Cups of Tea (3/14-3/20)

Spring is officially here and Old Man Winter has said good-bye for the time being.  To get this week’s Cups of Tea started I thought I’d share some of the beauty that Mother Nature can create, along with a delicious recipe, inspiration to continue to stay optimistic and pursue our dreams, as well as a creative post involving lighting fixtures paired with their look-a-like divas.  Enjoy your Sunday, and be sure to check back next Sunday for my first give-away!  Bonjour!

 

1. Gardener’s Delight     

Leigh of Brabourne Farm always provides inspiration by way of choosing exquisite images that delight my creative nature.  This particular post was no exception.  Click on the image below to enjoy a handful of beautiful images involving the beauty of Mother Nature.

2.  Morning Treat   

I have been in search of more scrumptious food blogs lately, and during my quest I came across the Baking and Books blog.  Not only are the wonderful recipes accompanied with photos that beg you to attempt them, but a story is told with other beautiful scenic images as well. 

The fact that I love tea is no secret, and as clichéd as it may be, I also adore scones.  So when I came across this recipe for maple scones I quickly jotted it down.  Click on the image below to not only discover the recipe that incorporates real maple syrup, but also displays many images from Vermont.

3. Seeing the Glass Half Full

Having more daylight and spotting the endless blooms of tulips, peonies and rhododendrons makes it much easier for most of us to keep a smile on our faces without much effort, but what about those days when the odds are stacked against us?  How does one continue to see the bright side? Leo Babauta of Zen Habits shares some surefire tips to help see the positive in our day to day lives no matter what the circumstance.  Click on the image below or the header above to help infuse more optimism into your life.

4.   Chandeliers and Divas 

Gwen of Ragland Hill Social came up with the fantastic and creative idea of pairing divas in our popular culture with their very own chandelier.  Reading through the post, I have to say, demonstrated her knack for hitting the nail on the head.  Take a peek at the many divas and their matching chandeliers, and see if you agree with her choices.  Any guesses as to what diva this chandelier is paired with?  I’ll give you a hint, she’s a material girl!

 

5. The World Belongs To The Dreamers

Sasha of Everything Fabulous shared a beautiful quote that I wanted to share.  Keep dreaming, keep believing and remember a dream can become a reality if a deadline is set.  Here’s to the dreamers!

Weekly Cups of Tea (1/24-1/31)

1. Being Oneself

Sasha of Everything Fabulous, regularly shares with her readers posts that involve an abundance of lovely fashion, lifestyle, home decor and quite simply exquisite photography. I recently found a quote on her blog that was inspiring, and as I was reading it I found myself nodding my head in agreement. Take a peek and read for yourself.

2. Breakfast in Bed

Sunday morning, hopefully sunshine is streaming through your window and a delicious breakfast is on its way to your bed.  But what to make? Smitten Kitchen posted a recipe for sour cream pancakes that looks like it might just fit the bill. Yumo!

3. Happiness is . . .

Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project interviewed Hannah Seligson, author of A Little Bit Married and I found myself again, for the second time this week, nodding my head as I read along in agreement.  One comment in particular,

“Happiness is an improvisation.  You figure out what works for you.  It’s a process of tweaking.” 

Click on the heading link above to read the rest of the interview, I think you might just like it.

And speaking of happiness, Gwen of Ragland Hill Social compiled a bundle of reader’s mentions regarding what they felt was needed in order to live a beautiful, happy life. Each statement is paired with a photo (the photo above is one of my favorites) that correlates with its message. Lovely idea and sure to bring a smile and stir your creative juices.  Click here or on the photo to have a look.

4. Tote for Work

Okay, so Everything Fabulous has made the list twice this week, but I couldn’t exclude this simply beautiful, yet functional tote that is soon to be my future tote for work.  Banana Republic kept it simple, classic and large enough to be effective for those of us who are caring papers, lunch, heels (for happy hour of course!) and anything else we will need throughout the day and want to still let our outfit do the talking.

5. Simply Beautiful

Mary Jo Matsumoto of Trust Your Style, in an effort help relief efforts in Haiti, posted the photo below that I can’t stop gawking at. It reminds me of the Oregon Coast, yet with the fawn bounding along, it evokes a bit of a fairy tale quality. Along with the photo is a lovely list of simple things that make your soul sing. Take a peek, it will make you think.