On The Right Foot

1. gift box cake, 2. let it rain stars, 3. Awaiting Doors, 4. Walruses bento

Happy Monday everyone! Welcome to my weekly post where I will be sharing some of the flickr photos that inspire me, things I loved about the previous week, things I'm looking forward to, and some of my favorite links. Please feel free to join me either in comments or via your own blog, I would love to see what's inspiring you ❤

★ Blogathon 2009 | Now that I'm nice and rested I can look back at this weekend and declare the blogathon a success. Though I was tired (and starting to not feel well) I think this was the best year yet. I was able to raise $20 for First Book (and their link will be staying in the sidebar if you're interested in donating, but aren't able to right now) and I had a blast posting and talking to some awesome people. I would like to give special thanks to the site maintainers that made this year possible, my awesome monitor (and everyone who stopped by with a comment) for keeping me going, and an extra special thanks to Dave and Noelle for their donations. I already have some fun ideas brewing for next year.

☆ Family Staycation | Both my mom and stepdad had the week off last week for the sole purpose of staying at home and relaxing around town. It was a blast hanging out, going shopping, spending hours with good books, watching movies, and trying some new spots of interest around town. Bliss.

★ Good Football | This weekend had quite a lot of hit. The two highlights for me were Seattle v. Chicago and AC Milan v. Inter Milan. Neither of my favorite teams pulled a victory, but both put on a fun match to watch.

☆ Tasty Cupcakes | I plan on doing a full post on this, but I couldn't resist mentioning it in the meantime. Recently there was a post on Bakerella about Retro Bakery in Las Vegas. I don't live in that area of town and therefore hadn't seen it before so mom and I felt that a little drive was in order. It was so worth it. We both had the Milk & Cookies variety and it was simply amazing. I'm looking forward to sampling the Maple Bacon next (I am intrigued by the thought of bacon in a cupcake).

☆ Things I'm Anticipating | getting my transcripts in so I can apply at the school district • new books to read and movies to see • making a dent in my new to-do list • ... and so much more!

bright pink peony love @ green wedding shoes • paper flower madness (a tutorial) @ a fanciful twist • picking perfect pink paint @ making it lovely

And Now to Bed...

1. Scarlet Collection - Girl's Bedroom Collection, 2. Eve Collection - Girl's Bedroom Collection, 3. corner of bedroom, 4. bedroom

And here it ends. This year has been a blast, definitely the best so far! I am exhausted, but content and I would like to thank a few people before I slip off to bed. First of all, a hearty thank you to my sponsors. You guys are what made this endeavor worth the effort (and kept me going during those rough patches where all I wanted to do was give up and go to sleep). Another thank you goes out to the the main blogathon blog for the spotlight. Reading that gave me a burst of energy just when I needed it. Another huge thank you goes out to everyone who commented today, reading them kept me going all day. I hope you all had a fabulous blogathon experience this year, have an amazing sleep and sweet dreams!

And with that finished I am off to bed. Thank you all so much and I'll be back on Monday with my normally scheduled posting (or I hopefully will be, barring any lingering exhaustion). Goodnight!

Cloud Watching

1. Watching The Clouds, 2. singfest08 - day 1: watching clouds go by, 3. Cloud watching Daisies, 4. cloud watching

Cloud watching is one of my favorite activities for when I need to take a breath and relax. It's difficult to feel rushed while laying on my back in the moist grass, looking up at the blue sky. Though we don't have many overcast days here we often have fluffy white clouds dotting the sky. I'm content to simply watch them flit by in the wind. This is particularly beautiful at sunrise and sunset when those plain clouds become painted with a palette of shades ranging from the brightest of reds to the softest of purples. Pure bliss.

I purposely saved this post for this time as the sun is just now starting to illuminate the sky more and more. The clouds that are still hanging about look beautiful. Sweet sleep is so close, only half an hour more. At least this past half hour went by a little more quickly thanks to my kitty's antics.

