Take 3: Favorite Foodie Blogs

I thought it was time to share some of my personal favorite blogs. Today being in the domestic category. Those women that far exceed my skill in the kitchen;)

{via The Best of this Life}

Emily has this insane ability to make all her recipes look like a daydream. 

You must check out her delicious blog. Not only that, she is one of the sweetest mama bloggers I know!

(via Life of a Wife)

You can count on Sherri Lynn to have fantastic easy recipes that don't intimidate!

She is yet another gem I have discovered in the blogosphere! 

{via Bakers Royale)

This is a brand new to me blog that has a seemingly endless amount of divine sweet recipes, and more!

Hope this provides with some great new people to connect with, and food delights to try!

Featured DIY Blogger: Sarah of The Good Life

Burberry Pleated Dress DIY

(Anthro Squeezebox Top DIY)

(Anthro Marjorelle Necklace DIY)

I discovered this very talented mama blogger via pinterest, and have become addicted to her DIY posts!

I had to share the love! Sarah takes ordinary frugal findings and turns them into incredible fashion. Find more of her work over on her blog, JaynSarah.

P.S. Nuha kindly had me on her lovely blog to share my top fave favorite trends right now. Come say hello!

Well, for all you Emersonmade fans who have been crossing their fingers....., I know you have been anxiously awaiting the giveaway winner announcement. I wish I had ten gift cards to give out! Okay Drumroll....... 

The lucky number this round was #320, Koko! Email me to claim your prize! 

I had so much fun hearing from new visitors and friends, and what items you were loving.  THANK YOU to each of you for entering! 

For Japan With Love

We’ve all seen the images and videos rolling in of the devastation from the Japan earthquake and tsunamis.  While aftershocks and tsunami scares are still happening days later, the nation is in for a long long road of recovery.  So far, the death toll is estimated to be 2,000.  In just one town, 9,500 are missing.  I have come to realize how strong the blogging community is over the last year. This is a perfect example. With just two girls initiatives, there has been thousands of dollars raised for an amazing cause:

ForJapanWithLove.com

Ever Ours has teamed up with Utterly Engaged and handpicked ShelterBox as the organization to donate to, where there are volunteers are already there in Japan helping, so please be assured that your donations are being put to good use. ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items.

Also, if you are a blogger, you an also participate.

This Friday, March 18th, my blog will be silent as in no posts in honor and respect for 

what has happened in Japan. If you are interested in participating:

please e-mail: lydia@ever-ours.com or info@utterlyengaged.com for more information.

Meet the Blogger: Kirsten Krason of 6th Street Design School

Q: Which came first- blog or business?

A: My blog came first. But I always knew a business would follow. I started my blog about 6 months before I graduated from school so I already had clients ready once my business started after graduation. It was seriously great. My blog has been my biggest form of advertising and I've never had a shortage of great clients. 

Q: What has been the best aspect of blogging for you?

A: The best aspect of blogging is the feeling I get from great comments. It means so so so much to have someone say, "wow, great job!" or "we love your blog!". It's hard when you're starting out a blog to know if anyone is listening or if anyone cares. The fact that I've been able to grow my readership and write about things people actually care about is astonishing to me. I love it! 

Where do you turn for design inspiration?

Q: Where do you turn for design inspiration?

A: I always turn to blogs for design inspiration. My favorite blogs to read are fellow designers like me. I love reading about their sources or recent projects. There are so many talented people out there! 

Where would you like your business to be in 5 years?

In 5 years I'll probably have two kids total. Maybe 3??? So I'm really not sure how the business will run. Hopefully I figure out how to balance it all! I learn so much with each new client and project so hopefully in 5 years my business will run more efficiently and who knows I might even have an assistant. 

Just for fun- what are top must haves for designers?

- a supportive family
- great clients
- a good attitude and personality
- some great fabrics
- a space to work. Somewhere that inspires you. 

Thank you so much Kristen for being a guest here, and sharing a little more about you and the work you do! She is a fabulous chica so make sure and say hello! 

 6th Street Design  School

Blog | Twitter

*images via Kirsten on her lovely blog!!

Resolution #1 in 2011 - Be Spontaneous - L.A. Recap

My spontaneous trip of 2011 in L.A. was such a sweet time:) Ever play high-low?!

 Here are my highs and lows of the trip! Top moments:

1) Getting to experience the trip with one of my dear friends/co-workers from Radiant -Rose, and her two adorable boys! We have had so many fun adventures together and this one made the list!

