I’ve never tried Dr. Bronner’s bar soap, but I’ve been using the liquid soap for years. I always used to get peppermint, but I just switched to the citrus scent (big surprise, right?). I like both!
Nice packaging and it’s organic; this scrub is on my list of things to test out! Have you ever used a cleansing scrub?
A classic by Phoebe Buffay. “Lather rinse repeat.”
What’s your favorite bath product?
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
My boyfriend is a student, so I’ve got back to school on my mind. When I was little, this was a totally awesome time of year. My parents would take me to the store to get NEW STUFF! Notebooks, pencils, crayons, markers, binders (a dinosaur-themed trapper keeper one year), loose leaf paper, reinforcements, white out – the works! If they were taking me shopping this year, I’d probably ask for these things:
While we were on Martha’s Vineyard, we went to a store that carried these cool vintage-inspired Jansport backpacks. It’s such a great little bag that I almost bought it, but the price stopped me. I love the yellow and grey color combo, and the straps are super soft. It’s also pretty small, and reminded me a Jansport backpack I used in Kindergarten.
One of my very favorite things to get for the first day of school was new sneakers. I still wear sneakers on a daily basis, and I really take my time picking out the perfect pair. I’ve had some really cool ones over the years, and I like these pink ones by Adidas; they really make a statement.
I think I may have written about a bento box before, but that’s clearly not stopping me now. If I didn’t work from home, I’d buy one of these in a minute! They’re compartmentalized (read: food doesn’t touch unless it’s supposed to), compact, and so cute! These would be great to bring to school, too.
The good old yellow school bus also comes to mind when I think about school. And it’s pretty hard for me to think about that with out also remembering the way Ferris Bueller’s Day Off ends. Oh Mr. Rooney, you should have just left Ferris alone.
What does the back to school season make you think about?
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
I’ve been on Martha’s Vineyard since the 8th, and I’ve been working with a perfect ocean view. I adore the ocean. I love the way it meets the sky at the horizon and they seem to melt together. I’m crazy about the crashing of the waves. Amazing.
I took this picture from the ferry, on our trip to the Vineyard. Blue and watery and gorgeous. It’s just the sort of relaxing image I want to see when I’m headed to a vacation destination.
People are’t the only ones who like water! This great dane looks pretty comfortable in the ocean. Find more beachy photos on ftlauderdalesun’s photostream.
This is such a beautiful picture! Sea lions playing amongst the sea weeds. Visit Slow Loris’ photostream for more amazing images.
Sweet Rosebud does a great cover of Ingrid Michaelson’s Far Away. This is one of my favorite songs (check out the Ingrid’s version here); it always makes me happy.
Far away far away, I want to go far away
To a new life on a new shore line
Where the water is blue and the people are new
To another island, in another life
The seaside has been grand. I’ll be sorry to say good-bye tomorrow, but I’m so very grateful that I had the opportunity to visit!
When’s the last time you went to the ocean?
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
Last week it was hot and Humid with a capital H. I started thinking about great ways to keep cool (besides sleeping with an ice pack – true story). Here’s what made me smile.
Of course the most obvious way to beat the summer heat is to get yourself to the seaside. Or a lake, river, stream, kiddie pool – anything with water! And then jump in, of course! So a cute bathing suit is a must-have. Mine is a navy + white polka dot two piece, but I really like some of the one pieces that have been popular this season.
I could get a parasol! They’re really very practical. They used to be quite fashionable; I wonder why they went out of style. This vintage photo is available in obscurio’s Etsy shop.
How about a some ice (as in diamonds)? There are white + chocolate diamonds on this pretty 18k gold flower cocktail ring. That would really make a statement, don’t you think? It’s about $6,750 out of my price range; I need the rhinestone version.
Two different versions of “Under the Boardwalk” for you to enjoy. Go ahead, sing along. You know you want to!
How have you been keeping cool?
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
I just discovered Veronica Mars. And then the rest of my life ceased to exist while I watched the entire three season series over the course of a week. Can somebody tell me why I never watched this show when it was on?
