A blogging break

40 days. It was an accident, mind you, the 40 day break and by no means has it been a spiritual quest, just merely coincidental. I  happened to notice today that it has been 40 days since my last post and I realized that it's high time I explain myself.

Exactly 40 days ago (the day before my 30th birthday), I traveled to GA to be with my twin sister who was in the hospital after suffering a fall. She was 7 months pregnant and the fall caused some complications and, at the time, I was very worried so I took a week off to be with her. Thankfully, she is doing well and baby is due in September, as expected. But during that week, I took a break from everything to care for her and her family. I stopped blogging and, much to my surprise, I was happier for it.

I never intended to quit blogging. You don't start a journey like this with the intention of quitting or giving up. And yet, the separation from this space has been easier than I expected. Somewhere along the way posting began feeling like a job. The more pressure I put on myself to perform, the less enjoyment I received from the process. I already have a career that I invest a lot of time into and it took a family emergency for me to realize I've been spreading myself too thin and excelling in very little.

I've hit pause on this space in order to find some clarity. Ideally, I'd like to keep to posting but only when it feels right and only when I have something exceptional to share. In the meantime, you can find me on Pinterest, Twitter, Instagram and Tumblr. And you can follow my Etsy faves here. As always, thank you for your kind words and support. Your readership has made these 4 1/2 years well worth it.

image: Kiko Mizuhara by Anders Edström for AnOther S/S 2012 (via here)

Wise Words: Love you so

Gorgeous hand lettered print by Shannon Kirsten. Words adapted by only one of the best books ever.

Find more hand lettering and typography love right here. 

Art: Sophie Rae

When I was in art school, introduction to printmaking was a class that, no matter how hard I tried, I simply could not wrap my head around. The patience to work through the process is something I really admire especially when the end product is something as vibrant and engaging as the work of Bristol based artist Sophie Rae. Inspired by her time in India, these prints are created from hand cut stencils and oil paint rolled on paper. You can read more about Sophie's unique process here and check out her full portfolio here. Aren't these colors stunning?  

Gift Ideas: Cutting Boards

You can't go wrong with choosing a great cutting (or cheese) board as a housewarming, host, or wedding gift. Here are three places to shop, that in my humble opinion, are a cut above the rest:

Milled Home Good Co. ($40-$70): Constructed by locally fallen maple trees in Michigan and cut and sanded by hand, these cheese boards are finished with a touch of color giving them a fresh and modern feel. I love that these can be displayed on the wall, thanks to a leather cord, when not in use.

AHeirloom ($48): For a more personalized option or for those that appreciate a bit of kitsch, this Brooklyn based shop offers cutting boards in each of the 50 states' shapes. The cutting boards are made in the USA of bamboo. Hawaii would make an interesting cheese display for sure.

Richwood Creations ($48-$56): Operating out of Richwood, West Virginia, Richwood Creations is a not-for-profit wood business "founded...in an effort to create sustainable funding for Young Life Ministries" in their area. I like the laser engraved patterns and the choices of wood (many of the pieces are made from reclaimed lumber) and as well as the different size options. You can read more about this company's mission here.

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6 things

1// linen jumpsuit $148 by les efants sauvages 2// thank you card $4 by honey honey scripted 3// cushion cover $38 by skinny laminx 4// pendant light $49 by junkyard lighting 5// folkland font $20 by shh maker design 6// vintage lettered necklace $22 by diament jewelry

Have you seen the new format for curating and organizing Etsy favorites yet? The layout is similar to Pinterest and I'm digging the ability to sort and view similar items at the same time. You can see all my 2000+ (mostly unorganized) favorites right here.

Summer Color: White

1// shoes $80 2// dress $72 3// wallet $78 4// tank $78 5// necklace $72 6// espadrilles $28 7// shorts $54.50 (sale) 8// belt $42.50 9// jeans $120 10// ring $94

Easy, breezy, way-to-stay-cool summer whites. I'm shy about wearing white thanks to my two dogs and their dirty paws (not to mention my propensity to be a messy eater, especially when wearing white) but if you can manage to keep it clean, what's better than a white sundress on a hot summer day?

Other summer colors I'm loving this year: ruby red grapefruit and spearmint.

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Art: Iris Schwarz

Illustrations by Zurich based artist Iris Schwarz. Prints of her work are available in her shop Maison Paulette and you can see more of her sketches (like the second image) on her flickr page. I'd really love to have this print hanging in the house. 

p.s. Happy July!!! 

Vintage: 20twenty

20twenty vintage has a great selection of vintage jute tote bags that I think would be perfect for the beach/pool/lake/nearest body of water (in my case, a quarry). Check out this shop's full selection of accessories here and keep your fingers crossed that I can find a reason to use a beach bag soon. It's almost July and I've yet to wear a bathing suit! Oh the shame.

Wise Words: Calm

by Kelsey Davis Design

A good reminder, no?

(Insta)Life Lately

B and I have been eating a paleo style diet now for the past few months. I've never felt better and I'm  eating all sorts of new things, like these purple bell peppers we happened upon at the farmers marker last weekend.

I've been living in these sandals lately and they're breaking in quite nicely. 

I'm planning a baby shower for my twin sister so I've been busy with a few DIY projects. My favorite project so far has been these gold painted safari animals. I followed this tutorial and also made a set of magnets for the diaper raffle winner. So easy! 

I also made a few cupcake liner garlands for the shower.  Seriously. Easiest.DIY.garland.ever. 

I downloaded the new VSCO app and went ahead and paid for the bundle package at a discounted rate. I'm glad I did because I love it and I'm hoping it will encourage me to take more photos.  