Song of the Half Hour: Elevation - U2

Deco Nails

1. ***, 2. ★Polka Dot Nails and Bows★, 3. ***, 4. Sweets Deco Parts / Fruit Tips For Decorating Cell Phone, Nails, Strap, Sweets Clay Crafts and etc

Getting my nails done is one of my favorite indulgences. I love the feel of acrylic nails (and the tapping sound they make when I type). I love experimenting with different colors, I'm sporting hot pink at the moment. Recently though I discovered that I was only scratching the surface of decorative nails. There are endless varieties of charms and patterns one can try from the demure and girly to the vibrant and outrageous. I would love to teach myself how to be more creative with my designs. I am not even close to being ambidextrous so this will be a challenge.

With this I've been up a little over 24-hours. My energy is renewed slightly as the end is so close. I hope you're all holding up alright during this last hour.

Song of the Half Hour: The Boys are Back - Zac Efron & Corbin Bleu

Plushies

1. mini plush family 2, 2. Kayte Terry's softies for the Plush You! show, 3. plush you toys, 4. superbot plush & print

I have been a plushie fan ever since I was a young girl. At one point in time I had several hundred, from store purchases to gifts and prize winnings (I love midway games). These days my collection has been trimmed down to special favorites and new finds. These days I tend to collect the Sanrio mini-plushies both for their cuteness and their size (I can have more of them without having my room overrun).

Though buying plushies is fun, lately I've been learning how to make my own. My very first attempt came in elementary school with "Sammy the Salmon" (my names were never that original) made from spare shirt scraps. These days my medium is felt and my motifs tend to be food related. Currently I'm working on a strawberry cake.

Are you a plushie collector? How about any special childhood keepsakes?

Again with nothing new to report. I'm completely losing the ability to concentrate on things though I'm still awake. Almost there...

Song of the Half Hour: Lovebug - Jonas Brothers

Charms

1. PINK and NANA VINTAGE FLORAL CHARM BRACELET BY STELLA., 2. Hanging charm - Cherry blossom4, 3. Juicy Couture ballet shoe charm, 4. Lucky Cat Cellphone Charm

I am a big fan of charms, especially in the form of charm bracelets. Keeping a charm bracelet is such a personal experience with each charm representing a special memory or person. I was given my charm bracelet as a combined gift from my grandmother and aunts and it is one of my most treasured possessions. I've received charms as gifts that will forever remind me of those special people. I've also collected charms representing trips I've taken and personal symbols that I hold dear. I'm looking forward to continuing to add to the bracelet throughout my life so I can pass it on to future generations. I was the one to inherit my great grandmother's and when I hold it I feel such a special connection to her and her life. I hope one day my descendants can say that about mine.

Do you have any special charm-related memories?

I spent the past half hour sitting on my bed singing along to the songs playing on the computer as my back has officially rebelled against this chair. Despite some physical signs of tiredness I'm surprisingly alert. Thank goodness for spellcheck though, I have completely lost the ability to spell even simple words. Two more hours, the end is in sight!

Song of the Half Hour: I'm Coming - Rain

Video Games

1. Soft toy in Nintendo World, 2. My Nintendo DS, 3. Nintendo DS / Gadget Travel set - Matroyshka, 4. Video Games - QueBarato

While I'm not a hardcore gamer I am a fan of video games. I grew up playing an old school Nintendo (particularly Legend of Zelda and Mario). I still remember sneaking downstairs with mom in the middle of the night to play without waking up my grandparents. As I got older I expanded my collection of platforms, sticking mostly to Nintendo with the odd Sega system thrown in. I was still an avid LoZ player, but I also came to love the Pokemon series and miscellaneous RPG games. Even today my tastes still basically fall into those categories. My top favorite game remains LoZ: The Ocarina of Time while some of the games I'm currently playing include: Pokemon Diamond, Animal Crossing, Rhapsody: A Musical Adventure, Princess Debut, Cooking Mama, FIFA Street, and FIFA World Cup. On weekends I can often be found playing a round of a multi-player with my stepdad ranging from Snowboard Kids 2 to Mario Party. One of these days I would love to try a Wii.

Are you into video games? If so, what are some of your favorites?

Nothing too exciting to report. I went and sat on the sofa for a little while just to change positions. Considering how late it is I'm actually doing pretty well. Only six posts to go including this one.

