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On the subject of well-intentioned posts from YEARS ago. In July of 2010 – yes, three years ago – I intended to post about a few places we visited on a trip out to Illinois. I figured I should clear the post out of the drafts and release it to the world. Only two places had been written about. One was a gift shop that is now closed. Sorry Anecdotes. I’m sure my blog post would not have saved you.
The other place is Baja Burrito in Nashville, TN. We swung through Nashville to see a concert on our drive home from the Great Plains. It’s still worth telling you to go there. Eat a burrito for me. Enjoy it. Savor the flavor. Then go see a concert. It makes for a memorable day if you ask me!
You may ask, “Why the photo of the luxurious Italian villa?” This photo isn’t of a place that I’ll go. Probably ever. It’s just on my Pinterest board of “possible” (translation, “impossible”) vacation spots, which I thought tied in with the travel theme. For a cool $3.5K a night, you could stay there. However, you may want to stick with Nashville burritos instead 
Photo via Pinterest, via ItalianVillas.com
I started this post back in 2011. Um. . . Crazy. Originally it was about three books I had bought in September of that year. I’ve bought WAY more than three books since I wrote this post. S also gave me a kindle since then, which has revolutionized reading for me. These books are still worth sharing, and you should still add them to your shelf —so here goes!
The Hidden People is a sketchbook by illustrator Cory Godbey. Whimsical and fantastic creatures bring a smile at every turn of the page. My husband and I were super happy to be able to snag a signed copy from Cory at the Indie Craft Parade in 2011, and you can get still get your very own copy on Etsy! Since getting The Hidden People, we have also added Cory’s newest sketchbook, Menagerie, to our library as well. Again, it’s awesome, and you need a copy.
I picked up Make & Do from Mollie Greene back in yesteryear as well—via Etsy, where else? Sweet paper crafts fill the pages – which is probably why she has a new book coming out in June actually called Sweet Paper Crafts! It’s available for pre-order on Amazon. I made a mobile of dog cut outs from an idea in the book. It may not be practical, but a mobile of patterned paper puppies is super cute to have hanging around.
And of course, one and a half years later, I can’t remember what the third book was. It’s photo wasn’t saved in the draft. We will have to wonder together what the third book that I pondered writing about was. If you figure it out, let me know! In lieu of not having a third book to share, here’s a review of what I have been reading this year:
- Life Together, Dietrich Bonhoeffer – Amazing, convicting, though provoking. Been going through with a good friend over coffee in the morning.
- Faithful Women and Their Extraordinary God, Noel Piper – Five stories about five awesome women. Lilias Trotter was probably my favorite in the book, but all the women were inspiring.
- Feminine Appeal, Carolyn Mahaney – Not very far through yet. I think I’m in the first chapter
- The Great Gatsby, F. Scott Fitzgerald – Wanted to refresh my memory since the movie is coming out. The story made me sad for all the characters in it.
- Pride and Prejudice, Jane Austen (did I even need to type it?!) – the 200th anniversary of the publication was this spring. To quote Kathleen Kelly, “Ah! Read it. I know you’ll love it!”
- Under Wildwood, Colin Meloy – Very cool illustrations. Great sequel to the first book, Wildwood. SPOILER ALERT: It’s a cliff hanger.
- Prince Caspian, C.S. Lewis – Classic. Adventurous. Reading for the millionth time.
- The Meaning of Marriage, Tim Keller – I would recommend this book to anyone—regardless of your marriage status. It’s about relationships pointing to Christ. Very insightful.
AND finally – I just can’t wait for the fourth book in the Wingfeather Saga by Andrew Peterson to come out! Dear Andrew, please hurry writing. I know your computer crashed and everything was lost. But I have to know what happens next!
I was sad to hear that Annette Funicello passed away this past Monday. I loved watching the original Mickey Mouse club when I was little, and I’ll never forget the time that my mom, sister and I watched Escapade in Florence, starring Annette. “Dream Boy”? That scooter chase? Priceless. But now it’s time to say goodbye, and a little design tribute seemed in order. MIC – See you real soon, KEY – why? Because we like you, Annette.
I doubt that many people have ever heard the “Dream Boy” song from Escapade in Florence. Thankfully, there’s a you tube video for that! Check it out, it will brighten your day.
The tree outside my office window has produced about seven red leaves, and I am getting so anxious for fall—cooler weather, warm and savory foods, the company of good friends, and amazing apple concoctions of all kinds!
