Watch: Post Downton

(image from Lady Mary)

Now that the third season of Downton has finished are you going through a little withdrawal? Are you just feeling a little sad? We my friends I have a few recommendations to help with the pain.

If you . . .

Are really into the writing, watch Julian Fellows' feature film Gosford Park, bonus it includes the delightful Maggie Smith playing a very Violet like lady. 

Need more Mr. Bates in your life, check out Lark Rise to Candleford. 

Want to see more of Matthew and Mary together, even if they aren't Matthew and Mary: In their pre-Downton days Dan Stevens and Michelle Dockery were in the BBC mini series presentation of The Turn of The Screw (you can't seem to find this on DVD, but you can find it in parts on YouTube).

Love Anna the very, very, very most, watch a younger Joanne Froggett in Island At War. 

Are really excited about the addition of Rose and spending more time enjoying the roaring 20s, try watching Bright Young Things. 

Would actually like a break from all things Downton, join me in watching Hart of Dixie, it is nothing like Downton!

Live: Winter Wonderland

I'm starting to realize that I am what you might call a winter person, autumn is still my favorite time of year, but I get down right giddy when the snow begins to fall. I love the way it covers everything in a bright, soft layer and how it makes the night light and the world a little more quite. Yesterday we had a wonderful dumping of snow, so I pulled out my camera to catch just a little bit of this winter joy!

 (can you see the turkeys?)

Are you a winter person or are you just counting down the days until spring?

Inspire: February

Somehow February is almost over, while I feel like it just started. So I am a little behind on my inspiration post for this month, but I have finally pulled together a little post of all the stuff I'm diggin' this month.

Eat: All of Going Home To Roost's plant based dinner ideas.

Decorate: Design*Sponge's Sneak Peeks for some home decor inspiration.

Share: Making It Lovely's very interesting post about the dollars and cents of blogging.

Dress: My friend Kimmy's totally fun Kate Middleton pinterest board.

Art: I'm getting a kick out of the beautiful lies over at Daily Dishonesty.

Where are you drawing inspiration from on these cold, gray February days. 

Live: Home Is Where The Heart Is

Don't worry this is not some sappy sentimental post (though I do love reading those), it is just a way for me to keep the red & pink and hearts & flowers going a little longer. So at my place it is still Valentine's Day - Enjoy!

Dining room decorations (they will stay up until Easter), Valentine's flowers still going strong, the tail end of the best Valentine candy (Gobstopper Hearts) and a stack of my favorite Rom-Coms (The Holiday, When Harry Met Sally . . ., 27 Dresses, You've Got Mail and Fools Rush In). 

7 Day Challenge: Checking In

I've been working away at a few more 7 day challenges, my favorites have been doing something different with my hair everyday (oddly hard when you only have three ways you wear your hair ever - picture above from the day I braided my hair and wore huge earring so I ended up looking like a 7th grader playing a Gypsy in her class play!), making my bed every morning and completing my bible study daily.

Coming up I have a few dosies on tap, starting tomorrow with a we of doing one thing I've been putting off each day. It is going to be awesome (or something)!

Celebrate: A Little Valentine's Day Party

 Last week I made a pinata and filled it with small gifts for my cousin Lydia's kids, then I hatched a plan to have them over for a tiny Valentine's Day party. I thought we'd have Hot Cocoa and I'd make some cookies or a cake, but when I stopped over to invite my guests their mother suggested that we decorate the cookies their Aunt Hannah had sent them. It was the perfect activity for a bunch of kids, but my dining room was a mess by the time they were all packed into the car.

My favorite part of the day was when they all had to wear the destroyed pinata as a hat in a sign of victory! 

Share: Pep Talk On Your Screen

There are days when we all could use a little pep talk. A little "You can do it" cheer. This desktop wallpaper from Design Love Fest is a pep talk every time you open your computer.

Oh and here you go just for today: You are great! You can get it done! You Rock!

Read: Love Stories

**Each year I take on the fun project of reading new books, in 2011 I had a book of the month, in 2012 I had seasonal reading lists, for 2013 I will be focusing on three books a month the are tied together with a similar theme, author or story. Each month will have one book that is new to me and two I have read before.**

For February's Read Something Good post you know I was going to go with Love Stories. You did right?! Bonus all of this months picks have been adapted as movies, so after you finish reading you can complain about how the movie isn't as good as the book!

Persuasion by Jane Austen
Persuasion is my favorite Austen novel, I enjoy the Bennets, I wish good things for the Dashwood sisters, but Anne Elliot I love. The story of love lost because of choices made when you are young, I think speaks to our modern age much more than any of Austen's other works. If you haven't read it yet I highly recommend that you pick it up this month.

