Help a Heart Update #2 & Fun Heart Links

Tomorrow is your last chance to place an order or donate via Help a Heart.
We have raised $802 together!!
While that is incredible and so humbling, I'd love to see if we can make it to $1,000! For anyone new, all revenue in my shop benefits the American Heart Association until tomorrow, October 19! First, I want to share a story from a coworker, Cathy, who explains why all of the funds we raise for the American Heart Association means so much to her. Then giveaways, new products, and other heart-related links. =)

Cathy's Story
Here’s my heart story.

June 6, 2004, changed my life forever.  That’s when I had a stroke.  Yes, a stroke at 48 years old.  It was caused by a birth defect…a hole in my heart…called a Patent Foramen Ovalle (PFO).  That was eight years ago and I still have left hand numbness and weakness and let’s just say the brain will never be the same.  But I am a very lucky stroke victim with minimal side effects.  Because we all know someone that has had a stroke event that did not fare as well.

So I gladly raise funds for the American Heart Association because it does hit close to my heart.

Giveaways
Congratulations to everyone who won a giveaway that has ended! There are still three giveaways currently running (including one new one since my first update). All of them offer extra entries for any purchases made to benefit Help a Heart. Please go visit these lovely ladies and enter the giveaways! And if you've already made a purchase, don't forget to get your extra entries! ;)

Jessa of Caked Vintage
Kate of Scathingly Brilliant
Mandy of Miss Indie

New Products in the SHOP!

I posted new headbands, purse charms, earrings, and lots more rings in the shop! Check them out! I also have hair pin sets and a few more garden rings that will post tonight in the final batch. =) Sorry for the crappy photos... I pulled an all-nighter trying to finish photographing and posting everything and still didn't make it. But I promise everything is really pretty in person! Click here to check out the new items above and so much more!


Heart Links (a mini T&TT post)
Just for fun, I thought I'd share a few pretty heart-related things I've found around the internet! Especially since I'm skipping out on Thoughts & Things Thursday again... so just a few links for you this time around. =)

Check out Katie's amazing and nostalgic finds! Love how she organized them in hearts by color. Man, what a find.

Aubree wrote about these pretty Milk brand bags, including the heart-shaped one below!

And... I'll admit, this isn't exactly heart-themed. But look at those giant hearts the dinos with mustaches are holding! Amazing, right? Definitely getting a set of custom matryoshka dolls from the Ponychops shop someday!! Chantal is one talented lady.

Thank you to everyone who has participated in Help a Heart in some way! If you have anything to spare and want to pick up some cute jewelry for yourself or as a gift (holidays quickly approaching!), please consider purchasing from my shop today or tomorrow! 100% of the purchase price will go toward a great cause!

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Thoughts and Things Thursday is a weekly feature where I share links to articles and posts I enjoyed reading, artists I discovered, pictures I came across, and more. These may include things I found funny, heartwarming, sad, ridiculous, interesting, heartbreaking, or just important to share. Some are themed, others miscellaneous. They are things that got my attention and what I thought of them. You can read all of my T&TT posts here.

Thoughts & Things Thursday #9... on a Friday

A quick piece of the busyness that is my life right now (also known as why T&TT is on a Friday!): Yep, life happens. I stayed up until 5:30am on Wednesday eve cleaning the house, then trying to finish up graphics and other related items for the Help a Heart event and giveaways. Not to mention going to bed at 4am on Sunday eve taking and editing pics and post things in the shop! Factoring in waking up around 7am daily for work and working 10 hours a day, this made for an extremely sleepy girl on Thursday eve. Last night, I decided to actually go to bed on the same day I woke up for once this week! I'm very pleased with the new format of T&TT... but it does take more time! I swear, blogging is at least 40% selecting and editing pictures. Anyone else feel that way?

Alright, enough of my rambling. On to this week's lovely links!

1. Zali blogged about visiting Dreamland... which included seeing a baby tiger!

2. Crazy cute kitty-eared Blythe dolls (via Violet)!

3. I love this dress San snapped a picture of at the Anime Weekend Atlanta convention! You can also see her cute outfit and lots more in her part one and part two posts.
4. As I mentioned, I like seeing people's studio/living spaces (especially since I'm still setting up mine). Loved Kaelah's office/studio tour!

