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 (2/28-3/6)

Oh, do I have a variety of favorites for you, my readers, this week!  I hope you enjoy.

 

1. Springtime in Paris

With March having just begun, I am itching to get out and dig in the dirt, pot my tomatoes (don’t worry, I’m not putting them outside just yet), and watch the colors of spring reveal themselves.  And what better way to welcome the buds of spring than by starting in Paris.  Sasha of Everything Fabulous  posted some absolutely beautiful photos of the City of Lights that I just had to include this week.  Click on the heading above or the photo below to be taken to even more gorgeous shots, along with a lasting thought to ponder.

2. Terrific Tiramisu

Janelle of Talk of Tomatoes posted a recipe I can’t wait to try for making tiramisu with just six ingredients. Now, if that doesn’t make you want to bustle into the kitchen and whip up a decadent dessert, than the photo below just might.  To find the recipe and read her commentary as to where she found it (hint – a Tuscan road trip), click on the photo below.  Bon Appétit!

 

3.  Enthusiasm, Courtesy of Julia Child 

Speaking of bon appétit, Gretchen Rubin of The Happiness Project focused on Julia Child’s enthusiasm and how it indeed helps one cultivate more happiness in their lives.  Click here to read exactly how enthusiasm is something we all should include in our day to day routines.   

 

4.  Where to Find Inspiration  

As someone who enjoys writing, I find myself being inspired by the oddest things.  It may be an image I see plastered on a billboard, or a bull lazily soaking his feet in a river, or more often than not, an article or book I’m reading that sparks my thoughts.  But sometimes, for no reason what’s so ever, I have a hard time finding inspiration.  However, after reading Zen Habits’ suggested list of ways and places to derive inspiration, I am no longer worried that I will ever be at a loss for finding inspiration.  Click here to read his list so that you too will forever be inspired.

5.  Be Inspired! 

To provide a bit more inspiration, Kate of The Neo-Traditionalist posted a quote I immediately found myself writing down in my idea journal.  Click on the link above to continually enjoy daily quotes, lovely finds and daily inspiration at her website.

Enjoy a beautiful Sunday!

Cups of Tea (2/8-2/13)

How true it is that we too often aren’t appreciative of something until we no longer have it in our lives.  Such was the case a few days ago when my computer decided to “catch a cold”.  Being the not-so-techie person that I am, I immediately looked to someone else for help (well, not immediately, first I had a little moment, shall we say, but I rebounded quickly).  I owe a HUGE thank you to my colleague Sam for diagnosing the problem and getting my fingers back on the keyboard.  You are a saint!!  Homemade cookies whenever you want them, I promise!

Needless to say, it wasn’t until yesterday that I was able to catch up on reading all of my favorite blogs.  What I found was heart-warming, literally and figuratively.  Cut-out hearts and cupcake-shaped hearts, and lovely thoughts shared in so many different styles that I couldn’t help but have a perpetual smile on my face as I was reading through all of them. 

With that said, I couldn’t pick my favorite Valentine themed posts, but I hope that today you are able to enjoy your Love day with someone special, whether it be a significant other, friend, family member or loyal pet.  We all need love in our lives, and I hope today finds you opening the door to all of the possibilities it offers.  After all, I’ve always said, “Valentine’s Day is just a date on the calendar with a post-it note on it, reminding us to tell the one’s we love that we do.”So don’t forget about the rest of the calendar.

Speaking of love, below are a few posts that I fell in love with this week, each for it’s own reason.  Simply click on the heading of each one to be taken to the original page to read the post in its entirety. Happy Sunday!

 

1. Flea Market Find

For any of my readers who find pleasure in the hunt when it comes to garage sales,tag sales, estate sales and flea markets, you will appreciate the following story.  French Essence recently shared her experience with flea markets in Paris.  About fifteen years ago, she found a beautiful bed, and much to the delight of all of us who “antique”, the bed is still in beautiful condition.  Read exactly how it all worked out by clicking here.

 

 

2. Windy City Inspiration

Chandelier above your bathtub anyone?  I’m in! (pun intended) Erin of  Elements of Style recently profiled the home of one of her readers, Colette May, and it truly is a breathtaking abode.  So beautiful that two posts were needed to share all of the interior pictures.  However, before you become consumed by the amazing decor (Colette, herself, was the designer), don’t forget to read a bit about her, she is an inspiration in her own right. Click here and here to take a peek.

 

3. How Do You Do?

Paloma of La Dolce Vita frequently asks fellow bloggers and readers to share ten things they couldn’t live without.  As I was reading about Franki Durbin, I was intrigued by her interests (magazines, laughter, water – just to name a few) because they were simple, yet necessary things that I find myself needing in my life to stay balanced, yet inspired.  Having piqued my interest, I decided to meander over to her blog Life In A Venti Cup, and I was not disappointed.

 

 

4. Time to De-Stress

Hopefully this weekend finds everybody able to enjoy three days off from the daily grind, but if it doesn’t, here is a great post to help try and eliminate as much stress as possible from our lives.  I am a HUGE fan of lists. I appreciate anything that is easy to read through, being able to quickly access the information that is being sought after, and Leo Babauta of Zen Habits is a master at sharing information in this format.  Take a quick glance at the list to see if there is something you too could incorporate into your life to make it even more enjoyable.

This photo alone makes me de-stress a little. No?

5. What to do on a Rainy and Windy Day

A blog I find myself frequently visiting, and continually be inspired after I’m done browsing through the beautiful photographs, is Brabourne Farm. This particular post especially grabbed my attention because while I love rainy days, I despise windy ones,   So what is one to do? Leigh shared a  list of beautiful ideas of what to do on a day that may not be, shall we say, picturesque or suitable for lounging on the porch.  Have a look, because I think it would tie in perfectly on a day beckoning romantic gestures.