Song of the Half Hour: Get in the Game - The Rising Sound

Cork

1. cork board + back door, 2. Cork board, cork board on the wall, 3. Wine Cork, 4. Wine Cork Graveyard

As you can probably guess from the header here cork is one of my favorite textures. I love the rough and natural feel to it, as well as the shades of brown ranging from rich chocolate to buttery caramel. I am also a huge fan of wine corks (one of my favorite things in my room is the cork that came from the bottle of champagne on my 21st birthday). I'm loving the new trend of using corks to create bulletin boards and was ecstatic to find two at an amazing price (they can sort of be seen in this photo).

Thank you so much for the feature on the blogathon site! Now I'm awake and peppy again, at least for a little while. I had a brief scare with my internet going down for around ten minutes, but all seems to be in order now (hopefully it'll stay that way).

Song of the Half Hour: Suddenly I See - KT Tunstall

Antique Shops

1. Antique shop, Barcelona, Spain, 2. Antique Shop, 3. My favorite antique shop, 4. Patricks antique shop 2

Antiquing is another recent love of mine, inspired by the pages of Victoria and Somerset Life. I have always loved the history and story behind antiques, but now I'm learning to appreciate the hunt and the thrill of finding the perfect unexpected piece for a bargain. I tend towards books (especially school books, I love reading through old student notes - it's like a special window to the past), but I also love jewelry and furniture. Searching around town I've found some gorgeous shops, but my favorites are an hours drive away in Boulder City. I could spend days exploring the nooks and crannies of those shops. Have you ever been antiquing? Any fun stories to share?

I have reached the stage where my stubbornness has kicked in. This is a good thing, though I would still love a nap right about now... We're getting there!

Song of the Half Hour: Theme From Mortal Kombat - The Immortals

Beading

1. 86 Vintage Summer Sorbet Lucite, Flower and Glass Bead Mix, 2. Czech Glass Beads: Pinks, 3. Tiny Beaded Birthday Party Cuppycakes, 4. bead table

Beading is something I've been interested in for years, but have only recently gotten around to trying. My love of beads comes from my mom. As a little girl I could spend hours sorting through her array of colors and shapes. I loved the tiny and colorful seed beads best. Now I collect beads wherever I can. The variety available is astounding as is the history and culture behind many of the styles. Right now I work predominantly with bracelets, but I'm working to learn more and expand my repertoire.

Including this post there are only nine to go, we're definitely getting there. This is the hard part though, I can't seem to focus on much of anything right now. I think I'll get up and stretch for a little while to see if that helps.

Song of the Half Hour: Cellogic - 김영민

Baby Animals

1. baby bunny, 2. Posing mallard duckling, 3. Kittens (pp12), 4. go puppies go

Though I am a cat person I love pretty much every baby animal. In person I am a generally mellow person, but I can be reduced to cooing in mere seconds when confronted with a cute animal. As such I absolutely adore browsing the photos at Cute Overload. What are your favorite types of baby animal?

I am again so thankful for good television. Right now I'm watching an episode of my favorite design show, Color Splash, that I actually haven't seen before. I love the fanciful whimsy of children's rooms.

Bagpipes

1. bagpipe, 2. BagPipe Player II, 3. BagPipes, 4. Scottish Bagpipe Troupe

Writing about cellos earlier inspired me to write about my other favorite instrument, bagpipes. Bagpipe melodies range from jovial tunes that inspire dance to haunting refrains that evoke a melancholy atmosphere. I love them all. One day this is another instrument that I hope to play. Do you have a favorite bagpipe tune?

At the moment I'm watching a little television and that's keeping me alert for now. I'm thankful for HGTV's late night lineup on weekends (currently Dear Genevieve).

Cheese

1. Cheese shop (3), 2. my cheese shop, 3. Five-Cheese & Fresh Tomato, 4. Gruyère Cheese Gougères

I am an avid fan of cheese. I like cheese on just about everything from the sweet to the savory. My favorite varieties range between the sharp and bitter to the smooth and creamy. Because I am lacking the ability to coherently blog about cheese at the moment I will randomly list some of my favorite cheese dishes. Fontina as a topping on everything from burgers to naan. Gruyère gnocchi. Greek salad dotted generously with Feta. Macaroni and cheese made with Aged White Cheddar. A slice of Havarti on a turkey sandwich. Gouda both paired with fruits and on pizza. Fresh Mozzarella mixed with pasta. ... and so much more!