5. Kate Gabrielle also shared her studio space. So dreamy!

6. Looks to me like Dorien and her very fortunate friends and family may have had the most delicious birthday feast ever.

7. Chantal is doing a little series on making her own flavored bubble teas! She shared her recipe for orange chai bubble tea... very cool.

8. If you couldn't tell from the events I've blogged about in the past, I'm a huge fan of craft fairs. One of the best parts is seeing the displays. Naturally, I loved seeing Erin's Sunshine and Carousels show setup as well as some of her favorite booths.

9. Carrie shared her gorgeous butterfly photos from the Pacific Science Center right here in Seattle. I think it might be about time for me to visit again!

10. Kaylah's Shedd Aquarium photos from her Chicago trip are stunning! Wish I'd known about it when I was in Chicago for training last year. It's hard to pick a favorite, but it just might be that smiling stingray.

11. Alexandra posted this beautiful Alice-inspired photo shoot on Violet's blog. I love seeing different Alice interpretations. The mad hatter's makeup is my favorite.

12. There's a fun Halloween terrarium project up on the Etsy blog! It's kind of like a diorama for grown-ups. Don't you think? Anyone remember having to make those for school?

13. Eeka put together a mouth-watering collection of cupcakes and cakes with hidden shapes inside! I'm not sure I have the patience to make any of those... but I'd be more than happy to look at and gobble them up!

14. Have you seen Hint Mints? They come in gorgeous cases. They've released several mini-series, with the case designed by various artists. My favorites are the James Jean and Audrey Kawasaki series (via Drop Dead Kawaii)!

15. Check out all of the beautiful stations at Anna's salon! She just did a makeover on her station table.

16. Hayley shared another delectable Halloween recipe... witches stew cookies! Mmm...

And More Goodies!
+ I like Erin's post on how to give a compliment. Super simple, right? Then why don't we do it more? I know I generally feel terribly awkward... but I am trying to be better about it. =)

+ Anyone fellow Seattleites fans of Twinkie Chan? I'm psyched that she'll be at Plush You's grand opening on Friday, October 12! I could not care less about meeting most traditional celebrities, but I am excited to meet Twinkie! Hehe. Plus, a whole show on plushies... it's hard to beat that.

+ Any of you subscription box junkies (or wannabe junkies, like me) heard of Conscious Box? It's all about eco-friendly, conscience-friendly goodies each month. It's rated very highly, and I've thought about it for me or as a gift but haven't dived in yet. Then I saw that they released a special one-time box offer for the Super Mystical Magical Mystery Conscious Box! Sounds pretty epic, doesn't it? $19.95, free shipping, and stuffed full of leftover goodies they had. Win!! Wanted to share the link on here since they're limited... and I'll share my review when I get mine, of course.

+ I've never linked a sponsor post here before, but they're also usually pretty standard. I love how Zie changed it up this time by including a fun autumn element! You can visit to see all of her sponsors' favorite thing about fall... and catch a sneak peak of something I'll be posting here soon!

+ I loved Allie's article on the importance of thoughtfulness in the dating world.

+ This little blue owl bank from Urban Outfitters is so adorable! Jessie included it in a few rooms she 'styled' for Violet's blog.

+ Jenny shared her kitchen must-haves... so many good ideas!

+ Three years after her dad passed away, Hannah made this incredibly thoughtful, beautiful gift for her mother on her parents' 25th wedding anniversary.

+ I have to admit that I can absolutely relate to Meg's very honest post about the imperfect ponytail. I am so terrible with anything hair-related, it's just sad. Curls come out uneven and take forever, braids take even longer, and forget any sort of fanciness beyond that. Hehe. I would be beyond ecstatic if I had hair like Kaelah's every day, but it's never going to happen. Anyone else have the same problem as Meg and me?

+ This story reveals a few harsh truths... first, about that iconic photo that I'm sure everyone in America has seen, and secondly, about our culture's sad reaction to the truth.

And of course you should visit these Kelsea Echo Studio jewelry giveaways on Icing and Write, The Marvelous Flight of Cara, and The Cookie Button! Just sayin'. =P

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Thoughts and Things Thursday is a weekly feature where I share links to articles and posts I enjoyed reading, artists I discovered, pictures I came across, and more. These may include things I found funny, heartwarming, sad, ridiculous, interesting, heartbreaking, or just important to share. Some are themed, others miscellaneous. They are things that got my attention and what I thought of them. You can read all of my T&TT posts here.

