HAPPINESS IS...

Cute & Quirky Illustrated Holiday Cards

Madly in love with these illustrated holiday cards from the wild and creative imagination of miss Laura Berger. I'm fairly certain we'd be friends in real life.

Are you planning to send out holiday cards this year? We're taking some photos tonight. Which means, if all goes according to schedule, they might actually arrive in mailboxes before the New Year! That would be a first for us.


{Images by Laura Berger}

Cold Days, Hot Reiki

Seattle hit 19 degrees this weekend! With sadly, not a hint of snow. But cold days like these are great for learning reiki. Our hands were on fire with all that healing energy! I need a bit of time to settle into my new abilities and make sense of the massive amount of information swirling around in my brain, but I promise to give you a rundown one day soon.

For now, I can tell you this. Reiki, like perfectly symmetrical ice crystals that fall from the sky... is something close to magic.


{Images by Alexey Kljatov}

Healing To Your Spirit

 

My mother and I are taking a Reiki Level I and II certification course this weekend. I am beyond excited. I did what I thought was reiki on Bailey when she was alive, but I was clueless back then. Ever since, I've been fascinated with this beautiful ancient healing art. I hope to practice Reiki mostly on myself, any friends or family who are interested, and of course, animals who may roam my way. Next week, if you're curious, I'll share with you our class experience.

Have a peaceful weekend, loves. Please enjoy the links...

Home sweet school bus home.

10 ways to get over blogger's block. 

A lovely round-up of wooden toys.

Best idea: hire a photographer for your bachelorette.

Wishing I was in NY for this children's book exhibit.

Gorgeous rustic table inspiration.

Make an enchanted bottle brush forest.

Spicy chocolate candied pecans.

Trim the tree with homemade garlands.

3 great classic book cover redesigns.

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

• Another Winter Solstice
• Peppermint Hot Cocoa Ornaments
• Ice Skating

 

{Original image via Tempuros}

Stocking Stuffers From Uncommon Goods

1. Dinner Party Guest Book; 2. Love Letter Napkins; 3. Woolzies Dryer Balls; 4. Caterpillar Bud Vase; 5. Lumen LED Shadow Projectors; 6. Aquamarine Branch Ring; 7. Salts of the World Test Tube Set; 8. Soup and Crackers Bowl; 9. Make Your Own Ukulele Kit 

10. Bimodal Architectural Blocks; 11. Agate Coasters; 12. Carve A Stamp Kit; 13. Marimo Moss Ball Light Bulb Aquarium; 14. A Tree Grows Necklace; 15. Wine Pairing Towel Set; 16. What I Love About You By Me Book; 17. Wooden Martini Glasses; 18. Tipping Teacup

19. Wine-o-saur Wine Bottle Holder; 20. Flavor Infuser Water Bottle; 21. Baby Milestone Cards; 22. Geometric Candles; 23. Line Posters; 24. Real Sugar Maple Leaf Night Light; 25. DIY Lip Balm Kit; 26. Magnetic Flower Vase; 27. Stitch The Stars Calendar

I'm a full blown adult and I still get a stocking full of goodies each Christmas. Yes, my mom (errr Santa) spoils me. Granted, it's usually a satsuma orange, some hair ties, something practical like a toothbrush or floss, and a few pieces of chocolate if I'm lucky. But still. I feel like a kid again when I open my stocking on Christmas morning. It's the best tradition.

Maybe this year, my stocking will be filled with prezzies from Uncommon Goods. They truly have the best selection around if you're looking for unique designer items and custom products. I rounded up 27 of my favorite gifts, for the gals, the guys, and the babes, all small enough to fit inside a stocking.... okay, maybe an extra large stocking.

I really like to support Uncommon Goods. They're based in Brooklyn, and not only do they work with independent artists and designers (half of what they sell are handmade and one-third of their products are recycled/upcycled), but since they're a B-corp, they meet rigorous standards of social and environmental performance and accountability. Good people, good practices, good products. And I love how they want our input on the items them carry.

Do you do stockings at your house? What goodies would you like to see in yours?

This post is sponsored by Uncommon Goods. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

My Next Book Club Book

My little 4-person book club needs a new book to read. We just finished Ender's Game. Strangely enough, we chose it right before we learned there was a movie coming out. I really enjoyed both the book and the film, but we'll probably want to steer of sci-fi this time around to switch things up. Typically, we love smooth lyrical juicy prose that makes us want to stay up into the wee hours of the night to read "just one more chapter". Who doesn't, really?

Here are the books we've read thus far, which as you can see, run the gamut...

The Kite Runner
Breakfast At Tiffany's
Eat Pray Love
Lolita
A Confederacy of Dunces
Brave New World
My Horizonal Life
The Master and Margarita
The Amazing Adventures of Kavalier & Clay
And Then There Were None
Lit
Lost Girls
Water For Elephants
100 Years of Solitude (in which we collectively re-named: A Bajillion Years of Solitude!)
Little Bee
Extremely Loud And Incredibly Close
Heat
Norwegian Wood
The Prince of Tides
Ender's Game
Red Rising

(Bookies, did I miss any?)

A friend of mine raved about The Goldfinch by Donna Tarrt. Have you read that one? What other books would you recommend for us? I'd love to know what you've been reading lately!


{Image via 8 Tracks}

DIY - 3 Holiday "In-A-Jar" Gifts

You guys, I'm such a sucker for "in-a-jar" gifts. Remember Christmas in a Jar? And Dreams in a Jar? Here are 3 more fun ideas for the holidays that you can make yourself...

• Party in a Jar
• Brownies in a Jar
• Gift Card in a Jar

They're the perfect gift for teachers, neighbors and hostesses, don't you think? Which one is your favorite?


{Images by: 1. 2. Life Made Lovely; 3. 4. Call Me Cupcake; 5. 6. The Creative Mama}

Making A List

Now that Thanksgiving is behind us, I can fully immerse myself in all things Christmas. Decorating, cooking, and listening to holiday classics. Notice I didn't mention shopping. This is my least favorite part of the holidays. Yes, I love to gift, but I don't love the craziness that ensues. Me and big crowds aren't friends. My idea of a happy Black Friday is staying cozy at home drinking black tea in front of the black telly. I buy everything online. Browse, click, surprise on doorstep, done. How do you do your holiday shopping? Have you started yet?

