Hello, Winter

I'll give you three hints where I'll be heading off to tomorrow to spend an entire week!

Winter just showed its pretty little face there last night. That's fine, my shoveling muscles needed some exercise.

 

There's no high-speed Internet there which means I'll be catching up on some good reading and movie watching.

The best pup in the world lives there and is waiting my arrival.

 

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Yup, you guessed it! This will be my backyard for a whole week and I couldn't be more excited. Just when I was getting used to the 60 degree winter we've been having here in Jersey, I'll now be snuggling up with cozy blankets and our wood stove on the farm! Can't wait.

 

Of course that means it'll be a little quiet around here for a week but I'm sure I'll be poppin' in over on facebook so feel free to visit and stay a while!

I hope you lovelies all have a wonderful weekend!

 

DIY Shell Stirrers

If you're wondering what to do with all those shells and skewers you have laying around, then you'll love this DIY I created over on True Event. And if you're a destination or oceanside bride, then you'll love it even more!

Go ahead, check it out. I dare you. And then feel free to make your favorite island cocktail to try out the shell stirrers!

 

Ribbons + Tissue Paper Poms Forever

Stop whatever you're doing and head to 100 Layer Cake to check out all the pretty behind Ruth + Ed's magical Maine wedding.

With happy colors like bright turquoise, pink and yellow, their wedding soars straight to the tippy top of my list.

Who wouldn't want to escape to their own little world surrounded by heart balloons.

Obviously I die for these details. 

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If a roomful of turquoise chiavari chairs is a budget buster for you, then just rent two for you and your hubby! Or refinish two old chairs from a garage sale and paint them any fun color you like! Then you have two perfect keepsakes from your big day.

 

Ribbons + tissue paper poms forever. And dresser bars. And mason jars + pretty straws. 

Forever.

 

Downton Abbey Dreamin'

Do any of you lovelies watch Downton Abbey? Please tell me you do. 

We can talk all about it over here if you like, because holy cow, the finale was awesome. If you haven't jumped on the Downton train, you must do so. You can catch up on both of the seasons online and then thank me later.

In almost every episode, there's a scene where the ladies must go upstairs to dress for dinner with the help of their maids. Can you imagine? They come down wearing the finest frocks you've ever seen and it's really fun to see the styles change over the seasons. I decided if ever I was invited to attended a dinner at Downton Abbey, I'd wear this dress.

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Totally inappropriate and way too revealing but I love it. Anything to make the Countess of Grantham squirm.

 

Milk Glass + Clementines

Enjoy the weekend, you beautiful people.

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*Stirring Around*

I can't get enough of these free printable flags.

You had me at the confetti background.

Any cocktail with lavender in it is a friend of mine.

Rockin' a little neon tonight in honor of this little bit of inspiration.

Oh, why must you temp me?

I'll be spending some serious QT with my pup soon and I can't wait to try this DIY!

Who needs a vase when a tub will do?

 

Valentine's Retreat

Goodness, I have been quite absent this week. Will you forgive me? I do have a pretty good excuse for yesterday's absence, though. You see, for my Valentine's gift, my husband took the day after Valentine's off so we could spend all day in bed watching movies. Pretty sweet, that guy. So, to make it even more special, I spent all of Valentine's Day cutting over 200 hearts and ribbons and creating a little post-Vday retreat for us in our living room to enjoy the next day. After a little blueberry and oatmeal whole wheat pancake action made by yours truly, we dragged out the blow up mattress and set up camp in front of the tv all day. It was pure bliss.
 

(please excuse the silly picture quality)

The only thing I had to buy was the pretty craft paper for the hearts. All the ribbons, bakers twine, letters and fabric were from our wedding or previous craft projects. I love when you use what you have laying around.

The best part is we can reuse the garlands and hearts for all the Valentine's to come! 

Had to incorporate ribbons somehow...

Wouldn't the ribbon garlands be adorable hanging up in a little nursery? 

Uh oh.
 

Wrapping fabric around a mason jar is such an easy and pretty way to dress up the every day. Adding a sparkly ribbon doesn't hurt either.
 

The table cloth is a wrinkly pashmina of mine with Dave's grandmother's old lace curtain placed on top.

Thanks so much for letting me share one more Valentine's post with you! It took me a long time to finally come around to liking Valentine's Day but I think after crafting and making a little pretty, I'm officially in love.

Hope you all had a wonderful week!

 

Happy Valentine's Day!

Wishing you all a lovey-dovey day filled with cupcakes for breakfast, chocolate for lunch, and champagne and confetti to end the night.

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I'm spending the day cutting out hundreds of hearts for a little something I have up my sleeve. All our craft stores were out of heart craft punches so it's just me and my scissors today. Not a bad way to spend the day, right? Any good suggestions for a Valentine's soundtrack I should play all throughout the apartment?

Hope you all have a wonderful day!

 

I Heart Cake

Enjoy the weekend, you beautiful people.

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*Stirring Around*

I want to dip-dye my life.

Gap + Rue. Did your day just get better, too?

This gal just keeps gettin' better.

