A Monogram DIY

As a little one, our great grandmother gave us a gigantic container of vintage buttons. They were each so colorful and unique that we couldn't resist spilling them all out on the floor to sort and admire them. What we would give to have those buttons now!! Luckily we found this amazing button shop on Etsy for this super cute DIY from American Craft Studio. Wouldn't this be so cute for the bride and groom's initials at a vintage or rustic wedding? For this DIY, you'll need:

- Printer - Scissors - Cardstock - Pen or Pencil - Adhesive - Paper Piercer - Buttons!!! - Frame without glass or shadowbox

Get the detailed tutorial here... how cute is the final product?! Love it!

*Photos courtesy of Oritdotan on Etsy; American Craft Studio

Recycled Sails

There are few things better than setting sail on a nice breezy summer day. If you're outfitted with the stylin' boat shoes then you absolutely without a doubt need a saucy {but not over the top} tote bag to take along. Whether you're transporting goodies from home to the boat... or docking somewhere for a bite to eat, these Sea Bags, which are made of recycled sails are a must!

Don't you just love this look?!? So classy and chic, yet casual. Never before has recycling been so stinkin' fun!!!

*Photos courtesy of Sea Bags

Nantucket in the Summer

Nantucket is one place that we've always wanted to go, but it just hasn't happened yet. Excitingly, one of our favorite magazines has put together a giveaway for a Nantucket Girls get-away. Check out Bliss Celebrations Magazine {we mentioned their launch party a few months ago} and be sure to browse the online version of their mag.

To enter the contest, all you have to do is:

1. "Like" Bliss Celebrations on Facebook and follow them on Twitter

2. Sign up for their newsletter

And HERE are the details.... :) Be sure to enter by June 15th!

*Photos courtesy of Bliss Celebrations

Anchors away!

These flips from Lilly Pulitzer are making their way on our list of summer necessities. What a great way to keep with the nautical trend, but divert from stripes! They'd be perfect for a trip to the Cape and/or the Islands, and considering that Nantucket has been on our minds lately {check back tomorrow and you'll know why} they seem quite appropriate. ADORABLE, right??

*Photo courtesy of Lilly Pulitzer

Hittin' the beach

Beachwear is something we never really had the chance to master. Growing up in Washington & Colorado-- any opportunities to go to a beach were limited to the occasional family vacation. When we knew that a little vacay to Miami was in our future, it was high time to pull together some fun beach attire:

Hat: JCrew

Swimsuit: Anthropologie

Tory Burch Bag: Nordstrom

Roberto Cavelli Sunglasses: Bloomingdales

Clinique Sunscreen: Nordstrom

Upon arriving on Saturday we have been overwhelmed with the beauty of the coast. Now that the weekend is over, we'll be diving into some strategic planning for Paper Moss... what better way to tap into our creative outlets than to be relaxed and surrounded by God's creation? We hope you also had a lovely weekend-- get ready for a fabulous week!! Happy Monday!

*Photos courtesy of- JCrewAnthropologie, NordstromBloomingdalesNordstrom

The most important meal

The most important meal of the day... in the cutest way possible! People are constantly coming up with cute ways to display and present food and the mason jar method is so rustic and adorable!! Wouldn't this idea from Sprouted Kitchen be so cute for a weekend brunch with friends??

You'll need:

2 Cups Blueberries, plus extra for garnish

2 Cups Old Fashioned Oats 1 tsp. Cinnamon 1 tsp. Aluminum Free Baking Powder 1/2 tsp. Sea Salt

2 Cups Whole Milk 1 1/2 Tbsp. Melted Butter 1/3 – 1/2 Cup Maple Syrup 2 tsp. Vanilla Extract

1 Cup Toasted Chopped Almonds 1/4 Cup Turbinado Sugar

 

1. Preheat the oven to 375′. Divide the berries between six small mason jars. 2. Mix the oats, cinnamon, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Divide the dry mix between the jars, just layering on top of the blueberries, about 1/3 cup. 3. Mix the milk, butter, maple and vanilla together. Pour a scant 1/2 cup on top of the oats, letting it seep through to the bottom. Place all the jars in a baking dish, sprinkle a few fresh berries on top, and bake on the middle rack for about 30 minutes until the liquid is absorbed, tops are just browned but the oats are still moist.

The best part is that it is easy AND healthy! You have got to check out Sprouted Kitchen to see their other yummy ideas :)

Happy Friday!!

