Link me away!

So, like I said in last week's Fan Favorite's post, I'll be doing a light post every other friday from now on, with lots of links and fun stuff from around the web.

This cute bike restoration project is making me want to go to the St. Vinnie's bike sale this weekend. OK, I don't need any more projects right now. (Image: Mandi, Here's Lookin' at Me Kid)

I saw probably the prettiest necklace I've ever seen on Shoppingsmycardio this week: Christine Mighion. Ahhhdore!

This cute wedding in ...Madison, Wisconsin. Represent. Can you believe that car? (Image: m three studio)

I do not need a new bag, I do not need a new bag, I do not need a new bag. but I really, really, really still want this one.

This clock is way too sweet for words.

I've been looking into photography classes and considering Nicole's. I like a meaty class without the water, you know?

So, I just noticed everything is the same color. I think I may need an aqua intervention. Help!

Have a fun-filled weekend!

what's in ma bag?

I saw a fun post on Geninne's Art Blog a few days ago listing the contents of her bag and inviting readers to do the same. We all keep different essentials on hand and it's interesting to see what makes the cut for different people. Geninne's contents seem far more interesting and fun than mine but the grass is always greener, right? Here's what I can usually find in mine:

1) My favorite sunglasses of all time: Tom Ford Jennifer. This is my second pair. I bought the first ones with a deep employee discount in 2006. My daughter got her hands on them last summer and broke them in half in about 5 seconds. My husband replaced them for my birthday this year.

2) My business cards, letterpressed by The Mandate Press. The case is actually a playing card case from Pottery Barn from a few years back.

3) Fun green wallet I got from T.J. Maxx for a couple bucks. I love how easy it is to find in my bag because of the color.

4) My planner: Franklin Covey, customized with some vintage wallpaper.

5) My point and shoot camera in a little Anthropologie bag my friend Mary got me a few years back for Christmas.

6) I used to carry moleskins with me everywhere. I'm liking this smaller size better these days. This one is from Anthro, and has a cute little pocket on the inside front cover.

7) iPhone with an extra-lame expensive case I got from the phone shop. Lesson learned.

8) My essentials pouch (see below.) The pouch itself came as part of a travel-sized product set from Aveda.

9) Tracey Tanner change purse. This was my only purchase during my last visit to NYC. Weird, huh?

Essentials pouch. I didn't number this photo because I didn't think I needed to map everything out. It seemed much more self-explanatory. In order of importance:

1) My "No Mosquito" Spray. I love this! It's smells wonderful and is made from all different kinds of essential oils. The scent is sortof like mint-chocolate, I wish I could eat it. (From a local apothecary/pharmacy: Red Sage Health)

2) Earphones for my phone.

3) Dental floss. I absolutely hate it when I need this and am without it.

4) Pill case, with my favorite drug of all time: Advil.

5) Band-Aids. I don't think I've ever actually used these, I always forget I have them when I need them.

6) Emergency Altoids.

7) My favorite shade of Bobbi Brown lipgloss: Buff.

8) Emergency crappy emory board.

9) Random pen.

10) Emergency tweezers.

11) Emergency l'occitane hand lotion from some hotel.

12) Standard flavor (flavor?) Chap Stick.

13) Emergency barrettes and hair bands.

14) Tracey Tanner change purse.

15) Change.

So there you go. Not the most enlightening or profound post, but it was fun to put together and I also got organized in the process. What about you? What's in your bag?

happy birthday to me

I celebrated my thrity-(cough, cough!) birthday this weekend. Here's a little peek at what my celebration looked like this year:

1) This Owl Gocco Print was a "birthday money" self-purchase. I've been eyeing it for a while.

2) My monthly book club group met on Friday and ended with Pavlova, my favorite dessert of all time (made by Sarah). I also got a happy birthday song and candles! (Image: BBC GoodFood)

3) This fun tape is another birthday dough purchase. (Image: Note Maker)

4) Um, another birthday self-present from my local Anthropologie.

5) My parents-in-law sent me these 5 porcelain keys, after remembering my love for them in this post last year. How sweet.

6) Just one special chocolate post-dinner from David Bocco.

7) Dinner was my favorite Sushi in town: Murimoto.

8) The verdict is still out on the movie we saw: Greenberg. I think I liked it, I think?

9) After seeing these lovely but high-priced plates at Anthropologie I came home and found this one on Etsy for $20.00. Gotta love birthday money. I always do as I'm told and always "spend it on something fun."

tuesday's top 12: birds and bees!