P.S. You can download and print this extra cute Christmas list over on A Pair of Pears.


{Image by Jake & Jamie Bartlett}

What I'm Grateful For

I'll be taking a holiday blog breather this week. Have a happy Thanksgiving and first day of Hanukkah, my dear ones. Like last year, I'd like to write down a few things I'm feeling incredibly grateful for...

• Uncontrollable belly laughs with my husband.
• My obsession with trying new things.
• The salty air of the Puget Sound.
• My niece's expression when I sing her a song.
• The wisdom of my higher self.
• My girlfriends falling madly in love.
• The rhythmic rise and fall of my calligraphy pen.
• My family living so close by.
• The inspiration I get from a single fallen leaf.
• My kitty's loving presence inside my home.
• The cozy holiday smell of apple cinnamon.
• My determination to master the ukulele.
• The light rumble of the train that gently rocks us to sleep.
• My sweet memories of the past and hopeful dreams of the future.
• The knowledge that I'm right where I need to be.

And always, always. I am grateful for you. Thanks for sharing your days with me. xo


{Original image via My SoCal'd Life}

My 3 New Favorite Veggie Food Blogs

I like my food blogs sans meat with big juicy artfully styled photos. Here are 3 are my new current faves...

• Princess Tofu
• Vegetarian Ventures
• My New Roots

What food blogs have you been following lately?


{Images by 1-4. Princess Tofu; 2-8. Vegetarian Ventures; 9-12. My New Roots}

Sugar Plum Fairy Florals

"while visions of sugar plums danced in their heads..."

I've been trying really hard to not post anything Christmasy until after Thanksgiving, but just couldn't help myself today. These sugar plum fairy floral arrangements are too beautiful not to share right. now. And really, they could be used on any winter tablescape. Carlynn shows us how to make these bouquets using sugared grapes and figs, purple flowers, pine cones and kale. Aren't they gorgeous?


{Images by JJ Begonia}

To Quit Talking

Brrr, it's so chilly outside. For the weekend I'm planning to hunker down, wrap myself up in a blanket by the fire, and master my calligraphy lessons. It's hard for me to get anything creative done on weekdays, so I've devoted the next two days to learning, practicing and DOING. I've made some progress, but I've got a ways to go before I feel comfortable showing you my work!

Enjoy yourselves and my dears. I hope you get out there and DO. Here are your weekend links...

My new favorite color combo: white and wood. 

31 healthy high protein snacks.

A cute little feather poof brooch.

It's scientifically official: animals have conscious awareness! (duh)

Make your own heart patch tights.

Add a bit of orange to your cranberry sauce.

A fall table setting with lovely hanging leaves.

Beautiful marble wood flooring.

A fun way to drink your daily tea. 

Craft a wreath out of rosemary.

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

• AC The Cat
• An Orange Bathroom
• Anonymous Holidays 

 

A Color Tipped Scarf

I don't knit, but my sweetheart does. Maybe he'll make me another knit creation for Christmas this year, fingers crossed. But a little less wool this time, love... you know me and my darn sensitive neck skin!

I'm coveting Laura's color block scarf with bold triangle tips. If you already know how to knit, she provides the yarn, needles and instructions so you can make one yourself. The angled design with garter stitch texture is supposed to make the scarf stay secure around your shoulders.

Who here knits?


{Images by The Purl Bee}

The Underwater Hotel Room

To escape a bit from this dark and dreary Seattle day, I'm mentally traveling to a little Tanzanian island to spend a night in an Underwater Room at The Manta Resort, 250 meters offshore. Wanna meet me there? I bet it's like sleeping in an aquarium. At night, the lights attract neighborly octopus friends.

P.S. The same architects also built Utter Inn, the very first underwater room in the middle of a Swedish lake. I'm going there next!


{Images via CNN by Jesper Anhede}

Discovering Your Animal Totem

Do you know your animal totem? I recently discovered mine...

The Elephant! They represent strength, royalty, power and fertility. I'm told the Elephant is here to bring me into a role of teacher, leader and influencer. Perfect! I could use a little help in that department. I've always had a soft spot for ellies - now I know why.

Animal totems, also known as animal guides or spirit animals, are intuitively gifted to you by another person. Mine was given to me by my new friend and animal oracle, Emile of A Forbidden Life. Not everyone is familiar with animal totems, so she kindly agreed to answer a few questions for us...

1.  What exactly IS an animal totem? 

How I've come to understand animal totems is this: as humans, we are divinely connected to (and a part of) nature. One of the ways nature reminds us of our connection is by offering us animal mirrors through which to see ourselves more clearly. I've discovered that we each have a total of 12 animal spirits connected to our souls - their purpose is to show us how to live life to the fullest, how to be brave with our hearts, and to teach us the art of compassion. Each animal has a certain way to teach us these things, and during sometime in our life, each of our 12 animals is meant to be the foundation of our personal totem - think totem poles from the North American Tribes. When an animal is at the foundation or base of your totem, it's time for you to connect with its wisdom in order to move your life forward and continue your soul's evolution. So - a totem animal is a facet of your soul that's waiting to be expressed!

