Unclutterer Love

Thank you so much to Erin from Unclutterer for featuring my workspace last week (and thanks to Dawnie for pointing it out for me!). All the comments of my room have been so sweet and very truly heart-warming. So thank you everyone for your kind words, and welcome to new visitors!

I'll be back later today with a fun Easter craft!

♥ Shannon

Art Journal

I just wanted to pop in and show you a little Art Journal page I had fun working on. I've been playing with different collage materials--this was made with Mod Podge and napkins. I used a paper towel to apply the Mod Podge, so the thin paper retained the crinkles.

Plus, isn't the poem lovely? I was just recently introduced to the work of Danna Faulds.

Happy Friday!

♥ Shannon

Hair Play

I admit that I spent way too much time on this, especially when I had many other things that I would have liked to get done.

Still! Not all was for naught! I got to play around with masks in Photoshop, and you get a peek at what I could do if I was just a little more brave...

I've been wanting to dye my hair red!!! So bad. But there just isn't any red dye in Maryland, and I just don't know if I want to pay money to do it.

I think I could pull off red...

Or maybe I should just stick with what works, but maybe darken the brown a little.

Heh. Blue was just for fun, but I kind of like it....

For the past 9 years, I had been in the military, and I had to have hair that was a natural color, so I just never did anything with it. Now I'm learning about the fun I can have, but it's a little tricky.

Anyway, this was a fun experiment. I'd love to hear your thoughts.

PS: This all started when I was trying to make it blonde. Didn't work so much. If you have any photoshop tips...I'm pretty sure I'd make an excellent hypothetical blonde!

♥ Shannon

Sticky Fingers Bakery

Have you heard of the VegNews Bucket List?  I find that I enjoy bucket lists. I think it has something to do with twenty-two years of organized education. I can't get anything done unless it will accomplish something.

Anyway, I'm going to make the VegNews Bucket List say my name. Starting with #11: Devour a cowvin cookie at Sticky Fingers Bakery in Washington, DC.

It was awesome. The cowvin cookie rocked my world, but the strawberry creme cupcake...I'm having fantasies about it. I WILL be going back there.

Oh, PS: Sticky Fingers won Cupcake Wars Season 2. You can get the recipes here.

♥ Shannon

Yoga in the Park

Matt and I went for a walk today and we came upon a lovely avenue with cherry blossom coverage, and I felt the need to do some yoga.

I like having pictures of myself as I learn challenging poses so I can actually see my alignment and what I need to work on (flexibility in the lower back, melting the heart forward to bring my shoulders over my wrists, rooting down through my feet to help straighten the legs more).

I'm learning that backbends encourage playfulness and foster courage; with that in mind, I felt a little more light-hearted and empowered as we went about our day.

Just thought I'd give you a peek at my process!

♥ Shannon

Butterfly Garden

So the previous tenants of my townhouse had planted a little garden by the front door. They, however, must not have known that mint is kind of an invasive species, in that it will take over your entire garden if not monitored. So that's what happened, resulting in a Jurassic Park-esque jungle by mid-summer.

So I've decided that I am going to clean up the yard, get rid of weeds and mint growth, and scatter what I hope will be a low maintenance butterfly habitat.

Butterflies need specific flowers--ideally from plants native to the area. I did some research, and then lucked out with this little scatter garden kit, containing the plants I wanted (milkweed was my #1)--and more. It also has some nice instructions for this gardening newb.

So hopefully when these little lovelies come migrating through Maryland, they'll stop by and say hello! You know I love me some butterflies!

Now all I need is a hoe (but who doesn't, am I right? Just kidding...inappropriate...).

♥ Shannon

Decisions Decisions

We all knew this day would come: I have finally treated myself with an iPhone (the Verizon iPhone 4, in fact). Now I just have to figure out how to make it even sexier.

1. Skinit.com: Lavender Skin; Kingfisher Skin

2. Clear Belkin case

3. GetUncommon.com: Birdcage; Owl

4. Oma+Olaf Owl

5. Zazzle.com: Chameleon; Tutu Grunge; Heart Strings

6. Speck Argyle

So many choices!! Here is what I know: 

1. I need a case (my little Motorola flip has cracks, scratches, and paint blotches on it)

2. I want it to be pretty.

Right now I'm leaning towards a fun skin with a clear case...but oh how to choose? Let me know what you think--and how you've jazzed up your phones.

♥ Shannon