Mail Should Look Like This

 

Oh Pink Sparkle Fun. How I've missed you. I've been waiting for inspiration to strike, of just the right sort. Things have been rather lackluster in the Land of Pink. Until now.

I found Ishtar Olivera's FABULOUS site. I just can't rave enough. Look at these parcels! Look at the envelopes! Look at the attention to darling details! You can see more on her Snail Mail Party post.

I will only send letters that look like this now. Can you imagine how receiving a letter so charmingly embellished would brighten someone's day? I want to mail a similar kind of letter to my daughter. She'd be so utterly delighted.

Pretty Pink Cake

 

Look at this! Saw these fabulous images first on Lobster & Swan and then had to visit the blog that created this pink cake of pure pretty. The blog is called Such Pretty Things and oh you just have to go see the rest of the cake decorating pictures! They will make your day happy happy happy!

Pink Things

Wherever you are....have a pink day!

Pink Door

I want to be here. What's inside? I think life would be perfectly charming in a house with a pink door.

(Source: http://custoderodriguez.blogspot.com/2010/12/pink-front-door.html)

A Charmingly Pink Bedroom

This just makes me happy. A Pinky Pie Happy start to your week!

(Image credits: http://selinalake.blogspot.com/2010/06/summer-florals.html)

Pink Ombre Cake

This cake would truly be the pinkest, most fantastic, pinkalicious cake in the history of pink cakes. Yes, I have cake on the brain. There are worse things!

A Little Snow Fairy Sugar

Watch. And marvel. At THE XTREME CUTE! At the PINK HAIR! At the SUGAR BABY LOVE! (it's in the song).

Your mind is blown away, far far away, right? 

You can read more about 'A Little Snow Fairy Sugar' here.

Pink Velvet Cake

Right??? You're welcome. Happy Pink Day to you. You can find the awesome here.

Shabby Chic

Lately, I have been riding a wave of rediscovered love for all things Shabby Chic. I used to love that whole aesthetic, but it fell to the wayside as I succumbed completely to all-things-Domino. The Domino look is still my favorite decorating style. (WHY is that magazine gone??)

But I digress. I'm feeling like I have a small opening in my heart for a bit of Shabby Chic to make its way back into my life...little bits here and there...everyone can use a teensy bit of pretty for pretty's sake, yes?

So I find it highly likely that I'll be checking out Rachel Ashwell's latest paperback book, when it hits stores later this summer. And I'd also like to see her book, 'Shabby Chic Inspirations'. I used to own this one and I loved it. I wonder what happened to it?

Baking With Style

I am a HUGE, mega Lisa Yockelson fan. Her cookbooks are FAB. Her recipes always work out. Her recipes always inspire. I've had this cake cookbook for about 15 years and it's still a big favorite.

So imagine the EXTREME DELIGHT when I discovered that she has come out with 'Baking Style', a brand new book. And it's pink. Some days are just happy days, you know? I cannot, cannot wait to get my hands on this one. And then I'm going to make this.

Pink Pillows

Just saw these amazing pillows from Bonnie and Neil over at Design Sponge this AM, hot off the presses. They almost made my eyes pop out. Pink pillows that actually look cool and not like something you need to hide in your kiddo's room? I'll take one of each!

The second pillow is apparently temporarily sold out. Focus on the temporarily part!

1) Dahlia Tile Cushion Fluoro Pink, $125. (awesome pillows are sometimes an investment, but they will last for years!)

2) Pink Gum Cushion, $125.

3) Watercolor Cushion in Fluoro Pink, $145.

Pink Sofa

Image via Wish!

Psst -- you people who think you don't like pink so much. (OK those people probably wouldn't be HERE then, I suppose.)

Just look at this picture! Everything looks better in pink. The wall. the floor. The all of it. You know it's true!

A Pale Pink Room

So serene. The bed! We have a sleigh bed somewhat similar (the sides don't go up quite as high) and it's in our guest room. I'd love to move it someday into Julia's room. This picture made me feel very, very happy....
You can see the whole feature on this home and family over at The Glow.

Pink Flowers on an April Day

Some lovely flowers to start your week off...xo!

Pretty Teacups

Aren't these tea cups and bowls just cheery springalicious? I think so! They are from Pip-Studio. You can find the whole collection HERE. I love the teacup with the wee bird on it!

Pink Sparkle Fun

Some dear friends of ours gave Julia the most wonderful birthday present last month. They literally sent a box of pink, sparkle, fun. The box itself was wrapped ON THE INSIDE with glittery wrapping paper and there were faux jewels just bouncing around among the gifts, which included this pink glitter purse and skinny pink glitter belt. 

To say she LOVED these presents would be a huge understatement. She has worn the belt and the purse everywhere she goes! She puts them on as soon as she gets home from school. She takes them to Grandma's house. She wears them to playdates.

Proof positive: PINK SPARKLE FUN is where it's at.

Cherry Blossom Cordial & Pink Lemonade

Ok pink lemonade is self explanatory. Pink lemonade is waaaaay better then regular lemonade. (Because of the pinkness, duh.)

But this other one! I want, I need, I MUST TRY this pretty pink drink! First of all, I love grenadine. Did you know that in France, grenadine and water is a drink all by itself? It's like a Shirley Temple, minus the 7-Up soda. Did you all drink Shirley Temple's when you were little? I loved that drink with all of my being.

I am going to rename this drink Cherry Blossom Cordial because that sounds awesome.

Cherry Blossom Cordial

Ingredients:

2 cups water

1 tablespoon cherry blossom tea or any floral white tea

3/4 cup lemon juice

1/4 cup plus 2 tablespoons Simple Syrup

1 1/2 tablespoon grenadine

Directions:

1. Heat the water in a medium pan over medium heat until it begins to simmer. Remove from heat, add tea, and let sit 2 minutes. Strain immediately, and refrigerate liquid right away until cold, about 1 hour.

2. Combine tea, lemon juice, simple syrup, and grenadine. Pour over ice when ready to serve.

Serves 5.

(Image Credits: http://www.marthastewartweddings.com)

Cherry Blossom Lanterns

This photo was taken in Malaysia and served as the inspiration for our Spring Origami Lantern Tree. INCREDIBLE, right? It looks like a fairy tale come to life....

(Image credits: http://mindingmymoment.tumblr.com/post/9630412850)

Pink Rainbow Sugar

I think colored sugar like this would elevate....EVERYTHING...into the realm of super special. You know I'm right. I'm gonna do this project with Julia and I don't think it will be a hard sell: "Hey Julia, want to mix some colored sugar together?" Better yet, I could call it "FAIRY SUGAR" and I think she might run me over trying to get to it!

The tutorial on how to make this pretty pink goodness can be found on the GORGEOUS blog, Stonegable. I want to make pretty much everything on the site. Beautiful photography and inspired recipes!

Origami Lantern Tree

Julia and I made this spring cherry blossom mini-lantern tree last week. Want to know how much I love it? SOOOOOOOOO MUCH! When Julia came downstairs the next day after I had added even more lanterns, she said "Oh it's so pretty Mom!" More of the actual creating process is described over at Julia's Bookbag.

I think it's the perfect way to usher in the new season, and it cheers me no end to gaze at it, especially since the weather is not very springy right now. We used origami paper to make the lanterns and tissue paper to make the cherry blossoms, which we just stuck on with tape. The lanterns are so easy to make; you can find my tutorial about making lanterns here.