If you, too, missed out on this television gem, it’s about a father-daughter PI team in Neptune, CA. Veronica’s an exceptionally smart and quick witted teen with a knack for crime solving.
When I think of crimes, I think of fingerprints and DNA, but that’s probably because of shows like CSI. As a civilian, Veronica doesn’t rely on these things; she spies and follows leads until she uncovers the truth. But these fingerprint cutouts are pretty awesome anyway! (via Paper Crave)
Kristen Bell (aka Veronica Mars) has great hair. Her stylist did some great dos for the show, too. I especially liked the off-to-the-side french braid look she rocked a few times, but I couldn’t find a picture. So here are some other great braids instead! (via Listen to This)
The show takes place in Neptune, CA, and the main character’s last name is Mars. Of course that made me hop onto the NASA website and check out some awesome satellite images of our solar system. Some cool facts about these planets:
More than 30 times as far from the Sun as Earth, the [Neptune] takes almost 165 Earth years to orbit our Sun. In 2011 it will complete its first orbit since its discovery in 1846.
—
[Mars] is half the diameter of Earth and has the same amount of dry land.
Of course I’ve been humming the theme song for days. It’s “We Used To Be Friends” by The Dandy Warhols.
So, what are some of your favorite TV shows (and are they streaming on Netflix)?
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
Hello there! For the past few weeks I’ve been working with career/life coach, Michelle Ward, of When I Grow Up. I signed up for group sessions, and this week I’m totally inspired by my group. Without further ado, my new friends:
Michelle is my coach. I’ve been getting her monthly newsletter for awhile now, and each month I read it and think, “oh my gosh, she wrote this about me.” I decided to work with Michelle because I have all these ideas and goals, but sometimes focusing and prioritizing is really hard when I’m so wrapped up in juggling my day job commitments and Everything Little Miss. In my group sessions, Michelle helps me set attainable goals and holds me accountable. Plus, each week I do homework assignments that make me really look at myself and figure what I want or how I thrive. I look forward to our weekly calls, and I love that she’s available for encouraging emails.
Stacy Kathryn is an illustrator who has been creating things her whole life. She recently completed a huge mural in her basement; it was quite an accomplishment. She also does smaller work, that’s available in her shop. I like penguins (who doesn’t?), so it’s no surprise that I was drawn to this painting!
I’ve written about Jess and Sweet Eventidebefore. She takes dreamy photos, and I’m so lucky to have three in my apartment. So how excited was I when I got to hear Jess’s voice the first time? Answer: very excited! One of the great things about the group coaching sessions is that we get to hear about and share in the other members’ successes and I’m so happy that Jess has had quite a few recently!
May is a graphic designer and illustrator in Oregon. She’s very eco-friendly and does most of her errands on her bike! She also uses recycled paper for her cards and stationery. This robot is my favorite item in her shop; I really like robots.
If you’ve read the Lost in Thoughts feature before, you probably know that I often get obsessed with some songs and end up listening to them on repeat for a week (or 2 or 3 or 4 — you’re lucky you don’t live with me). Juliana Finch’s Glass Heart, is my most recent addiction. If you like it even half as much as I do, you should consider donating to help her produce her next album; if you do, there are some pretty awesome perks involved! Check out more of her music here.
My favorite thing about the group sessions is feeling like I’m on a team and we’re all rooting for each other. We have our coach to help us figure out our game plan and supporting us as we take baby steps or big steps, depending on the week. Listening to my teammates discuss their struggles and successes and goals is more inspiring than I can tell you. I leave the call each week with a page full of mini-goals (plus tons of ideas and cute doodles) and thinking, “I’m really doing this. I’m really living my dreams.” That’s about the coolest thing ever, don’t you think?
Thank you Michelle, Stacy, Jess, May, and Juliana. I’m so happy to share you with the internet!
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
Welcome back to the ELM blog for another installation of Lost in Thoughts! Today I’ve got some neat-o find for you; things that make me think, “oooh, that’s cool!”
When I was little, we had bins filled with colored pencils and crayons. If we stored them like this, we probably could have filled two full walls. (via Megan Charland)
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
This week I’m drawing inspiration from my hometown, North Adams, Massachusetts. I just got back from a two week visit with my family. I always love spending time with them.
