5/4/11

Five Goals for May

At the beginning of every month I make a new set of goals. I didn't share last months,  but I am going to share May's.  I feel that putting my goals out there in blogger land helps keep me accountable. Do you agree?  Now that this semester of school (thank goodenss) I now have under 30 days to get my digital life back in order.  I feel like sometimes it overtakes me. I literally have 200+ starred items in my Google reader, images to add to my pintrest, random files on my laptop that need storing and images that need editing.  Isn't technology suppose to help us and free up our time? My goals this month are really just about recovering, refiling and re-prioritizing what I want to look at.

Part of this process started last month with general email maintenance.  During the month of April I made it a point to "unsubscribe" from at least one email junk mail a day.  It has helped get me down from over 50 emails a day to around 20.  I wanted to share the email/ companies I get the most use out of and the ones that don't SPAM you everyday (I am looking at you Bath and Bodyworks.) Hopefully you find this list a little helpful.

1. OneKingsLane | They send an email out everyday around 11AM EST with AMAZING deals.  You have to be super quick.  If there is something that you want, I suggest logging in before 11.  On the weekend they send out great culinary deals. * If you sign up using the link above I get a credit, then you can encourage your friends to sign-up too.  This isn't why I am listing them though...I actually shop here!

2. SniqueAway | This is the truth, I LOVE to read trip advisor + I love to plan trips to places I really hope to visit one day.  This is the BEST of both worlds.  The resorts and trips they choose are to some pretty incredible destinations and the hotels are usually 5 star.  The deals are beyond amazing.  They email you about every other day and the deals only last for a few days.  It's a very convenient website as all the information you need is right in the same browser.  Tripadvisor reviews too! 



Shem Creek. Mt. Pleasant, SC


3. LivingSocialEscapes | This is the best of living social and it offers the same great living social deals on short weekend escapes to locations within driving distance (or beyond.)  We are taking a Living Social escape at the end of this month.  These mini escapes usually include dinner, activities, wine and more.  It's a great deal if you are looking to explore new areas. These emails usually only come out once a week. 

4. Dinner Tonight from Everyday Foods | Martha's emails can be overwhelming, but this is one that I look forward to everday. I would say that at least once a week this email directly inspires my dinners. The recipes are easy to follow.  Here's a hint. Read the comments under the recipes.  I often find a substitute that saves money + calories. These emails come out every afternoon.




5. WholeLivingChallenge | Another Martha specialty, but this is from whole living magazine.  I find the magazine a little dry, but this challenge has been great.  They send out a daily email with a tip that is easy to implement in your day.  It's not to late to sign-up. These emails arrive in the morning.

6.  The Daily Muse-Skirt Magazine | It is my life long dream to work for this magazine OR have something published in the monthly publication.  They started here in Charleston, but you can find Skirt (free) in many cities on the East Coast.  They are always on the cutting edge of trendy/cool.  So for me it feels awesome when the daily muse arrives in my inbox and its something that I have already discovered! This is a daily morning email that is worth a look. 

PS. These companies do not know who I am (read: really sad about that Skirt Magazine) and did not ask me to review them.  These are my own words.

5/3/11

Where I've been

SO much to catch up on.  Last week felt like a whirlwind with finals, the 1st anniversary + traveling to Washington, DC for work.  For today's post I am going to let instagram do the talking for me! Hope you are having a great start to your week.  So much to be happy about in early May.  Can't wait to share my May goals with you and find out what your May goals are.  So, what are your May goals + wishes?!?



::A rainbow after a crazy hailstorm, while we waited to run the i5K (it was canceled.)::



::An amazing 1st Anniversary dinner at High Cotton | Downtown, Charleston::



::Paper Anniversary + a gift of messages in a bottle.  My husband was very romantic!::



::A moment to catch my breath::



::Flying to Washington, DC for work and lots of visits with friends::



::Missing him + happy to come home to the grand opening of one of our FAVORITE local restaurants| Juanita Greenbergs, Mount Pleasant::

5/2/11

Thank you for your service


I wanted to take a moment this morning to say, "Thank You" to the men and women who serve to fight and protect our country.  My deepest appreciation for doing what I know I could not.  Thank you for your service.

PS. If you want to learn how to help families of the men and women serving our country, go here.

