Holiday Greetings!

I've been debating this year about what to send as my Christmas cards.  Do I send the usual cards I pick up at the store or do I make personalized cards instead?  Some of my favorite cards to receive are the personalized ones from friends and family but they are a dilemma for me as I am not married or have children and fell that I don't really have anything to showcase in my picture.  I do have a couple of friends who have taken pictures of their animals and used those instead.  An idea...

Anyways, I've been looking through various photo card websites and some of my favorites have come from Shutterfly.  Shutterfly has so many options that you can use for your Holiday cards.  They have Christmas, New Year, and general Holiday cards available.  They have so many designs to choose from that it makes it hard to just pick one.  Here are a few of my favorites.

While looking around at the different options, I also noticed that Shutterfly has Christmas Invitations available.  A great way to incorporate a picture into your family get-together for the holidays.  Here are a couple of those that I like as well.

Another fun project that I like that Shutterfly offers are their Photo Calendars.  I did one of these a couple of years ago for my parents with various pictures of us from the previous year and they really enjoyed having it.  As you can see, this is a great way to showcase your pictures and share your memories with friends and family.  I highly recommend doing something like this for your family and friends.

Which Holiday cards do you like?  Are you sending a personalized one this year?  I hope you're Holiday season is going well so far!

Images: Shutterfly

Fall Inspiration

Today I wanted to share with you some pretty inspirational photos to help get you in the mood for the cool weather of Fall.  It's supposed to get down into the low 40's here in the South tomorrow so I'm looking forward to wearing a sweater or long sleeves!  Let's hope this cool weather stays around for a while now.

Images: 1. Hilda Grahnat  2. Stab stencil  3. How To: Simplify  4. little brown pen

British Week - Etsy Favs

Today for British Week, I thought I'd share some finds on Etsy that have a British theme to them.  What I love about Etsy is that anything you think of is probably made by someone on Etsy and you can do a simple search to find it.  I even found a Union Jack Dress Form and Wedding Invitations with a British theme.  How awesome are these great items!

Items: 1. Queen Elizabeth II Cross Stitch  2. British Race Car Print 
3. Union Jack themed Wedding Invitations  4. Union Jack Dress Form

Items:1. Union Jack Gift Tags  2. God Save the Queen themed Magnets 
3. Union Jack Brass Ring  4. Union Jack Bunting Kit

Spiced Chutney

I been having lots of conversations lately with various friends and colleagues about canning and what they like to 'put up' during the fall months in preparation for Winter.  My grandmother used to can all types of things, my favorite being her Pear Honey.  I haven't ventured to try her recipe however but I am toying around with the idea of making some chutney.  I think it would be a great way to help me get into the mood for Fall, especially when the temperatures in hot, humid Alabama sure aren't helping very well.  This Spiced Plum Chutney that Amber made looks amazing and I can use these Chutney Jars from Terrain for storage!

Images: Amber...Bamberoo and Terrain

little brown pen website

If you haven't heard by now, Nicole and her husband of little brown pen have a new website that recently launched.  You've heard me talk about Nicole before and I even ordered one of her husband's Rose Window prints a couple of months back.  I suggest you take a look around their website, blog and shop and get to know them a little better.  You'll find some amazing and inspirational photographs of Paris while you are there and it will make you want to book a trip to Paris immediately just to get a delectable pastry.  Enjoy!

Image: little brown pen

Happy Weekend!

I am sure glad that today is Friday!  I have a fun weekend plan with attending a friend's wedding this evening and going to the Farmer's Market tomorrow with my mom and maybe sneaking in a showing of Inception (I hear it's a great movie)!  What do you have planned for the weekend?  Doing something indoors to stay cool I hope.

Image: butterflyfoodie

Colorful Dresses

I love this shot of colorful dresses I saw yesterday via Black*Eiffel.  They featured a shot of yellows, pinks and oranges but my favorite is this shot of blues and greens.  What a great way to organize your space.

Image: Style Bubble via Black*Eiffel

summer inspiration

Today's photographs are inspired by the hotness of summer that we are all feeling here in the US.  It hasn't been too humid down here in the south lately, but I have a feeling that won't last for long!  Here are a few shots of summer that I love.  Bike riding, enjoying the beach and the beautiful scenes of nature.  I hope you all have a great weekend!

Images: 1. YNTL  2. reiko+  3. BisyBackson  4. unknown but pinned from catascraft

Relaxing

I am taking today off; relaxing at the pool with friends and then grilling out and making homemade ice cream!  Doesn't that sound wonderful?  I might even sneak in another showing of my current favorite movie!

Image: sfgirlbybay

My heart belongs to a wolf...