2.  What inspired you to give animal totem readings?

After I fully integrated my current foundational totem, the Fox, my life and business began to flourish in unprecedented ways. I found the love of my life, my work is more fun and profitable than ever, and most days are filled with alternating emotions of gratitude, joy, incredulity, and overflowing love. I want this feeling for everyone! I have the gift of intuiting foundational totems and opening this door for others… and it's FUN! The Fox taught me that in order to thrive in my life, I must make having fun a priority. So I incorporated all the things I love to do: writing, illustrating, researching, teaming up with my hot Tiger husband, and having meaningful, thought-provoking, joyful conversations with people. Done and done! I get emails every day that bring happy tears to my eyes. I know I've found my path - and it's certainly not what I ever expected. There was no "How to be a Spirit Animal Oracle" class at my University ;)

3. How can we connect with and learn from our animal totem?

You can only benefit from your totems when you stand up and ask them to be your teachers. And really, you're getting guidance from yourself - the only compass that can steer you correctly in life. Once you know your foundational totem, I recommend really getting to know it through directed research and fully integrating it into your life before you jump into exploring the other animals in your full totemic makeup. It's amazing what happens when you really embrace your totem! It has changed my entire life, and I've seen it happen to others countless times. It's such an honor and a joy to serve in this process. I'd be thrilled to help you discover yours!

 

***

Emile works by donation-only, so you can pay what you can. Isn't that nice? If you email her a recent photo and fill out a short questionnaire, she will intuit your animal and send you a personal totem guide, together with a sweet hand-drawn illustration.

Friends, if you gets yours done, come back here and tell me which animal you are. I'd love to know!


{Images by Emile of A Forbidden Life}

Rosaspina's Vintage Italian Wedding

Would you ever have your wedding guests take photos instead of a professional photographer?

The idea scares me a bit, but Rosaspina did just this and her vintage-inspired reception was artfully documented by friends and family using old film cameras. The images look like something out of a 50's Italian romance. La dolce vita!


{Images via Rosaspina Vintage}

A Living Forest

 

Have a melodic weekend, my loves. Here are your links... 

 

6 DIY sugar lip scrubs.

A sweet wedding reading for introverts.

Creative pie crust designs.

A fabulous Thanksgiving menu for my vegan friends.

How to make a faux stacked wood fireplace screen.

Roasted zuchinni soup with stilton.

An amazing stop motion video with tissue paper animals.

I wish this Seattle attic apartment really existed.

Make your home smell nice for the holidays with oranges and cloves.

A turkey-shaped cheese tray (similar to my cheese ball turkey!)

 

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

• The Fog
• Button Hats
• Forest Bathing 

 

{Original image via Miaoin}

Pretty Perfume Prints

Designer, Hedi Xandt, deconstructs luxury perfumes to reveal the natural source of each scent. Aren't they lovely? I don't normally wear perfume, but when I do, I prefer earthier botanical and edible scents, like these, over sweeter florals. Hal likes me in vanilla.

Do you have a favorite fragrance or signature scent?


{Images via Trendland by Stefan Vorbeck}

Questions For You - At What Age Did You Become An Adult?

Let's get deep and gushy. With this week's question for you...

At what age did you become an adult?

My answer... Still waiting to find out. As evidenced by my wedding, I'm a big kid at heart. So is Hal and that's probably what attracted us to each other. We like to play. I remember as a child, auditioning for my first musical with the song, I Won't Grow Up from Peter Pan. Here I am, decades later, singing the same lyrics. I saw an art print on Pinterest that made me giggle: Don't grow up - it's a trap! Ha. Maybe I'll feel like an adult when I have a baby of my own. Or buy my first home. Or maybe everyone's answer will be the same as mine? I dunno. Does anyone ever feel grown up?


{Original image via Wish by Walter Blum}

DIY - Clay Leaf Bowls

Thanksgiving is just around the corner! What are your plans for the holiday?

If you're hosting, wouldn't these pretties be perfect for the table? Suzonne made the bowls herself by pressing real leaves into air-dry clay. She shares her how-to here.

{Images by Urban Comfort}

Best Friend Photoshoots

Families do photoshoots all the time. So why not best friends? This is something the world needs more of, don't you think? I love how Angela and Evan captured these three pals hanging out and goofing around. They remind me of me and my girls. 

Would you ever get a photoshoot done with your besties?


{Images by Angela & Evan Photography}

Great People

Don't you love when you come across a quote that mirrors your current thoughts? Today is one of those days. I have all these nagging ideas about where I want this blog to go, where I want to take my career, and which path in life I should follow. I've been frozen for far too long, never feeling prepared enough to move forward, never feeling ready to take a leap. So why not do things now instead of waiting for tomorrow? Why not leap and expect a net? If a net doesn't appear, tumbles and scraps make for excellent stories. I hope you're inspired by this as much as I am. Let's be great people together.

Have a productive weekend! Here are a few entertaining links...

Thoughts on living in the moment.

Such a fun music video! In bed.

Dream dress for my next formal event.

What's your favorite reading position?

Flower girl outfits for tomboys.

DIY wax paper invitations.

Kate Moss' first ever photoshoot.

Incredible edible sculptures.

How to fake a fuller ponytail.

Fall decor: when in doubt, spray it gold. 

 

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

• DIY Flying People Balloon Weights
• Wood Burned Wildlife 
• Real Pin-Up Girls

 

{Pre-edited image by CWThornbrugh}

The New Modern Picnic Table

How much do I love this modern picnic table? Let me count the ways: 1. Back support; 2. Shade; and maybe more importantly, it makes for 3. Great Photos. Although a jaw dropping landscape behind you helps. Props to Italian design team, Bergmeisterwolf. 

Remind me to put this project on my honey-do list for Hal. It seems easy enough to build, don't you think?


{Images via Europaconcorsi by Jürgen Eheim}

GET HAPPY 13: Indoor & Outdoor Temperatures

Happiness is maximized at 57.02 degrees Fahrenheit, 13.9 degrees Celsius. Crazy, right? That's pretty chilly. This is according to the American Meteorological Society who published a study on the psychological influence of weather.

Indoor temperatures, on the other hand, need to be much warmer. Research at Yale University found that heat, such as a long hot shower or bath, helps ward off feelings of loneliness and increase levels of contentment. We substitute social warmth with physical warmth and our brain sees little difference between the two.

I'm pretty partial to 75 degrees indoors and out. As long as my hands and feet are on the same page as the rest of my body. What do you think? At what temperatures do you feel most happy? 