I was late, very late jumping on the instagram train. It's still not something I use a ton, but I'm trying to do a better job at documenting things around here. You can follow me here if you'd like to be insta-friends. Ha! 

Summer Color: Spearmint

1// earrings $118 2// triangle dress $39.99 3// bralette $15  4// clutch $75 5// tank $68 6// backpack $42 7// ring $40 8// blouse $49.99 (on sale) 9// sandals $54 10// shades $18

Spearmint? I don't know. This color is a bit darker than mint, not as soft as sea foam but not as dark as jade. Spearmint sounded much better than "another shade of green" so there you go. Whatever you call it, but I'm loving this shade for summer. And do you know what color this green pairs so well with? Ruby Red grapefruit. Oh yeah.

Gift Idea: Temporary Tats

I must have missed it but when did temporary tattoos become so hip? And well designed? And not marketed towards kids? I ran across this pretty temporary love tattoo recently and started poking around for more options. Two shops that stood out:  Pepper Ink and Tattly. Tattly has a giant selection (designed by lots of different artists you probably recognize), my favorites being from the typographic group. And if you're looking for a custom name tattoo, Pepper Ink has your back.

Wouldn't these make fun gifts? I'm thinking party favors, stocking stuffers, tucked into thank you notes or just give a few to the friend that's thinking about getting their first tattoo. Just for fun.

Another idea for temporary tattoos? Business cards.
I have six very permanent tattoos. You can see a couple of them peeking out in this photo.

Shop: Bridge & Burn

I'm loving the casual cool vibe of Portland based apparel line, Bridge & Burn. Their summer line consists of pieces I could wear, no problem, every.single.day. And when the weather cools down, I've got my eye on this jacket. Check out the full selection here (also check out their tumblr site. It's purdy).

A Birthday Wish List

I turn 30 in exactly one month. YIKES! I've narrowed my wish list down to three items that wouldn't normally make their way into our budget. I figure that turning 30 is a good excuse for a little extravagance (that's what I keep telling myself anyway).

1) I have absolutely no experience taking care of nice sunglasses. In fact, years ago, I vowed to spend no more than $20 on a pair of shades because of my talent to lose and abuse any pair of shades that were unfortunate enough to find me as their owner. But, surely I've learned some responsibility in my 20s and can now be tasked with taking care of some pretty aviators. Surely?

2) A handcrafted tote made from Argentinian leather, this bag by Cuyana could easily become my everyday work bag. I love the soft powder pink color but there are only 2 left so if you're reading this and happen to be my husband, hurry!

3) Ah yes. I understand that many people would not even consider spending $140 on a hairbrush, and normally I wouldn't either but I'm turning 30, remember?! I've read so many positive reviews about Mason Pearson brushes (I want this particular style) and I'm thinking with a brush this nice, you'd only need one for your entire life. Assuming you don't lose it of course, which is probably something I would do. Hmmm.

So that's it. Three items for my 30th. I'll be happy with one. Or with none assuming I get flowers and whiskey. I'm really not that high maintenance when it comes down to it. Don't let that $140 hairbrush fool you.

Art: Sarah Walsh

Illustrations by Kansas City based artist, Sarah Walsh. I ran across her Sirens series on Etsy and just love her playful use of shapes and color. Her shop (also featuring the work of Colin Walsh), Petite Reve, will undoubtedly make you smile. I mean, who doesn't love a friendly unicorn?

Interiors: Just a touch of blush

I just love pink in small, muted doses. Don't get me wrong, I like a bold pink wall every now and again, but blush is definitely my preference. So soft and approachable, no? Now if only I could talk B into thinking so. After five years, he is no less averse to pink than he used to be. Obviously, I'm doing something wrong.

If you love interiors, check out my tumblr page because there's a lot more from where this came from over there.

images: boligliv; juell photography via decor8; hitta hem; alidegeorge; simply grove; la maison d'anna g; homelife

100% Pure Lip and Cheek Tint

Have you heard of 100% Pure? I'm totally intrigued by their line of lip and cheek tints ($15) which contain ingredients like cocoa butter, shea butter, grapeseed oil and are tinted with actual fruit- cranberry, raspberry, grape, plum. All of the 100% Pure line is 100% vegetarian and gluten free and free of parabens, sulfates, harsh detergents and synthetic chemicals. Check out the full selection here. If you've tried something from this line, I'd love to hear your thoughts!

p.s. My recent beauty product obsessions include this dry shampoo and this sea salt spray. They're magic.

6 things

1// terrestre 05 necklace by depeapa 2// cake topper flags $21 by beta wife 3// card set $18 by think & ink studio 4// miniature house $35 by 2 of 2 5// rose mask $25 by wild rose 6// ceramic planter $44.31 by beneath the sun

Happy Monday! I'm kicking off the week with a small selection from the plethora of my latest Etsy faves. Hearting handmade and vintage items is one of my favorite past times, I'll admit. If you missed last week's guest post on the Etsy blog, you can check it out right here.

Art: Samantha French

Latest work by Brooklyn based painter, Samantha French. Originals (most are sold) can be purchased here while prints can be purchased here. You know that feeling of utter calm and solitude you get when you're submersed in water? It's one of my very favorite moments, the silence right before I'm forced to push through the suface for air. These paintings are not only technically impressive (have you ever tried painting water, it's tough!) but I adore the subject and want to be there. Samantha has been painting pool scenes for some time- check out the full collection here.

Paper Goods: 12 Father's Day Cards

01. / 02. / 03. / 04. / 05. / 06. / 07. / 08. / 09. / 10. / 11. / 12. 

I was bound and determined to not be late on my Father's Day card round-up this year. Alas, it appears as though I'm still running behind but we have a little over two weeks to shop so let's get to it! I think #7 is my fave. What about you? See any you like?