we bought the monogrammed mugs at anthropologie, gathered dish towels from other stores and got african violets at home depot. we also did the same version of this gift with herbs and a small pair of scissors, which would be fun to have in your kitchen, don't you think?

thanks to nicole for the idea, and to eric for the photographs.

first position.

2011-03-30T07:00:00.000-05:00

this little girl tries to get into first position and can't seem to make her legs do what she wants. too cute!!

some days do you just feel like you try really hard and still can't get it right?

cupcakes!

2011-03-29T07:00:00.000-05:00

last month i got to make some pink cupcakes for a very special girl who was turning one. gotta love the days when i get to make pink frosting!!

home: new light

2011-03-28T09:00:00.000-05:00

the light fixture in the dining room was replaced yesterday and i am so happy! eric did all the work while i handed him tools.

before:

after:

the new lamp is the foto lamp from ikea.

the cutest.

2011-03-25T08:42:00.003-05:00

what could be cuter than this pineapple coin purse from kate spade?

wanna help?

2011-03-23T08:21:00.003-05:00

some talented, sweet friends of mine have designed these super cute prints and all of the proceeds are going to help japan. cool, huh?

go get yourself some and fill your house with some more love. click for the nitty gritty details, but i promise it's easy!

message in a cookie

2011-03-23T07:00:00.000-05:00

have you seen these? my former roommate had a set and we made some custom message cookies one day and they were surprisingly easy!! i've been stockpiling ideas of fun things i want to do post-wedding, and this is definitely on that list. such a cute, ingenious product and yummy too!

shoulda been.

2011-03-21T16:08:00.002-05:00

this should have been our wedding planning motto.

source.

just kidding. we are still having fun, but i think i've reached my quota in making decisions. i've got nothing left in that department, but the love for all things craft based has not subsided. that silly, creative mind of mine just never quits and for that, i'm thankful.

pants update.

2011-03-17T09:00:00.004-05:00

i went to j.crew yesterday to try on the cafe capri pants. i was so excited, thinking they will be the perfect spring transition pants...but they weren't. i liked the look from the side, but the look from the front was a definite no-go.

i didn't get too discouraged because i then tried on the minnie pants and i quickly found myself at the cash register with said pants in hand. they are very slim, with a side zipper. kind of like leggings, but thicker. i have a feeling that if they prove to be as comfortable as leggings, these might become my new uniform with a cackle of cardigans and tanks.

behold the newest addition to my closet...

i'll do a full review of the pants after a few wears. yay for new clothes and cheers to spring approaching in the air and the season officially starting this sunday!

one pant for all.

2011-03-16T07:00:00.000-05:00

admittedly, i'm a bit skeptical, but my sweet friends gave me a gift card to get some new duds for the honeymoon and i'm thinking about splurging on this pair of pants that jenna swears looks good one every woman. they're called the cafe capri which sounds tropical and relaxing and that's what i'm longing for these days. could this be another case of some magical pants?

i'll let you all know how it goes. if the pants fail, i've had my eye on this hat or watch strap for quite some time.

it's possible!

2011-03-08T07:00:00.000-06:00

if you've been reading my blog for a while, you know that the first movie eric and i saw together was up. and who could forget when we dressed up as carl & russell for halloween in 2009?

well, national geographic channel is airing a new show this fall called "how hard can it be?" and experimented with this project...

read more about it here. and how does one become a balloon pilot? that sounds fun! better start working on my badge. then i'll really be turning into russell. :)

organizing 101.

2011-03-07T07:34:00.003-06:00

as if i don't have enough black and white stripes going on in my life these days, i just found these fun magazine holders. just in time to get the house organized for a certain mr. to be moving in sometime very soon!

found here.

i was spoiled.

2011-03-04T09:05:00.002-06:00

eric completely spoiled me on my birthday and i'm still smiling about it. first, he and his family got me the most cozy jacket. i've been wearing it almost every day since i opened it.

and then we went to dinner after a full day of fun and i opened these:

a shining light bracelet

and the on cloud nine bracelet, which explains exactly how i've been feeling since i met him.

eric, thank you for spoiling me with gifties on my birthday and even more, thank you for being my best friend.

cricket trailer.

2011-03-03T07:00:00.001-06:00

i think the question here is, who DOESN'T need one of these?

it's the cricket trailer and it's adorable.

comes complete with a shower

a place to rest your head

and a teeny tiny kitchen.

cuckoo for color

2011-03-02T07:00:00.000-06:00

hamish bowles,european editor at large for vogue magazine. image source.

& finally.

2011-02-28T15:59:00.024-06:00

way back in december, i had the brilliant idea to make this project i first saw on design sponge. thinking i could whip it up one weekend, because that's what the directions said, i went to work in gathering supplies. well, two months later i finished the project.

here's my process in photos:

print & cut your desired letter or symbol.

transfer it to the wood. i used 1/4" masonite board.

after having a friend cut out the ampersands, i got to work, planning where the bulbs were going to go. i wanted them equally spaced and just squeezed the extra cord in the whole thing. (i know these directions might be confusing, so feel free to leave questions in the comments or email me).

next i went crazy with my drill set and drilled the holes and started assembling the bottom part. i used a combination of gorilla glue and my best friend, my glue gun to adhere the baseboard to the bottom ampersand. then i used soup cans, paint cans and anything else heavy-ish to help it all set. (the directions call for vinyl roof flashing, but after calling half a dozen stores about vinyl roof flashing, i gave up and talked with tobe's husband for a consult. he had made one of these before and i was in great need of some assistance. best tip ever...use flexible baseboard instead of vinyl roof flashing. it comes in 4' strips and all you have to do is cut off the lip.)

