goodbye july + snail mail my email

Found via @espiekermann.

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Hope everyone is enjoying their Sunday. I can't believe July is almost over. Where is the time going these days?!

I recently discovered this cool project headed by Ivan Cash called Snail Mail My Email. It's seriously as simple as it says, and probably one of the coolest community projects I've seen lately. If you've been meaning to get in touch with someone, definitely try it out. You can even make one custom request. But act fast, the project ends August 15th.

new pencils in the shop

I just added these bright and colorful days of summer pencils in my shop. Each set comes with six different colors and past times. They're so cheery and fun, and remind me of my childhood summer days.

clementine

Shop Clementine is absolutely stunning.

besties

I was in Canada a few weeks ago with five of my besties. I snapped this photo as we were strolling in downtown Vancouver looking for breakfast. This was our second trip together. Our first was 3 years ago.

We've known each other, more or less, since middle school. Not all of us were friends at the time, but we all knew of one another through mutual friends. I can't say exactly how we became a 6-pack. Or how we're able to not drive each other completely crazy (there's been some close calls, for sure). Or how we've managed to stay so close over the years, even when a few of us have moved halfway across the world. But what I can say is that when we're all together, we fit like a jigsaw puzzle. And I feel so lucky and fortunate to have these lovely ladies as girlfriends.

your nest inspired + millionaire hero

Beautiful, minimalistic and functional designs, by Your Nest Inspired.

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My friend Long sent me a link to yesterday's Today Show, and the story just touches my heart. It's about a janitor named Tyrone Curry who won the state lottery of $3.4 million in 2006, but still continues to do what he loves each day for the past 34 years—being a janitor and coaching the Evergreen High School track and field team.

That was my high school y'all, and he was my janitor! Goodness, what an amazing hero.

cooking with photoshop

Hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! (And to my people in the states, a wonderful 4th of July.) I pretty much surrounded myself with restaurant food all weekend, accompanied by great friends, of course.

Speaking of food, isn't this Cooking with Photoshop video by Maya Rota Klein neat? If only Photoshop could really bake, it would make the novice-baker me look like a pro! Haha. 

(Thanks for the link, Pamela.)

honey cup + happy weekend!

Such endearing illustrations from Honey Cup.

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Wow. This 4th of July holiday weekend really snuck up on me. I almost forgot about it, but so glad it's here. A busy, yet fun-filled weekend with lots of friends, old and new. Also excited to see glimpses of pretty sparkles lighting up the night sky. Those are always the best.

Have a great one guys!

iswas+willbe

Pretty jewelry from ISWAS+WILLBE. And such unique product styling, too.

serious travel organization

Okay, so I thought I was a well organized person when it comes to packing for trips. I make a checklist of things I need to pack, and occasionally will add an extra check box for when I pack to head home. But then, I saw this link from @Etsy's tweet, and visited bugheart's Flickr stream, and OMGosh...

I am seriously blown away by how meticulous Gwen's travel planners are. Every single item, down to her accessories, are accounted for in these adorable illustrations. And to the right, she carefully selects which outfit and accessories she will wear each day. This makes me smile so, so much.

this here is summer

Friends + volleyball at Coulon Beach in June '11.

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I'm so glad it's finally summer. Hope you all had a fantastic first week. Mine was a bit hectic and crazy. I constantly felt like I was playing catchup with everything. But I'm looking forward to a bit of normalcy for the next few weeks to come.

My friend, Anh, finally got hitched in a much anticipated wedding yesterday at Golden Gardens Bathhouse. Here are some photos of the venue (from a different wedding). The afternoon ceremony and reception came together beautifully as the morning clouds cleared and made way for the sun to shine effortlessly against a sand and water backdrop. Pretty amazing, I'd have to say.

I also got a bit of volleyball in. Say what?! Yes, volleyball, in my dress no less. A bit unorthodoxed, I know, but very fun. Can you imagine if I had done that in the Victorian Age? I'd probably bring shame to my family and be shunned for the rest of my life. Thank goodness it's the 21st century and I'm not one to follow certain female norms.

And, I did a little update on the blog. Pink and yellow are quickly becoming one of my favorite color combos for this summer. So bright and cheery.

What are your favorite summer colors? Do you have one?