This Very Garden

And that's exactly how I have been feeling this week. Summer is here and the sun is giving its glorious glow every evening. But on this particular evening, I picked some lavender for myself. I had so much fun taking these photos and was loving the scent as I held them close to me, so much so that I couldn't stop thinking about doing this regularly. That is, find more plants and flowers to fill my head with. 

See, my mind has been buzzing with the idea to make my very own floral journal. This would be filled with a sketch of each one that I come across or want to know more about. Each page I will research and jot down a few notes that need remembering. And if applicable, press the flower/plant inside to keep forever.

I also want to try my hand at handmade recycled paper making! Maybe this will be what my journal is made of... If you or anyone you know does this or has experimented with handmade paper let me know! 

Tarnished brass, gold lockets, yellowy film photos, old books with fonts that were long forgotten, delicate lace and long evening gowns, beautiful pottery, millinery, and the decades of clothing. . . 

These are a few of my favorite things! Today I want to mention a good deal of my most loved and admired shops that sell the pretty things of past times. There's quite a few I will list here but I'm sure I haven't even began to make a dent in the many wonderful companies! But I hope this post serves as a way to share my interest in vintage items, and showcase my little collection too!

Adored Vintage

One of the top shops I always visit first is the wonderful world that Rodellee Bas has created in Portland, Oregon. She owns a gorgeous brick studio where she repairs and then resells vintage clothing and home goods. I love her happy and fun spirit that is felt through her words, photos, and life. One day I wish so much to meet her!

MUR Lifestyle

Not exactly a vintage shop at first glance, Mur Lifestyle is still a lovely dose of timeless goods for the simple home. From tableware to tools, my eyes remain glued to the earthy feel and elegance.

Gossamer

Definitely one for all the wedding feels, Gossamer has some of the most stunning gowns and garments I could ever wish to own. 

Dalena Vintage

This fun 50s-ish vintage shop hails from sunny Austin, Texas. The outfits are simple and unique, and oh so cute!

Millay

Curating gorgeous light and bright photos of handcrafted goods and vintage clothes, this Philly store is perfect for "the modern romantic" as they tell us. And oh so true! The clothing pieces could make anyone look and feel amazing!

Blossom Vintage

And on the list, we have a colorful California traveling van known as Blossom! How exciting to travel from city to city and meet people who share the same love for vintage! Also, for new customers, is a twenty percent off code in their Instagram bio!

Willow Hilson

This vintage boutique combines two of my most favorite things in this world: vintage and florals. Annnnd, there shop is located in England! Maybe not so great for shipping costs but I am enthralled with their items and sweet feminine aesthetic!

Allen Company

Muted tans, browns and blues here! Such lovely simple pieces that get re-tagged too. 

Barnaby Jack

Thoughtfully styled photography and world travels make Barnaby Jack so great. They have a more 70s boho vibe that captures the essence of minimal and vintage.

Dear Golden

A Michigan shop that showcases gowns with a wow factor. Each piece tells a story and grabs your eye!

Love Charles

Tales of a vintage shop owner's life plus clothing and accessories that seem to come straight out of a movie! Along with having womens' items, they also have a quality menswear section from the 40s to the 80s.

Five Clementines Vintage

An Etsy shop dedicated to sell mainly home goods, Five Clementines is the perfect spot for small gifts and fun finds!

Warmer weather is on its way and this calls for protecting and nourishing your skin and body. And for me, keeping my skin, lips, nails, and hair well taken care of makes for a happier me! My skin can get very dry in patches on my face and also around my knuckles and elbows. It's not attractive and it can feel uncomfortable, so I need something to exfoliate and moisturize those areas. Keeping up with it is not bad, but these products are ready for on-the-go touch ups when I am out and need to reapply quickly. Also, this nude pink nail color seems to be the in thing at the moment, and I am definitely agreeing. Anyway, here is a short list of what I'm using this spring, and plan on continuing re-stocking my online cart up with when I'm all out:

SOUL SUNDAY positive seeds  x  green tea

This oh so buttery soft lip + skin balm is just the thing for my chapped, distressed lips. When applied, the green tea flavor just the right amount and the lightly scented essential oils are heavenly. Gotta be my go to balm from now on.