Thoughts & Things Thursday #8

1. There is just something so beautiful about carnivals. Wouldn't Penny's photographs make attractive prints?

2. Steph shares some helpful tips on makeup for photographs (via Gala).

3. Kailey's new neapolitan hair is just gorgeous. Can you believe this wasn't intentional?

4. Check out this adorable Alice in Wonderland doll photoshoot and these gorgeous smash book pages (and these ones!) by Penny Lane. Love her sense of aesthetics so much!

5. After seeing this amazing Marie Antoinette wedding, I followed the link train to Kat's incredible Marie Antoinette photo shoot and subsequently Ian Stuart's bridal gowns. Now I know I'll be in so much trouble when I do get married someday... because I am completely and utterly in love with his very pricey gowns. Ack! I even looked up the distance to the closest store listed on their site, which is in British Columbia, by the way. Two hours, twelve minutes. Sounds doable!

6. Twinkie wrote about Sugarfina, a candy company. Now that is presentation done right. Yum! Wouldn't these make great little pick-me-up gifts or stocking stuffers? I would probably order some extras for myself though... see, when I find something that's super cute like that for a gift, I have to get myself one too, because otherwise I won't be able to part with it. I know, it's terrible.

7. Speaking of Twinkie... one of the things I find most fascinating is to see other people's creative workspaces. Check out Twinkie's workspace along with a super sweet interview!

8. Just look at this beautiful dress Gala wore! Black, white, and baby pink + that scallop skirt detail... ahh gorgeous!

9. Keiko did an incredible job of styling a pair of 7 For All Mankind skinnies. How eye-catching is that snake print?

10. Having a bad day? Check out Katie's perfect way to make a bad day better! Yeah, I like balloons. =D

11. I know, I totally overuse Rock N Roll Bride on my T&TT posts. But there's so much good stuff there... I can't help it! Like this rainbow pom-pom DIY tutorial by the bride in this stunning rainbow wedding. See? Worth sharing!

12. Jessica shared a tutorial on Zie's blog with suggestions on how to make envelopes pretty. Great way to add a pretty touch to card making!

And More Goodies!

+ On the subject of Marie Antoinette... Drop Dead Kawaii shared photos from a gorgeous Vogue Japan shoot!

+ And... Michelle's morbid Headless Marie costume from a few years back. Crazy cool!

+ This post by Blogess is so beautiful.

+ I don't usually bother watching internet videos, but I trust Shana to have great taste. This video is further proof. So cute and funny! Love the super-fuzzy cat and the chatty bird. And the kitty's expressions... priceless. Hahaha.

+ Check out this great autumn to-do list from Yes and Yes, which is a very cool blog, by the way.

So much good stuff... and I've barely even had a chance to catch up on this week's blog posts. Working on it!

Thoughts & Things Thursday #7

First, I just wanted to mention that I guest posted on Even Sweeter Dreams yesterday! I wrote about a storage/repurposing project I did a while back - you can read about it here. Thanks for posting it, Susie!

Now on to thoughts and things. =)

+ Remember Sugarpill, my favorite makeup brand? I reviewed their new (at the time) Heartbreaker palette back in June. Well, they finally launched their Beautylish shop with discounted trios and other deals, along with the release of their limited edition pressed sparkly red eyeshadow @#$%! (yes, that's the actual name). I would totally get some goods if I didn't already own pretty much everything... I love their new palette redesign - guess I'll have to wait until they come out with a new palette. If I didn't already own two of the colors, I would definitely get Frostbitten (below)! Maybe I'll purchase something for a giveaway I'm planning... =)

+ I usually don't include links to things on A Beautiful Mess because pretty much everyone already follows them... but this sushi salad was too good to pass up! Oh, and this recipe for pumpkin spice cream cheese may save me trips to Noah's bagels. And this pumpkin spice creme brulee, which sounds like the best thing ever. =) Mmm... must try!