{Pre-edited image by Hannah Lemholt}

Learning Calligraphy

I'm going to learn how to write pretty. I like to think I have naturally good penmanship, but I want to step it up a notch and create beautiful typographic art with classic pen and ink, like the pieces above. The fine folks at Skillshare are offering an online course taught by hand-lettering extraordinaire, Molly Jacques. I can't wait to sign up and get started! Would you be interested in seeing my work and progress?

Have any of you studied calligraphy before?

P.S. USE THIS LINK and get 1 free month of premium Skillshare membership!


{Images by: 1. Ffion McKeown; 2. Molly Jacques; 3. Lindsay Sherbondy; 4. Yao Cheng}

Playful Japanese Spinning Gifs

 
Round and round and round it goes. Where it stops, nobody knows.

{Images by RRRRRRRRoll}

Whatever You Decide

Enjoy the weekend, loves. Do something happy! Here are your links...

How to make apple candle tea lights.

A pretty way to wrap and gift money.

I want to live in a converted public library.

Lamps made from vintage cameras.

The most beautiful pumpkin bisque.

A DIY bachelorette party in a box.

What if you just went for it?

Toasted quinoa chocolate bars, wha?

A pie-slice shaped house that spite built.

Have you seen the new online foodie mag, Hummm?

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

• Tiebreakers
• Clothesline Fun
• U:DON - The Best Noodle Shop In Seattle

{Pre-edited image via Red Coco}

My Halloween Costume: Daenerys Targaryen from Game Of Thrones

Happy Halloween! Game of Thrones nerds, I think you might appreciate my costume this year. I was Khaleesi Daenerys Targaryen. Mother of Dragons.

Hal and I usually do couples costumes. But this year, he chose to do a group costume with his boys. Then after I got my costume together, he changed his mind and ended up costuming solo. I begged him to be Khal Drogo, my sun and stars. Especially since earlier in the year, Hal was the one who suggested the idea in the first place. But he didn't want to go shirtless in frigid Washington. Understandable, but still. I wanted to be the moon of his life!

After family fun at my folks' house on Saturday, we drove back up to Seattle around 11pm to attend the most epic Halloween party thrown by some fellas in Hal's motorcycle club warehouse. Hundreds of people were dressed up in intricate and outrageous costumes. There was a marching band, Burning Man style art sculptures, and a large interactive wall of fire (yes, I tried to hatch my dragon egg). And while we're on the subject, I made the egg out of styrofoam and approximately 800 brass push pins.

My ego loved being Daenerys for the night. Groups of men were chanting "Dany! Dany!" whenever I walked by. Girls were approaching me on bended knee to kiss my hand. "It's a pleasure to serve you, my Khaleesi." When I got home, I yanked off the itchy wig and seriously contemplated dying my hair platinum blonde. I still am.

Friends, what were you for Halloween?


{Images by Christopher Bachmann}

DIY - Herb Firestarters

We're planning to build our first fire of the season tomorrow so we can have a warm and inviting home for the neighborhood trick-or-treaters! Although it does little to heat our house, a roaring fire is my favorite kind of ambiance.

I'm thinking about making these herb firestarters with dried orange and apple peels, cloves, cinnamon sticks, rosemary and lavender inside a coffee filter. Stephanie shares the full details on her blog. I bet they smell incredible.


{Images by Henry Happened}

Cider & Cocoa Inside Apples & Oranges

I'm a big fan of serving food inside food. Like soup in a bread bowl. Cheese fondue in a pumpkin. And now these two treats have been added to my list: cider in apples and hot cocoa in oranges, two cozy fall drinks I'm dying to try. Don't they look tasty?


{Images 1. and 4. via Newly Loved by Love By Serena; 2. 3. and 5. via A Subtle Revelry by Jocelyn Noel Photography}

Owls, Fairies, Dragons & Walter White

A few peeks into our weekend...

1. We decorated owl cookies with Oreos, M&Ms and candy corn. My mom always finds the cutest crafts. 
2. My brother, sister-in-law and niece dressed as Peter Pan, Captain Hook and Tinkerbell. I've never seen Ayana so happy. 
3. The dragon is a hint to my costume which I'll reveal on Halloween. Can you guess who I was? UPDATE: click here to see!
4. My tribute to Breaking Bad, a no-trace pumpkin carving of Walter White. Of course, it took me 2 hours while everyone else was done in 20 minutes, but hey, that's the price of being a perfectionist. Here's how it looks illuminated.

How was your Halloween weekend? Did you dress up?

Something Wicked This Way Comes

Boo! Are you attending any Halloween festivities over the weekend? We'll be at my family's haunted house for a day-of-the-dead dinner, revealing costumes and carving pumpkins!

Have an spine-chilling weekend, friends. Here are a few spooky links...

Skull salt and pepper shakers.

Bat-tastic fashion.

8 tasty trick or treats.

A sweet n' sour n' spicy poison ivy cocktail.

Top 5 scary movies - have you seen them all?

What to eat on Halloween morning.

6 last minute costume ideas. 

Realistic quick-spun cobwebs.

24 beautiful black cats.

The cutest costumes for kids at H&M.

Free Halloween printables. 

Boo inside a cake!

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

• Classic Halloween Flicks
• Brainstorming Costumes
• White Pumpkin Candles 

 

{Images via: 1. Photo Like Graph; 2. Julianne Woodbury; 3. Studio Claire; 4. Carissa Miss; 5. Fashion Lane; 6. Quintin Gonzalez}

Keeping Food Fresh Without A Fridge

With the idea of preserving food longer and more naturally, Jihyun Ryou has created these modern wall shelves to keep edibles fresh without refrigeration. He calls it his Save Food From The Fridge project.

I personally can't stand wasting food. Yet every month, I find myself throwing out spoiled items from the refrigerator. And ours isn't even full-sized! These smart and functional designs are absolutely brilliant, don't you think?

Now if only he can come up with a shelving unit that reminds us when our leftovers go bad! 


{Images by Jihyun Ryou} 

A Visit From Bailey In My Dreams

I've been missing my Bailey a lot lately. Got myself a cute pair of black kitty flats in her honor. It's been almost 4 months since her passing and my eyes still water when I think of her. Does that ever go away?