Guess what, it's Tuesday! Time for my top 12 and the theme this week is: birds and bees. Get your head out of the gutter, I mean literally..the things that fly, not ...ya know. We've been having some unusually warm weather here in the Midwest recently despite a minor blip this weekend I'm trying to forget. In honor of spring's arrival, here's my list of top 12 birds and bees:

1) Eep Shopping Bag, $25.00, Skinny Laminx 2) The Bird Has A New Home (original mixed media), $25.00, Annamaria Potamiti 3) Peep This Card, $4.50, 2ndcoming 4) The Bee Keepers Print, $20.00, Kiki and Polly

1) Honeycomb Heart Original Papercutting, $32.00, Louveteau 2) Bird at the Beach Fine Art Photo, $24.00, Lucy Snowe 3) Bee Print (from original oil painting), $23.00, RozArt 4) Strange Bird Digital Print, $15.00, Isa Catto

1) City View 1 Print, $375.00, Ricki Mountain 2) Love Birds Screen Print, $25.00, Love Little 3) Apis Mellifera Sterling Silver Necklace, $58.00, Wearthou 4) Branch and Bird Art Quilt, $19.00, Candied Fabrics

tuesday's top 12: tiny things!

I've been crushing on tiny things a lot more than normal lately. Needless to say, I didn't have a hard time putting together this list of my current favorite top 12 tiny weeny tiny little things:

1) Miniature Clay House, $16.00, Thelittlereddoor

2) Tiny Miniature Book. Image: MyHandboundBooks

3) Tru's contribution to the Table and Chairs Project on flickr

4) Needle-Felted Wool Seedling, $16.00, Dolittledesign

5) Miniature Cabinet of Curiosities, $28.00, Miniature Rhino

6) The World's Smallest Postal Service. Please read the back story if you haven't already. You might die of cute overload, but I swear it's worth it.

7) Miniscule Matroyoshka. Image: Bunnybum.

8) Pixie Cup Lichen Photography Print, $24.00, Nature Mandalas

9) Trout Flies, $6.75, MountainRiverFlies. My granddad used to tie his own flies. I've always thought they were little bitty works of art.

10) Three Itty Bitty Terrariums, $12.50, TortoiseLovesDonkey.

11) Diminutive lakefront homes in my fair city of Madison, Wisconsin. Image: Peter Patau.

12) You're a Star Greeting Card, $6.50, ArtMind

5 new favorite blogs

I just finished-up an e-course taught by Holly Becker of decor8. I highly recommend it, Holly and her team definitely over-delivered. The sweetest surprise was getting to meet so many like-minded and talented people. I discovered several new blogs to follow and I've listed five of my faves here which are:

1) Good Measure--The writer of this blog, Sam, owns the fantastic textile co. Inklore, but blogs about all aspects of an inspired life--for the home, garden, kitchen and soul. I love the look of this site and can't really believe it's only a few months old.

2) Kaili Art--Can't you tell by the header? This blog is full of visual-treats. Original content and images by an artist-in-training as she completes her studies and finds her way in the art world.

3) A Creative Mint--The creator of this blog, Leslie, co-taught the e-class. She was in charge of photography and styling and can you see why? The images Leslie creates with her beautiful color stories are so uplifting. On a gloomy day like today, I wish I could wallpaper my whole house with her images.

4) Modern Kiddo--A bright and cheerful blog about the young ones (of course). Written by two spunky fun-loving (and stylish) moms.

5) Going Home to Roost--Entrepreneurial "maker" Bonnie went home (to roost) in her small hometown in the mountains after graduating from college with a degree in business. She journals "everything handmade and anything homegrown" and has three, count 'em three Etsy shops, not to mention original images which are oh-so-pleasing to the eye.

I hope you'll visit these stellar sites and see just what I'm talking about. Hats off and high-fives to these seriously talented ladies.

happy new year! 2010 wishlist/resolutions

Happy New Year, everyone! While I already listed my 2010 DIY resolutions, here's a list of some personal and professional goals for the coming year. They're not really nice tidy "measurable and specific" tasks, but they're just for me and I'll know if I can check them off come 2011. I'm so excited to see what the new year has up its sleeve. I think it's going to be a good one.

weekend wishlist

Here's hoping everyone plows through their lists this weekend. Enjoy the season!