+ Tetris cake with macarons! Hah. That's all I need to say about that, I'm pretty sure. (via Drop Dead Kawaii)

+ I get my hair dyed by Antonio at CoCo & Co Salon, but if you prefer DIY hair, Yume shared this tutorial on dyeing your hair pastel blue.

+ Jessica made these delicious Half-Birthday Sprinkle Pancakes... my mouth is watering! I can totally make this to celebrate my Quarter-Birthday. That's legit... right?

+ This MAC birthday cake is fantastic! (via Mandy)

+ You need to sign a liability waiver to eat this ice cream. WHAAT! I don't do spicy so this isn't my thing, but I do find it funny. (via CoolHAUS)

+ Hayley made these cotton candy bars... mmm (via Violet)! Also these cinnamon caramel-stuffed snickerdoodles... GOSH best ideas ever!

+ Natalie (Leslie of Darling Stewie's sister) shared this cool makeup brush cups DIY project. I am looking for good organization projects for my new house that are quick, inexpensive, and cute/pretty, so this is perfect! By the way, if you have any such projects to share with me, let me know via comment or e-mail! =)

+ Kaylah, Katie, and Bonnie are judging the Modcloth Chic in a Snapshot contest! Are you going to enter? The prize is a $100 Modcloth gift card... fun! Below are some of my current Modcloth favorites.

+ I love seeing fellow bloggers' craft spaces... especially when they're this pretty! Beth shared her gorgeous craft room and I am definitely inspired to start designing mine. =) Best part? There's an equally gorgeous part two!

+ Check out Daphne's new handmade dress! So adorable - I love the simple but flattering silhouette and of course, the super sweet and colorful print. This is exactly why I need to learn how to sew!

+ Even though I would probably flip out because I'm terrified of bugs (I once returned a shirt after inspecting it closely and discovering a giant bug in the printed design), Kaylah's praying mantis post is pretty awesome! At least it's a cool bug... although I think I would prefer looking at her photos to having one on me. =)

+ These beautiful pieces by Pip & Pop are super sweet, colorful, and delectable! Like a cotton candy dream. (via Sammy)

+ Merve Kahraman's 2012 collection features these deer & bunny parahuman chairs. Very cool and surreal. (via Rudy)

+ Check out Gwen and Jason's gorgeous rainbow wedding! Totally my style. Now I'm even more certain I want a pastel rainbow wedding someday!

+ Are you an artist looking to understand copyright law a little better? Kiffanie breaks it down in simple terms.

+ Check out the zombie cake at this wedding? Definitely unique!

This week was full of light-hearted and pretty in Blogland. I could use the smiles after a long week of moving! I would post some pictures... but really. No one wants to see that. Trust me, it's worth waiting until everything is tidied up, which could be about a year from now. =)

Thoughts & Things Thursday #6

Today is our big moving day! While we deal with boxes and a big clunky U-Haul, check out these links. =)

+ These lolita nail strips look so cute! And these Tattooed Disney Princesses? Awesome! Both blogged on Drop Dead Kawaii.

+ While we're on the subject of Disney, check out Jessica's Tinkerbell nails!

+ And... more Disney princesses. This photo shoot might be from 2005, but it's new to me! Gorgeous take on Beauty and the Beast for Vogue. Blogged by Violet, who also linked this gorgeous mint green lace trim dress.

+ This is from way back, but when I posted a link to Liz's blog in my August recap, I realized that I never shared this adorable proposal video Nara made for Liz. I'm not one for super mushy stuff, but this is seriously cute!

+ To be honest, I don't know a whole lot about Kat Von D, but I do like this Victorian cameo teapot & set (rest of the set available in other listings) in her Wonderland Gallery Shop.

+ Any die-hard moviegoers out there? You'll love Amy and Phil's movie-themed wedding! That's right, her bridesmaids wore Star Wars themed dresses. For real.

+ Danielle took these beautiful pastel pretty photos on her trip to San Luis Obispo.

+ Kate Gabrielle posted what could be her favorite outfit ever. And I think it's my favorite outfit of hers!

+ I am totally jealous of Safia's mad hatter's tea experience!

+ Twinkie Chan made four adorable crochet paintings for a recent show... and they're animal macaron themed! For real. I definitely want a crochet painting adorning my walls someday! She also did a cool (and super simple) jawbreaker candy nails tutorial.