4/22/11

Friday's Fancies: One Year

Hello friends.  So glad to be back with Friday's Fancies.  This is a VERY special episode (ha, ha.)  I am celebrating ONE YEAR with my husband on Sunday!  I have a post planned over the weekend to reminisce about the wedding (read: photos!) We decided to celebrate on Saturday night and I am so excited to dress-up and go downtown with him.  We got married on the rooftop terrace of the South Carolina Aquarium on a drizzly warm April night.  I hope the weather is exactly the same! Mostly so I can stop being so pissed that it rained on our wedding day.

My Friday's Fancies outfit is inspired loosely by what I hope to wear.  I am crazy for nude wedges/heels, gold jewelry, and orange lipstick.  On my wedding day I wore my very favorite Bvlgari au the blanc perfume and lashes so I had to include them! I think the best part of this first anniversary is knowing that we celebrate each other everyday and this is just an excuse to go to dinner + drink wine together!  I hope you have a wonderful weekend what ever YOUR celebrating and if you have a second stop by this weekend to look at some wedding pictures. 

P.S.  Isn't that bracelet AMAZING.  26K that's pretty affordable, no? Thank goodness this is Friday's Fancies!



One Year Anniversary




One Year Anniversary by jenypenny featuring drop earrings


4/19/11

Currently::April edition

Hello! This is going to one heck of a crazy week.  School ends on Monday and I have two major projects to finish. Through this organized chaos I can see the finish line.  I wanted to pop in a quick post because it makes me feel good to have something completed! Hip-hip-hooray for blogging.


::Organized Chaos::


listening:: Florence + the Machine on Amazon Cloud Player. 

eating::  Salad with radishes, cucumbers + Fig Balsamic (read: yes, its amazing as it sounds!) from Oil & Vinegar.

drinking:: water from my pink camelbak. 

reading:: the schedule for creative mornings.  Kind of like TED for creative types.  San Fran is my favorite.

wearing:: black flip-flop sandals, black trousers, a green peasant shirt, and my white fossil watch.

feeling:: like a caged animal.  B.e.a.u.t.f.u.l day outside and I want to be doing something creative, but honestly anything would be better than where I currently am (read: work.)

weather:: See above.  Warm sun on skin, slight breeze to keep you cool. 

wanting:: to pick up my final project from the printer and see it in all its glossy glory (read: A magazine project for my Advance configuration final.)   

needing:: these + this + that  and wanting very much to make this.

thinking:: about my ETSY shop.  I need to do some research, rebranding, revitalizing and plan a reopening schedule.  Happy to be taking this course from Red Velvet.  It has been very thought provoking.

enjoying:: Making reservations for our ONE YEAR anniversary- I can't believe it has almost been a year of marriage.  Happiness!

wondering: where summer vacation should take us? Currently I am thinking Amelia Island, Dove Mountain, Jamaica or to visit a friend in Hawaii.  It will be a well deserved graduation present!

Finally...checkout {av} beautiful post about holy city hospitality + check out her farmers market pictures.  LOVED meeting her.  I was so sorry to miss meeting everyone else!

4/15/11

Friday Fancies::I heart Kate Spade

Hello Friends! I had the day off today with my husband so I am a little late in posting the Friday's Fancies.  Eek! Today is dedicated to my idol Kate Spade. Every season her designs capture me. The current spring line is especially good. I love green (see wedding shoes in header) and there are lots of great green things to see at Kate Spade currently. So please enjoy my Friday Fancies...ode to Kate Spade! (ps. when you click the kate spade link above choose play and browse through all the awesome photos.) I am linking up with {av} as usually.  You all...{av} is just as awesome in person as she is on her blog.  I was so happy to meet her and when I did, she felt like an instant friend.  That is true blogger magic!

::image::



1. Kate Spade bike | Only available in select stores.
2. Cherry Valley Adeline | 325.00
3. Gumdrop Stud Earrings-White | 38.00
4. Fawna | 285.00
5. Mrs. | 78.00

4/13/11

Visual Inspiration

Hello Friends! I am working on my final project for Computer Animation, so I took to You Tube last night to look for some visual inspiration.  Am I the last to find all the awesomeness that is You Tube?!?  I thought it was just for singing babies and weird human tricks, but it is so much more.

I normally hate when people post videos on their blogs, but I thought these two were worth sharing.  I read blogs mostly for the visual stimulation and written word so I felt like these would be appropriate to share here.  These videos combined both brilliantly. The first is kinda long at 6 minutes, but it does a good job of explaining how using just words can paint a picture. The other video is an excellent use of kinetic typography.    






What has been visually inspiring you lately? Do you feel overloaded? There is so much out there.
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