Friday Favorites

1. he said autumn was his favorite season by AliciaBock
2. Cherry Clafoutis from plait
3. Souls amulet by cindyhoo
4. Red Sky from NandaHandcraft

Hello, hello! I'm back from my mini-hiatus, and golly did I miss you guys! I'm looking forward to a proper catch-up on all of your blogs.

This year Andrew decided to go all-out and buy a full-fledged Halloween costume for this weekends festivities. After a bit of research he landed on a fantastic monks robe--perfect for a wizened saint. I, on the other-hand, didn't thrill at the idea of buying a whole outfit for one day, so I decided to simply buy a witches hat and dress all in black. Last week, suffering from a feisty mood, I mentioned to Andrew that he probably won't have to "powder" his hair for the old monk's look. He just looked at me and said "you won't need the hat!"

I wish you all a lovely weekend, however you celebrate the holiday. I hope it's fun and magical!

Hiatus

Hello everyone! I'm taking a little blog hiatus this week. I will be back for my Friday Favorites, but till then it'll be quiet. But, before I scoot I wanted to share two things that have made me REALLY happy lately: One, my blind date with the charming, beautiful and talented Vana from Le Papier this past weekend! It was wonderful--meeting blogger friends in person has got to be one of the most exciting parts of this blogworld! She gave me one of her new 2009 Calendars (something I've been drooling over since she put them in her shop a few weeks ago)! Thank you so much, Vana! I can't wait to meet up again for coffee! Two, Suzanne from S.HOPtalk did an interview with me that went live last Friday. She came up with the greatest idea: get to know an artist/blogger through his/her tour of the city they live. Thank you so much, Suzanne, you did such an excellent job and I'm honored!

If I had a tail, I'd be wagging it :)

Friday Favorites

one: plonkas envelope clutch from dalinda
two: drenched silhouettes from JacquleenBleu
three: birds sleeping on powerline cup from baileydoesntbark
four: small pebble earrings from lesthings

This small collection of Etsy favorites seemed to fit my mood and the weather this morning. Soft, comfy with splashes of lightness. It's raining, but not dreary. I'm happy, but not hugely engaged. On the way into work I thought up five things that are ideal for rainy mornings: hot lattes, slippers and cozy fleece socks, Godsford Park, and hours of doing nothing. I have this funny feeling it's going to be a post full of lists! Here are five things I'm planning on doing this weekend: blind date with a delightful blogger friend, sew half a dozen books together for upcoming art show, go to godchild's confirmation, visit Original pancake house, go see The Duchess. Five places I would rather be right now: Scotland, Petoskey, Portsmouth, Duluth, home. Five things Andrew will be doing this weekend: school work, school work, school work, school work, going to see The Duchess with me *evil laugh*

Okay, now it's your turn! Five things of your choice! Tell me! :)

Almost done

I'm out of the office, but sneaking a moment to share these with you! These beautiful images are from Domino magazine and Etsy.

1. Marble magnets

2. Raven necklace

I'll be back tomorrow with my Friday Favorites! In the mean time, hope you guys are having a stellar Thursday. All I can think is "we're almost done!" I've a steadily growing list of low-key, yet creative, things to do this weekend, I'm so excited!

Sunrise

Walking to my car this morning I was struck by the intensity of the sunrise. Peaking with bright pinks and oranges, the clouds rippled with neon colors. I just stopped in the middle of the parking lot and watched it spread across the sky. Most days I forget to look. There are weeks I don't even notice. Incredible. Well, this morning I did look, I did notice, and I'm sure I'll be carrying those colors with me the rest of the day, rippling through my afternoon.

By the way, Rachel over at dwellings and decor posted on decorating with the color yellow/gold yesterday, fabulous post. She had so many yummy images, I had to go exploring. I found the photographer Michael Grimm particularly enjoyable and wanted to share with you!

Apple Sauce Tradition

The weekend's apple sauce making adventure was a complete and utter success! With over 40 pounds of MacIntosh apples (actually really nice "seconds"), four sets of arms, one antique apple sauce thing-a-ma-jig, and Christmas music *gasp* we made over 20 quarts of pink apple sauce in one afternoon. We've decided that is going to be an annual tradition. One of my sisters is a pastry chef, or once was (but you never really stop being a chef), and spent the afternoon making buttery flaky pie crusts for the Dutch Apple Pies. I think she made 6-7 pies for all of us to share and take home with us! Hip, hip hurray! I took quite a few pictures, but they're all on my sister's camera, so once she shares them with me, I'll share them with you.

