Inspired by the Red Velvet Art girls!

5 Things I am looking forward to:
exploring our new area, my first Renegade Craft Fair!, finding a cute local bookstore to get lost in, getting all of these boxes unpacked and put away, and finally spending the H&M gift card I got for Christmas!

5 Things I did yesterday:
made coffee, ran errands (and didn’t get lost!), unpacked more boxes, played with the pup, dug out my yarn and did some knitting♥

5 Things I wish I could do:
I wish that Joel and I could both work from home, go to Fashion Week in London, take more art classes, build a cottage with a pretty little garden full of flowers and veggies, and have dinner with both of our families tonight (silly geography gets in the way).

5 Places I’d like to travel:
Maine, Germany, Oxford, Italy, and I’d love to go back to Ireland and just drive all over for weeks and weeks!

5 Cute things I’ve found online lately:

cutest moccasins by darlingtonia, cheerful journal (via ModCloth), personalized tea light holder by snowowlwoodshop (via The Storque), bumblebee nail polish (Elsie*Cake), and yummy cupcakes from cococakecupcakes

Let me know if you play along, just leave a comment with a link.
I’d love to read your answers!

Thanks to Nylon’s twitter I found out that Burberry was streaming its Fall 2010 show yesterday. I sat by my computer in anticipation. I was so excited! I love Burberry for their British cool and the show did not disappoint! Beautiful coats and gorgeous colors! I couldn’t take my eyes off of one coat in particular (maybe the buttons hypnotized me) and I had to build an outfit around it!

ivory shirt by minx shop, book necklace by the black spot books, earrings by lara lewis,  pretty bag by morelle, and coat by Burberry

We have a lot of books, boxes and boxes of them and for some reason we’ve never had enough bookcases, until now!  We picked up a few lovely Billy bookcases from Ikea yesterday and I’ve spent most of the afternoon getting all the books organized on the shelves. And I had to share some gorgeous bookcase inspiration photos…

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We’re in the middle of unpacking and setting up house but I wanted to stop in and say, “Happy Friday!” I hope you’re all having a wonderful week!  Do you have any fun plans for the weekend?

I’m dreaming of making this amazing looking strawberry chiffon shortcake (via Smitten Kitchen). I’m not sure I’ll have time. I’ll keep you posted!

Congratulations to Candice, the winner of the Nina Glaser giveaway!

I keep humming the Feist song, Mushaboom.  I think it’s the line, “…making a home from a rented house.” that feels pretty appropriate today and the video is just so cute!

This is our crazy moving week.  It was so sad to pack up our little house and leave it all alone, but we’re excited about our new city!  Here are some pretty things that are keeping my spirits up…

Pretty flowers like tulips, irises, and violets. I can almost smell spring!

Yummy pastries, especially bear claws.  Almonds?  Flakey pastry?  I’m there!

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I’m taking a quick little break from packing to wish you all a beautiful and very Happy Valentine’s Day! I hope you get something sweet!

(photo credit)  (photo credit)

(photo credit)  (photo credit)

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When I was little, my dad would leave a little treat for my sister and me at the breakfast table every Valentine’s Day morning. We were always so excited to see what was waiting for us!

Here are two super cute ideas for your own little Valentine surprises:  A pretty straw tutorial from A Field Journal. Perfect for serving with your sweetie’s favorite drink! I would vote for a blood orange italian soda.

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Nina Glaser creates beautiful designs and uses them to decorate all kinds of gorgeous things for her lovely shop. I especially love her block print napkins!

Nina and some of her lovely creations

Q. Could you tell us a little about yourself?
Hi, my name is Nina. I’m an illustrator and painter from New York, but I’m now living in the “Charm City,” also known as Baltimore, MD! I studied illustration in undergrad and painting in grad school, but I’ve always had an interest in graphic design and how it lends itself to all sorts of paper goods and home decor.

Q. Your shop is so lovely! What is your creative process like?
The process usually starts with making some sort of pattern. I’ll see a leaf that I like or a flower and start there. After drawing the pattern, I use photoshop to clean it up! Once I have my printing method ready (digital, silk screen, block print), the excitement comes from figuring out what to put it on!

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Things are getting super busy around here as we tie up all the lose ends for our move. It’s crazy but exciting all at the same time! I’m planning some fun posts for next week so make sure you check back! Happy Thursday!

if only moving were this glamourous!

Congratulations to Amanda, the winner of the Tuesday Afternoon Tea giveaway!