+ Eeka linked this delicious cupcake tattoo with skulls!

+ How cute is Daisy's miow doodle?

+ And, more cute stuff from Shana! A baby armadillo and a dog being tickled!

+ On a serious note, read this New Yorker article about the legitimate children of rape. Yes, it happens. Found via Gala Darling

+ Let's just end bullying, cyber or in person. Seriously. So much hate.

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Thoughts and Things Thursday is a weekly feature where I share links to articles and posts I enjoyed reading, artists I discovered, pictures I came across, and more. These may include things I found funny, heartwarming, sad, ridiculous, interesting, heartbreaking, or just important to share. Some are themed, others miscellaneous. They are things that got my attention and what I thought of them. You can read all of my T&TT posts here.

Thoughts & Things Thursday #5

Life is so crazy busy with packing and getting ready for our move next week... but I found some time to compile my favorite links, goods, and images from the week. There was so much good stuff out there... it was hard to cut it down. So there's plenty of reading for you this week! =P

+ I meant to post this picture of my rainbow hair (from late June, when I last went into the salon). Somehow, it never made it to the blog. I have a huge backlog of photos and no time to post them all. But at last, here it is! This amazingness was done by Antonio Cejudo at Coco & Co Salon in West Seattle. Best hairdresser ever - seriously. I also added it to my About page - finally updated those pictures. =)

+ There were quite a few cool projects posted in the blogging world this week. Some of my favorites include these pretty push pins by Jessica of Such Pretty Things and this adorable ice cream headband by Kailey of Mermaidens, guest posted on Scathingly Brilliant. Best part? They are both super simple!

+ Gala Darling shared a few posts in this week's Carousel worth re-sharing. This post by Min Lee on organizing your stuff is brilliant, while Mary Myung-Ok Lee's article about what her son's disabilities taught her on "having it all" is simultaneously heartbreaking, terrifying, and hopeful.

+ I wrote my first two guest posts, which should be coming up in the next few weeks! I like to research things thoroughly whenever possible, so I wanted to learn more about the logistics of guest posting. Thanks to my trusty friend, Google, I came across this article on guest posting. I liked the handy tip about composing your guest post and then copying it via HTML to send it directly, already formatted, to the blog you are guest posting on. What a great way to make it easier for your host! I do want to note that I happen to be posting on two blogs that use the same platform as I do (Blogger), so I'm not sure how this would work with Wordpress, Typepad, or any of the other ones out there. I guess I'll find out soon if it actually worked properly on Blogger, but I have high hopes!

+ Shana of ShanaLogic shared this oddly adorable image of an octopus hatching! Don't you think it looks like a squid? Shana shares a lot of "Cute for the Day" posts on her blog, usually featuring adorable animals. Photo is originally from National Geographic.

+ I just found out, through Anna's happy things post, about this Godiva membership where you can score a free truffle every month! Yes, please!

+ Another beautiful wedding posted on Rock 'n Roll Bride! I love the colors and fun atmosphere that Layla and Dan chose for their big day. And seriously? I want that cake.

+ Check out this gorgeous look, featuring several Sugarpill eyeshadows (if you missed this post, Sugarpill is my favorite indie makeup brand). Amy Doan of Sugarpill posts tons of gorgeous looks sent in by customers on their facebook page. So many talented make-up artists and enthusiasts!

+ One of my favorite indie shop owners, Maria of Locketship, was the focus of this designer mini-feature on the Modcloth blog! Speaking of, did anyone else shop their 70% off Last Hurrah Sale?

+ Is it weird that I totally love this multi-toned orange lace embroidered dress from Romwe? I suppose it could be that the color scheme reminds me of a creamsicle... I really need to add some orange to my wardrobe.

+ Violet of Blythe Ponytail Parades posted photos from a state fair. In addition to being in love with the nighttime ferris wheel/carnival pictures, I am really hungry for some corn on the cob.

+ I'll probably say this over and over, but in case you haven't figured it out... I love balloons. Check out this print Ashley is selling in her shop, Maybe Sparrows Place. She has plenty more awesome prints in her shop as well.

+ Bei Badgirl shared a board she created for a charity auction. Man, I would love to own it. Someday I'd love to have an entire collection of boards. Someday.

