Happiness

I came across these 5 simple rules for happiness at my best friends house. Everytime I walked passed it I could not help but think - this is so true. It made me ponder on what makes me happy - my family and friends but also, more than that....freeing your heart of hatred, freeing your mind of worries, living simply, giving more, and expect less. I love it!

It's Spring!

What better way to celebrate spring than with this adorable hydrangea cake? I love spring time and all the beautiful flowers that come along with it. And hydrangeas are one of my favorite flowers! Even my wedding stationary featured real hydrangeas on my programs, menus and name cards. If you are feeling adventurous, check out the tutorial on how to make it!

Nothing Bundt Cakes

I love stopping in at the local boutique cupcake shop and picking out my favorite flavor to indulge on for the day. Recently, my friend Kate introduced me to an even better concept - yes, it is by far better in my opinion - Nothing Bundt Cakes. Fresh, delicious, and more consumable than an individual cupcake. Why you may ask? Well, these delicious cakes are not as rich and compact as a cupcake and the icing is just right. Whereas, sometimes I find with cupcakes you take one bite and you feel like you've had enough. With the bundt cake you can buy an individual size or 'party size'. What a great concept. The flavor I tried was Chocolate Chocolate Chip with their Signature Icing. It's like Goldie Locks - just right! Fluffy, flavorful, and hits the spot leaving you wanting more! Try it....you will see! Check out their various locations.

The best in the West!

Saving Faces
&
Lips and Locks

If you ask any woman they will swear by their hair dressor or facialist. Hence, this very posting in my blog. I was fortunate to have met Jenny Evans of Saving Faces Skin Care and Sheree Pouls of Lips and Locks three years ago. I was referred to Sheree (my hair dressor and make up artist) for my wedding - she is amazing - and I still see her to this day. Sheree referred me to Jenny for my skin. I get my eyebrows and facials done with Jenny every month. What a lifesaver! I am so fortunate for these ladies. I thought I'd share their expertise with you! They are now under the same roof in their brand new gorgeous salon in Venice, California. You must check them out! They truly are the best in the West!

Single Page Art

Pride and Prejudice

Check out this artistic approach to displying some of your favorite books. Spineless Classics takes an entire book and transforms it into one page. And suprisingly you can actually read it! The website states that the font size is perfectly legible with the naked eye. Where there are shapes in the design, the words wrap to the edges rather than being removed or shaded.

Good Fortune

Change can be scary sometimes. And as cliche as it sounds, I believe that everything happens for a reason. Whether it may be a career change or life altering moment I only hope that it is for the best! My thought for the day is to think positive, react positive, stay positive.

Kissssing....

Happy Valentine's Day! I found Kissssing - a love blog to be very appropriate for sharing with you all today. What a great conglomeration of images illustrating people showing their love. May your day be as bright as these images.


Ohhhhh, Rhett!



Heaven for Handmade Craft Lovers!

Got Etsy? I am literally obsessed with this website. The way I explain Etsy to people is that it is the ebay for handmade arts and crafts. Here you can visit the community of sellers with adorable goods to offer. Or you can sell your talented crafts to others. With millions of amazing handmade items, vintage goods, and crafting supplies available on Etsy, you are bound to find something you love! Check it out - and don't limit yourself in the search box - you will find what you are looking for, and almost guranteed to love it!

Afforadable Letterpress Stationary

Check out this new affordable online letterpress company! The Pressroom & Company (TP&C) is a select group of experienced and passionate stationery designers that offers beautiful stationery to online buyers as of January 15, 2011. Check them out for save-the-date, wedding invitations, baby, and personal stationary.

Guaranteed Hit!

Try this 'Gooey Butter Cookies' recipe at your next party. Your friends will L-O-V-E them! Here is a recipe that one of my girlfriends was kind enough to pass onto me.

•  1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened
• 8 ounce cream cheese softened (I use 1/3 less fat kind, still tastes great)
• 1 egg
• 1/4 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 box yellow butter cake mix
• 1-2 cups powdered sugar

Directions: Beat the butter, cream cheese, egg and vanilla in a mixing bowl until light and fluffy. Stiff in the cake mix. Chill covered for 30 minutes. Next, drop the dough by teaspoonful into a bowl of powdered sugar and roll into ball (it will be pretty sticky). Finally, arrange on cookie sheets lightly coated with nonstick cooking spray. Then bake at 350 degrees for 12-15 minutes or until golden brown. Cool on wire racks. AND ENJOY!

Sweets for your Sweetie

What better way to celebrate Valentine's Day this year than pampering your loved one with some sweet love! I found these divine ideas online. Click on the links for the 'how-to's' on making each.

