Growing is Forever

Hello dear internet cosmos.  I have to say, the quietness on the blog as of late is mimicking the quiet in my mind, and for that I do apologize.  There are some changes being made on this side of the computer screen.  They are very hard, but have the possibility to be very good indeed.  So, the temporary silence is just a small side-effect of these changes and hopefully I'll be back in full force soon.

In the meantime, check out this beautiful video.  I'd so very much like to go here and fall asleep on that soft ground, in the safe embrace of those gentle giants.


Growing is Forever from Jesse Rosten on Vimeo.

(Found here)


UPDATE:  Immediately after posting this, I went to check my mail and found a precious little note from an old college friend, telling me how much she loves my blog.  She took the time out of her day to send a note of love and thanks, and she had no idea that her message would come at a time when I so needed a little pick me up.  Isn't it amazing how the universe comes to your rescue when you least expect it?  So, here's to you Anna--I think I'll go ahead and plan my post for tomorrow.

Sseko

Happy Monday everyone!  Hope you all had a fabulous weekend.

Recently I ran across this this post and it reminded me that I needed to write about my own experience with this wonderful company!

Sseko Designs is a great organization that employs Ugandan women in order to help them pay for their secondary schooling.  Not only is it an honest and fair organization, but they make awesome sandals!

For my wedding, I decided to buy all of my women of honor a pair of sandals to wear at our celebration.  I contacted Sseko Designs to discuss different color and pattern options to coordinate with my wedding and they could not have been more helpful.  They even let me choose a pattern that had not been released yet and made my sandals especially for me.  I felt so special.

Needless to say, my girls LOVED them.  Now, it's just time to buy some for myself.

Photography from our wedding by Amanda Raney.

Round Up

So, I'm still waiting on all of our thousands of pictures from our mega-vacation, but I promise soon, you will see the magic that is the West.  And if you find yourself waiting too long for comfort, just buy a couple plane tickets and head out.  I promise you will not be disappointed.

Over the past few weeks, my inspiration folders have definitely loosened their belts.  I've decided it's time for a purge.  And who better to purge a big fat dose of inspiration to than you, my lovely internet cosmos!

Hold on to your horses, here we go.

Since I'm feeling particularly in love with states other than the one I live in at the moment, I'm really loving these chalkboard state maps (found via unruly things) from shop dirtsa.  How wonderful would it be to chart out all your adventures on one of these babies.  On the top of my list would be Colorado, on which I would trace out the road trip I took with the Mr. when he proposed, and California, on which I would recollect the recent adventures we had with my best friend, from San Francisco up to Mendocino.

Chalkboard State Map--California

Also from this shop, I feel like this pillow would be ridiculously adorable in a little boy's room (or in my room, whichever it lands in first).

Frog Dissection Diagram Pillow

Speaking of kids...

They sure don't make doll houses like they used to anymore.  (Found via remodelista)

Emerson House

Emerson House

Speaking of houses (stay with me here)...

Mine has recently seen the beginning of an unending cleaning spree.  I recently started working from my home more and that means the need for a clean space for students to enjoy.  That being said, I will be needing these in order to hide away the leftovers that always seem to accumulate from the night before neatly in the fridge (or leave them on the counter because they are so damn cute).  (Found via remodelista)

Bowl Overs

Speaking of food...

This cake.  Oh my goodness, this cake.  Made to resemble Stella McCartney's spring prints.  But more importantly, made to make me drool uncontrollably.  The hot FL weather is screaming for this cake.  (Found via Poppytalk.  My waistline does not thank you.)

(Above images via Apollinas)

And last but not least, speaking of my waistline...

I need to purchase this necklace asap to take focus away from said cake-infused waistline.

NOTE: This whole shop is outrageous.  I want everything.

(Found via isuwannee.  My bank account does not thank you.  My waistline does.)

Amethyst Necklace

Did you make it?  If so, you are a brave soul for trekking through this list with me.  Onward!
--MEL

Summer at the Movies

So, I know most of us aren't in a place in our lives anymore where summer means anything else except hot weather.  However, there is something about the long steamy days that just screams "don't do anything productive, have fun, stay up late, eat ice cream, etc. etc."  Regardless of the fact that summer is no longer a "break" for me, I still find myself trying to take part in as many parts of the holiday season as I can.

Unfortunately, in FL, this means staying inside.

So when I found this awesome round up of foodie films and TV collections that can be found on Netflix Instant, I immediately updated my queue.  A few I'm immediately ready to press play on:

Delicatessen on Netflix

The Real Dirt on Farmer John on Netflix

The Garden on Netflix

Enjoy!
--MEL

Dîner en Blanc

So, while I'm still on my "need to be on vacation" kick, I thought I'd tell you about this amazing article that was in the NY Times this morning.

I have never wanted to go to anything so bad in my life.

(Keep in mind the exaggeration disease I have.  However, I think in this situation, my exaggeration may not be too far off.)

Dîner en Blanc at the Louvre; NYTimes

The Dîner en Blanc is an impromptu picnic of multiple thousands of people who get together in amazing locations around Paris, all dressed in white, with delicious food and wine, and an urge to have a spectacularly amazing time.

Drool.

Now, it's coming to New York City!!!!!!!!!

(It's funny that I'm so excited about it seeing as how I live thousands of miles away and am not planning a trip to NYC anytime soon.)

Anyway, my point is that if anyone lives within 100 miles of this thing, you should go to this website, get on the waiting list, and regardless if you get an invite or not, go scour the city trying to find the location on August 25, and check this baby out.

Dîner en Blanc at Notre Dame; Facebook

I totally want to do a Dîner en Blanc in my tiny insignificant Florida town--I wonder what monumental public space we could use?  The Gator football stadium?  The humongous Wal-Mart parking lot?  Ugh, it just doesn't have the same ring to it.

Back to reality...

See, I told you it would be quiet around here for a while.

Anyway, I'm back, and as you can tell, I'm not super happy about it.  Not that I didn't miss my own home, my own bed, and especially my pup dogs, but I was in the most beautiful places with the most beautiful people and it was really hard to leave.

So the next several posts will probably be dedicated to the west.  Not only because it was spectacular, but because I simply can't get it out of my mind.

Here's a sneak peak.