In preparation for all of the above, I’m reposting a delicious recipe that has become one of my all time favorite fall treats. You can read my original post about the delectable Cinnamon-Apple Crostata (with my tips for making this even EASIER to make) or you can skip on over to Pillsbury.com for the recipe.
Happy Fall Anticipation Day!
I’ve been watching a lot of I Love Lucy lately ever since my husband got me the 9 season, 2 bonus disc, collector’s edition box set for our anniversary. Happy two years, Honey!
I have loved that show ever since I was a kid—recording three hours off Nick At Nite each week in the summer, finding Lucy mugs and postcards, and even having a Lucy themed party for my 11th birthday. My mom made it special by creating a retro theme and bought everything she could find that was Lucy. She even had cupcakes made with the little dolls you can put in the top to make the cake look like the skirt. The cake maker dyed their hair red at my mom’s request, just like Lucy’s! It was pretty special—thanks Mom!!
I realized last night as I watched “The Audition” (which I discovered is the same exact plot—AND script!—as the unreleased pilot, discovered in 1990 or something like that) that this is the 60th anniversary of the first season of the show! I just love the simplistic, slap-stick, hilarity that is I Love Lucy, and I think that is why so many people like me have fallen in love with the show over the years. So happy anniversary, Lucy! I’m enjoying watching the show even a lifetime later!
I received a large box in the mail yesterday from my mother. Inside, amidst a TON of packing tissue, was the baby book she had kept during my first three years. It was fun to see names of family friends, find out who gave me that figurine of a gymnast I loved as a kid, and get a feel for my parents life back then. It’s just coincidence that today Martha’s Crafts Dept. blog featured the sweet book inspired baby shower. I’m loving this shower idea that I’ve seen floating around the blog world recently, and I think you’ll love it too!
Photo from theCraftsDept
Isn’t this garland the cutest! I love the pink shades. And of course, the fact that they’re little handmade books! I also love the storybook invitation pictured below. What a great theme for a baby shower, and a perfect opportunity to give a baby book as a gift to the mother-to-be.
Photo from theCraftsDept
I’m so excited to announce a new set of felt brooches that feature handmade pottery buttons. This new set of brooches features beautiful pottery buttons made by Katie Coston of Illyria Pottery incorporated in the design. While I have been making the pins and adding unique buttons of all kinds for sometime now, I think the pottery buttons give an additional flair and class to the felt look. Five new brooches are already up in the Etsy shop, and more will be coming soon!
For more information about Katie and Illyria Pottery, visit her website www.IllryiaPottery or her Etsy shop, www.IllryiaPottery.etsy.com
I love cookies. And if you’re like me, you probably love them too. If you don’t love cookies, there must be something wrong. Last Monday, my friend Katie sent a batch of her killer chocolate covered Oreo’s to work with her husband (who works in my office). These are not just chocolate covered Oreos. Each one is a masterpiece in chocolate. Just check out the pictures! And I love finding that some are peanut butter oreos and some are white oreos and sometimes (but not this time) they’re even MINT. I mean, these are really perfection in two bites.
If I could choose only two desserts to eat for the rest of my life (which would be impossible to do) one of the desserts would be these cookies.
I salute you Katie!
You’ve Got Mail is no doubt one of my top favorite movies of all time. There’s something just so sweet about getting notes from a secret admirer. And there’s something so sweet about MAIL. No offense to Meg and Tom, but getting real mail—and sending real, honest to goodness mail by post—is just awesome. Way more awesome that getting e-mail or a text, in my opinion. Seriously. There’s almost nothing better than slipping that envelope filled with love and goodness into the mail box and knowing that it’s going to deliver a whole lot of joy on the other end. And don’t get me started on packages! Who doesn’t love a surprise package on their doorstep?
The thing about mail is that it takes time, thought and effort to put together that note, that card, that package and get it to the post office. And there’s an element of surprise and suspense in receiving that simple something in your mail box.
So, in honor of spring and love and the ones you love, slip a little something in the mail to someone special today. And support your local post office!
Custom Return Address Stamp by Primele
Lace 6pk Letterpress Cards by OrangeBeautiful
Love Letter Locket by Stefeny Stanyer
Thanks to HowAboutOrange blog for introducing me to what she calls “an online drawing tool capable of wasting hours of your life.” Odosketch is pretty sweet—view time-lapse movies of users drawings or create your own! I definitely see this being a distraction for many an artist today.
Check out my sketches here
