weekend links: keep sharing the good

Whenever we enter a new season my mind fills up with ideas.  Its a time to create new goals, start to-do lists (and hopefully cross things off), evaluate my body & closet - because lets face it summer is almost here and this chick is no where near swimsuit ready.  Its not only a time for me to reflect on my life and what I'm doing or want to do, but I love seeing how everyone else is living too!  

Lately I've seen this backlash of people hating on the pretty pictures, the perfect blog posts, the gorgeous instagrams of what can be perceived as a 'perfect life'.  I just cant help, but to want to tell them all to shut up (sorry!).  Why would I share an ugly picture of a laundry pile (that I'm sure you are aware of what it looks like), when I can share something like pretty flowers I saw on a walk or the yumminess of a smoothie?  My friend Casey shared a great response to this topic here and Tara Swinger shared a great reminder too!  I hope that when I share something that I find to be funny, pretty, tasty or just lighthearted- that it can somehow make your day better.  We are all living a different life, but I want to keep seeing the good stuff- I have enough laundry piles of my own to have to see anyone else's =)

In keeping it real- if you have any interest at all- this week:

We had take out 2 nights in a row, as I had no desire to cook.

I only made our bed once

We watched every episode of American Horror Story in 2 days

I only posted on the blog once this week & it was a guest post

and we went out of town to visit my parents for the weekend

it was a good week!

I hope you all had a wonderful weekend, here are the things I'm loving lately..

swoon worthy interiors via dwell studio

 graphic b/w clutch via rouge + whimsy

the do's and don'ts of getting a haircut via rue magazine

MAKE:
blooming word art- seriously I love this!
banana egg pancakes and share em with me =)
any photo into a polaroid- easy easy easy
these faux metal letters, this is on my project to-do list.. the list is getting long!

SEE:
this beautiful textile shop on etsy
a cool necklace i swooped up a few weeks ago & seem to be rocking quite often!
great branding at work with this amazing shop.. i want like one of everything, please.
5 easy tips for making basic photos more interesting

DO:
check out this personal post on because of jackie (yep shes a sponsor & yep i heart her)
find a place to let your passion for photography bloom!
read this post- might change your perspective if you are against people on their phones.
take advantage of my friend chelseas spring special for blog design (use code spring5)

5 favorite blogs of the week:
blood & champagne
your friend ashlee
floral & frayed
jenny highsmith
bellovia

Check out previous weekend links here! xo

dwell: casey leigh

Although I tend to focus on indie business & the handmade community here, I still have many interests.  Most include home decor, music, thrifting, coffee, good books & lip gloss.  I have been wanting to start this project for a while in sharing my love for home decor and am excited to introduce Dwell to the blog today.

Dwell: to live as a resident, reside.  to exist in a given place or state.

Our homes are our hearts.  They are a reflection of our style.  The place we build and keep memories, dreams, love, struggles.. you name it.  They are the spaces and places that make up a home and I've invited some friends to share this part of their lives with us.  This weekly feature kicks off today with my beautiful friend Casey, enjoy!

Hi! My name is Casey Wiegand and I blog over at CaseyLeigh

My favorite spots in our home are the spots created for my little ones. Their rooms hold so much heart. So many beautiful memories are made in these spaces and so much of my soul is in these corners of our home. Today I am sharing bits and pieces of their spaces. 

I have three little ones and these spots are created for them. These are beautiful spaces where they can play, imagine, dream and dwell. 

To find out more about Casey check her out here: blog: instagram: facebook

Do you have a beautiful & unique home, room or even spot in your house that you would like to share?
Email: blog@justlove.ly (subject: dwell) to be considered. xo

weekend links: stay humble

Hi friends, I hope you are having a wonderful weekend!  For me, it was all about business planning.  A lot happened this week (beginnings and endings that I will share here soon!), but it has given me a new focus that I can't ignore and the print below is perfect for it. I've also been on a studio kick as I get my work space to be everything I want it to be, or everything it can be in this little condo of ours!

Lastly I have been driven with a huge desire to create and can't wait to share that here more often. Earlier this week a friend mentioned how I was number twenty-three on blog lovin diy blogs and it was so funny to me because last year I was number nine!  Obviously the creativity fell off my plate, but I want to find it again (3 second rule??).  I want to gobble up as many projects as I can, it really is a huge passion of mine that goes hand in hand with my lifestyle and interests.

motivational monday by eliza cerdeiros

a round up of inspirational work spaces by modern buttercup

a tutorial for garden and plant markers

MAKE:
a smoothie! check out 52wks of smoothies by miss indie (yummm!)
this adorable book clutch!
a new drink- try this chipotle whiskey sour
a star light garland.. this is super cute!
something, anything... check out all these projects by fox & hazel.

SEE:
a cute & quick home tour via deer circus
5 crushes then & now- i'm still digging joseph gordan-levitt!
these insanely cute sunglasses- i wonder if they would bug me though..?
some creative job openings in the l.a area (dream jobs!)
if you won't be overwhelmed with all the resources oh my handmade shares

DO:
Listen to some of these playlists, i love the mixes that kelly ann creates!
make a messy fishtail like this, its so perfect for spring
giggle at the white house and their new tumblr account =)
check out these sweet and simple blog designs
find new blogs to read or advertise with here!

VISIT (favorite blogs of the week):
treasures and travels seriously i love love love these girls
blythe ponytail parades been following a while, but adoring more this week
yesterdays sweetheart new to me read that i'm totally swooning over

Check out previous weekend links here. xo

make: printed fabric

Projects for the home are one of my most favorite to do.  Don't get me wrong I love shopping for decor, but at the end of the day seeing something I made feels just a little more special.  Since we recently moved to a new city, I've been trying to come up with more projects I can do that have a high impact with low cost (because lets face it, moving isn't cheap!).  I've seen this plus sign print all over lately, but in my quest for pillows one case having a price tag ranging from $38-52 wasn't doing it for me- this is where the diy saves the day! (i originally shared this diy on gussy sews)

You can use this tutorial for any sort of fabric project you have, but today I'm showing you how I made new pillow cases for our future home.  The supplies I used were fabric paint, brush applicator, stencil and pillow cases.  I used a thin piece of cardboard for my stencil, which was hand drawn & cut out with an xacto-blade.  Tip: Pre-wash and dry your fabric so the chemical base the manufacturer uses on the fabric comes off and it accepts your paint better.

If you are going to be making a lot of prints with your stencil make an extra copy as the paint can weaken your stencil as it gets wet.  Place a piece of cardboard or some sort of protector under the layer of fabric you are working with so it doesn't bleed through.  Tap your brush in paint and dab-dab-dab like this to fill up your design with paint.  Tip: if you aren't a stencil type, opt for stamps!

When you finish lay flat or hang to dry for a minimum of 24 hours and wash & dry your fabric again (or follow the manufacturers instructions from the paint you are using).  This project is great because it really can be used for so many things like tote bags, scarves, baby stuff... enjoy!

If you have ever painted on fabric how did it go?  If you have any tips or tricks, share with me!