I had so much fun this weekend that I promptly succumbed to an intestinal flu virus on Monday and stayed home sick. Phuey! Sorry for the absence yesterday. I'm back up and at 'em this morning, thank goodness. Andrew stayed home with me, the ideal nurse! I drank coke, ate saltines and watched movies till I could sit up. I'm eager to get back into the groove this week. I need to come say hello! By the way, these images are from Country Home. They were full of some of my favorite things, so I had to share.

Chat with you soon~

Friday Favorites

one: i think it's time from whileshenaps
two: algae yarn from larimeloom
three: garry street necklace from paperandglue
four: hip pocket from jennyndesign

It's Friday and I'm itching to bugger out for the weekend! I get to head home for some serious apple sauce making with my mom and sisters. It'll be a proper Goozen girl weekend! I don't remember the last time such an event happened, usually we're towing our boys :) I'll try and remember to take a few photos.

So, my good friend Fiona just tagged me yesterday (THANK YOU heaps, darling, I appreciate you and your creativity so much). And she pioneered her contrary version of this diddy on her blog, so I'm going to do my own version in the spirit of her contrary style (it's just a wee bit shorter).

You can only answer in one word

1. Your cell phone? Dying
2. Where is your significant other? Showering
4. Your mother? Kind
5. Your father? Geek
6. Your favourite thing? Coziness
7. Your dream last night? Crayons
8. Your dream/goal? Awareness (stole from Fiona)
11. Your fear? Fear
12. Where do you want to be in 6 years? Pregnant
13. Where were you last night? Downtown
18. What are you wearing? Boots
19. Your TV? Unplugged
22. Your mood? Interested
23. Missing someone? Will be (cheating)
24. Your car? Clunking
25. Something you're not wearing? Attitude
27. Your summer? Gone-too-fast
28. Love someone? Yah-huh
29. Your favorite color? Red
30. When is the last time you laughed? Yesterday
31. Last time you cried? Wednesday

I'm not going to tag anyone else, but, just for hoots and giggles, if you wanted to write your own version of the list I would LOVE to read it :) There are so many of you that I've had the priviledge of getting to know. You inspire me with your insight, your beauty and your character! Thank you (you know who you are)! By the way, thank you for all of you who let me in on what personality type you were! I love knowing about these things. I'm a INFJ through and through!

Have a wonderful weekend, sending you heaps of love!

XOXO

Entertaining

I feel like I've spent more time out of the office than in it this week. Traveling, running errands, doing photo stuff. Not that I'm complaining, I really enjoy the change of scenery. But, selfishly, all this time out of the office puts a dent in my blogging time. Bad Julia, bad. Anyways, next week will be better!

If you're interested and have a few extra minutes, here's a personality test that is hugely entertaining and often times spot on!

Images from Dustan Knight

Stuffiness

I didn't want to get out of bed this morning. A soft rain was pattering outside my window, a chilly air blowing into the room, and me under two or three cozy blankets. For some strange reason my allergies are hitting me hard right now, so I'm in a perpetual state of stuffiness. I have this huskiness to my voice that I like, but the drip, drip, drip isn't the greatest. I don't feel "bad" per se, but it takes so much energy to be "fine." If that makes sense. I thought these images from Pottery Barn, coupled with cozy little items from Etsy, were ideal for a day like today. I want nothing more than to sit, curled up on my couch, drinking copious amounts of tea, reading a book!

1. soft merino bracelet from easternsky
2. felt acorns from auxpetitsoiseaux
3. brown bird branch pillow from norajane

Monday sunshine

Sending you warm sunshine this Monday morning! I hope you guys had a wonderful weekend--tell me about it if you have a moment or two, I would love to hear. These are images from Ellen McDermott. I thought you'd like her use of color!

XOXO

Friday Favorites

Happy Friday everyone! My blisters are quickly recovering, thank goodness, and I got a full night's sleep, also thank goodness (the squeaky noises went away). A few days ago Callie tagged me. I have to come up with 5 favorite things about Wisconsin: 1. the cheese (yeah, it's true, what they say about Wisconsin and their cheese, it's like freakin' awesome) 2. Madison (it's a strange phenomenon amidst rural farming country) 3. Lake Michigan (it's to the east of Wisconsin--for those geographically challenged) 4. Four seasons (I'm such a northern chick, I love my seasons) 5. the beer (see number 1.) There ya go! I won't tag anyone else, as it's Friday and there's a weekend upon us, and strenuous thinking over the weekend just won't do. I hope you all have a marvelous two days of rest and rejuvination.

