Pay It Forward #1: Anonymous pick-me-ups

Technically, this should be the second week, but being sick last week has me playing catch-up.  I thought there was no better way to kick off my pay it forward campaign than gifting five people with one of my favorite things...coffee.  No surprise there. The surprise comes with the fact that I actually gave away my favorite thing voluntarily : )

It started like this- Starbucks has these little Mini Moments books of five $5 gift cards.  I love these little books for many reasons, but I especially love that each paper card has a cute sentiment on it such as "Good for one delicious daydream".

I bought some kraft paper envelopes and wrote some messages of my own and after stuffing them with the gift cards, I passed on the "pay it forward" message. 

 I placed my "pick-me-ups" on windshields throughout the day, as I ran my errands.

If you have a Pay It Forward story from this week, I would love to hear about it. 
Keep sharing the love.

Have you seen this?...Camouflaged Electricity Substation

It took me a moment and then I realized something was amiss...or should I say that something was put right.  This Electricity Substation conversion started as a design contest to restore the view of this historic street in Rotterdam, Netherlands.  Planned in 2007, and fully realized in 2009, the transition is truly amazing...

(images via Roeland Otten and Graaf Florisstraatt)

Photography: Vintage LOVES

Sometimes, it is easy to lose perspective on what LOVE looks like...

until you see photos like these.  

What better way to start the week?

(all photos via Vintage Loves)

A Saturday Song...

It's a lazy day here.  

Just sitting on the couch, under a blanket, drinking hot tea, listening to the ice melting.  The only other sound in the house... is Jada snoring softly from her chair beside me.

Here is a song for your Saturday-

I hope you all have a great weekend.  

Stay warm. 

I think we may have a true Winter yet : )

The Friday Five...

{ "Get Well Soon" gift of Russian Tea from a wonderful friend-one of my favorites from childhood}

{had an awesome time at this photo shoot- Miss Stella is truly adorable!}

{a big thank you to Apartment Therapy for featuring Ava's 7th birthday party on their blog}

{Jason's "pay it forward" for the week had a happy ending- stolen bike returned to child : ) }

{so happy that my new books arrived just before the cold did}

What are Your Five?

What I'm reading right now...

I arrived home yesterday, feeling not so good...I have been sick all week...but when I saw the small cardboard box leaning against my front door, I forgot, for just a moment, the generally crappy feeling that had consumed me all week. 

After ripping the box open, like a child at Christmas, I saw the new addition to my library...I immediately ran upstairs, grabbed my blanket and poured over every page of that book.  So, you might be thinking...Justice Sonia Sotomayor's new memoir, "My Beloved World"?...or maybe I had ordered my spectacularly talented friend, Wiley Cash's book A Land More Kind Than Home (already done that : ) and you should too) ...no...I am reading a beautiful, inspiring, creativity inducing...cookbook.  Yes...I said "cookbook".  What Katie Ate is gorgeous from the binding...to the typography...to the beautiful photos...to the endearing personal tidbits from the author, Katie Quinn Davies.

I LOVED it all! 

I didn't just want to cook after looking through this book...I wanted to create ...anything...AND everything.  What's better than that?

Katie Quinn Davies was born in Ireland, but now lives in Australia.  She works as a food photographer, blogger (What Katie Ate is also the name of her blog)  and now author : )  You can really tell that she is an artist at heart.  That is why every page looks like a work of art.  I already have a couple weeks worth of meals picked out. 

 

Here are just a few of my favorite things-

{the typography- old typewriter font combined with script}

{the beautiful photography- honestly...every picture is stunning}

{not one white page- the pages look to be littered with crumbs and stains}

{every page is filled with vibrant colors, sharp contrasts in light, amazing textures...and an absolutely amazing attention to detail}

I can't wait to make-

{boysenberry, blackberry and almond praline crumble}

{Vietnamese salad with crispy pork belly}

{Aussie chile burgers}

{sizzling shrimp}

{strawberry, banana and ginger smoothies}

You can order What Katie Ate here.  If you love food...and photography...and design...you won't be disappointed : )

(all images displayed here are photographs of the images in the book.  All original photos were taken by Katie Quinn Davies)