You can find it both here and here (on sale)

NUTIVA coconut oil + Indigo Marble Bowl

Coconut is one of the world's most nourishing superfoods. It's pretty all-purpose in that it can be used for sautéing, baking, and body care. If a product has this on its label, you can be sure it will help your skin. Sometimes instead of using lotions, I grab a dab of coconut oil and it does the trick. My knuckles and elbows look considerably better when I've helped myself to it.

I almost forgot! This stunning indigo marbled bowl by the talented Jenny Rijke was given to me for winning her recent giveaway. I adore how unique it is! Makes for a great little dish to spoon out my coconut oil.

You can find the coconut oil here and Jenny's bowl here

HERBIVORE beach wave hair mist x coconut and sea salt

In Herbivore Botanicals own words: "Sea Mist Hair Spray is formulated with the same salinity as Pacific Ocean saltwater. This spray is great for adding beachy texture and waves to hair naturally."

In this photo, I had curled my hair with a curling iron, yes, but it took me close to 8 minutes. There was already that lift I was looking for after spritzing a few salty sprays. And listen to me right now: The smell is killer good. I already love coconut scent but this dreamy sea salt spray has an irresistible coconutty scent that I just want to smell everyday. Like smelling the beachy sea air on vacation when you first arrived. It's great, then, for freshening up midday or evening. Mmmm.

You can find it here

REVLON colorstay gel envy x perfect pair

My mom actually picked this color out one day for a vacation and I instantly fell in love with the subtle blush hue. It's my favorite for when I don't know what color to wear on my nails but I need them to look polished. In addition, the colorstay gel envy top coat is equally helpful in guaranteeing a long lasting finish.

You can find it here

REVLON pumice stone 

Best for exfoliating the bottoms and heels of feet, this stone can be lathered up with soap and rubbed gently on any rough areas. I use it for my elbows too, if they're really looking dry. The stone is natural and gentle so don't be mislead by it's name.

You can find it here

And [the next day], God said, "Let their be light." (Genesis 1:3) This glorious photo below was taken the following day, or matter of days. The soft glisten of melting snow in the evening sunlight was certainly "a fearsome thing to behold," like Elizabeth Bennett remarked about an accomplished woman in the 2005 film adaption of Jane Austen's' most brilliant novel.

Here is the perfect DIY just in time for the holidays! My mother and I roamed the Christmas sections in two different stores recently and found that the trend was trees with different materials for leaves. There was a felt tree, twine trees, and knitted trees! I love how unique you can get with a tree; it doesn't even have to be the main tree in the living room! That's why these guys are perfect for the table. Just a heads up: I painted the styrofoam before I put on the poinsettias to hide the stark white against the gold. So, do that and let them dry first! Otherwise, check it out and let me know if you love this idea!

What you'll need:

+ Poinsettia Bouquet (Dollar Store)

+ Styrofoam Cones (Micheal's)

+ Flat head pins

+ Scissors

+ Glue Gun (if necessary)

+ Paint to match Poinsettia

Step 1:

Start cutting each leaf off of the stem, being careful to cut as close to edge as possible. This allows for maximum size of leaf!

Step 2:

And this is what it should look like:

If you want a tree top decoration, just cut off the sparkly middle of the poinsettia stem and superglue on the top of your tree. It makes it look complete and festive!

The Lord is good! I have been waiting for the right time and the right print to buy from Hand Lettering Co. and when my mother's birthday came up I knew this would be the opportune choice. Admiring the company's intricate typography designs from the moment I stumbled upon their Instagram (@handletteringco) led me to believe in great design with purpose and truth. It's such a blessing to see God's word decorated for His glory! The artist, Chris Wright, has an incredible talent to create this 'scripture art.' I look forward to many more pieces! 

This is me enjoying a much needed coffee and a slice of Angel food cake. I have been limiting my caffeine intake for a while now and this was just heavenly. 

Can't wait to give this precious gift to my mother soon!

"Let the word of Christ dwell in you richly, teaching and admonishing one another in wisdom, singing psalms and hymns and spiritual songs with thankfulness in your hearts to God

and whatever you do, in word or deed do everything in the name of the Lord Jesus giving thanks to God the Father through Him."

Colossians 3:16-17