+ Anyone want to eat fairy bread? Sara of Eager Beaver tells us to "get out there and live like you give a damn!" Her fun site is full of inspiration - ideas for things to do. So what are you waiting for? Go live it up!

+ This is a must read for bloggers. Kat of Rock 'n Roll Bride wrote this important post about crediting and image copyright, in which she shares this link to a blogger who was sued for posting someone else's pictures.

+ As usual, Kaylah of The Dainty Squid shares her beautiful photography. These foggy cemetary photographs just seem so otherworldly. Incredible. And she took them all in fifteen minutes!

+ Dorien of Bodacious Thought visited London! (Yeah, I'm jealous.) Lucky for us, she shared images from Camden and her visit to the Harry Potter Studios. I'm not even obsessed with Harry Potter, but I think the studio looks so, so cool. Apparently, butter beer is not the tastiest. =) Check out the rest here.

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Thoughts and Things Thursday is a weekly feature where I share links to articles and posts I enjoyed reading, artists I discovered, pictures I came across, and more. These may include things I found funny, heartwarming, sad, ridiculous, interesting, heartbreaking, or just important to share. Some are themed, others miscellaneous. They are things that got my attention and what I thought of them. You can read all of my T&TT posts here.

Thoughts & Things Thursday #4

+ These candy bags from Butterscotch and Beesting are totally something I would buy... and then never eat the candy and just leave them as a beautiful display. Okay, just kidding... I would not be able to resist eating the candy, but I would definitely repurpose/save the packaging. They're so pretty! I want to order a few once I move - I'm trying to avoid ordering things online for a little while (only somewhat successfully) so they don't end up at the wrong address. =)

Source - via Deer Little Fawn

+ Jess has generously shared a new set of free social media icons in tons of colors! If you like more of a sketchbook look, check out these awesome ones she shared back in April.

+ Nesha shared her simple envelope project using a cutout page from a gorgeous magazine. Great idea!

+ Hannah Lynn added new ACEO trading card subscriptions to her shop (also available in her etsy shop)! I have the original pack of 50, so I signed up for the ruby subscription (new cards sent each month) to get all of the new open edition cards that will be released in the next year. It's kinda like a subscription box... except I already know I'll love every one. If you haven't heard of Hannah Lynn, check out the Artist of the Month interview she did on the blog back in June. Here's a glimpse of her awesome trading cards!

Image above found on Hannah's facebook page here.

+ Downton Abbey Season 2 is now available on Hulu! I watched Season 1. Totally hooked. And then I was extremely disappointed to find that they had removed Season 2 from Hulu and Netflix. Ack! Zoe informed me this week that they had added it back to Hulu. Time for a marathon before it (potentially) disappears again!! If you haven't watched it... watch it. Seriously.

+ Check out these unicorn heels on Modcloth! Weird or awesome?

+ While we're talking about unicorns... here's another amazing nail by Jessica! Glitter and unicorns. Beautifully executed. Also, a sad reminder about the importance of watermarking.

+ Any of you into collecting Blythe dolls (or just admiring them for now, like me)? Check out Violet's awesome customized collection! I found Violet's blog through Aizzing's first "Blythe and Me" series, where she interviewed Violet. Admission: growing up, I really disliked dolls. It's a pretty standard gift for little girls, so I amassed a collection of Barbies through various  birthdays/holidays... but I put them all in a few paper bags and gave them away to friends. I did also get a customized American Girl doll (anyone remember those?) as a parting gift from my friends when I moved from San Francisco to Portland after 4th grade. And while I cherished my gift and the memories associated, I was actually quite terrified of my look-alike doll, and mostly left her locked in an armoir.. haha. No, I hadn't seen Chuckie, but I did read some scary R. L. Stine books (the Goosebumps series)... anyway, it wasn't until just last year that I started liking some collector's dolls. Got myself a Groove Pullip doll (I'll post a pic sometime) and I'm now eyeing Blythes. Now, if only they were less painful on the bank account...

Violet and her friend Kristy's Blythe family portrait!

