I Love Free!

Love this illustration of hers.

Do you love free, too?! Then download this ADORABLE free calendar page for April! Created by my blog-friend and amazing designer, Lisa Rupp (hails from my homestate, woot woot)!

I was staring at my "March" page this morning, hoping that I'd see an "April" soon, when lo and behold! It became available through her flickr site today! Go download it now!

I need a hug.

Or, perhaps more specifically, an embrace.

LalalalaLOVE this ring by Prismera!

Stand by Me

A little music for your Monday???

This video gave me chiiiilllllls. (Watch it. You'll be glad you did. I promise!)

Want more? How about even MORE!?

Find out more about Playing for Change here.

3 GREAT Reasons

... To buy me this bag:

#1 - It's a classic! Timeless, yet modern. Impeccable style. Proffessional enough for work, but soft enough lines for casual weekend wear. I cannot think of ONE outfit that would not work with this bag. (DON'T challenge me on this one.)

#2 - It's named after me! The Westbury Jessie. 'Nuff said.

#3 - Most importantly... EVERYTHING on the Kate Spade website right now is 30% off! Including sale items! I've already done that math for you, and if you were to generously and lovingly make this gift of a purchase somtime between now and March 30th, your savings will amount to $133.50! (Note: not the price... the SAVINGS.) Click on the image below to get the promo code...

There you have it! Three sure signs that it's meant to be mine!

Balcony Business

As we continue trying to get our itty bitty balcony ready for spring/summer, there are just a few little final touches I'd like to add (ok, I'm totally dreaming here, but just GO with me).

Either one of these hanging chairs would make the perfect breezy little spot for sipping mojitos with homegrown mint and chatting with friends. (via Being Red)

I've been bitten by the gardening bug, and am getting ready to start seeds for tomatoes, basil, bell peppers, cilantro, thyme, and squash (sounds like a spaghetti sauce garden!)... I remember seeing this on Decorno AGES ago, and have wanted it ever since.

Who wouldn't want to throw all of their organic waste into this pretty compost bucket?! Since I'm going to be planting up a storm this year, I think this would be the perfect helper for making nutritious food for my leafy little friends.

Everyone needs their own little G-nome to keep the garden fairies away!

Several of these recycled lanterns would make the lighting just right, dontcha think?

This outdoor rug (in blue) is JUST what I've been searching for.

Durable, fun pattern, and rinses clean after a summer of fun!

If you had unlimited fundage, and lots of time to spend outdoors, what lovely finds would you add to your own outdoor space? Are you a 'hammock' or a 'picnic table'? A 'butterfly garden' or a 'bird house'?

Little P.S. Shopping List

Heading to Paper Source today to pick up a few things... wanna see?

'Diamond' Pushpins (Thanks, Sarah!)

Cute little 4bar envelopes and scallop edged cards in night and butter! (I'll show you the project I'm doing with these, soon!)

A6 envelope and folded card, in bluebell and gravel, to make a note-set for my favorite mother!

PS. (postscript this time, not Paper Source) Blogger is being a jerk and my layout is all messed up... it won't let me type after my last images. So this is goodbye for now, my friends!

Louis Vuitton DIY

Louis Vuitton Fall '09 Runway

Spotted this lovely look on The Glamorai the other day, and am seriously thinking about giving it a try. I know sweater season is on it's way out, but I have a few cashmere crewnecks that are probably just finishing out their final winter anyway. That way, if the project doesn't turn out - I'm not out a usable sweater! Now all I need is a nice long strip of taffeta... I'm thinking either citron or ivory.

What do we think? To try? Or, not to try?!

Sunny Days and Bold Choices

I have noticed, lately, that the higher the temperatures climb, the more adventurous I tend to be with my clothing choices.

When I saw this look on HiStyley, I couldn't resist marking it for further inspirational use. Perhaps a little "Kelly Wearstler", but this gal pulls it off well, and seeing others take fashion risks helps me feel a little less nervous to do so myself!

What is the most adventurous piece of clothing that you'll challenge yourself to wear this Spring?!