What are your favorite cheeses and cheese dishes?

Once the midnight threshold is passed I tend to get a little loopier than usual so I apologize in advance if my writing stops making sense at some point. How are you guys holding up?

Song of the Half Hour: Chess for Two (兩個人的西洋棋) - 183 Club

Sea Shells

1. Sea shells, 2. Sea shells, 3. sea shells, 4. Sea Shells on the sea shore

Growing up in a sea side town has given me a life long love of shells. Collecting them is actually on of my favorite beach activities (I absolutely will not go beyond calf deep in water I can't see through so swimming on the California coastline is pretty much out for me). I love coming through the sand, seeing tiny corners peeking out while the wet sand squishes deliciously between my toes. It's like a magical treasure hunt where the jewels are instead tiny delicate shells in an impossible number of colors and varieties. I keep a small box of my treasures and I love looking at it and allowing those tactile memories to flood back.

What are your favorite beach-side activities?

Hazelnut coffee is delicious. Unfortunately caffeine has no effect on me, but the flavor is a nice change. SIX MORE HOURS!! And so the home stretch begins...

Song of the Half Hour: Viva la Vida - Coldplay

Cello Music

1. cello, 2. My Cello at the Cathedral, 3. Cello, 4. Cello III

I am a big fan of classical music and my favorite instrument is definitely the cello. Its rich melodies are like dark chocolate for the ears. My love affair with this beautiful instrument started in eighth grade. It was my first year in orchestra and I played the double bass. Seated as I was behind the cellos I had my first up close introduction to that beautiful sound. One of these days I want to purchase one of my very own and teach myself to play. Until then I will delight in any cello music I can find.

Do you have a favorite orchestral (or other for that matter) instrument?

Music is definitely getting me through this lull. Two years ago during my fist blogathon someone told me that getting up and dancing/jumping was the best way to wake up again and that has definitely proven true for me.

Song of the Half Hour: Zero Gravity - David Archuleta

Curling Up with a Good Book

1. Reads the Books, 2. Vintage Ladybird Books 'Read and Write' (Peter and Jane), 3. Reading book against sun, 4. reading

Books are one of my favorite topics to talk about. They take up a good majority of my free time and I'm absolutely fascinated with the reading habits of other people. Personally I read across the genres from the classics to fantasy to chick lit to YA to children's picture books to non-fiction on a range of topics. I'll try just about everything once, though I do have my preferences. For me to truly get into a book I need a strong female character that I can identify with. I love quirky side characters that pop up and stick around. I love a little romance (though generally only if the relationship isn't the only focus of the novel). I adore happy endings and positive messages. Along those lines, some of my favorites (this is not an inclusive list because it's late and I know I'll forget some):

A Wrinkle in Time by Madeleine L'Engle | This has been my favorite book since I first read it in second grade and it will always remain my top favorite. This is my comfort book, whenever I'm having a bad day I can open up to any passage in this book and immediately feel better. I have my mom's copy from when she was a little girl and that alone is enough to make me smile. I adore the worn pages and vintage scent.

Sense and Sensibility by Jane Austen | I love all of her books, but this is the one that stuck with me the most. I identified so deeply with the character Eleanor which plays a big part in my love of this book.

The Tortall Series by Tamora Pierce | This is fresh in my mind as I am in the process of re-reading it after just having read the newest installment, Bloodhound. I love this whole universe that she's created and the characters that inhabit it. I love her concepts of knights and magic and that strong female characters are the backbones of the narratives. Not to mention the amazing side characters who are just as vivid as the main ones. Reading these books is like being transported into their world.

The Maggie Quinn Series by Rosemary Clement-Moore | I love this series and it is quickly becoming one of the most re-read series in my personal library. Maggie is such a fantastic main character. She's witty, caring, loyal, and intelligent. She has realistic emotions and an unbending spirit. Not to mention the engaging plots filled with mystery and fantasy. The author has a new book (diverging from this series) coming out soon and I can't wait to give that a try too.