2) The Soul Surfer movie screening. Incredible movie with an all star cast. It was at the Sony, which was surreal! We are excited to be able to interview some of them. Stay tuned!

3) Meeting Mara and having lunch at Louie Bottega. A pretty adorable cafe with a fantastic menu.

I could have talked to her for hours. We have a lot in common:) She will be modeling some of the new accessories from the IHOD Spring line! Looking forward to working with her and sharing!

4) Getting to experience the Fabric District downtown. Got some beautiful supplies! 

5) Driving down Rodeo Dr. Its real! ha ha! Absolutely beautiful too. Sparkly actually. I now understand why movie stars live in their own bubble and can be pretty absurd sometimes. Their world is its own!

(Louie Bottega)

( Mara is such a sweetheart! Wish we could have chatted longer!)

(Rose and I at Columbia Pictures -just got out of the movie)

 (Rodeo Drive)

Low Moments:
1) Sitting next to a snoring man on a 2.5 hour flight
2) Leaving my wallet on the plane and having to run back 6 months preggo through the airport to get it in time before my connecting flight took off!
3) Ruining my shirt 10 minutes before leaving for the movie screening! Always have a back up! :)
4) Only having 24 hours in L.A. :(
5) Circling around Grand Ave and never finding FIDM! Will have to wait till next time...
Ever have moments like these?!

Other than that, it was a smooth trip. I am very blessed to have had the opportunity to go! And it sure feels good to cross a resolution off the list! Happy Monday friends!

12 Days of Christmas Gift Exchange - The 6th Day

The most perfect handmade necklace I ever did see!!

No seriously! Michelle from Studio Surface blog was my secret santa in Aspiring Splendor's 12 days of Christmas blogger gift exchange. She sent the gift in a handmade envelope, with a handmade ornament on back, filled with this handmade necklace from her shop. I keep staring at its delicate perfection. She must have known somehow that I LOVE accessories....hmmmm ;) 

Tune into Lemon and Lavender tomorrow to see what ruffly gift for her home I sent her way!

Meet the Blogger: Rachel of Lovely Clusters

*I am so happy to introduce you to Rachel- one of my very first favorite blogs. She is bursting with talent and inspiration:) If you are a small business owner take note! :) 

Which has been the best aspect of blogging for you?

Being able to meet new people from all around the world that have similar interests to me. I feel like I am part of a great supportive community and I love how everyone is so nice and generous. 

What inspired the Lovely Clusters Gallery/Shop?

It actually started with a sentence that I saw on Rachel Ashwell’s blog. On one of her beautiful photos she wrote “clusters of loveliness”. I just adored how that sounded so I started thinking of a way I could use those words. I decided to create a theme on my blog where I would create a cluster of images whether it be by color, category or mini portfolio of an artist or designers work. During that time I started getting really into Etsy and got lost on it for hours on end. I felt like I was rummaging through a flea market. I thought that by cataloging my favorite items on my blog and by adding them to my favorites on Etsy, it would be a good way to go back and find lovely sellers and items, but the navigation wasn’t quite right. I am a graphic and web designer so I figured that I could design a website where you could easily find favorite sellers and items by color or category. Once I had that idea I mulled it over in my head for 2 months and one day I just decided that I had to do it. It has been so much fun ever since!  I love meeting new sellers from around the world and constantly being inspired by the large amount of creative individuals out there.

(source via Lovely Clusters)

What are your favorite resources for inspiration and creative ideas?

I am an internet junkie so I am constantly looking for beautiful photos from pinterest.com, flickr.com, tumblr.com and of course other blogs on my google reader. Lately I love browsing chic magazine and catalogs online on issuu.com.

(via Lovely Clusters Shops)

For small business owners, what have been the #1 tools for your success?
1. Online Networking with other small businesses and bloggers through twitter, blogging, facebook, and email. I would not be where I am today without it all.
2. I also don't know what I would do without photoshop. My internet browser and photoshop are the two things I open up first thing in the morning.
3. My camera has also been quite handy. I get the best responses when I add my own photos to the blog and its a great way to log my creative path. 

(source via Lovely Clusters)

Just for fun- what are your 5 must haves as a designer? My Inspiration Board , Photoshop, Printer/Scanner, Camera

Lovely Clusters

Blog | Twitter | Facebook | Shop Gallery

Well Done.

So happy to help spread the word about the project Well Done. Charity Water is a campaign that every person can relate to! All you need to do to get inspired is watch this video.  About a year ago, I posted this to support a friends campaign, and since then I have been following the incredible things Charity Water has accomplished.

