…getting my hands dirty in the Spring soil. Our yard is starting to come together. Not only is our giant veggie bed back to having things growing in it, but we have started to landscape the big patch of dirt that makes up the majority of our yard. I’m living for the spring sun right now.

…impromptu trips to the Ferry Building farmers’ market with my cuz, Kate. Blue Bottle coffee at the Ferry Building is one of the best ways to start the day. My new craving involves their  Caramelized ‘Belgian Style’ Liege Waffle that arrives hot of the iron minutes after you put in your order. Yum.

…every order from my etsy shop. I have finally got my shop up and rolling and I love nothing more than packaging up orders and sending them around the country. There is something magical about having someone in Florida sticking one of my banners in their cake to celebrate a special moment. I love that.

…running on the beach. I spent a week in Santa Cruz this month and ran along the ocean’s edge everyday. Doesn’t get much more therapeutic than that.

The post {this month’s magic} april 2013 appeared first on lingering daydreams.

I’m a little bit of a instagram addict. I am a visual person. Images can pull me back in time and remind me of the moments that have filled my days. Looking back, especially on darker days, at the good things that have happened can help me find the light again.

I heart vinyl. Especially when pink. Especially when Of Monsters and Men.

Blue Bottle Coffee at the Ferry Building, best way to start a day.

My first photo shoot! Cupcake flags sitting atop Miette treats.

Packaging up orders to ship out.

My new favorite thing. The Citrus Zinger turns water into yumminess.

Running along the coast in Santa Cruz brings me serenity.

The renewal that comes along with Spring.

Most inspiring book I have read to date.

Looking forward to this wedding in June.

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{photo}

The room in our home that has probably received the least attention is our bedroom. The furniture is a collection of college purchases, family giveaways, and IKEA goodies. Since I feel the centerpiece of the bedroom is the bed, I know… I’m a little crazy, I have been inspired to get something that is more fun and funky. Something that is more us. Tufted anything has always made my heart go pitter patter. So when I saw this tutorial on how to diy it, I really starting lusting over a new nest.

I love the image above from Kathryn and Perry’s home via Apartment Therapy. It is pretty much perfect. I love the color, the straight forward shape, the pillow it has been styled with… everything.

I also like the idea of velvet, lush, cozy, timeless. Yellow velvet would rock my world with the beautiful gray walls of our bedroom.

So I have decided…

You can find this blue headboard + tutorial here. This fabric is available here.

As soon as I get my hands on the money for a new mattress [yes, we are still rolling with the double of our college days], it is on like donkey kong.

Do you have an inspiring diy that keeps sneaking into your mind? I would love to hear about it!

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I can never turn down a bottle of spray paint. So, when I stopped by my mother-in-law’s and she asked me to help her revive her garden flowers with a box of spray paint in hand, I couldn’t say no. These large metal flowers have adorned her gorgeous garden for sometime now and the weather has taken its toll. When she purchased them they were bright vivid colors, and she wanted the spark back.

Armed with paint, tinfoil, and large pieces of scratch paper Kelly, Debbie, and I got to work. The trickiest part was masking the different layers of the flowers and some original details while painting. My big brainstorm was to use the edge of a label sheet and a hole punch to create mini stickers that would allow us to save some sweet little, hand-painted dots that we didn’t want to just paint over.

The yellow flower was one of my favorites. I loved the hand-painted design around the center, so I masked the middle with a folded piece of tinfoil and lightly sprayed it, so the black paint would still show through. To paint the center of the flower I made a puddle of silver spray paint and used a scratch piece of paper as a paint brush so that it wouldn’t flood into the pink.

The three, pink flowers caught the sun beautifully with their silver center layers. The two shades of pink, the sweet little dots, and the shadow we created with dark green paint on the bottom edge of the leaves made me love it a little bit.

It was a successful afternoon. The three of us managed to get all four flowers rejuvenated within a couple hours and had them up in the garden before the sun went down.

Have you revived anything in your home or garden lately?