For those of you who have been in a hole the past few weeks, tonight The Twilight Saga: Eclipse opens at midnight and yours truly will be one of the die-hard fans in line to see it!  I am even hosting a Coffee Party prior to the movie so that my friends and I can make sure we will stay awake for the entire thing.  In honor of the opening of the next installment, I wanted to share with you a few photos that Eclipse Director, David Slade took during filming.  David is an amazing photographer and these are a few shots that he shared via his twitter account last fall when Eclipse was in production.  They are of various places and objects that you will see in Eclipse.  See if you can guess where they were taken!

Bella and Edward's Meadow

Grass at La Push

Bella's Red Truck Headlight

Grass at Swan House

TEAM JACOB!!!

Images: David Slade via Twitter

Happy Friday!

I hope everyone has had a wonderful week!  The weather here in the south has been extremely hot and humid and my plans to finish painting my new cabinet have been put on standby.  Each layer of paint has been taking a lot longer to dry.  I am going to try for a third coat of the outer color tonight and if that dries over the weekend, I can start the accent color on Monday! (I promise pictures when I'm done.)  I hope your plans for the weekend include watching a gorgeous sunset like this one below.  Ez from Creature Comforts' daughter took these photos.  Isn't the sunset beautiful?

Images: Creature Comforts

Rainy Day Inspiration

Today's photographic inspiration comes from my love of Wellington Boots.  I've always been a fan of these big, rainy day boots.  I love the variety of colors they come in and the different ways people find to wear them.  I purchased a pair of pink and yellow ones a few years back and always get excited when it rains enough that I can wear them.  And even though they make my feet sweat, I still love jumping in puddles in these boots.  Oh how I wish it would rain...

Images:  1. Randi Brookman Harris  2. tinytoadstool from dadaya  3. Tom Mannion  4. danske

Summer Cottage

Today I wish I were at this cute summer cottage in Sweden.  Hilda from Forever Is Today has a great knack for photographing the small details around her.  She is spending the summer at her family's cottage and decided to spend a morning documenting her surroundings.  Wouldn't it be lovely to take a ride on one of these bicycles around the seaside?  See more of Hilda's summer cottage here.

Image: Forever Is Today

British Isle Inspiration [For Andrew]

Today's flickr favorite inspiration comes from the fact that I am yearning to be somewhere in the British Isles today. My friend Andrew recently took the plunge and moved to London for six months and I have been completely jealous. I am so proud that he finally decided to do it but that still doesn't mean that I can't be a little bit jealous about it. Walking through the streets of London, attending antique fairs and hearing the bells toll the anniversary of the Queen's Coronation is definitely my idea of a great day! (Hope you're having the best time Andrew!)

Images: 1. tim walker 2. sfgirlbybay 3. brianwferry 4. wool and water

A Coffee Kind of Day

Sorry I haven't been back on the blog until now.  It's hard after a long, restful weekend to get back into the swing of things sometimes.  The past couple of days have been one of those days where I just need an extra cup of coffee in the mornings.  This shot from Victoria over at sfgirlbybay says it all.  I hope you're shortened week is going great!

Image: sfgirlbybay

P.S. Speaking of Victoria at sfgirlbybay, don't forget to check out the Pin It Forward series she is hosting right now.  I am scheduled to do my post next Tuesday, June 8th.  I hope you'll join me then and visit all of the other blogs participating as well.  I've seen some great inspiration over the past week and am looking forward to much more!

Peaches + Berries

What a great week here in the South.  The weather has been beautiful and has put me in a great mood.  How about you? Has your weather cooperated with you this week too?  Even though the forecast is rain tomorrow, I am going to make a trip out to our Farmers Market and see what they've got available.  A friend who went last weekend mentioned that the peaches were out, so I may be on the hunt for those.  I am also planning to pick up some berries, if they are out.  Do you have any big plans for the holiday?  I plan to have a cook-out with my family and maybe catch a movie.  I hope you have a great Memorial Day weekend and stay safe!

Image: GlossyEye

Morning Rain

The other day we had a pretty big thunderstorm right as I was going to bed.  When I left for work the next morning, my hydrangeas, which have started to deepen in color, had rain all over them.  I thought they were so pretty with the rain that I decided to snap a quick picture.  Here is the result.  Enjoy!

Image: vintage yankee

Stylin' in Pink

Earlier in the week, I happened upon a gorgeous wedding photographed by Parris Whittingham of New York. I couldn't help but share this shot of the bride's grandmother prior to the ceremony. Doesn't she have the best outfit on? I LOVE IT! I hope you have a great weekend full of fun!

Image: Parris Whittingham via The Bride's Cafe

A Little Trip

I'm heading out the door for a little trip up north. See you soon!

Image: simply hue

Hydraneas in Bloom

I took a couple of quick shots this weekend of the pale green hydrangeas left from last weekend's baby shower. They were on their last leg and starting to wilt. They were so pretty in the morning light on Saturday that I just had to capture it. Hope you had a great Mother's Day and a wonderful weekend. Did you do anything fun?


Images: vintage yankee