Here's to sunny days and bold choices, my lovelies!

Getting Excited and Making Things

That's me. Tonight and tomorrow, I'll be putting the final touches on a crafty little batch of goodies that I will be selling at the Spring into Wellness Weekend, here in KC.



I'm honored to be one of the only product merchants at this event, and I can't wait to meet all of the other vendors and learn as much as I can about... being well! (A topic that I can't seem to get enough of!) There will be a holistic nutritionist, a massage therapist, a pilates instructor, a style constultant, a home organization guru, and many more!



You won't see me here tomorrow because I'll be busy as a little bee, but I hope you all have a truly lovely weekend, and I'll see you back here on Monday! Adios, mis amigos!

*Photo via ffffound

Garance Dore in Arizona!

Oh my gosh, I could not stop gasping when I looked at the photos on this post... the labels show where they were taken and none are more than a 2 or 3 miles away from my parents house in Scottsdale, where I grew up!!!!!

My house (ha, totally not mine anymore) is actually ON 64th street... this is crazay.

Makes me miss my hometown!!! You're right, Garance! Arizona IS a dream!

Outdoor Living Spaces

The forecast says a whopping 80 degrees for the high, today, and I absolutely cannot wait to spend my St. Patty's Day on our balcony with good friends and cold drinks!

The warmer temps have encouraged me to start setting up our little square-of-sunny-goodness, and these photos have been my inspiration...

Bohemian Breeze (via Vogue Living Australia) - Love the side panels of fabric and the print on the ceiling! So many patterns make for such an interesting space!

Chic in the Shade (via Decorno) - A bright spot to curl up with an Arnold Palmer and a book.

Outdoor Elegance (via Decorno) - OMG, I die. That fixture is AMAHZING... especially against the beautiful greenery in the background. Our neighbors would think I was crazy if I put up a crystal chandelier over our balcony, but let me tell you, I am tempted!

Sleeping Under the Stars (via Domino... RIP *tear*) - Casual, cozy, and romantic... light that fire, pour the vino, and cuddle up together under those darling throw blankets.

Next item on the agenda - another trip to the nursery and some seed planting... gotta add that final touch with some greenery! (I'm going to do the best I can to change my thumb from black to green.)

I hope everyone has a fun, festive, and safe holiday... how will YOU be celebrating your St. Patrick's Day, my dears?

Zhou Fan

I absolutely love these paintings by 25 year-old Chinese artist, Zhou Fan. Insanely inspiring...

"A series of my paintings is based on dreams that I had as a child of many many jellyfish floating in the sky, some of which fell to the ground on parachures and became mushrooms. These dreams had a strong impact on me, and I remember them vividly. Somehow I feel that it is easier to focus on dreams than reality. In one particular painting, there is a boy crying because he keeps things within him, is easily sad, and he refuses to face reality." - Zhou Fan

His artist's statement is strangely relatable for me, and I love finding new artists to follow!

Download a free screenaver featuring his work, here.

Another 'Truly Happy'

Spring flowers press their faces to the window, to see the sun.

The Sigh of Satisfaction - February 19, 2005


Sighs of restlessness, impatience, or sadness prickle in my ears. The sigh of satisfaction, however, never fails to put me at ease.


A sigh should be released as a wordless signal to tell whoever you are with that everything is going to be ok. The sigh of a sleeping child, a content friend, and especially the sigh following a memorable kiss all serve an important purpose. They are reminders of how we are blessed and why we should be thankful.


If sighs were tangible objects, I'd capture them in pretty little jars and keep them bottled up on my shelf.


The sigh of satisfaction is something that makes me truly happy.

The second installment of the new Truly Happy feature, here on The Lucky Stone.

Everyone is Beautiful

\

What a wonderful project, Mary!

I agree with you, Dear, I truly agree. :)

Springing Forward

I'm starting in a new position at my job this week, and I've got a lot of work to do to get ready for the switch... posting might be on the lighter side for the next few days, but I am definitely going to try to work in a second installment of "Truly Happies".