 

*Photos courtesy of Sprouted Kitchen

The Halsea Weekender

While packing for an upcoming vacation, we are realized that our roller suitcase would definitely cramp our style. Besides, for a few days at the beach, you don't need THAT much room, right?? Sadly, I'm the girl who can't go anywhere with less than 4 pairs of shoes... Anyway, this bag {currently on SALE, btw} is our incentive to pack an appropriate amount for our little getaway.

For the whole collection, check out the Halsea site! Happy Thursday!!!

*Photo courtesy of Endless

New summer rules

How can you NOT love these??! Sperry Top-Sider's are the perfect summer shoe... and they have inspired 2 very important summer rules that we must pass along. Rule #1: Always be prepared {just in case you end up on a sail boat, Sperry's are white soled and safe for not scuffing the finish. YAY!}

Rule #2: Never resist a metallic boating shoe {wise words from a dear friend}

*Photos courtesy of Atlantic-Pacific; Sperry Top-sider; We Heart It

Happy Memorial Day!

Happy Memorial Day!! We hope that you are doing something fun on this glorious day and savoring this day off of work. Don't get caught caught up in the cuteness of Red, White & Blue desserts...fabulous sales... festive decorations... or the delicious barbecue food, but remember WHY we are celebrating! Thank you, from the bottom of our hearts, to all those who have died in honor of our country. That being said, we couldn't resist sharing some of our favorite, festive desserts for the holiday!! Thank you to Cupcakes & Cashmere and Twig and Thistle for the fun, yummy ideas!

*Photos courtesy of Restored TruthCupcakes & Cashmere; Twig and Thistle; Pinterest

Baby shower etiquette

Remember all of those weddings you were in a couple years back? Well, if they haven't already popped one out, chances are that babies are in the near future. Hosting a baby shower is fun but if you don't have a child of your own, hosting your first shower might seem a little foreign. Here are a few basic tips for baby shower etiquette that you may not know:

Timing and Inviting

Showers are usually given four to six weeks before the baby's due date. Parents who receive gifts in advance of the birth have the advantage of knowing what additional items they'll need to buy or borrow.

Invitations are sent out three weeks before the shower. Gift information is never listed on the invitation itself, but it's fine to mention the nursery colors {or theme} or the gender of the baby. Traditionally, the host should be prepared to give gift suggestions and nowadays it's acceptable to include baby registry information on a separate enclosure.

Gifts

While registering for shower gifts at a store or online is practical and time-saving for the parents-to-be and guests alike, many people feel that a registry list robs a shower of its charm. Guests should always feel free to choose whatever gifts they think are best, and half the fun of giving and receiving presents is the element of surprise.

Thank you notes

Thank you notes should be written for baby shower gifts, and the wise expectant mother or father writes them as soon as possible. Even when the giver has been enthusiastically thanked in person and has told the new parent not to bother with a note, a note is still always appreciated, if not a must.

*Etiquette tips courtesy of Emily Post

*Photos courtesy of The Cake BlogLaura Ashbrook Photography; Real Simple; Etsy

The little lady

Once long ago, we had the duty of being a flower girl. Somehow it was not a pleasant experience... perhaps it was due to the hideous dress or the plastic flowers we carried down the aisle?? You know what we're talking about... did you have a similar experience? We are beyond thankful that there are so many adorable options for flower girls today thanks to companies like JcrewJanie and Jack and even Etsy. Don't get us wrong, we LOVE the tutus that we see in so many weddings, but here are some other options if you're not into that...

How great are these sun umbrellas?!

*Photos courtesy of Jcrew; Janie and Jack; Martha Stewart Weddings

{Re}Learning to tie your shoes.

Customizable shoes are the greatest- especially when you can switch them up to match different outfits, right? Mohop lets you choose the heel height, type of wood {finish}, ribbon {pretty, yet functional straps}... and from there, the possibilities are endless. To give you an idea, Mohop gives you 8 ways of "tying your shoes" as a starting point. Don't be fooled by thinking that wearing wood shoes would hurt your tootsies either- these are said to be super comfortable!

 

*Photo courtesy of Mohop

Monday muffins

Sometimes we think of our food in terms of Pantone chips. Yes, it sounds a little crazy- but we prefer to think of it as "quirky" or "endearing" which sounds way less threatening than "crazy". Case and point:

Emily made us delicious Gluten Free Blueberry muffins for our Monday morning meeting, so I couldn't resist running with the inspiration... and if you're in the Gluten Free Club {or know someone who is} check out the yummy recipe below!

Now if you're sufficiently inspired to get some blueberries, here is that delicious recipe from Dinner with Julie...

