Paper Goodness

Today, it's all about the... TOP 5

1. It's all about the...CLASSICS!

I have always had a great love of books, and keep lil' stacks of them in just about every corner of living space possible! I wouldn't have it any other way...  Well, unless I could replace them all with all of these gorgeous Penguin Classics!!! Who wouldn't?!?!

More images here.

Images below exactly as found at HeySusy (which I love too!)

2. It's all about the... INSPIRATION! 

I struggle sometimes with the expectation that I'm creative 24 hours a day. I'm not!!

What I am good at is reinventing the craft's of other's in a new and inventive way. 

My new mission: Fabulous Gifting (More to come on this later!)

I'm currently fiddling with things like this:

3. It's all about the... BARE ESSENTIALS!

Art supplies make my heart swoon. Last week I was in  japanese-colored masking tape la-la-land. This week I'm loving basics like these. Aren't they just lovely in the natural packaging and just a "tip" of color?  

MUST. GET. HANDS. ON. (You should too!)

Available at DWR.

4. It's all about the...TRUTH.

Don't lie- you love this too =)

From Swiss Miss.

5. It's all about the... SPACE. 

It's always nice to know what the future holds, but I'm especially excited these days to know that ... a cute space, a bigger place, a yellow chair, and a new friend are all in it. (The very-near future that is!) These things all roll into one big smile on my face. Can you guess what it is?  

 

happy thursday!

xoxo, tam

My plans for this weekend include....

...making this fabulous cake for my rainbow-colored-heart's (and mouth's) delight!

Oh but wait - it gets better... it's DIET Rainbow Cake!

That's right my friends... we can all try it AND compare notes come monday in our skinny jeans. HaHa. ;)

How to taste the rainbow:

Full tutorial with more photos right here at Omnomicon

The short story on the skinny version below: aka... all you need to know to bake your cake, quick! =)

Recipe below also from Omnomicon

Sunny Day Rainbow Cake:

2 boxes white cake mix
24 oz of clear diet soda (2 cans, ginger ale and sprite work well)
gel food colouring
16 oz whipped topping
2 oz instant fat-free sugar-free pudding mix (2 smallish boxes)

The Dieting
Mix the cake mix with the soda according to regular instructions on box. It will be lumpy afterward. 

The Rainbowing
Measure the total volume (by my estimate, 64 oz), then divide by 6 and measure into separate bowls. There are 8 oz in a cup, so 64/6 = 10 to 11 oz, or 1 cup + 2 tbsp.

Stir colour into each bowl with its own spoon. For the first colour into the pan, measure out 2/3 to 3/4 of your mix (in this case about 1 c) as close to the middle as you can. Drop in your first three colours, then work on the other pan with the last three colours. So if you’re doing rainbow order, the first pan should have red, then orange, then yellow, and now the purple, blue and green go into the second pan. As a recap, this is so both layers are roughly the same size.

Bake the cake as instructed on the box. Check it when the box says to, but usually it’ll need an extra 5 or 10 minutes because of the density of the soda method. Just keep baking, checking back every 5 minutes or so until a toothpick to the center comes out clean. Let cool completely before moving to a wire rack.

 

Wow! I can taste the rainbow already! 

The Frostinging
Meanwhile, make your frosting. Just mix the pudding mix in with the whipped topping for a few minutes. Dye if you’re into that.

Frost your fat-free cake with your fat-free whipped frosting. Eat immediately! 

Enjoy every last bite of your Friday!

xoxo, tam

Ha-choo!

You know that feeling you get every once in a while when you see something so clever that you can't help but laugh out loud and think to yourself: "Who on earth got paid to come up with that?" and "Why on earth didn't I think of that myself?!"  Well folks, one such item is at Trader Joe's right now and I can think of 5 obvious (yet so darn cute) reasons why you need it now... (besides that it's PAPER and totally goodness!)... Enjoy =)

photos courtesy of distressed.

xoxo,

tam

My cup of art...

It's Tuesday morning and pre-coffee. I'm sleepy. I stumble upon this piece and feel instantly energized. It's going to be a productive day after all!

mad bloom by charlene lui 

Add a lil' Zig to your Zag...

I, myself, love some zigzags and am happy to say that they are sooo back IN!!!