Nancy Drew | She was my idol growing up. I loved that she was feminine, yet still intelligent and skilled in pretty much everything (traits that can be mutually exclusive). This series sparked my life long love for mysteries and will always hold a special place in my heart. Plus they're still a blast to re-read.

There are so many more that I could mention (from Harry Potter to Twilight to some of my favorite cozy mysteries), but I could ramble all night. At some point I'd like to do a series here on what I'm reading... What are some of your favorites? What are you reading right now?

I just realized that it's a little past the time to post, I didn't realize that I was going to write quite this much. This has been one of my favorites to write up so far though.

Bird Cages

1. bird cage, 2. bird cage, 3. The Bird Cage, 4. bird cage buttons

Bird cages are one of my favorite design motifs and decor objects. I love the delicate lines of the metal combined with the strength of being functional and the never-ending array of designs (though my favorites are decidedly of the antique variety). I love the symbolism of an open bird cage and it is an image I use a lot in my life. In fact, I'm currently working on a sketch to make that my blog/brand logo (in the company of some of my other favorite things).

I'm also in the process of restoring/revamping a couple of older bird cages given to me by my grandma. She was going to throw them out when she moved, but I couldn't let such beauties go to waste like that. They need a little TLC, but I can't wait until I can get them cleaned up and on display.

What are some of your favorite design motifs?

That wasn't the most productive half hour ever, but I seem to be getting another wind so that's something to be happy about. I think singing and dancing around will be in order soon.

Song of the Half Hour: The Look - Roxette

Summer Storms

1. Umbrella HBW, 2. Cannaregio Rain, Venice II, 3. Rain Boots!, 4. December Rain on State Street

When I planned this prompt I had no idea how applicable it would be. Normally during the summer there is nary a cloud in sight, but this last week it's been a different story. At least once a day there's been a brief rainstorm followed by a few hours of thunder and lightning. This is absolutely one of my favorite things, it's the perfect weather for curling up with a good book and relishing the sounds of the storm. Storms also remind me of being a little girl, sitting on the driveway in a plastic chair and watching the lightning with my uncle. What's your favorite type of summer weather?

I spent the last half hour watching random Big Bang videos on youtube with mom, so that was fun (though I'm running a little behind as a result). I wonder what I'll get up to now that everyone is heading to bed.

Song of the Half Hour: Se7olution - Se7en

Afternoon Tea

1. {tea and muffins}, 2. new year's tea, 3. Tea Cozy, 4. a Cup of Tea and a Slice of Cake, please***

Afternoon tea is one of my favorite daily rituals. From extravagant hotels to a small mug as a respite from a busy day and everything in between, I love it all. Life has the tendency to get so hectic that taking a moment to have quiet and a comforting beverage goes a long way in restoring my energy and spirits. Tea snacks themselves are also pretty fabulous from tiny cakes to savory finger sandwiches (I'm partial to cucumber or egg personally). As for what tea varieties I like, it varies by my mood. When I need to relax and take a breath green tea is my best bet, but when I need to be re-energized I prefer a hearty Irish breakfast or a spicy ginger variety. What are your tea preferences?

I'm feeling a little loopy over here (I've been fighting back a cold this past week and I think it's catching up with me). I have no plans to stop though, last year I made it through while pretty much delirious with fever so a little cold isn't going to stop me.

Song of the Half Hour: 오, 아, 오 - Big Bang

Colorful Scarves

1. Violon Melancolique - Casol square silk scarf - Carré Foulard soie, 2. Fabric Scarf Holder, 3. Scarf, 4. [MCCALL'S MAGAZINE COVER, WOMAN WEARING SCARF]

As with hair accessories, colorful scarves are some of my favorite fashion accents. While I love fuzzy knit scarves, this post is going to focus on summer accents. My favorite in this category would have to be the beautiful printed silk ones that my mom has had since I was a young girl. I love to use those as head scarves and neckerchiefs depending on the length and print. Lately I've also been loving the long, light cotton choices from shops like H&M (and at those prices, who can resist?). For me color is still key in my scarf choice, for summer teal and hot pink have been my shades of choice. Are you a scarf person? What's your favorite way to wear a scarf?

Hanging out with my mom and a big glass of iced tea. What could be better?

Song of the Half Hour: If I Never See Your Face Again - Maroon 5