 

 

10 Tbsp. butter, softened 1 cup sugar grated zest of a lemon 2 large eggs 3 cups gluten-free flour blend (or 1 cup sweet white sorghum flour, 1 cup white rice flour and 1 cup tapioca flour) 1 ½ tsp. baking powder ½ tsp. baking soda ½ tsp. salt 1 ½ cups plain yogurt 1 cup fresh or frozen (don’t thaw them) blueberries, raspberries, Saskatoon berries, blackberries.. or diced peaches, pears, apples, whatever you have that you want in your muffin

Sugar, for sprinkling

Preheat the oven to 375F.

In a large bowl, cream the butter, sugar and lemon zest together with a spatula. (If you beat the mixture for awhile with an electric mixer, the muffins will not rise – stick to doing it by hand.) Add the eggs one at a time, mixing after each.

Add a cup of the flour along with the baking powder, soda and salt, and mix well. Add half the yogurt and stir until combined, then another third of the flour, the rest of the yogurt and the rest of the flour. Stir in the berries, or whatever fruit you want to use.

Divide the batter among muffin tins that have been lined with paper liners or sprayed with nonstick spray, filling them. (You’ll get about 18-20 muffins.) Sprinkle the tops with sugar and bake for 25-30 minutes, until golden and springy to the touch.

Makes about 1 1/2 dozen muffins.

 

*Photos clockwise from top: fffound; Atlantic-Pacific; Sweet Lulu; The Dieline; Yahoo Sports; Dinner with Julie

A nautical chandelier

Nothing reminds me of summer like the beach. Since I can't be at the beach right now, I figured bringing a little beachy-inspiration home might help in the meantime.

And this... is our weekend project, thanks to Design*Sponge. Isn't it fabulous to know that you can Do It Yourself??? Haha, but seriously, look at how easy it {hopefully} is...

Supplies:

- hanging planter basket - white spray paint - ribbon - scissors - 1-2 rolls wax paper - 2 big pieces of parchment paper -  iron - hot glue gun & glue sticks - circle cutter (i didn’t have any luck with a “punch”) - cutting mat

 

For directions on "how to", visit Design*Sponge and be sure to take some time to poke around on their site. There is much to adore!

I hope my chandelier looks as lovely as this one!!

 

*Photos courtesy of Daniel Sinner & Design*Sponge

Easing into Rocker Chic

Apparently Rocker Chic is an upcoming trend for this Spring. Incorporating zippers is a great place to start if you're not ready to go full force with a lot of metal. This Rebecca Minkoff Crossbody Bag is super cute and it has the zippers to keep up with the trend without being too over the top. As an added bonus, you can detach the strap to convert the bag to  saucy little clutch. What a great pop of color, right?

*Purse photo courtesy of Bloomingdales

*Ferragamo scarf photo courtesy of Bluefly

*Belt photo courtesy of ASOS

A 1920's Vintage Chic Wedding

Melissa and Jason tied the knot last spring- it's hard to believe it has already been a year! We adored their vintage chic invitation suite and wanted to rekindle the magic of their special day by compiling this inspiration board. Picture it: a 1920's inspired affair- complete with a stunning gown, crystal chandeliers, music and mint juleps on a warm spring afternoon. Sounds like a little piece of heaven, right?

Photos clockwise from top Paper Moss; Oh How Charming; Weddings On the French RivieraPaper MossPaper Moss; Ritzy Bee100 Layer Cake

 

Playing in the Rain

Unfortunately April Showers didn't bring our May Flowers, but instead decided to stick around a little longer. This is getting old. Luckily our beloved JCrew saved our sanity with these adorable rain shoes. Hide those Hunter Boots and make room in your closet for those spring and summer shoes. undefined

Now between the bouts of spring rain and the peeking sunshine, you won't have to run for cover. Umbrellas are still advised. :)

*Photos courtesy of JCrew

Pretty Pink

Pink. Some love it, some hate it. Right now, we are loving the color- can't get enough, in fact. Besides being cheerful, it is said to increase energy and encourage action and confidence. Why does that not come as a surprise when we think of our beloved friends who have obsessed over this color for years... they are some of the most energetic and positive people!

Be sure to check out the last {adorable} photo for a DIY!

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This last photo is a DIY from the Inspired Bride.... just in case you want to add some more pink in your life!!

 

Happy Monday!

Prelude to a wonderful weekend

Today is one of the first days in {what seems like} a long time that it actually looks like spring in New England. THANK HEAVENS! We are basically weeping with joy to see blue sky and have the sun on our shoulders. It's a great reminder that picnic season is approaching! This is sitting on our "Want It, Need It" list for the season...

French Bull }

Hopefully wherever you are, you're seeing some sun on this fabulous Friday... and maybe your picnic season has already arrived!