so i slowly continued the process of putting on the sides. measuring and cutting and gluing until all the sides were done!

then it was time to paint! i debated what color, but then decided on yellow. perfect for spring and an upcoming event. :)

and then the homestretch...installing the light cord and putting the top on to close it all up!

after putting each socket in each drilled hole, i had to drill one last hole in the back for the extension cord to go.

the toughest part of the project was next...putting the top on the whole darn thing. i don't have photos of this process because it was a one woman show! it just takes patience and creative strategy to go slow and flex the rubber baseboard around the top piece. sounds confusing. it wasn't too difficult, but just takes some wiggling.

and the final product was finished after i screwed in all the light bulbs!

i'm so happy with the final product. i learned a lot and now that i've done one, making another would be much easier. choosing a shape that had curves and counters (openings within the shape) made it more difficult. why didn't i start with an "L" or an "E"? oh well, i'm stoked about it!

monday funday

2011-02-28T14:30:00.001-06:00

this song is making me smile today and would surely encourage a shy dancer like me to get on the dance floor. it's that fun!

friday fROCKS.

2011-02-25T10:30:00.000-06:00

{old navy dress, kate spade ring, madewell fedora, toms classic red shoes}

uh oh.

2011-02-25T07:00:00.000-06:00

this is happening at old navy right now and it's freaking me out.

are they being for real?

the possibilities of chalk.

2011-02-23T11:50:00.002-06:00

chalk on the brain. isn't this beautiful?

Desiron Chalk Art from Dana Tanamachi on Vimeo.

it's by dana tanamachi. she's a typography genius and has some mad skills with the old writing utensil we call chalk.

more of her work:

good thing i've got walls of chalkboard all over my house so i can practice my form. my drawings never look this beautiful.

inspired.

2011-02-21T10:30:00.001-06:00

source.

what's inspiring you this morning?

happy weekend.

2011-02-18T12:00:00.000-06:00

via.

friday fROCKS.

2011-02-18T07:00:00.007-06:00

inspired by the warm temperatures we are experiencing...

dress, earrings, ring,

love is rising.

2011-02-17T07:00:00.001-06:00

a few people in my life are in the middle of adopting a child. all of this information is new to me and i don't know much, but what i do know...adoption is expensive and takes time. my friend, rachel has started a blog to tell their unique story of adoption. to raise funds, rachel has started to sell some handmade goods at her own etsy shop. go there to find some cute stuff and to help them raise money to bring a baby home.

and rachel is also starting a giveaway today! to enter, go to her blog and follow the directions. easy peasy. good luck! and even if you don't win, it's ok! the cute headbands and earrings rachel makes can still be yours and can help raise money for their adoption. enjoy the cuteness!

heart cake.

2011-02-16T09:09:00.026-06:00

we did it! eric and i made the heart cake, first found here. we took three nights to complete it, which by anyone's else's schedule, should not be needed. it was actually quite easy to complete, just took some patience, some tools and the architect came in very handy.

first, we baked the white cakes. and i'll admit, we used box mixes, because this cake was more for the activity of it, than the taste and we were pressed for time.

the original cake called for a red velvet cake for the heart, but with limited store availability, we opted for strawberry cake with added red food coloring, which turned out pretty cute!

once all the cakes were baked, we were ready to start assembling. you take two white cakes and frost them together

so you end up with two of these:

meanwhile, you take your red (or pink) cake that you've baked in a 9 x 13 pan, not a round one, and you run a fork through the entire thing to break it up. and add about a half cup of frosting to it, so it will stick together in the cake.

after refrigerating the white cakes for maybe an hour (or overnight if you're busy), it's time to carve out the middles of each cake. this is where the architect came in very handy.

once each side is cut to your fancy, you can fill each side with the pink cake. you just pack it in there so the shape is compact and it won't crumble when you cut into it.

then, it's finally time to stack the two cakes together. i let eric handle this part as i was too nervous to even watch, but it was a total success!

then one last layer of frosting.

once the cake looked decent, we decided to cut into it to see if this whole 3-day plan worked...

...and it did!!! it was so much fun to cut into this cake, holding our breath, hoping our dillegence and hard work would pay off. and the cake tasted so good. i loved the strawberry cake the best and it was a fun activity to do together. as we enjoyed our slices of cake, we were already thinking of other things we could carve.

happy heart month!

baby got bags

2011-02-15T15:37:00.003-06:00

made from recycled sails, these bags are durable and cute. the design is supposed to mimic the bold colors seen on buoys, but who cares when they're just plain stylish?

bags

happy valentine's day!

2011-02-14T10:14:00.003-06:00

eric and i started making this cake yesterday and it's a little time intensive, so we're finishing it up tonight. with cakes in the fridge, we will be carving to our heart's content (ha!) tonight. and how appropriate on valentine's day. if it all turns out well, this might be the most perfect valentine's dessert.

friday fROCKS.

2011-02-11T07:00:00.000-06:00

i'm in a party planning mood. oh wait, that's what i'm doing...planning one big ol party. good thing my moods are aligning with my to-do list. happy weekend everyone!

dress, necklace, ring

oh and why not some confetti for the pre-holiday weekend?

confetti system

a wee little valentine's table

2011-02-10T13:51:00.003-06:00

by photographer, samantha cabrera, found via sara's perfect party.

so darn cute and that backpack/mailbox to hold all the valentine's? adorable!! wishing i had more time this year to make valentine's but that will all have to wait until next year!

friday fROCKS.

2011-02-04T07:00:00.005-06:00

where oh where would i sport this outfit? maybe to a girly lunch date.

{dress, shoes, flower, necklace.}