North Adams has quite a few old churches, and the steeples are a beautiful part of the skyline. This was a beautiful evening, and the cloud formation really caught my eye.
We have a summer collegiate team called the Steeplecats. We caught the tail end of the game on July 4th. It was nice to see so many people out enjoying the night and looking forward to the fireworks.
Afterwards, I had so much fun watching the fireworks with my dad. I experimented a little bit with the focus, and I got some cool pictures, like the one above. Click here to see a quick video of the finale (made from my photos).
The last few days I was home, my gramma and Uncle also came for a visit. My Uncle always stays at The Porches Inn, and this is the view from out front. Pretty, huh?
You can read a little more about my trip and the awesome fireworks right here.
Question: Do you have any exciting trips planed for the summer?
{all photos by April May}
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
On June 18 – 20, I had the privilege of attending my first muslim wedding, and it was an absolute delight. I wrote about the events and posted photos here. Everything was new to me, super colorful, and totally inspiring. Have you figured out this week’s theme yet?
While cruising around flickr looking for photos of Muslim weddings, I stumbled upon this beauty. Wow, I just love it! The lighting, the way she’s holding her veil back with her beautifully hennaed hand, just everything. What a pretty bride. Check out Shelton Muller’s photostream here.
My friends are Pakistani, but the food is virtually the same as Indian food. It was just delicious, but also way spicier than I’m accustomed to. My mouth was on fire, but it was so worth it. Yum! Plus, it’s fund to eat such brightly colored food. See more from mycameraspeaks here.
I know you guys like to see photos of me on the blog, so here I am! My boyfriend and I are laughing because we’re doing a prom pose. Both of our outfits were made in Pakistan; I really, really love mine. It’s such a gorgeous green and it’s all silky soft. I felt a little like a princess wearing custom-made clothes! See more of my pictures from the wedding here.
The first night of the wedding, people (myself included) danced for the bride and groom. One of the dances was to a Bollywood song called Billo Rani. I have no idea what it’s about, but it is incredibly catchy. It really gets started at 00:46. Enjoy!
To learn more about Muslim and Pakistani wedding customs, check out this and this.
What is your favorite thing about weddings?
-April
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
I totally want to use these fun stamps. Especially the taxi; then I could get a yellow ink pad, and that seems so much more exciting than regular old black. This is just one of many completely lovable stamp sets available from Yellow Owl Workshop.
I have to include Jennifer Hill’s gorgeous new print of Manhattan in my NYC inspiration post! Each neighborhood is illustrated with a different pattern, and the result is absolutely stunning. Plus, 15% of the gross sale of this print goes to Medecins Sans Frontieres. (via Sub-Studio Design Blog)
I gotta say, I really like this idea! Why aren’t there lanes on sidewalks to keep traffic moving swiftly? It would work just like multi-lane roads. Makes perfect sense! (via Color Me Katie)
Lost In Thoughts is a weekly series. I started this feature because I’m inspired by the amazing things I see on blogs and Etsy, and by family, friends, readers’ comments, and life. I don’t want to keep all of these wonderful finds to myself, so I gather them together on Thursdays to share with you.
Orange Blossom Bubble Bath by Compagnie de Provence
Peppermint Organic Bar Soap by Dr. Bronner
Deep Cleansing Scrub by Clovertree
limited edition Wayback by JanSport
Samba Easter Shoes by Adidas
Iro Iro Argyle Bento Box Set from Bento & Co
Victorian Women with Parasol
flower cocktail ring from Fragments
Custom Fingerprint Paper Cutting with Name by Lori Danelle
braids
Mighty Penguin by Stacy Kathryn
Peonies from Sweet Eventide
Campground by Lissy Elle
Summer Dream by Jo Bradford
Muslim Bride from Shelton Muller’s flickr
Indian Food from mycameraspeaks’ flickr
Eric + me
New York City Stamp Set from Yellow Owl Workshop
New York Cheesecake from Smitten Kitchen
Jennifer Hill’s Manhattan print for The Working Proof
Second – I want to start giving...