Stop and Smell the Roses: Week 12, Vol. 8

I heart Wednesdays! It's fun to really check in with everyone and makes me smile knowing that we have a wonderful group of bloggers stopping to take in the little things, too. Thank you, Mandy, for starting something fantastic!

My morning started out with a great workout and a ton of productivity. Thank goodness because I quickly got sidetracked when my little sister texted me letting me know that Chris Harrison was co-hosting with Kelly Ripa this morning. Chris Harrison on my television set on a non-Monday!? Yes, please! Natalie also told me to listen to this (yes, that link is me telling you to listen to it, too!), and I've been dancing in my living room for a bit. Really. It's an instant mood boost. I suggest you do the same. 

I'm loving all kinds of random happies this week.

Items in this post:

Return address stamp from Expressionery 

Essie quick-dry top coat, Good to Go!

Cooking Light

 Atom Art Serving Bowls (Anthropologie kitchen pretties)

I hope all of you are taking time out of your day to smile about the little things. Are you inspired to link up with us yet? Check out Mandy's blog, House of Rose, for all of the details and join the fun.

Also? Please find some time today to turn up some music and go dance in your living room. Do it.

Stop and Smell the Roses: Week 9, Vol. 6

Skipping to the mailbox is one of my favorite moments of the day. A good mail day usually consists of a new J.Crew Catalog or Anthropologie, an Ulta flyer with a coupon to further fuel my lipstick hoarding, and the newest issue of Southern Living or Cooking Light. Throw in a save the date and I'm all smiles. That's a good mail day. But a GREAT mailday? Those days could be nothing but junk mail and amidst the junk is a single envelope with a handwritten note inside. Those mail gems simply are the best!

Supplies mentioned in this video that I keep on hand for homemade stationery:

blank notecards (found at Hobby Lobby, Michael's)

scrapbook paper in fun patterns and colors

acid-free gluestick

stamps

stamp pads and markers

envelope liner stencil (made with a manilla envelope)

I'm a total pen snob. Here are my favorites for both note writing and everyday:

Uniball Vision Elite (MY VERY FAVORITE...the multi-color pack, of course!)

Sharpie Pen fine point

Pilot G2 Retractable

Send someone snail mail love this week and let them know that you are thinking about them! When it comes to random acts of love and kindness, it really doesn't get a whole lot better than that.

If there is something you're smiling about this week, film a vlog and link up with us! You can find all of the details on Mandy's blog, House of Rose, HERE.

Remember to take in the little things and find an extra reason to smile each and every day. Be positive, spread the love and always CHOOSE JOY.

P.S. "Nothing says I love you like lined envelopes". xoxo

Stop and Smell the Roses: Week 8, Vol. 5

It's time to Stop and Smell the Roses again. Now, a show of hands...how many of you spent at least 30 minutes last week with avocado and olive oil lathered all up on your lovely locks!? As Mark and I enjoyed our homemade pizza on Friday night, my Twitter was lighting up like a Christmas tree from all you girls and your avocado + olive oil dates. I hope that as a result, you all have soft, silky, smooth Princess hair that you just can't keep your hands off of this week!

I am happy to say that I did my video this week in ONE TAKE. I gathered some patience and even played around with more edits in iMovie. Mandy filmed a great tutorial that I found very helpful. I'm a visual learner and it was much better than sitting here with my head in a tizzy trying to figure it out for myself.

This week is about a LOT of hot pink, years of searching for the perfect chapstick finally coming to an end, and conquering a new skill...all while not being able to put a book down.

Items mentioned in my vlog:

For HOT PINK lips...Revlon Super Lustrous Lipstick in Wild Orchid

The perfect chapstick... EOS Sweet Mint Organic Lip Balm Sphere

happy summer nails... Essie Peach Daiquiri

a book that I cannot put down... Bloom, by Kelle Hampton

If you're having a chevron moment like me, and if you're inspired to sew something, too, I found some similar fabric and it can be purchased HERE.

As I said in my vlog, I am completely moved by Kelle's story. The words are perfectly woven together, the emotions are raw and I'm finding myself limiting my time reading each day because I'm just not ready for it to be over yet. I'm not going to say anything else other than PLEASE READ THIS BOOK. If you are not familiar with Kelle's blog, Enjoying the Small Things, I urge you to check it out! (thank you Danica for yet another GEM!)

Link up with Mandy at House of Rose and share your weekly happies!

Find the little things in your days and then take time to smile about them. Wishing you all a happy day!

Stop and Smell the Roses: Volume 4

I cannot even take myself seriously in my video this week but hey, this is ME. I get excited about the the little things and according to Mark, that's a good thing.
I'm the oldest of three girls and my dad is most definitely a "minority in the sorority". I cannot even begin to count the times our dinner conversations revolve around one thing: HAIR. "It's all about the hair" my dad always says and well, sometimes that's true. He likes to harass us about the hours we collectively spend, each week, just on our hair. I wish I had some of these conversations recorded.
I'm a hair product hoarder and will try any new product that I see or hear about. I'm so non committal when it comes to shampoo and conditioner. I barely get through half of a bottle before I'm itching to try something new. Read: this drives Mark CRAZY. On a positive note, our house guests always have a huge variety of shampoos and conditioners to choose from since the guest bathroom seems to be the lucky spot to hide all of my unwanteds.
Last week, AP let me in on a little hair secret. We share a mutual love for avocado and, well, I'm singing the praises of the avocado even louder than before. Thank you, AP for changing my (hair) life.

Speaking of my sisters, they tell me when I wear this ruffled shirt that I look like I have an animal around my neck. I now see what they are talking about.
Are you smiling about something this week? Stop and Smell the Roses, film a 2-3 minute video, and link up with us! Check out House of Rose for more details.
*I forgot to mention this in the video but after rinsing out the avocado + olive oil mask, shampoo and condition then style as you normally would. Also, if you don't have a shower cap, you can use tin foil to wrap your hair up while you wait.

Stop and Smell the Roses: Volume 2

Well, this vlogging thing is kind of fun and I'm back again this week for Stop and Smell the Roses, hosted by Mandy over at House of Rose! I decided to film on my couch, just so that I could be more comfy, and realized midway through that my shirt matches my yellow medallion gallery! Totally unplanned, but I would also be lying if I didn't like the matchy matchy-ness going on in this video. At least yellow is a happy, sunshiney color!

Last week was such a wonderful week! I celebrated my 27th birthday on Friday and Mark totally blew me away with a surprise weekend getaway. He sure does know how to make my heart all swoopy swirly inside.

Our whirlwind weekend was a self guided food tour and we savored every bite. We enjoyed a delicious Spanish/Caribbean dinner on Friday night at Carnivale and found our way to a tiny Italian bistro near our hotel for Caramel Ricotta Cheesecake and Amaretto coffee to end. Saturday, we enjoyed our time in the city and spent much of our Saturday afternoon sipping Italian beers and tasting small plates at one of our very favorite spots, The Purple Pig. We fell in love with this place during our anniversary weekend in September and as fate would have it, we parked our little behinds at the same spot at the bar right in front of the open kitchen! We love watching the chefs work their magic and we even got a few extra treats sent our way. I didn't want my birthday weekend to come to an end. Thank you, Mark, for making me the happiest girl in the world!

I hope you all are having a wonderful week. Don't forget to stop, smell the roses, and find something to be thankful for each and every day!