But something amazing happened to me the other night. She came to visit me! In my dream, I felt something jump on our bed. I bolted upright to find my curious little kitty walking across the down comforter, bounding over to the window ledge. I gasped and woke up Hal beside me (in my dream). "Look love, look! It's Bailey!" Hal rubbed his eyes and mumbled out a "whoa". She leaped off the sill into my open arms. I breathed her in and gave her a few good long snuggles.

Then I really woke up. With a huge grin on my face. But what's even more strange? I grabbed my phone from the nightstand to check the time and a voice recorder app was open. The app I downloaded specifically to capture an audio file of Bailey's purr a few days before she passed. Here it is...

BAILEY'S PURR

I had completely forgotten about the recording. Did I accidentally open the app in my sleep? Did her paw step on my phone? Ha. I don't know, but I was ecstatic. I had been trying to reach her in my dreams for the longest time. And she finally came through! Hearing her purr was the ultimate reassurance of her presence.

Have you ever gotten a visit from a deceased pet? I'm so curious if this is a common thing. Has anything like this every happened to you?


{Image via 24 Media}

DIY - 3 Things You Can Make With Dried Gourds

Bracelets. Vases. And drums! All from a dried gourd. Mad props to Caitlin, who's brilliant mind came up with these three fun projects for fall. Now I'm wishing I picked up a few extra gourds at the pumpkin patch!


{Images by Merrythought}

Geek Chic Style With VSP & Nine West

I've worn glasses for as long as I can remember. I'm that blind. Of course, back in the day, they were unpopular. Before I got contacts in high school, I used to "forget my glasses at home" and sit in the front of the class so I could read the board.

Between then and now, glasses became trendy and I'm doubting geek chic style will go away any time soon. I've grown to love my astigmatism, because the right frames can complete any look. I had fun pulling together two fall outfits around the super cute Nine West specs above. Which ensemble is your favorite, brown or black?

As much as I'd like to own more than one pair, let's get real. Glasses are expensive, especially designer brands where the lenses are thick and the prescriptions are strong, like mine. I don't know what I'd do without my VSP vision insurance which covers a huge chunk of the cost, including the eye exam. It's pretty sweet to be able to get insurance for a fashion accessory, right?

My most recent frames are vintage (similar to the glasses in my kid pic!), but I'm ready for a new pair. Do you wear glasses? Or do you have perfect vision and wish you wore glasses?

P.S. Don't forget to enter the "Style with a Vision" Pinterest sweepstakes to win a Nine West shopping spree and 1-year of free vision care from VSP Direct!

I was selected for this opportunity as a member of Clever Girls Collective and the content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running! 


{Brown Frames Images: 1. Nine West Frames; 2. Ilia Lipstick; 3. Madewell Sweater; 4. Boticca Gold Studs; 5. Bobbi Brown Eyeshadow; 6. Patricia Nash Handbag; 7. Tory Burch Jeans; 8. Miss Dora Sequined Flats}
{Black Frames Images: 1. Nine West Frames; 2. Cityscape Umbrella; 3. Madewell Sweater; 4. Sass & Bide Leather Jeans; 5. Aerie Scarf; 6. Nars Lipstick; 7. Fox Embroidered Clutch; 8. Madewell Boots}

 

Octobers

Me too, Anne. Me too. I hope you have a Octobery weekend doing Octobery things. I'll be taking it easy, resting up, taking a walk in the park, doing a little cleaning, a little baking, and DIY-ing a vital prop for my H'ween costume. How about you? This time of year always feels so fleeting to me. For those of you in cooler climates, get out and enjoy this beauty if you can.

Here are your weekend links...

8 fashion essentials for fall.

A great list of autumn activities.

I'm thinking about baking ginger cookies.

How to have fun with bobby (and his pins).

What do you think of the Stella McCartney jewel bag?

Turn your photos into a wallet.

The trailer for the new Wes Anderson film.

This season's IT hat. 

Love this DIY branch coat rack.

A sweet idea for a double date.

 

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

• How To Tie A Head Scarf
• An Off-The-Grid Writer's Retreat
• DIY - Bouquets of Autumn Leaves 

{Pre-edited image by Renato Tano}

An Outstanding-In-The-Field Inspired Wedding Table

Remember my post on Outstanding In The Field? The culinary event where strangers gather from all over the world to have a meal together in a remote natural setting? This was Emily and Rob's inspiration for their wedding. They definitely pulled it off. I love how they used the natural curve of the road.

Of course, they happen to be the power couple behind Foodzie and they got some help from Katy Oursler, an Outstanding In The Field location scout, but still. I'm impressed.

Someday, somewhere, I hope to create this style of dinner on my own. Who wants an invite?


{Images by Hugh Forte}

Questions For You - What Is Your All-Time Favorite Meal?

As the weather cools down, I'm craving warm comforting foods for dinner. So here's my question for you...

What is your all-time favorite meal?

My answer... If you know me at all, this one's easy. Mac n' cheese. Plain or fancy, with herbs, veggies, gorgonzola, spices, truffle oil, or all of the above. A close second would be raclette. Mmm, cheese.

Now you!


{Image by Verses From My Kitchen}

The Pumpkin Patch

According to my Instagram and Facebook feeds, it looked as if everyone and their dog went to a pumpkin patch over the weekend. We're having the loveliest fall weather here in Washington. Sunny, crisp and colorful.

My family and I met at the Spooner Farms Harvest Festival to pick out some pumpkins for our annual Halloween party. With a sticky caramel apple in hand, I found a perfectly shaped orange pumpkin with a flat side for carving. My mom favors the uglies and topped off our wheel barrow with all sorts of warty ones. And of course, a little baby pumpkin for my 18-month old niece. We are SET.

Have you picked any pumpkins this year?

Hand Carved Book Letters

Love these hand-carved book letters, don't you? They're from Nordstrom, of all places. I'll take a R, A and a D, please.