On that note, I leave you with jjjjust the right spring outfit for scooting around town and tackling a big to-do list...








All pieces from here. Natch.

Boo-ya! I'm off to knock out my list in the very same manner that I threw down a whole bag of Starburst jelly beans over the weekend.

Bean by bean 'til the very last one.

99 Things

Giraffe Shrub (or is it a tree?)... just because. Via So Haute.

Saw this here a while ago, and thought I'd play along....

Here are the rules: Bold the things you’ve done and post on your blog! (My own explanations in italics...)

1. Started your own blog
2. Slept under the stars - Almost got eaten by a mountain lion (turned out to be someone's pet, named Rusty...GAH!)
3. Played in a band
4. Visited Hawaii - I think my parents took me there once when I was a baby, but I don't remember it at all.
5. Watched a meteor shower - summer camp
6. Given more than you can afford to charity
7. Been to Disneyland - one of my bachelorette parties... thanks girls!
8. Climbed a mountain - Yup! My fave is right by my parents house. (Camelback Mtn.)
9. Held a praying mantis
10. Sang a solo
11. Bungee jumped
12. Visited Paris - Last summer. Rained pretty much the whole time. Still fun, though!
13. Watched a lightning storm at sea - I lived at the beach for 4 years, so I've seen one, but probably only once!
14. Taught yourself an art from scratch - Ha. All the time. I've never really taken an official class.
15. Adopted a child
16. Had food poisoning - Yup. Taco Bell on Mission Blvd.
17. Walked to the top of the Statue of Liberty
18. Grown your own vegetables - Mom helped me grow squash when I was little and we put them in these little plastic molds in the shape of silly faces, and the zucchinis ended up growing right into the shape. So cool.
19. Seen the Mona Lisa in France - We did not go inside the Louvre (EEK)!
20. Slept on an overnight train
21. Had a pillow fight - Prolly. Can't remember.
22. Hitch hiked
23. Taken a sick day when you’re not ill - DOY!
24. Built a snow fort
25. Held a lamb - I held a baby pig in Iowa once.
26. Gone skinny dipping - Regretfully. I hate being naked.
27. Run a Marathon
28. Ridden in a gondola in Venice
29. Seen a total eclipse
30. Watched a sunrise or sunset - I watch the sunrise everyday from my desk which is really cool. Sunsets aren't as good here in KC as they were in Arizona. AZ sunsets are even more colorful and beautiful than SD sunsets (in my most humble and unbiased opinion)
31. Hit a home run - All-star softball, baby! (Yeesh, that's totally embarrassing.)
32. Been on a cruise - Disney cruise in the Caribbean when you're five yrs. old = Awesome.
33. Seen Niagara Falls in person
34. Visited the birthplace of your ancestors - France (there is a town - and more importantly a winery - named after my fam!) Now I need to go to Italy!
35. Seen an Amish community
36. Taught yourself a new language
37. Had enough money to be truly satisfied
38. Seen the Leaning Tower of Pisa in person
39. Gone rock climbing - Used to go all the time in AZ... love it!
40. Seen Michelangelo’s David
41. Sung karaoke
42. Seen Old Faithful geyser erupt
43. Bought a stranger a meal at a restaurant - Does fast food count?
44. Visited Africa
45. Walked on a beach by moonlight - Lots of times!
46. Been transported in an ambulance - When I crashed our scooter last spring, two firetrucks (?), an ambulance, and two police cars came, but I would NOT let the ambulance take me away. Stupid. I was in shock, I guess, but I definitely should have gone to the hospital immediately. Instead, I gave them a very bloody and tearful thumbs up, and told them "I'm good!" Let's just say, they weren't convinced, and I spent the next hour trying to be "tough" in front of a bunch of really cute EMTs.
47. Had your portrait painted
48. Gone deep sea fishing - Well, I went but I too busy puking to actually fish.
49. Seen the Sistine Chapel in person
50. Been to the top of the Eiffel Tower in Paris - YES!
51. Gone scuba diving or snorkeling - Snorkeled in Costa Rica.
52. Kissed in the rain
53. Played in the mud
54. Gone to a drive-in theater
55. Been in a movie - Do student movies count?
56. Visited the Great Wall of China
57. Started a business - I had my own Event Planning business when I lived in San Diego... so much fun.
58. Taken a martial arts class
59. Visited Russia
60. Served at a soup kitchen
61. Sold Girl Scout Cookies
62. Gone whale watching - Awesome. Our boat was like 30 ft from a mom and baby humpback. Completely breathtaking.
63. Got flowers for no reason - From my Daddy. :)
64. Donated blood, platelets or plasma
65. Gone sky diving
66. Visited a Nazi Concentration Camp
67. Bounced a check
68. Flown in a helicopter
69. Saved a favorite childhood toy - Uh, still sleep with the teddy bear that my Mom's friend gave me the day I was born. Ya. Shut it.
70. Visited the Lincoln Memorial
71. Eaten Caviar
72. Pieced a quilt
73. Stood in Times Square
74. Toured the Everglades
75. Been fired from a job - If your company goes out of business, does that count?
76. Seen the Changing of the Guards in London
77. Broken a bone
78. Been a passenger on a motorcycle - AND a scooter.
79. Seen the Grand Canyon in person - Ok, no. Sad.
80. Published a book - Someday.
81. Visited the Vatican
82. Bought a brand new car
83. Walked in Jerusalem
84. Had your picture in the newspaper
85. Kissed a stranger at midnight on New Year’s Eve
86. Visited the White House
87. Killed and prepared an animal for eating - Nothing sounds worse!
88. Had chickenpox - Mom made me take a bite of my best friends cookie and sip her juice box when I was little because she had them, and that way I'd get it over with.
89. Saved someone’s life
90. Sat on a jury
91. Met someone famous
92. Joined a book club
93. Got a tattoo
94. Had a baby
95. Seen the Alamo in person
96. Swam in the Great Salt Lake
97. Been involved in a law suit
98. Owned a cell phone
99. Been stung by a bee - Yup, twice. Last time was in my front yard while I was climbing a tree (age 5? 6?)... that was when I found out I was allergic. Yuck.

