just a little bit of paint.

When I move to a new place, I like to move in completely...this whole taking it slow with opening boxes is for the birds. I am only staying in my current apartment for a few months before moving in with my good friend Sara (a 12 month lease in Boston. Eeek!). Of course this means that I cannot unpack all my boxes and I can't really make myself at home. I do not like this. So to help in this little challenge I have begun a few projects to spiff up the room I am renting. 

Thank you cheap IKEA pot, Martha Stewart sticky stencils, and acrylic paint.

 You just brightened up my life. 

This little guy was just taped off with some blue painters tape...

couple coats later and voila!

Sara - I promise I won't get too crazy with the crafting when we move in together. :)

holy images.

I stumbled upon these beautiful images on NPR this weekend. The photojournalist Betty Press lived in Africa for a little over twenty years, and captured something beautiful. Press stated in her interview that she went to Africa to photograph images of  "beauty, creativity and courage of the people," versus the poverty stricken Africa we seem to be inundated with on a regular basis. Her new book, I Am Because We Are: African Wisdom In Image and Proverb (filled with all these lovelies)...now on my Christmas wish list. 

I want this somewhere in my home...would make me smile every time.

handwritten.

Since finishing college I have been trying to make a point of writing a letter every once and awhile to my friends in far away places.  So far so good. Although I have to say my letters tend to turn into an excuse to take a trip to Paper Source...I have good intentions people. I absolutely love the idea behind The Hand.Written.Letter.Project. Their intention was to,

      "extend an invitation to designers and creative thinkers alike to simply write and make known their thoughts posed by this situation: in handwritten form and on their stationery (both of which were seemingly expendable to some, their idea taking preference)."

Take a moment to put away your e-mail, and jot someone a little note. No matter how short.

Hand.Written.Letter.Project.

cookies.

I was a deprived as a child. Deprived of magnets. My mother believed that papers, art, and photos do not belong cluttered on the fridge. I do not share that belief. 

Materials:

- Fallen tree branch, 1-2" diameter

- Strong magnets

- Electric drill and bits

- Saw- pull saw or hacksaw

- two-part epoxy or super strong glue

1. Use the saw to cut off 1 - 11/2" medallions from your branch. If necessary, use a bit of sandpaper to clean things up.

2. Use a drill to clear a little hole for your manets to sit. If using the 8x3mm that I have, usa a 5/16" to drill a hole 1/8" into the branch. Usa a piece of painters tape to mark your depth. 

3. Mix up the epoxy and glue them in. You will need a glue strong enough to stand up to the magnetic force (probably not a hot glue gun). Make sure to check the polarity of your magnets before gluing them in! 

4. Simply allow the epoxy to dry for at least six hours or overnight, and stick them up!

voila!

via ManMade

to hold.

I'm a little bit of a freak when it comes to organizing. Which really means that a trip to the Container Store is like a trip to the candy store if I were a five-year-old sugar addict. One of my weaknesses is boxes and such. I love to find things, to put things in. Comprende? It's weird I know, but how can you say no when the "containers" look like these gems?!

Why I need a cake box, who knows. Don't you think it would look

 good somewhere in my kitchen though?

When I was younger I use to love the clean cut, everything looks the same style. 

Not so much anymore. You have to jazz things up every once and awhile. And by jazz I mean add a little rust to your life. You will never go back.

dealbreaker.

I (along with many other women) have a serious girl crush on Tina Fey. There, I said it. The words that come out of her mouth make me laugh so hard my eyes tear up. I read her memoir Bossypants while on my trip to California, and I am not kidding, I was laughing out loud on the plane. Probably making the rest of the passengers think I was a little crazy. Oh well. I have the same reaction to 30 Rock...which I can watch over and over again and never tire of.

I was, and still am that girl whose reaction to anything that ends with "-man" is "don't you mean woman?!"

My mother always use to playfully tell my sister and I to lift something "like a man" or pull weeds "like a man." My response...."Do I look like a man?" Thank you Tina Fey and Alec Baldwin (who I'm told looks like my pops) for keeping my pinch of feminism alive.

yes please.

In honor of the sunny days ahead, I give you the summer wish list. Everything I will need for a successful summer...

scales no 3 original painting

blue chevron tea towel

hand printed bike pint glasses

 chalkboard U.S. map

bicycle wine rack

succulent garden

paperback.

What an awesome find! Out of Print pays tribute to classic novels through fashion. Even better, for each shirt sold one book is donated to Books for Africa. Check it.

How comfy does this sweatshirt look...almost as good as the book itself.

Out of Print.

pink flamingo.

I wish I could draw, paint, whatever...sadly I cannot. So instead I will lust over Pop Pop Portraits mad skillz. How fun and unique are these prints? One word came to mind as I was perusing her Etsy shop...whimsical. 

Pop Pop Portraits