Now, the blogger community is pulling together to spread the word about Lauren and Keely's initiative. They are oh so close to raising enough to fund a water well. Please consider helping. It only takes 5$.

We are asking you to trade 

a cup of coffee, a glass of wine, one happy hour,

...or whatever "your drink" may be.

For one day.

So that together, 

the blogging community 

can give 250 people a chance

to drink clean water.

For the rest of their lives.

To donate to the campaign, please visit here. 

IHOD now accepting Sponsors.

Happy New November Week! I got in late last night from my trip. Being with dear friends is the best medicine. I am so happy I got some much needed time with them. It was wonderful coming home to my boys though. I have a hard time being away from them!

Lots of exciting things coming up on the blog these next few months. Stay tuned!

For now, I wanted to announce that I have decided to open advertising to small businesses/blogs for the Holiday season (a few posts from MIL helped make this decision). I have had several inquiries, so I think its a good time of year to begin. Sponsorship can really help a blog keep going with the time and dedication it requires. I am looking forward to working with some of you! I will make sure each new sponsor will receive a special feature post. Please email me with any questions you have! 

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!

Meet the Blogger: Erin of Dandelion & Grey

Which came first - blog or business?

The blog came first! After planning our wedding in June '09 I needed an outlet to continue my creativity. It wasn't until about 6 months after I had been blogging that I realized I also really missed the planning & design aspects of our wedding- which led me to start Dandelion & Grey Event Design in January 2010.

Your event and styling work is beautiful! What is your favorite aspect of getting to work with events?

My favorite aspect of getting to work with events is the diversity and creativity involved. Each couple has a different story, history & style and I truly feel so lucky to get the opportunity to bring that to life.

Where do you go for inspiration for your creative work?

I gather inspiration everywhere, but I would say the top three places I find it would be blogs, travel and tv/film. I am continually impressed at what I see on a daily basis on so many blogs. I think this community we have all created is just incredible and allows us to push ourselves to fulfill new creative endeavors.

How has blogging influenced your work or vice versa?

Blogging is a huge part of what I do. I love to be able to share my photoshoots, parties, weddings and inspiration with my readers. On the flipside, the business has influenced the blog in the sense that I tend to blog only about my work and inspiration these days, whereas I used to blog daily wedding inspiration. It definitely is ever-evolving, but this is a good way for me to share my work & maintain a balance! 

Just for fun - what is on your must have list for fall? 

Fall is my favorite season! I just purchased some adorable camel colored flats that I can't wait to wear. I also adore scarves, sweaters and boots...they are definitely staples in my Fall wardrobe!

Dandelion and Grey

Blog| Twitter | Portfolio

*Thank you Erin for being a visitor here! You work is such an inspiration:) If you haven't yet seen her blog, you are missing out! Head on over!

Share your thoughts! Starting a new year on IHOD

(source: imgfave via pinterest)

 Since I am starting a new year for my business/blog, its a great time to refresh! You will be seeing some fun new topics and posts as well as the start of sponsorship opportunites:) I will be continuing much of the same content such as artistry features and blogger interviews, etc. ... So I ask your opinion on what you would like to see even more of??? I appreciate each of you, and your opinion is important to me:)


1. Small businesses topics- behind the scenes tips, interviews, studio/office tours of sm. businesses.
2. Style Files and Style Layouts - Where to find affordable fashion, trend alerts, designer tips, etc.
3. Inspiration spotlights- motivating topics of inspiration whether it be a mommy blogger, budding entrepeneur, etc. Suggest your inspiration ideas!
4. More DIY's and tutorials- free printables and how-to's for home decor, crafts, etc.

If you have any other suggestions, please let me know! 

Now's the chance to see your favorite topics here on IHOD:) Simply comment or vote in the poll!


Also, announcing the winner of the Shopbop gift card giveaway!

Stay tuned for tomorrow's brand new giveaway! Hint: you will LOVE this for your home:)

CHEERS to 365 days of Adventure!

photos: city cradle, i art u, allthemountains, bunting: puglypixel

One year? Really?! Its been one year since I started my new adventure as a small business owner. My blog came just a week after! So its time to celebrate a few things:) What a snowball effect it has been this year.... I can only sit back and be amazed reflecting on how God can bless the smallest of efforts and allow them to surpass your wildest dreams! Moved from Atlanta to small town, KS and decided to keep the new beginnings going and start something new. I attended my first craft fair and started my etsy shop one week later!

I look at what was accomplished this year and thank God for allowing me to do something I love and pay off some loans in the process;) I look forward to this coming year with new goals and aspirations and can't wait to see what the next mile marker will look like.