Heart Cake

Brownie Love

Be Mine Sugar Cookie

Parisian Love

Can you remember the last time a commercial made you cry? Watch this google commercial and it may get you choked up inside (in a good way). This commercial was featured during the 2010 Super Bowl game. Simple. Touching. Brilliant!

Check out some other creative google ads on YouTube which have been uploaded by Search Stories. They are all enjoyable to watch. 

Craving brunch at 3 Square Café!

3 Square Café (Venice, Ca)

One of my favorite places to eat brunch in LA is at 3 Square Café. If you haven't eaten at Rockenwagner's 3 Square Café and Bakery you are missing out! The location on Abbott Kinney is superb, but even better is the fabulous German/Austrian inspired menu. My Husband and I make a point to stop and eat brunch here at least once a month. What to order? I would highly suggest starting off with the Elderflower Prosecco (the Austrian Bellini) and/or the Mint Lemonade. Very refreshing! For food, I crave (on a daily basis) the pretzel sandwich with goat cheese, Tavern ham, folded eggs and arugula. Is your mouth watering yet? My Husband usually orders the savory grilled Weisswurst (veal sausage), 2 eggs any style, Bavarian sweet mustard, and bratkartoffeln. And yes, to top off this hearty satisfying meal is a shared dessert (of course!). We ask for a side order of the bread pudding french toast and share this in addition to our meals - to die for! Trust me, you will leave a happy camper. So, if you are in the area this weekend be sure to stop in and try it out. I may actually run into you. There may be a small wait, but it is worth it. Also, if you don't have time for a sit down meal, you will love (guaranteed) the Rockenwagner bakery. The adjacent bakery offers baked-daily pretzel rolls, scones, danishes, breads, cheese twists and cookies, as well as convenient sandwiches and snacks to go. Bon appétit!

The PEN Story

I hope you enjoy this as much as I do. This is the PEN Story in stop motion. There were 60,000 pictures, developed 9,600 prints and shot over 1,800 pictures. The story is cute but the stop motion techniques are fascinating.  

Treat your dog to some homemade love!

For Christmas, I received a set of dog biscuit 'cookie' cutters from my MIL. Along with the adorable shaped cutters came a few new recipes. I tried the following for Willow and she LOVES them. Even better, I was able to personalize them just for her! What better gift to treat your dog to homemade love or send a gift to your friend with a dog on Valentine's Day! (Note that these treats should be fed in small amounts and are not meant to replace a well-balanced diet)

Basic Dog Treat Recipe

1/2 cup cornmeal

6 tablespoons oil

2 cups whole wheat flour

2/3 cup chicken broth

Directions: Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Mix all ingredients together well. Roll out to 1/4 inch thick. Cut into desired shapes with cookie cutter. Bake 35-40 minutes, let cool and store in tightly sealed container.

Drybar, a blow dry bar

(Los Angeles)

Mai Tai (left) & Cosmopolitan (right)

Looking for a quick way to pamper yourself in LA that is fairly
inexpensive? Try Drybar! 

Drybar is a brand new “blow dry bar” concept created around a very simple idea: No cuts. No color. Just blowouts for only $35. This past weekend I treated my sister and I to a "blowout" and a 10 minute scalp massage (called a Floater on their menu). Not only did this make for a fun girls time together but we were also styled and ready for a fun night out on the town afterwards. Our experience was fun and easy. When you walk in you are warmly greeted to a vibrant, modern salon with friendly staff. When you sit down you are asked to order the hairstyle of your choice based off of their simple yet creative menu. My sister got the Cosmopolitan (loose curls) and I got the Mai Tai (messy & beachy). And before you head over to sink for a wash we were given an option of wine or cucumber infused water. For the wash, I would highly recommend the 10 minute floater. The salon uses the Moroccan Oil hair products which are the best! In all, the experience took about an hour and we came out feeling like movie stars ready for the big screen. Oh, and I forgot to mention that Drybar is pet friendly! Check out their website for locations.

Drybar, a blow dry bar

Here comes the sun...

LA Sunrise
January 22, 2011 (7:14am PST)

Top of the morning to you! Since Willow has come into our lives I have become more and more of a morning person having to get up and feed her and take her out. I find myself actually looking forward to waking up with the sun. The beauty of a sunrise, different from a sunset, is knowing that a new day lies ahead. Everyday, I take a deep breath of the cool, fresh air and listen to the quiet sounds just as the sunlight peaks through the dark sky. I have captured today's sunrise glistening over the horizon. I hope to post more in the future. Wishing you all a lovely day ahead!

Happy 2011!

'Door to my Heart'
Brugge, Belgium trip (2010)

I am excited to start my new blog just in time for the new year! I look forward to updating my new site as often as I am inspired by what's around me - particularly by the beautiful simple things in life that make me happy and inspire me to write. Please come visit when you like and feel free to post your comments! I look forward to our new journey together.