The Time Traveler's Wife by Audrey Niffenegger
The first time I read The Time Traveler's Wife it was like having an addiction, a must read, can't stop addiction. It is twisty, often fun and sometimes sad, but always good.

Stardust by Neil Gaiman
This is my new to me book this month. I have seen the movie and found it to be delightful so I am very much looking forward to reading this book.

So friends, what books are you reading this month? I'd love to hear about 'em.

Make: Paper Airplane Valentine

                   

Last week I was watching this sweet short film (I remember seeing it over the summer, but forgot how lovely it was) and had an idea for a quick little valentine project. You could even make a few on your lunch break today. 

Happy Valentine's Day! If I could I would send each one of you a paper airplane love note!

Give: Valentine's Gifts for Little People

Are you looking for a little gift to give the kids in your life for Valentine's Day? I found these sweet mailboxes in the dollar section of Target last week and filled them up with a few goodies for a quick and easy gift for less than $3.00 each.

My older niece (3 years old) is getting a pink mailbox filled with a bracelet, some stickers, candy and heart shaped fruit snacks (everything except the stickers came from my Target trip, the stickers I think are also from Target, but I have had them kicking around for a while).

I sent my nephew (18 mo) a blue mailbox stuffed with fruit snacks and a wind up bath toy (again from Target).

So there you go, no need to fear quick and simple gift giving!

And I didn't forget about the newest niece (2 and 1/2 weeks old). She got a tiny hand embellished hat. Sigh, all the cutest stuff in life, new babies and felt hearts!

Eat: Strawberries

Right now I am super into strawberries, I think it might be there sweet heart shape that makes them seem extra right this time of year or it might be the way there taste sends good summer vibes. Whatever the reason I can't get enough of them, strawberry sauce on my brother's birthday cake, strawberry ice cream and strawberry yogurt. So, I thought is would be nice to find some different strawberry recipes to try (all found via pinterest)

Strawberry Bruschetta, Chocolate Cake with Strawberry Frosting, Mini Strawberry Pizza, Strawberry Butter and Strawberry Shortcake Cookies. Yum! These all sound great to me!

Listen: All 90s All The Time

(image)

Lately I've been playing this little game with myself. I've been playing it over Twitter, but I know it has been mostly to amuse myself. I call it #myfakeradioshow with the tag line #all90sallthetime, it is completely silly and absolutely fun! Fear not if you don't follow me on twitter (@libbysomething) I made a play list just for you, but be warned you may find yourself listening to it a million times (okay maybe that is just me).

         

Today Was Something Good

I don't write a lot of post about my daily life, I just don't, but today was to good not to write it down. Maybe it is because I put on my favorite cashmere sweater or maybe it is because I left my phone at home, but I think it is more likely because:
Church was lovely, baptisms and singing and seeing people I love.
I played a game with my mom and a few siblings in the middle of the afternoon.
For just a minute as I was walking out side, it smelled like grass (miss the smell of grass).
I held my baby niece for a long time while she slept and she was warm and tiny and perfect.
We had family diner, made by my mom, my sister and me.
And  now the snow is sparkling in the moon light.
That is it, just a wonderful, regular, nothing special day!

Celebrate: Happy Birthday Bro

(Uncle James and a brand new niece!)

On this day in 1990 my third brother was born, that was probably the time that I realized I was going to be the girl with a million little brothers. He was a kid that liked to watch and rewatch and rewatch the same movie everyday and he would tell you over and over about how the game had cheated him out of a win on Lost Vikings. Now he is the brother that will get into watching a new scifi show with me or who is always up for playing a board game. Happy Birthday James, you are great!

Share: On The Vine Wagon

Yep that's right I'm on Vine. I started using the app last week with a bit of a rocky start, but I think I finally have it down and am ready to have you check my videos out. I'm on vine as Elizabeth Fink and I'm looking for more people to follow, so join - it is fun!

Oh and here is a video I made and then couldn't get to post, no reason to let it go to waste.

p.s. yes you should expect to see heart doodle on all of my pictures this month, I can't get enough of 'em.

February 2013

Ah, we have made it through the first month of the year. How was your January? How are you doing on your New Years goals? Don't want to talk about it? I get that. Let's move on to more fun thing in February.

This month I am working on a few heart related projects (if you have been reading for a while you know I love hearts and red and pink together!), baby blankets galore and vegetarian cooking. I also have epic romances and snow day activities on the mind, as well as indoor gardening and tackling those ignored portions of the house, like the basement and my junk room/office. I'm drawing inspiration from vintage valentines and home tours. From handmade works of art and snowy landscapes. Oh, doesn't this all sound like fun? Please join me in saying: Welcome February!

P.S. if you normal read through google reader or something like that you might want to click through today to see this month header, I am working on changing up the header every month, you know just for fun!