Valentines day present

Since we know that our little son is about to make his first appearance in just a few short days, Greg and I decided to celebrate Valentines day a little early, just to be on the safe side. For this holiday I decided to make him a little book called "fav". Inside it is a collection of some of our favorite memories together thus far in our life. The entire project was less than $5 to make, which is about the same price as a card and a lot more personal! Check out the final piece:

Italy Pics

It's been a few months now, but I forgot to post pics of our Italy trip here. Here are a few of our favorite pics from our trip to Italy. Greg and I wanted to have one last adventure, just the two of us before we welcomed our little son into the world. It was such a wonderful time together... memories that I am sure we will hold in our hearts forever.

DIY: Bakers twine

I love bakers twine- but it's price tag is kind of pricey. This tutorial from My favorite color is shiny, comes at the perfect time as Valentines day is just around the corner... Click here for instructions on how to make your own bakers twine.

New Years Letter 2010

Since the year 2001 I have written a letter to myself every New Years to be read the following year. It is a wonderful, quaint tradition in which I am magically surprised about how "right on" I was the previous year about the direction I felt my life was heading. I always like to start my letters by saying, "What wonders this new year will hold, if only you knew then what you know now..." It's kind of like a time capsule of sorts- peering into the future and describing what we see there. Some of my friends have adopted this tradition and it has been a moving experience for them. One said, "It was one of the most crazy, life changing, amazing things I have ever done. When I read the letter to myself, I couldn't help but cry. I had done everything that I had hoped."

I like to close each letter to myself with ten wishes that I hope for the coming year. It may be things like; I wish I would become a more peaceful person or I wish that I would look back on this year and be pleased. These are not so much "goals" (I do write those up every year) but more attributes that I hope when I look back on the passing of a year that I would have amassed into my character.

This is a wonderful tradition to incorporate in your New Years traditions, and to help spur you on I have designed some fab stationary you can print off to begin your own New Years Letter. I made two different versions this year as I always have requests from the gents to not make things girly. Here is what they both look like:

Click Here to download and enjoy!

I would love to hear from some of you who did this last year and see what your thoughts were when you read your letter!

Really great book!

Ever feel super cluttered? I am in the "nesting" stage right now of pregnancy so I am just clearing out all the clutter in my life. I ran into this book the other day and it is a like a breath of fresh air! The author has a great workbook that you can download for free on throwoutfiftythings.com. I do recommend getting the book though, it has some insightful info that will inspire you.

An excerpt from the book:

THE RULES OF DISENGAGEMENT:

#1. If it—the thing, the belief or conviction, the memory, the job, even the person—weighs you down, clogs you up, or just plain makes you feel bad about yourself, throw it out, give it away, sell it, let it go, move on.

#2. If it (see above!) just sits there, taking up room and contributing nothing positive to your life, throw it out, give it away, sell it, let it go, move on. If you’re not moving forward, you’re moving backward. Throwing out what’s negative helps you rediscover what’s positive.

#3. Don’t make the decision—whether to toss or keep it—a hard one. If you have to weigh the pros and cons for too long or agonize about the right thing to do, throw it out.

#4. Don’t be afraid. This is your life we’re talking about. The only one you’ve got for sure. You don’t have the time, energy or room for physical or psychic waste.

Here's a link to the book:

Lony online mag

Ready for a fun read? Check out Lony magazine, it's a free online magazine. It's only their second edition, but it has a lot of really cute things in it. On a side note, I am dying to know what font they used in this photo shown above. Lot's of other cute things inside the mag... take a gander here to read.

I don't know about you; but I think online magazines are where everything is headed. Do you have any favorite online reads?

FREEBIE: ITUNES christmas music sampler

It's free just this week, so download quickly friends! Itunes is offering a free Christmas music sampler. From Weezer to Amy Grant, this is the perfect music to get you in the holiday spirit and complete some of those Christmas projects you've been meaning to do! Get to downloading here.

Too easy!!

This looks super yummy and only takes about ten minutes of prep time! You won't believe it but this is made from ice cream sandwiches!

It think it's time for a party... I may try making this with a little raspberry sauce in between layers. (I am allergic to raspberries but I know my husband would LOVE it!) Get the recipe from Real Simple here

So, where have I been?

(Greg and I last week in Italy 7 months pregnant)

So, my last blog took place in June... I went on a trip and I never came back! Actually, what happened is I went to Panama and found out that I was pregnant! For some reason I just couldn't blog. It wasn't that I couldn't find inspiration or things to blog about, it was just that I was so BUSY and so TIRED and then so NAUSEOUS and then so BUSY! So now, I find myself 29 weeks pregnant and not having blogged in quite a while.

So, when I started my blog I wanted it to be a place where I could catalog inspiration and showcase creativity and projects that I enjoyed doing in my own life. So, even though it may not be a consistent as before I think I would like to start blogging about my creativity again.

The week has gotten away with me

Ahhhhh!!  I have so many things to post!  I made a cute downloadable party favor for you- I just haven't had ANY time to post!  Blogging is a fun hobby of mine, and I try to be faithful to post regularly- there are just a few days a year that no matter HOW HARD I try- with the business, the non-profit, the humanitarian projects, the internship and the laundry-- there is NO free time.  I know excuses, excuses.  Wasn't it Ben Frankin who said, "He who is good at making excuses is seldom good at anything else?"  

The nice thing is that the other things that I am involved in are very rewarding and I enjoy it very much.  I'll try to squeeze in a few posts before I leave to Panama, otherwise you may not hear from me until July.  However, you can follow what I and my group are doing in Panama here. 

{Photo via here}

One quick thing, and then off to my whirlwind day.  I love this little closet office.  I once had an office in my closet when I was 13.  I had a picture hanging in it and one day my best friend knocked it over and it split my leg open.  I begged my family not to take me to the emergency room.  I still have a nasty scar on my knee from it. 

Have a fab day.  

Just booked tickets to...

Rome!

DIY: Drink Umbrellas

I was doing my regular blog perusing through my google reader and came across this lovely tutorial posted by jackaroo love (Fun blog, you gotta check it out!) She posted this lovely tutorial from Martha.  Click here to read all the "how to's" of this project! 

Ah, Martha.  How you inspire us!  If only we all had time to do all your lovely ideas! By the way, has everyone read her book, The Martha Rules? If you are in business for yourself, or you would like to be- it is an absolute MUST READ!!  I picked up a copy on my way to Europe and I couldn't put it down.  Here is a link to the book, and I totally suggest snagging one if you haven't read it already! 

'Stache Bash: downloadable party and tutorial

For some reason at our office we have a "beard thing" going.  Boys and their beards make me smile, and so will this party: 

You can see the rest of the post here and check out tutorials on how to make your own ribbons and even a downloadable mustache scoring card.  Thanks again to the lovely Twig and Thistle.  They do their part to make the world a more fun and lovely place!

More Grey Interiors

Been really drawn to interiors with grey colors in them lately.  I'm typically not a grey person, my husband doesn't really like it either- but it's fun to look!  

Check out the website of designer Heather Bullard here.

{Seen via Tha Hotness}

What about you guys? What decor colors are you drawn to this season? 

Freebie: downloadable wedding favor

Just saw this amazing goodness on style me pretty!

Designed by Twig and Thistle you can get your free template here