{Images via Nordstrom}

West Coast Road Trip 05 - Gleneden Beach to Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria

By the time we left Salishan, we were ready for lunch. Just as my stomach began to grumble, we drove by dairy heaven, the Tillamook Cheese Factory! I heard the angels sing.

We sampled their cheeses and ordered sandwiches with a side of mac n' cheese from their cafe. This is when the angels sang off key. The bread crumbled apart and the mac n' cheese tasted like the kind you get at KFC. If you ever find yourself at Tillamook, skip the cafe.

Following the 101, stopped in Cannon Beach, Oregon. To me, one of the most beautiful beaches on the west coast. Maybe it was the 75 degree warmth upon my face, the shallow tide pools reflecting the sun, or my barefoot feet in the sand, but this place made me feel alive.

It may also have to do with those rocks. Do they look familiar to you?

GOONIES! One of my favorite movies as a kid. This is the beach where Mikey, Chunk, Mouth, Andy, Stef, Brand and Data emerge after finding the loot on One-Eyed Willie's pirate ship.

30 minutes north in Astoria, we found a few more Goonies film locations: the county jail, complete with bullet holes in the prop Jeep parked outside, and Mikey's house, where a Jewish family lives who kindly allows nosey film nerds to Truffle Shuffle in front of their gate.

Eventually, we arrived at our final resting place. Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria, which rests on the 100 year-old cannery pilings 600 feet into the Columbia River. We were warmly welcomed with complimentary wine & cheese and given the key to the top floor corner suite with insane natural light. From our balcony, I couldn't imagine a better place to watch the sun go down.

When we were ready for dinner at T. Paul's Urban Cafe, the front desk summoned a chauffeur to drive us to the restaurant in one of Cannery Pier's classic cars!

Freshly baked cookies were waiting for us back at the hotel. We snuck more than a few up to our room and snuggled in bed to watch a movie. Guess which one?? I think Cyndi Lauper was the soundtrack to my dream that night.

Bright and early the next morning, we took the hotel bikes out for an invigorating spin along the boardwalk. And rode back for a blissful chocolate orange body wrap and aromatherapy massage at the spa. Cannery Pier treated us right! 

Before leaving Astoria, we browsed the Maritime Museum and one final must-see monument. The Column! It's a Roman tower that sits atop Coxcomb Hill, commanding a stunning 360 degree view of the countryside, the Pacific Ocean and the Columbia River. 

Of course we had to climb to the top. All 164 dizzying steps. 

We left Astoria on a high. It might just be my new favorite small town. A few more sleepy hours north on the 5, and we were back home, sweet home.

Thank you, friends, for following along on our road trip up the west coast. It felt like you were in the back seat the whole time!

West Coast Road Trip 01 - Los Angeles to the Madonna Inn
West Coast Road Trip 02 - San Luis Obispo to the Trees of Mystery
West Coast Road Trip 03 - Legget, California to Wildspring Guest Habitat
West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort


This post sponsored by Cannery Pier Hotel. The content and opinions expressed here are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort

From Wildspring, we continued up the 101, driving slowly through the small coastal towns. When we entered the Siuslaw National Forest In Florence, the view got pretty spectacular. If we had more time, we would have stopped at America's largest sea lion caves. I almost made Hal turn the car around, until we saw the breathtaking Heceta Head Lighthouse vista point further down the road and pulled over to snap some pics. The sea lions were sunning themselves on the rocks below, barking up a storm.

On the mid-Oregon coast, you'll find 40 miles of sand resulting from millions of years of wind, sun, and rain erosion, the largest amount of coastal sand dunes in the U.S. Some dunes tower up to 500 feet above sea level! Naturally, we had to see this natural phenomena with our own eyes.

Using the Roadtrippers app, I discovered the world's first sandboard park was right off the highway. Originally, we were going to rent a board for Hal and let him do his thang. But the dune buggy was calling my name and I wanted in on the fun. They called it a "tour", but it felt more like the wildest roller coaster we've ever ridden! Our driver was hardcore. He gave us goggles to wear, but every time I opened my mouth to scream, I ate sand. We had to smile and laugh with our lips covering our teeth. We left Sand Master Park dirty and dizzy and ready for round two.

Just south of Lincoln City, we arrived at our next hotel, Salishan Resort in Gleneden Beach. I fell right in love with the zen-inspired 70's architecture. It sort of reminded me of the mountain lodge we stayed at in Snowbird, Utah. We oohed and ahhed over our ultra luxe canyon suite and immediately hit the dueling showers to wash off our second skin of sand before dinner.

Is this not the coolest indoor mid-century pool you've ever seen? It's open 24-hours!

Salishan has quite a beautiful golf course and ocean-front spa, but we didn't get a chance to experience either. The funny thing about road trips.. you feel the need to wake up early to get the most out of the daylight. But on this particular morning, we slept in (gasp), splurged on room service, ate breakfast in bed, and lazed around in fluffy robes. 

Before leaving the area, we tooled around Gleneden Beach doing silly things like this. Tomorrow, we'll be in Astoria, the final leg of our adventure! Stay tuned...

West Coast Road Trip 01 - Los Angeles to the Madonna Inn
West Coast Road Trip 02 - San Luis Obispo to the Trees of Mystery
West Coast Road Trip 03 - Legget, California to Wildspring Guest Habitat
West Coast Road Trip 05 - Gleneden Beach to Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria


This post is sponsored by Salishan Resort. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

West Coast Road Trip 03 - Legget, California to Wildspring Guest Habitat

After our adventures in the Redwood Forest, we waved goodbye to California and greeted Oregon with anticipation. This portion of the coastline is phenomenal. It very much reminds us of Big Sur, with it's dramatic winding cliff top views of the ocean.

The photo above is an outtake from our unsuccessful self-timer experiment!

In Port Orford, the oldest town on the Oregon coast, we checked off one thing on our must-see list. The Prehistoric Gardens! Remember my desire to visit a dinosaur park? My dream came true. We spotted the (very happy) T-rex from the 101 and slammed on the brakes.