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Celebrations have been abound in our world lately. The mister and I celebrated our 30th birthday party with a joint bash in our basement. We held a backyard fête at the beach for my brother-in-law who recently got engaged. Then there are the showers and bachelorette parties in the near future. For each of these occasions I have found myself making cupcake flags. They are pretty much my new favorite thing. They bring pizazz to the life of handheld deserts. They make it a little party on a cake plate.

   As a side note, making that gif was so much fun. I might have a new addiction.

If you want your own set of cupcake flags you can find them here.

Hope you are having a happy Friday!

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The post {dreaming of} april 2013 appeared first on lingering daydreams.

This weekend we spent our days prepping an engagement party in the beautiful city of Santa Cruz. My brother-in-law found the lovely lady he wants to spend the rest of his life with and I can’t think of a better excuse for a party than that! Given that our family loves throwing a shindig, we had all hands on deck to cook, decorate, and create a little gathering for 65 family and friends.

Guests were greeted at the gate by an arrangement of white hydrangeas, tulips, and twisty willow that had the invitation tucked amid the branches. My sister-in-law, Kelly, put it together. She has a way with flowers that she may have inherited from her green-thumbed mother.

My favorite detail of the party was the guestbook. My mother-in-law, Debbie, had the brilliant idea to purchas The Newlywed Cookbook from Crate & Barrel and have guests write a note to the happy couple on a page of their choice. After flipping through its pages I may have to purchase one for myself, despite the fact that I think my “newlywed” window has long since  closed.

The welcome table also dawned a card box Debbie covered in the teal of the party. She attached a sea star to the top to add a little of the elegant ocean vibe we were going for. The picture was a favorite from their engagement photos and a handful of pens sat ready for guests to grab.

As you entered the backyard my “Happily Ever After” banner was there to greet you. Paper is my thing. I used scalloped cards, foam stamps, and gray paint to create the cards. Then I backed them in teal and cut slits that allowed me to string them onto satin ribbon. I have made a similar banner before and love how it looks as a backdrop for photos of the happy couple.

The yard was lit with tiki torches and a mixture of teal table cloths covered round tables. It was so nice to sit and chat and hear from people who I hadn’t seen in far too long.

My hubby acted as bartender for part of the evening, mixing delicious margaritas and chatting people up. It was a beautiful afternoon and a fun filled night. Congratulations Nick and Sharilyn!

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… making crafts day in and day out for craft fairs. It is exciting to put myself out for the public eye to see and find out what happens next.

… sipping warm beverages that have been simmered with orange peel, cloves, nutmeg, and a little brown sugar.

… using a headlamp to read aloud Peter Nimble to my mister while sitting around our fire pit in the dark. Best date ever.

… eating pumpkin pie for breakfast.

… having the love of family to wrap you up in a little cocoon when sad times strike.

… sitting outside in the November light, tasting the wines of MJA Vineyards, and talking into the evening.

The post living for {november 2012} appeared first on lingering daydreams.

Industrial Flare: (1) scissors (2) tape dispenser (3) stool

Lighting: (4) pendant (5) lamp

Whimsy: (6) brass owl (7) bird clip (8) book ends (9) usb port (10) pencil holder

Calm Simple Organization: (11) calendar (12) magnetic file folder (13)  cord catch (14) letter boxes (15) chest of drawers

Real Life Pinterest: (16) Naomi Murrell print …i couldn’t find original links for the rest of the photographs, let me know if you know where they are from…

Hope you are finding ways to make your inspirations a reality. I would love to hear about them!

The post {office} the essentials appeared first on lingering daydreams.

… the clear days that seem to fill San Francisco during these late days of fall. The light is beautiful.

… growing my hair back out so that I can have a sock bun again!

… crafting up a storm while I prepare for upcoming winter fairs. So many candles and cake banners!

… getting back to drinking my juice. I have wandered off my healthy path. I am determined to get back on. Morning juice here I come.

… taking walks with the mister every night. This is a goal we set and set again. This time it is going to happen. I can feel it.

… taking more photographs. I want to start bringing my camera with me everywhere. I want to capture more moments, but I also want to live in the moment. How to do both?

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