one: turtle by mothandsquirrel
two: felted scarf collar from Rudman
three: stacking bowls by mollyhatch
four: crow - October series from hadleyhutton

Few Things

So, I learned a few things yesterday:

1. I can walk exactly one mile in my black boots before I develop blisters in four different parts of my feet (discovered while walking three miles last night).
2. Drinking coffee two hours before going to bed does not exempt me from the caffeine kick six hours later (discovered while sitting up in bed, wide awake, massaging lavender foot lotion on my sore feet at 3 in the morning).
3. I make funny squeaky noises in the morning after getting little sleep the night before, like a squeegee on a window. And no, coffee doesn't help.

By the way, check out that huge copper bath tub in the pictures above! Oh how I would love to fill it with steaming hot water and bubble bath and lounge in there all morning.

Images from Paul Costello.

Amy Butler

When I say brilliant colored patterned material do you think Amy Butler too? To me, Amy Butler's knack for combining vintage designs with bright luscious colors is genius. Granted I can't sew. Have had nothing but disastrous experiences with the sewing machine and seam ripper. But, that doesn't keep me from buying material, cutting out patterns, and dreaming of a bed full of Amy Butler pillows, and a closet full of Amy Butler bags, aprons, and yoga pants!

These images are of Amy's studio and products! Divine, aren't they?

For Skwirt

This post is for my baby sister who's little one is on its way! I wish I lived closer so I could take you out for a de-caffeinated Pumpkin Spice latte and flip through all the glossy baby magazines at Barnes and Noble. But, I comfort myself with the knowledge that I'll see you soon! XOXO

1. Elephant from tinywarbler
2. Belle hugs Boo print from belleandboo
3. Mary Janes from GraciousMay

Bedroom images were found here.

Monday moments

"If you surrender completely to the moments as they pass, you live more richly those moments."

These images all speak to me differently this morning. Each duo has an essence I enjoy and crave. The quote above is from Anne Morrow Lindbergh, a very courageous, wise woman. Her words make me pause. I rush through my Mondays with such speed and determination and often with a touch of resentfulness (how dare my weekends be so short :), I rarely take a moment to enjoy the moment. Funny thought. Which image do you find yourself drawn to today?

By the way, the wedding was a hoot :) They did an excellent job with all the clever, brightly colored details and I danced my little heart out! Amazing what a good dose of dancing can do for the soul!

Images from Rachel Whiting.

Friday Favorites

Sorry for the late post! I've been on the road, heading to a wedding in Minnesota. Oh yaah, don't ya know (think Fargo, but in the fall).

Anyways, I have the results of my Red Otter give-away: Paper Schmaper and tiny red! Hurray :) I'll be emailing you two lovely ladies to sort out the details. Thank you to everyone who participated, I had so much fun and promise to do another one soon!

1. tic-toc from blissfulimages
2. I feel pretty hat from frostingcouture
3. red flower earrings from foundling
4. in a row from blissfulimages

Now, I don't think I've ever posted two things from one shop on my Friday Favorites, but how could I not? It's Mrs. French's artwork :) Blissful images indeed!

I hope you all have a terrific weekend, I'll see you on Monday!

Tea

Tis the season for delicious, steaming cups of tea. Granted, I hardly think there's a season I don't have my morning cuppa, but, that's besides the point. Tea during the chilly mornings and afternoons of autumn seems as comforting as pumpkin pie at Thanksgiving, or sugar cookies at Christmas. Although I enjoy my herbal and green teas, black tea is my favorite. Twinings Lady Grey, Celestial Seasons India Chai and Tazo's English Breakfast, all seasoned with a teaspoon of dark honey and milk! Anyone have any favorites? Or if you're not a tea drinker, do you have any hot drink proclivities in the fall?

Another quick reminder: don't forget to enter the Red Otter GIVE-AWAY!

Images from Janne Peters enchanting collection, found here!

Bliss

I have another yummy photographer for you! Chris Chen creates a soft portfolio of beauteous interior images. I thought the one with the fire place looks particularly inviting this morning. I love the idea of curling up in front of a fire place, drawing a blanket across my lap, stirring the honey into my cup of chai tea and finishing my book on Robin Hood! That, my dears, would be bliss!

You guys have been so supportive, thank you :) It's good to know that my "limbo-ness" made sense. Also, for anyone who missed it, don't forget to check out the Give-Away I'm having!