The dinosaurs themselves were a bit cartoony and we weren't allowed to climb the life-size replicas, but I couldn't complain. The fact that this park still remains, is a miracle. So many of these quirky vintage roadside attractions have been torn down over the years. The park has been owned and operated by the original sculptor's family since 1955.

12 miles further north, we arrived at WildSpring Guest Habitat, a luxury boutique bed & breakfast eco-resort. This place is unreal, friends. There are 5 cozy cabin suites on the property, each one fit for royalty with radiant-heated floors, slate tile showers, feather beds and scented candles. We stayed in Earthsea, named after the Ursula Le Guin fantasy series.

At the communal guest hall, there are complimentary snacks, drinks, games, puzzles, and a 500+ dvd library. That night, we made ourselves some hot cocoa, cozied up in bed, and watched Return of the Jedi. Ewoks in the Redwoods, yo! 

In the morning, we woke up to an impressive home-cooked breakfast buffet waiting for us in the kitchen. Bellies full, we explored the grounds and walked the labyrinth in quiet contemplation. There's a beautiful energy in these woods. The cabins are surrounded by 5 acres of ancient Native American forests. 

Around every corner was a new surprise. Whimsical signs and faces in the trees. Animal figurines here and sun god sculptures there. From the open air spa, there's an incredible view of the ocean. 

We had a nice long chat with WildSpring's owners, Dean and Michelle. Fascinating people, these two. Following a long-held dream, they fell in love with the Oregon coast and left their house in the Hollywood Hills to build this enchanting retreat together from scratch. Their story and dedication is truly inspiring. 

Meet Miss Scarlett. She adopted Dean and Michelle (smart cat) and is now queen feline of the WildSpring kingdom.

It was difficult to leave such a magical place, but the road beckoned. We mosied around Port Orford for awhile, visiting art galleries and admiring the picturesque waterfront. And after many goofy attempts, we finally mastered the self-timer.

Tomorrow, we're getting dirty in the sand dunes! Stay tuned...

West Coast Road Trip 01 - Los Angeles to the Madonna Inn
West Coast Road Trip 02 - San Luis Obispo to the Trees of Mystery
West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort
West Coast Road Trip 05 - Gleneden Beach to Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria

This post is sponsored by Wildspring Guest Habitat. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

West Coast Road Trip 02 - San Luis Obispo to the Trees of Mystery

From the Madonna Inn, we ventured up the 101, slowly making our way up to San Francisco. Due to time constraints, we couldn't take the 1, skipping out on Big Sur and Monterey, two of my favorite Cali towns. But we've driven that route before and didn't feel like we were missing out.

We did, however, quickly pit stop in Santa Cruz for a beach boardwalk stroll, a few arcade games, and a (not-so-flattering) photo booth strip!

We arrived in San Fran just in time for an intimate dinner gathering hosted by Hal's long-time friends. It was so great to catch up for a few hours and meet their little babes for the very first time. My college roomie, Nicole, kindly let us crash at her house for the night and took us to The Grove, their neighborhood mountain lodge-inspired cafe, for a delicious breakfast before she and her husband jetted off to work.

An entire week could have been spent in SF, but we were merely passing through. It was time to reach our next highly anticipated destination, the Redwood Forest.

180 miles northwest of the Bay Area, we stopped in Legget, California to drive through a 2,000 year-old tree! This was on our must-do list. We learned that coastal redwoods and sequoias have a very shallow root system and trees continue to live and grow even if their heartwood is damaged.

A bit further up the 101, we came across the famous One Log House. The inside felt like an Airstream. I could have totally lived there. It was about the size of my old studio apartment in Santa Monica. 

At last, we made our way into Klamath, California, to stop at one of our new favorite roadside attractions: the Trees of Mystery (in a deep, booming announcer voice)!

It was late, so we got thai take-out and checked into Motel Trees across the street, an awesome vintage time capsule, untouched since the 70's. Each room has different forest, meadow, or nature-themed wall mural. It smelled a bit like my grandparents' house, but that's part of the charm.

Bright and early the next morning, we were ready to hike the groomed interpretive Trees of Mystery trails. The 50-ft tall Paul Bunyon and Babe the Blue Ox welcomed us at the entrance.

We rode the SkyTrail gondola 571 feet up through the forest tree tops. It's not every day you get to look down upon the majestic redwoods. 

I'll leave you with a poem we found painted at the base of the world's largest cathedral tree, a group of nine trees growing together as one. Several weddings take place here each year...

Here, sown by the Creator's hand 
In serried ranks, the Redwoods stand 
No other clime is honored so 
No other lands their glory know

The greatest of Earth's living forms 
Tall conquerors that laugh at storms 
Their challenge still unanswered rings 
Through fifty centuries of kings 

This is their temple, vaulted high 
And here, we pause with reverent eye
With silent tongue and awestruck soul 
For here we sense life's proper goal

To be like these, straight, true and fine
to make our world like theirs, a shrine 
Sink down, Oh, traveler, on your knees 
God stands before you in these trees

-Joseph B. Strauss

Tomorrow, we'll venture into Oregon! Stay tuned...

West Coast Road Trip 01 - Los Angeles to the Madonna Inn
West Coast Road Trip 03 - Legget, California to Wildspring Guest Habitat
West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort
West Coast Road Trip 05 - Gleneden Beach to Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria

 

West Coast Road Trip 01 - Los Angeles to the Madonna Inn

Hi friends! I've missed you. We're back from our epic 1-year anniversary road trip up the west coast. If you'd like to follow along on our adventures, I'll be sharing a few photos every day this week.

As you know, we flew down to Los Angeles for my a capella group's 15-year reunion. The weekend was so jam packed with mixers, rehearsals, performances, and after parties, I had no time to take photos in LA. So we'll begin this photo journey at our first official stop: Santa Barbara.

After cleaning out Hal's storage unit and packing up his SUV, we hit the road, heading up the 101 to visit his alma mater, UCSB. He showed me the house he lived in as a student for dirt cheap... on a bluff overlooking the ocean! Next door was the sweetest little park, Window To The Sea. We sat on the swing while he told me stories of his crazy college days. 