Painted sticks always put me in a good mood.
 
A great way to spice up those chocolates for Valentine's Day!

Hurry! Get your amazing discount on these adorable scarves!

Kicking fat and feeling good - this is where I spend my mornings!

 

Pop of Pink

By now you probably know my favorite color is pink, so you can only imagine how quick I was to jump on the neon pink bandwagon. I pretty much threw myself on top of it. I wasn't about to let it leave without me on board. 

No sirree.

And now I need your help. I'm completely twitterpated with this neon pink maxi skirt and would love your help in finding it!

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Any hot/neon pink maxi skirt will work. Isn't this the happiest outfit you've seen? It makes me want to throw confetti up in the air and play with a room full of puppies. 

I just love it. 

One of my New Year's resolutions was to start wearing more lipstick, so lucky for me the new lip trend is the brighter the better! I've embraced the hot pink lip and I must say, it makes me feel pretty sassy. 

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I use Revlon's ColorBurst Lipstick in Fuchsia (pictured above) and simply love it. It lasts pretty well (although it does leave a little love when you kiss your sweetheart, ooo la la!) and it's gorgeously bright without going overboard. I'm wearing it with my blush pink ruffly skirt for Valentine's. A girl only needs one powerful accessory, right?

Right.

So any suggestions where I might find a neon pink maxi skirt? 

Have you embraced the bright lip trend? Any good lipsticks you recommend?

 

DIY Date Night Idea!

I'm sure by now most of you have seen this amazing idea floating around on Pinterest but I thought I'd share it with you here, too, because you're just going to fall in love. Oh, which reminds me: Are you a member of Pinterest? WHAT? No? Goodness, get on it. Click here and I'd be more than tickled to send you an invite! And then follow me, pretty please.

Phew, now that a bit of light housekeeping is out of the way, lay your pretty eyes on this piece of gorgeous art, which you can purchase at Cozamia.

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The original pinner, Jenny Crist, had the amazing idea to recreate something like this if you're feeling extra crafty: Paint the canvas with any colors you like then use painter's tape to create a herringbone pattern (or any other pattern you love) and make sure to leave some pieces out of the pattern. Then paint the entire canvas white. Let dry, peel off the tape, and jump for joy!

Wouldn't this idea be something fun to do for date night? Perhaps buy two smaller canvases and you and your hubby create two different masterpieces that you can hang in your home to enjoy for years to come. I asked Dave and he's on board. Eeeee, guess who wants to cancel their Valentine's dinner reservations and spend the night painting and drinking champagne instead?!!

Seriously, isn't this such a wonderful date night idea? No pretty outfit needed.

 

Valentine's Palette

I was pulling out some options for my Valentine's Date Night outfit the other day and finally decided on a pale pink and black palette with flirty ruffles. I need to find some fun heels but I keep going back to my basic black pumps because they're easy and make me look six feet tall. That being said, I feel like Valentine's Day is a day for breaking all the rules and I could wear a sassy pair of red heels with my pale pink and black if I wanted. Cupids never judge.

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If Valentine's Day was in the summertime, I'd sport this outfit combo every time. White sundress, denim jacket, and red heels forever. 

So spill it: What are you lovelies wearing for Valentine's Day? Are you going out for a night on the town with your sweetheart or ladies? Or are pjs and a bottle of wine more your style?

 

Sparkly Balloons

 

 

Enjoy the weekend, you beautiful people.

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*Stirring Around*

Balls of love.

It's cheap, easy and rewarding. I'm doing it.

A hanging table? Did you see this? It's a table that hangs. I can't get over it. It's a table hanging from a tree, people.

My favorite photographer just started a blog. Go give her some hugs.

Spicy Baked Green Bean Fries. That is all.

 

Have you bought your scarf yet? I bought two.

Go Pats.

 

{Try It} Strawberry Lemonade Bars

Stop whatever you're doing and make these. I can't tell you how excited I am to make these and then proceed to eat half the plate. Hopefully I can hold off scarfing them down long enough to perhaps give them out to people I love for Valentine's Day. 

 

Wouldn't they be the cutest little present, delicately wrapped up in parchment paper and tied with a pretty ribbon? Ok, I'd try to get confetti in there somehow, but either way, they'd be a wonderful gift.

Strawberry Lemonade Bars

 

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The recipe from Baking Bites is so simple, you should really try it.

Mmmmm!

 

{Lovely Discount} Fatwoman Scarves!

Oh boy, do I have a treat for you, today! 

Thanks to all your lovely comments yesterday on the gorgeous Fatwoman scarves, the amazing shop owner, Anils, has offered each and every one of you a 10% discount on any scarf till Valentine's Day!

Simply follow this link to the Fatwoman Etsy shop, click on "contact" on the lower left side and email Anils for your discount code, making sure to mention which scarf you love and that you're a "You Stir Me" reader! This offer is good till Valentine's Day so make sure to order one today! I think a little black dress with one of these amazing scarves is the perfect Valentine's date night outfit, don't you? Now I'm definitely going to get that red one up top. Ooooo goody!