Wow, if you made it this far, I am impressed! You are a true Lucky-Stoner! (But not, like, in a pot smoking way. Unless, of course you just smoked some, in which case it IS in that way.)

Regardless of what you have or have not been smoking, I hope you have a wonderful weekend! The weather is FINally starting to warm up a bit here, so I know it's going to be a good one!

I'm looking forward to lots of crafting, a special girls-breakfast tomorrow morning followed by a thrifting marathon, dinner and drinks for a friends b-day on Saturday night, and then another birthday celebration on Sunday night for two more dear friends of ours (husband and wife with the same b-day - adorable!).

What are you MOST excited about for this weekend?

Waiting for Mr. Postman

Finally getting around to spending some of my Christmas money!

(Um, hello? Crazy.)

Check out my awesome Etsy finds!!!

Wire Kitty Basket from YouAreYou

Vintage Onyx Cocktail Ring from AvidHunter3

Vintage Needlework (Perfect addition to my growing collection!) from JollyPollyPickins

Vintage Love Headband from LouAndLee

Vintage Embroidered Apron from DevineDebrisVintage

Ingenue from Jkldesign
(I am SO excited about this purchase! I have wanted it forever, and it is going to look great in the hallway!)

Can't wait 'til they all come in the mail!!!

Purple-Confirmation

Yes, I would totally wear these.

Photo via The Sartorialist

And this is why.

Sam's the Man

When it comes to impeccably designed shoes with architectural lines and scads of style - Sam Edelman knows how to turn 'em out.

I was shoe shopping online last night and I began to notice that 95% of my picks were by him! On several different websites! Usually my choices are across the board, but clearly he's my current fave.

Woven Heel - $158

Sahara Heel - $158

Lombard Bootie - $99.99

Gallinda Sandal - $120

I would wear anyone of his designs in a heartbeat... but, Sam, if you're out there listening - these are my favorites and I wear a size 9.

:)