THANK YOU to each of you reading this who have supported the blog or business. I can't tell you how many times it was the words of encouragement from a customer, friend, or reader that kept me going.

SO CHEERS to you!!

*I will be sponsoring a few giveaways to celebrate! Stay tuned!

Blog Crawl: Big City Dreams to a Small Town Reality

Thank you Beth for asking me to participate in this year's blog crawl. This one really made me think! Trying to turn my life into an open book...intimidating! But somehow I had some major realizations come to mind! Here is a little snapshot of my life as an open book.....

The AUTHOR, The PLOT:

THE CHARACTERS:

The Plot CONTINUES....

Life will never slow down so you only have to make the most of each day that is given to you. 

I woke up recently to realize that if I die tomorrow I would die a happy person....

The things I love in life such as design, art, photography, food, fashion, travel, etc. etc. etc. are all things I would give up forever if I could just have my husband, children, family, and faith. Take those away and my life would be insignificant. Being in a small simple town and being cut off from many of my favorite things has given me this epiphany of sorts;) So I realize that if my life's story read only these characters in its pages, it would be a book that I was proud of. 

Be sure and check out yesterday's Blog Crawl post from The Alternative Wife and tomorrow's story from La Bella Bungalow.

Thanks for reading my story:D

Meet the Blogger: Alli of Hooray Design

Hooray is one of my favorite resources for lifestyle inspiration. How did you determine your blog content and direction?

There are tons of blogs out there and I try not to take mine too seriously or let my life surround it, but I am passionate about things like parties, decorating, and discovering shops, so that's what I blog about. I named it Hooray in honor of celebrating fun, creative things. Plus I wanted an excuse to say my favorite word more :)

What came first- business or blog?

Blogging came first. I kind of fell into it after discovering blogs through a friend who had one. I started following her links and before I knew it I was reading a list of design blogs regularly. It was amazing to find so much inspiration on everything from decorating to cooking. I'd always been a big magazine person, so it helped fill the void left behind from good mags like Domino folding.

Your Hooray shop is filled with stationary and print goodies. What is your favorite aspect of being a small business owner?

I've been interested in owning a shop since I was little, so my small online store is just the first step in reaching that goal. I love the creativity involved with designing your own business, as well as being able to work with customers who share the same enthusiasm for design. 

(all items via Hooray shop)

Where are your top places to go for inspiration? 

Oh, there are so many...Rachel and Mariah for cute finds, Natalie for business advice, Krystle for healthy living, Melanie for party ideas. And offline - books, nature, and travel for endless sources of inspiration. 
Just for fun - must have items for fall??

I'm loyal to this combination: trench coat, great pair of boots, and a cute scarf. Perfect with any outfit!

(photo sources can be found via Hooray blog)

Thank you Alli for being a part of the series! Alli was one of my first blogger friends:) 

You will LOVE her blog and shop. Find more here:

Blog | Shop | Facebook

Meet the Blogger: M. Fay of Amateur Couture

What decided the theme for your blog?

Amateur Couture has evolved to a blog that celebrates the connection between art and fashion, often in the most literal of senses. It happened very organically, with a Jason Wu dress that reminded me of a painting that I loved. I posted both images and the concept was born, sharing my favorite things and using art as inspiration.

How do you go about finding the perfect pairings between art and fashion?

Sometimes I find the dress.  Sometimes I find the art. I remember pictures the way other people remember words. It can be like a memory game that happens quickly, as often as it can be a treasure hunt.

Is this an outsource of creativity for you or is it an extension of the line of work you are in?

In my fantasy world I am a sophisticated lover of art, but in reality I am an amateur devotee. I spend my days as a shop girl in a darling soap store, but at night I turn into creative wanderer, drowning myself in art books, fashion magazines, and my beloved laptop.

If you could go any place in the world to soak up fashion and art where would it be?

I wish I could say Paris or New York, but I haven’t been to either unless in a daydream. I find inspiration in shapes, color combination and textures. Looking for the beauty in all things, I challenge myself to see the world through rose-colored glasses.

What are your favorite sources of creative inspiration (this can be websites, places, people. Etc)

Oh my! I could go on and on and on….may I rant and rave.  Chagall, Bardot, Warhol, the stars, the sea, my Grandmother’s jewelry box, Chanel (always Chanel), the promise of an empty canvas or a blank page. 

Amateur Couture

Blog | Twitter

* Thank you so much M. Fay for being a part of the series! I am fascinated by your blog and can't wait to see more!