Handmade Valentine Swap?! Yes!

I just signed up for this handmade valentine swap, and I couldn't be more excited! Stationery has always been my thing, and I just expanded my paper craft stash by purchasing some things from Cute Tape. I can't wait to pull out my stuff and start creating. Here are some gorgeous vintage valentines to get you inspired:

 Images taken from The Graphics Fairy
Update:
I also signed up for this valentine swap. Sign up by Friday, January 21st!
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Meal Planning!

I am trying to work on planning meals on a month by month basis this year. Yesterday I came up with the meals until the end of January. I'm hoping that planning this far in advance will help me. I like knowing what I am going to cook for the week and having the food in the fridge and pantry, but planning week by week is just a bit too much for me. We'll see how it goes! I am using this free meal planning website as a guide. They have recipes on the site that you can add to to your meal plan and you can also add your own recipes. After you plan your meals, you use the recipes to create a shopping list.

Here is the plan for the rest of the week:
Wednesday- Ground Turkey Sloppy Joes
Thursday- Mexican Bean Salad
Friday- Eat Out!
Saturday- Leftovers or Pizza
Sunday- Mediterranean Chick Pea Salad and Sandwiches

If you're looking for some other meal planning advice or ideas check out this blog.

Needlepoint!

This past weekend I did my first needlepoint project. I am constantly redirecting my crafty pursuits, and I tell myself that I should just focus on one thing if I ever want to get really good at it. I just like trying out all kinds of crafts! Just to give you a taste of the different crafts I like- I learned how to crochet last weekend, I love all types of paper crafts, especially scrapbooking and card making, I like to sew, and I have been wanting to make a quilt for some time now. I just can't narrow it down! Needlepoint has my attention this week. I got interested in it when I read Cath Kidston's catalog, which reads much more like a magazine. If you don't know who Cath Kidston is, then you must check out her site and catalogue. I love getting it in the mail because it is soo inspiring! I really want to get her new book called "Stitch!"You can only get the book on the UK amazon, and it comes to about $25 US currency. If it weren't for the price tag, I would definitely own it! Plus, the book comes with everything to make that little purse on the cover. The needlepoint I did over the weekend was a little patch with the same flower motif on the cover of the book.

Along with doing some stitching over the weekend, I got to explore Nashville while Jordan was at a conference. I went to some cute vintage clothing stores and an amazing antique book store. I found so many great old books that I wanted. Nashville has soo many things to do, I really want to go back and visit again soon.

Jeremy Larson

This is a video from a project Jeremy Larson is doing called Fort Christmas. I have just recently discovered him, and I will definitely be buying his new EP when it comes out. This is the sweetest love song. It's about a couple getting to know each other for the first time on New Years Eve. It is so close to my heart since I got married on New Years Eve. My favorite line is towards the end. He says, "This is the beginning of the best years of our life, the first years of our lives, starting now." Hope you enjoy!

Fall Fashion

I am soo ready for fall! We've had a few slightly cool days, but I am ready for fall to be here full force. The worst thing about living in the south is that spring and fall are so short! I guess it just means I'll have to enjoy every second of it. I had my first pumpkin spice latte of the season last weekend at the bookstore, and it definitely got me wishing for cooler weather. I have been perusing Free People checking out all the gorgeous clothes and trying to think of some ways to improvise with cheaper alternatives. Here is a look at some items I really want!

http://www.freepeople.com/sept-outfit-6?cm_re=100907_outfits-_-outfit5flash-_-outfit6

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-all-tops/queen-ann-lace-top/

http://www.freepeople.com/clothes-pants/fp-super-skinny-cord/

Macarons!

We just returned home from a long visit to Maine, making a quick stop in New York on our drive up. While Jordan spend the weekend in NY at a conference, I got to explore New York City for the first time. I did a lot of shopping, and I made it to all of my favorite stores. While I couldn't afford the gorgeous clothes in Free People or pick up anything at Anthropologie, I did manage to try macarons for the first time! After hearing so much about these tasty cookies on other blogs and in this cookbook, I decided I had to give them a try. Oh my goodness! They were divine and definitely worth the price ($13 for 6 cookies). Macarons are delicate meringue cookies with some sort of filling to complement the flavor of the macaron. I picked up some macarons at this little french cafe right around the block from our hotel. My favorite flavor was definitely the dark chocolate macaron as it had the most delicious filling, but the raspberry ones were great too. If you ever get the chance to try macarons...go for it!

Sorry if I went a little gaga over macarons, but I'm in love! On another note, I'm happy to be back home after a great visit up north. I am soo jealous of their weather, though! Maine has a perfect summer. I wanted to spend every minute I could outdoors. I even got to take a nap on the front porch during a light rain storm (my idea of perfection!).  Now that we're back, I'm ready to hit the restart button and get things back in order around the house. I have a lot of ideas for decorating and crafting that I want to share soon!

Sorry for the this long winded post, and thanks for making it to the end!

Bathroom decorating

Our upstairs bathroom has been pretty bland ever since we moved in. I am determined to spruce it up! It was one of the last rooms I felt like fixing up because not very many people see it. A few weekends ago, after we found out we were going to get to stay in our apartment, I purchased an etagere. That fancy word is basically a cabinet that fits over the toilet. It was super cheap at Hudsons Dirt Cheap, and it really made a difference. I am not through styling it yet though. I think that if I add some glass knobs it will look so much cuter and shabby chic. The funny thing is that the knobs will cost almost as much as the cabinet! Here is a picture of the etagere I bought (the only difference is that mine only has the cabinet doors on the bottom shelf, the top two are open) and the shower curtain I am saving up for:

Any ideas for some cute art to go in the bathroom? I am worried about hanging pictures in there because of the steam, but I know people do it all the time. How do you deal with taking care of wall hangings in the bathroom?