Hal suggested spending the night in San Luis Obispo at the Madonna Inn, a legendary landmark hotel he remembered staying at as a child. It's quirky, offbeat and nostalgic... just my style!

There are 110 themed rooms, each one individually decorated in 60's kitsch, many with rock walls and waterfall showers. Their names say it all: Barrel of Fun, Caveman, Love Nest, Jungle Rock, Old Fashion Honeymoon, Safari, Oriental Fantasy, and the list goes on and on. We were given the key to Carin, a sunny round room with two balconies. Private, romantic and very (very) pink. There were glitter walls and bronze cupids. I felt like a Disney princess.

Wrapping ourselves in candy striped towels, we took a quick dip in the pool before the sun went down.

We enjoyed a fireside pasta dinner at the Copper Cafe and toasted to our travels in the Silver Bar cocktail lounge while the Cal Poly Swing Club entertained us with "Madonna Monday" lindy hop. The entire evening was lovely and surreal. An eccentric rose-colored dream.

Tomorrow, we'll be driving to San Fran. Stay tuned!

West Coast Road Trip 02 - San Luis Obispo to the Trees of Mystery
West Coast Road Trip 03 - Legget, California to Wildspring Guest Habitat
West Coast Road Trip 04 - Port Orford, Oregon to Salishan Resort
West Coast Road Trip 05 - Gleneden Beach to Cannery Pier Hotel in Astoria


This is post is sponsored by Madonna Inn. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

Found Honeymoon Polaroids

Look what I found. While packing for LA, I discovered the Polaroids I took on our honeymoon, stashed in between the pages of a book. Fitting, since this day last year, we had just come home from our epic travels. It was the first time using my land camera and I hadn't mastered the ancient focusing levers. But I don't mind the blurr. They look more like memories.

By the time you read this, we'll be in Cali. So please have a beautiful weekend. The blog will be silent next week, since I didn't have time to schedule posts in advance. But I promise to come back with a full report (and perhaps a few Polaroids) of our anniversary road trip up the west coast.

Make sure to follow me on Instagram under the name: shanrockeileen. I'll be snapping photos along the way!

Autumn Essentials

My favorite season is officially here. The leaves aren't changing colors yet, but the rain has arrived and the temperatures have dropped. I'm already wearing my big cozy sweaters and feasting on hearty homemade soups.

But I can't retire my sundresses and sandals just yet. We're flying down to LA tomorrow. 80-degree LA! Guess I'll have to put my autumn essentials on a shelf until I return.

Does it feel like fall where you live?

P.S. If you like this watercolor print, JDC is giving it away as a free download!


{Image by Jones Design Company}

Bird Mafia Papercuts

Aren't these papercuts sweet? Emily hand-draws and hand-cuts each image with an xacto knife: "no lasers, no stencils, no die cut, no joke."


{Images by Bird Mafia}

A Movie-Themed Weekend Getaway With The Nissan Versa Note

My hubs and I love the movies. It's one of our favorite things to do together. Since the kind folks at Nissan lent us a brand new 2014 Versa Note to explore this passion of ours, we took the opportunity to drive upstate for a movie-themed weekend getaway.

We set our sights on Port Townsend, a charming seaside town a few hours north of Seattle, made famous by the movie, Officer and a Gentleman. They were having their annual film festival and we were hoping to catch a few indie flicks. Most of the hotels were booked up, but we managed to snag the Morgan Hill View Loft, a cozy privately-owned bed & breakfast with a gorgeous panoramic view.

We wandered the old Victorian streets, soaking up the sun. It was supposed to rain all weekend, but the locals explained to us that Port Townsend lies beneath a 'magical' rain shadow. It gets less rain/more sun than the rest of western Washington.

In the massive antique mall, Hal found a rare vintage coffee table book while I found my feet.

We caught two films at the historic Uptown Theater. The first one, Unhung Hero, is a hysterical documentary by a Whidbey Island local's struggle with the size of his manhood! The entire audience was dying with laughter. And Hal spotted one of his buddies in the film - so random. The second one, Good Ol' Freda, is a very sweet documentary about The Beatle's long-time secretary, Freda Kelly, and her experiences growing up with the boys. Of course, I teared up at the end. Both flicks = highly recommended.

After buying some truffle cheese at the Mt. Townsend Creamery, we hit the road again for movie-adventure #2. The Rodeo Drive-In!

There are only a few left in Washington and it seems like every year, I read about another one that closes. So sad. I've made it my life mission to support our last remaining nostalgic drive-in theaters. Do you have one where you live?

I loved the intimate setting enclosed by evergreens. As you can see, we almost had the entire field to ourselves. We got cozy in the car with blankets and pillows, dug into the massive goodie basket of popcorn and candy that Nissan surprised us with, and settled in for the double feature of The Family and We're The Millers.

We had so much fun with the Versa Note. She was a much smoother ride than our MINI, the gas mileage was ridiculous, and I seriously think the car was made for the drive-in. After pushing the seats back and reclining, it felt like we were lounging in beds! Nissan, must we give her back??   


This post is sponsored by Nissan USA. The content and opinions are all my own. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that keep Happiness Is running!

An Overnight Adventure

Happy Friday! We're driving upstate for the Port Townsend Film Festival, hoping to catch a few indie flicks and stroll along the historic Victorian waterfront. I'll share our little overnight adventure next week! Have a fun weekend, friends. Here a few links for your amusement...

The most comforting carrot soup.

A whimsical mossy tablescape.

For those of us who couldn't attend fashion week.

Would you ever paint your piano?

Awesome wood grain shelf accents.

My absolute favorite Instagram food artist.

3 DIY lip balms: coconut rose, hemp honey, & chocolate mint.

The cutest dinosaur ring holder.

Darling H'ween costumes for les bebes.

Is this genius design or what?

 

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

• A Floating Cinema
• Deep Thoughts By Pooh & Friends
• Feline Noir

 

{Pre-edited image by Thomas Hanks}