Here are my top 5 fab finds in the world of sharp and quirky turns and jagged linework - aka - the beloved zigzag design element.

From top to bottom:

Laptop case from FernFiddlehead's Shop on Etsy

Knit Scarf from BitsandBobbins'  Photostream on Flickr

Amy Butler Fabric from the Nigella Collection

Zigzag Rug at West Elm

Wedding Invite from the custom line of fine stationery at Linda and Harriet

Well happy Monday, my friends!

It's time for my zzzzz's (and i don't mean zigzag's!!!)

Until next time...

xoxo, tam

Won't you be my french fry? (Happy Valentine's Day!)

AND... I don't even like french fries, haha. I know, what-a-weirdo! 

Anyhow, I thought this was too cute not to post and I wanted to wish you all, my dear friends, the very best of Valentine's Days. My greatest hope is that this economically difficult year is a wonderful year of love and happiness for us all. Keep on shining and kissing and loving. This above all- is the GREATEST gift.

xoxo, tam

<3 thanks again to EZ for her mention of Cup of Jo - which ultimately landed me at Le Love.

(oh how i love that blogging and inspiration is such a journey =)

Define your creativity!

Just what kind of creative individual are you? Take this cute lil' quiz and don't wait another minute to find out! I was pleasantly surprised to be a "Hand's On" creative and thought it was a very true-to-me definition. You can take the quiz yourself right here... and be sure to comment back with what insightful (or if nothing else - delightful - information you find out!) I'm interested to know what other types are out there =)

G'night Wednesday.

xoxo, tam

Five Fab Finds!

1. Rainbow Tape 

How happy am I that I woke up thinking that I should by myself this lil' treat today... and scooped up $30 dollars worth of this delicious colored masking tape this morning JUST before it COMPLETELY SOLD OUT! Check back at Design Within Reach soon and hopefully they will stock back up so you all can get some goodness too! A special thanks to EZ at Creature Comforts for turning me on to my newest obsession =) 

2. Laser-Cut Steel Baskets, Lanterns, and more!

From the talented Megan Auman's lust-worthy etsy shop - I keep coming back to her collection and imagining this lil' basket is filled with my Everyday Assortments and Boxed Note sets! Love. Love.

3. Ceramic Wall Installations 

I first discovered these magical clay floral baubles on Poppytalk last year and was happy to discover the work of Jasna Sokolovic. 

I was reminded of her when I purchased these lovelies just a few days ago and can't wait till they arrive and I can play with the arrangement! Magnetic Flower Art from Chiasso:

 

4. Keep Calm Posters / Designer Humor

This lavender rendition of the classic WWII poster is currently gracing my wall and making me happy...

What's more is that there are so many clever variations are surfacing out there right now!

Here is my current FAV!  I laughed out loud =) 

Surely some of you graphic designers can appreciate! It's available here:

Original in Lavender

Funny Pants Version

5. Heaven on Earth

It's a brownie. No, it's a chocolate chip cookie. 

Whoa baby... it's BOTH!

I tell you... Bakerella never let's me down! Click here  for the Betty Crocker recipe and whip up a batch this weekend. I'm thinking these would be perfect in a heart shaped pan with pink frosting for V-Day... Holy sweetness! =)

Well friends, I hope you enjoy the digs and find yourself something absolutely fabulous this week- or try out some of mine!

Please do, you deserve it =)

xoxo, tam

I love: Simple Truths

Lovely limited edition prints available at: Bespoke Letterpress Boutique

xoxo, tam

It's Here!

I couldn't wait till tomorrow and thought I would sneak by Target on my way home this evening hoping to see the Orla Kiely Collection set... Lucky me! I thought it wasn't even for sale until tomorrow, but I already scored some yummy goodies. Not everything was out yet, but I was happy to take home a couple of the magazine holders and the closet door shoe rack. I'm thinking another stop tomorrow might mean that a cute lil' Orla apron is in my future. It would be so perfect to wear while glittering cards in the kitchen! Haha... batches of new designs is about all that is getting "cooked up" around here these days! Orla is one of my favorite designers. Her fresh, simple style of organic patterns infused with playful textures and pretty palettes are just my cup of tea. I love it all! 

Get yourself to Target at once... but save that apron for me =)

xoxo, tam