** Happiness Is...**

Making Save-The-Dates

My weekend is fully devoted to finishing up our DIY save-the-dates. It became a much bigger project than originally intended, but isn't that always the case? We're trying to get them out by the end of the month. That's only 4 more days, eek! My subpar Photoshop skills and perfectionist tendencies have slowed us down, but with a finish line in sight, the excitement of completion is propelling me forward. I cannot wait to send them out. And then share them with you!

Have a stellar weekend, sweeties. Please enjoy the links...

Wrap yourself up in a soft map.

Famous paintings improved by fat cats.

Would you ever chalk your hair?

Give your honey some fruit for V-day.

Rest your head on a pile of books.

Cool crayon carvings.

Make your own heart-shaped seed bombs.

Have you ever gone winter camping?

Barbie, the ultimate muse.

Vintage suitcase planters.

And some posts of mine you may have missed...

• An Elaborate Sand Written Proposal
• Roller Girls
• A Home Office Treehouse 

{Image by Eat Pray Create}

A Little Town At Night

At first, I thought these were candles. But they're simply black and white photographs of old houses, curled up into cylinders. A battery operated tea light is set inside, casting a warm glow through the cut out windows. Placed together, they look like a little town at night. Miss Claire is one crafty gal.


{Images via Fellow Fellow}

One City, Five Hours

Ah, layovers. I don't usually leave the airport when I'm stuck in a random city, but if you're feeling adventurous, here's a handy set of sketchbook maps that Oliver Jeffers draws for One City, Five Hours, a series in United Airlines' in-flight magazine. He claims they're "all geographically accurate", hee hee.

Seattle's map looks pretty good, although I honestly can't imagine tourning Pioneer Square, Showbox at the Market, the original Starbucks, the Elliott Bay Bookstore, Quinns Pub, Velouria, Palace Kitchen, the Experience Music Project, and the Space Needle, phew, in only 5 hours! 


{Images via Hemispheres Magazine by Oliver Jeffers}

DIY - Paper Clip Letters & Shapes

Man, I really want to make these paper clips, aka "shaper clips", for our DIY wedding invitations, but alas, we are inviting more than 10 guests. I can't possibly imagine whipping them out in large quantities... unless I had an assembly line of little elves.

But wouldn't they be perfect for smaller projects? All you need is jewelry wire and a pair of needle nose craft pliers. Check out Chelsea's full tutorial.


{Images via The Sweetest Occasion by Lovely Indeed}

Cortana Wedding Gowns

It's a good thing these heavenly Cortana wedding gowns are only available in Spain, or else I'd be forced to rob a bank to buy one.

And to be honest, I already have my dress! Well, not in my possession, but it's being made. Hal's mother kindly agreed to help and offered the services of her special seamstress in LA who has access to high quality fabrics. I sent her my measurements and inspiration photos and now I'm patiently awaiting a mock up to try on. It's a little nerve-wracking, being so far away from the action. But I found a local seamstress here who will do the final fittings. For the amount of money I'm saving, it's absolutely worth it. Crossing my fingers that it all works out!


{Images via Simple Blueprint}

Mini Canvas Paintings

I seem to be on a miniature kick as of late. Aren't Caroline's 3" x 3" canvas acrylic paintings darling? They even come with a tiny wooden easel!


{Images via Papernstitch by Oh Chalet}

Photographic Fashion

I used to have an ocean landscape printed bathing suit. Where did that thing go? Maybe I still have it, but it's probably in storage since my bikinis rarely see the light of day now that I'm in Washington. I always loved it and I'm excited to see the trend popping up in every day clothing. These are from the latest Marios collection. Would you wear photographic fashion?


{Images via Design for Mankind by Kuba Dabrowski}

Chocolate Menus

We're having difficulties selecting a menu for our summer wedding. I consider myself a foodie, so it's a big decision. Should we pick...

(a) a well-reviewed local company with typical wedding food and an annoyingly hyper contact person;

(b) a younger sort-of-local company with slightly more original but still typical wedding food and a nice contact person; 

(c) a popular not-as-local company with organic/sustainable gourmet comfort food cooked in an Airstream and a harder-to-reach contact person; or

(d) Domino's Pizza? Kidding, but almost not.

It's all a little daunting. But once we figure it out, maybe we'll wow our guests with a chocolate menu that triples as a favor and a dessert. Brilliant, right? Maybe just brilliant enough to make people forget they ate Domino's pizza for dinner.

{Images via Jolie Jolie Design by Delysia Chocolatier}

Carousels In The Round

Photographer, Pep Ventosa, has this playful series, In The Round, where he walks around carousels taking multiple shots, then blending the images together in post production. The effect is beautiful, don't you think? They look like watercolor paintings.


{Images via Lumas}

January Poppies

I know we're in the middle of January, but let's pretend it's May for a moment and brighten things up with some poppies and sunshine!


{Images by Dittei Sager}

Turning 70

When I turn 70, I hope I'm hip enough to have such awesome birthday save-the-dates. Or at least have a child or grandchild hip enough to send them out for me! Leslie designed them for a 1960's Mad Men themed shindig. Wouldn't you like to meet this Gary fellow?


{Images via Oh So Beautiful Paper by Lilly & Louise}

Geronimo Valentine's Day Balloons

What girl wouldn't want to receive a huge bouquet of oversized heart balloons on Valentine's Day? Hint, hint, Hal.

P.S. Where do I sign up to be a balloon delivery girl?


{Images via Geronimo Balloons}

Modern Art Sammies

Pop quiz! Which sandwich represents which modern artist? If I could type the answers upside down, I would. But I can't, so don't peek.

Piet Mondrian

Georgia O'Keefe

Jackson Pollack

Mark Rothko

Damien Hirst

Okay, how many did you get?


{Images via Low Commitment Projects by Brittany Powell}

The Girl With Seven Horses

I admire the imagination of photographer, Ulrika Kestere. She makes "photographic essays". This one is about a girl who claims to have 7 invisible horses. No one believes her until she finds her clothing scattered about the country after losing her laundry in a wind storm :)


{Images via My Love For You}

Fresh Pow

I'm living vicariously through Hal for the next few days. I dropped him off at the airport yesterday and he's snowboarding at Sundance as we speak. Ultra envious, but I do enjoy my alone time, so no complaints here. He comes back in a few days and will be happy as a clam, thanks to fresh pow and good friends.

If you're a skiier or snowboarder, have you gone up yet this winter?


{Image via Vilamode}