the bucket list.

i briefly mentioned yesterday that at the turn of the year i was not ready to fully embrace the twenty-ten with open arms and that an explanation was to come…

in short, i think the stress of not having a new years resolution and no goals for the next 365 days of my life was too a bit too much for me and i could not be excited. i thought about it… talked about it… worried about it… complained about it (thanks for always listening, camille!)… asked around… and finally! i decided instead of a resolution for one year i am going to do a bucket list!

the plan is to fine the perfect journal, notebook, sketchbook (no pressure for someone that loves paper, huh?) and start tracking my ‘things to do before i kick the bucket’. one page per day, scrapbook style. magazine cut outs, receipts, colors, boarding passes, &ca.

now the hardest part… the perfect journal. here are a few i have scoped out but i am not sure if it is love yet.

a letterpress covered sketchbook with a variety of papers inside from ilfant.

a beautifully classic leather journal from kate’s paperie.

perhaps something even more simple & minimalistic like moleskine or an oversized leuchtturm 1917.

(i think the trend is that i am gravitating toward simple.)

this plain paged notebook with an extra folder in the front could be the perfect storage for all my life’s bucket list keepsakes.

a hand stitched notebook from papermodeHome that reminds me of my childhood, a la the spirograph. bonus: it would come to me all the way from paris!

there are so many to choose from and the possibilities almost feel endless! if you stumble upon a notebook in your journeys that calls ‘bucket list’ to you, either in the store or on the internet, please pass this information along.

thank you!

hello twenty-ten.

this is a bit belated but i am finally ready to welcome twenty-ten with open arms! for one reason or another (of which i have not quite pinpointed but will share with you in the upcoming days) i was not ready to fully embrace a new year.

but that is another topic for another day. today i would like to share a few of the many beautiful calendars that have been created for the first year of the new decade! how could you possibly pick just one?

an apple a day by vikdesign. (okay, i know i said how could you pick just one but this one will actually be on its way to our little home shortly.)

the smallest village at anthropologie. the sides of the homes have the calendar on them. too cute!

these two by kirtland house are cute desktop calendars with simple images of his & hers favorites.

the poseidon calendar from lizard press, though i’m not quite sure if it is my style yet or not, is a beautiful work of letterpress art.

i hope you all enjoy the new year! only five days in and so far so good.

all the best.

hbd, camille!

happy birthday to my dear, dear friend camille.

here is a birthday cake & candles (compliments of pancake & franks) for your big 25!

winter wonderland!

i am truly looking forward to the first christmas i spend in my first home — figuring out which corner is the best for the tree, how to hang the lights outside, where to place the advent calendar. starting all the new traditions in a new home!

then, after decorating, i look forward to sending invitations to all of my dear friends & family for a wonderful holiday celebration. there are so many cute ideas!

this stitched invitation from maida vale is my current inspiration for a future party…

back to bloggin’

after much too long away from my blog, i hope to return for good. i take one class at the local community college and all the sudden i seem to be too busy for much of anything outside of work & school! a few months later (and hopefully an A+), i am back to share the joys of paper with you!

that said, today is about recipes…

have you ever received one of those recipe sharing emails, a la ‘please send your favorite recipe to the name at the top, add yours, and forward’? now imagine something similar but via snail mail with the cutest & most beautiful recipe cards you have seen!

the petite press has several perfectly personalized recipe cards.

another cute card from dingbat press…

lastly, i wasn’t able to find this one on the designer’s website but the cards by brown parcel post were discovered through design*sponge. they are perfect for a postal service assisted recipe exchange!

now i’m ready to share some of my new favorites! martha stewart’s mint chocolate brownies & peanut butter and jam thumbprints. peppermint bark. red, white & blue trifle.

today & yesterday.

as promised, here are all the things i’ve loved over my time away from this & that.

states united by beauchamping.

a simple pledge by lure design inc.

i am quickly becoming a HUGE fan of the black & white. so elegant & beautiful! these are from a real wedding on 100layercake.

i love everything about this inspiration board from the inspired bride — the invitations, the colors, the place setting, the grey suit!

i will always be a sucker for the birds… there are more pictures of the paper suite at oh so beautiful paper.

how could you not be happy on your birthday if you received this beautiful gem by wiley valentine (and found on oh so beautiful paper)?

okay, i’ll end today with a series of adorable cards found on parcel post.

composition notebook cards, with subject lines.

airmail cards.

vintage book cards.

polaroid note cards.

index card thank yous.

simple cards with 'inner office mail'-esque envelopes.

bridesmaid to be.

i have been m.i.a for far longer than i could have ever imagined and i have big dreams for a ‘while i was out’ blog of all the great things i’ve missed.

in the mean time, much later than planned but with no less joy and excitement, i am happy to announce that my friend dahnya has asked me to be a bridesmaid in her wedding next summer!

i am thrilled!

(i am having quite a bit of trouble uploading a picture in the right direction and not rotated. i know it sounds simple but i can’t get it to work. i will share pictures as soon as i am able.)

she asked over the sweetest cupcake from sugarbabies and anyone knows the quickest way to my heart is with a little sweet treat!

it will be so much fun planning showers and parties for the blushing bride!

(and now i (kind of) have a (little) reason to look at all the stationary and invitations and wedding sites…)

paper & plastic.

i’m looking to replace my recycled plastic sacks & paper bags from the local kroger and yankee candle with a real (almost) adult lunch box. here’s the one i’m currently looking at by RickRackQueen on etsy.com:

and instead of all those wasted sandwich bags, this snack bag from MojaCreations on etsy.com would be a great replacement:

okay, this one doesn’t have anything to do with the theme i was going with but i ran across it and couldn’t keep it to myself. they have lemons lining the aisle at their outdoor wedding… so brilliant! i found this one on oncewed.com.

(camille, this one’s for you! from parcelpost.com)

house inside & out.

it’s been a while but in my absence i’ve gathered a few house decorating ideas i like.

for some reason i’m really drawn to this outdoor table by lab31 (found on design*sponge).

the point of this picture is the before and after of the headboard, but i really like the pillows. i’m not sure if i’d put them in my home but i enjoy them (and that they match the dog!). this before & after was found on design*sponge.

i love the colors of the following rooms found on design*sponge. their so bold and subdued all at the same time…

i love this piece of art from rockett st george, both because of its aesthetic appeal and because my mom used to sing this song to me when i was little.

of course, leave it to anthropologie to have the best wallpaper too…

(sorry they’re so small!)

personality trees & saving dates.

for anyone that knows me, you know i love anything random that gives insight (whether there’s any truth to it or not) about your personality, i.e. astrology, personality quizzes, and now personality trees…

this personality tree from martha stewart weddings is from the celtic version of astrology stating something about you based on ‘what tree you fell from’. i love this!

i found a few really cute ideas for save the dates, too. thanks martha!

tie a ribbon to remember!

you could easily have postcards as the theme.

cross country love (at oh so beautiful paper). she’s from ohio, he’s from florida… all the details are on the back.

also, a random guest book idea… could you have guests sign a birthday calendar? i’ve always wanted to have the birthdays of my family and friends but i’m not sure that would be the appropriate way to get them.