+ After seeing this post, I went to check out Anna's Pinterest boards... and totally fell in love with her "Feels Like Home" board! Anna has a great sense of style - so many ideas for decor in the new house! Plus, her thought about Pinterest being a good potential online dating tool (a way to showcase your style & interests) amused me. =) Please start a Pinterest dating site! Hehe. A few of my other favorite Pinterest boards: Aubree's, Jenny's,  Mandy's, Laura's, And if you're interested, here's my little shameless plug for my own... =D

+ I can't wait to try some of Deb's brownie recipes. Cheesecake-marbled brownies? Grasshopper brownies using creme de menthe? Mmm... commence mouth watering. Oh, and let's not even talk about the Andes mint chip ice cream recipe she posted...

+ I was sending a couple of wedding blogs to a friend who recently got engaged, and noticed this DIY ombre layer cake pinata on the etsy wedding blog! Weddings are notorious for being stressful to plan... and hey, all that stress has to go somewhere, right? Why not take some of it out on the pinata? Whoever thought of this is brilliant.

Source

+ This black and white wedding (with a splash of color) and this rockabilly vegas wedding are both so very cool! You could probably tell from my blog launch photo shoot that I love black and white palettes with a bold accent - especially for anyone adorned with colorful tattoos. It really makes them stand out. =)

+ Check out this amazing Bei Badgirl tattoo that a fan got. This is why I'm having such a hard time picking a tattoo... I love so many styles!

+ These adorable cameras look like juice/milk boxes! Mandy has one as part of her toy camera collection.

+ I've seen this a few times already, but it still amazes me every time. Look what happens when you magnify grains of sand!

Source, via Shana

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Thoughts and Things Thursday is a weekly feature where I share links to articles and posts I enjoyed reading, artists I discovered, pictures I came across, and more. These may include things I found funny, heartwarming, sad, ridiculous, interesting, heartbreaking, or just important to share. Some are themed, others miscellaneous. They are things that got my attention and what I thought of them. You can read all of my T&TT posts here.

Thoughts & Things Thursday #3

This week just flew by! Time for another T&TT post, after which I will be finishing up my current art journaling piece. =) Happy Thursday!

+ It's shark week! Seeing as they are my favorite (non-mythical) animal, I was tempted to make this post shark-themed. There were too many other good links to share or I would have... but I am slipping in this awesome shark sign.

+ This article about weight-shaming by V.V. boils the problem down to its roots.

+ I enjoyed reading about Sonya Darrow, the super crafty thrift artist who makes her own clothing and other items using materials from Goodwill.

+ These patchwork nails by Leslie are brilliant!

+ Kate's thoughts on the two ways to look at life is exactly what we all need some days.

+ I am in love with this Wonderland tattoo, as seen on Grace's Tattoo Thursdays. This has definitely sparked an idea for my first tattoo...

+ I am completely in awe of Natalie Shau's brilliant artwork. Due to the price of her very limited print run pieces, it will probably be out of reach for a while. Maybe someday I'll be able to justify purchasing a piece! Or her artbook. That would be divine.

+ Kat wrote this brief response piece on this discussion subject: do not work for free! I tend to agree with her views in this case. Thoughts on this?

+ Lindsay and Taylor shared this delicious baked pattypan squash parmesan recipe. Sounds funky, but after seeing it, I am ready to pick up some of those funny-looking round squash at the Farmers' Market this Sunday!

+ HannaH posted her amazing toy collection, which makes my little collection look pretty sad in comparison. =) I hope to remedy that over the next few years! I would also like to visit Missing Links, the Portland store she mentions in her post, next time I'm in town.

+ Yep, more Alice. Are you really surprised? Check out Jessica's awesome freehand Wonderland nail art!

+ If I was in search of a phone case, this toaster pastry version by Danielle London would definitely be in the running.

+ I love the look of this bold, bright, sweetheart corset by Jeantrix.

+ And last but not definitely least, I loved this article by Kailey about how to make an e-Zine. Even if your'e not interested in making your own, be sure to read Pistachio. It's so colorful and fun (and free!).

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Thoughts and Things Thursday is a weekly feature where I share links to articles and posts I enjoyed reading, artists I discovered, pictures I came across, and more. These may include things I found funny, heartwarming, sad, ridiculous, interesting, heartbreaking, or just important to share. Some are themed, others miscellaneous. They are things that got my attention and what I thought of them. You can read all of my T&TT posts here.