GUEST POST WITH HAPPERLY EVER AFTER | VALENTINE DIY

Hello people of the world The 25th Hour! I am SOO excited to be sharing my Valentines DIY with you all today!
Some of you just got excited because, like me, you're not awesome at gift giving,
Some of you just rolled your eyes and continued scrolling because you simply don't do Valentines Day,
and the rest of you don't care because you don't have anyone to gift to.

WELL let me tell you all something -- this little creation can be made for anyone [including yourself].

All you need is a deck of cards, a permanent marker and some sort of hanging contraption. I created mine from twine and a piece of wood. [ps. I was inspired from pinterest -- duh]

 

Simply write one lovey-dovey/encouraging/thankful thing or saying on each card.
I laid each card out on the table, put a little hot glue on the top and ran some twine down the middle. Tie each strand to your 'hanger' and hang that baby up for people to see! [or somewhere private depending on who you're making it for, some people don't wanna read that stuff]





There you go! Quick and easy and cute [heck you can even leave this up year round].
--side note, that cute little sail boat thing was a gift from my mumma. she's the greatest.

Hope you enjoyed this DIY and I would love for you to drop by my blog -- www.happerlyeverafter.com
Can't wait to meet you! >>> ali  

 

-------------------------------------------------------------------------

 

Um, is she not the most precious thing ever or what? I am also in love with her blog name. Check it out to read the story behind the name. So cute! I love this DIY so much because it takes the kitchiness of Valentine's day into something so personal and creative! (Don't get me wrong, I love the candy hearts, singing stuffed animals and flowers) Anyway, hope you all enjoyed this DIY! It has been awhile since I have posted one. Thank you Ali for being so cute and creative, but more importantly inspiring!

GUEST POST WITH STUDIO 336

The lovely Erin invited me to guest post over at her blog, Studio 336 today.
You should go check it out :)

TUESDAY TUNES | PSEUDO BOYFRIENDS

image source//

This might be my favorite playlist yet. I have been lacking in the Tuesday Tunes posts these couple weeks so I owed it to myself and you all. I introduce to you, Pseudo Boyfriends.

Here is a compilation of a few tunes from my favorite male singer/songwriters. I have fallen in complete love with each of their voices. They really know how to put a girl's heart back together. These boyfriends don't forget birthdays, choose another girl, break your heart, fight, make you feel crazy, cheat or make you feel insignificant. They never disappoint you and can sing you right to sleep. Sounds like the perfect relationship to me :) For now I have my pseudo boyfriends until the right one comes along ;)

PLAYLIST  //
1 | Let Her Go - Passenger
2 | The Daylight - Andrew Belle
3 | Everything'll Be Alright (Will's Lullaby) - Joshua Radin
4 | Re: Stacks - Bon Iver
5 | The Lime Tree - Trevor Hall
6 | Ain't No Reason - Brett Dennen
7 | The Girl - City & Colour
8 | Cannonball - Damien Rice
9 | For the Widows in Paradise, For the Fatherless in Ypsilanti - Sufjan Stevens
10 | Let That Be Enough - Switchfoot
11 | Farther Along - Josh Garrels
12 | Sea Breeze - Tyrone Wells
13 | Lonelily - Damien Rice
14 | I Don't Want Love - The Antlers
15 | Warning Sign - Coldplay
16 | Murder in the City - The Avett Brothers
17 | Slow Dancing in a Burning Room - John Mayer
18 | Old Pine - Ben Howard
19 | Song For Zula - Phosphorescent
20 | Crash This Train - Joshua James
21 | Hold You In My Arms - Ray LaMontagne
22 | More Than Life - Whitley
23 | All My Days - Alexi Murdoch
24 | In My Veins - Andrew Belle
25 | I And Love And You - The Avett Brothers
26 | Wondering Where You Are - Tyrone Wells
27 | Ten Dead Dogs - Wild Sweet Orange
28 | Let Me Be - Xavier Rudd
29 | Do You Remember - Jack Johnson
30 | Upward Over The Mountain - Iron & Wine
31 | I Love the Rain the Most - Joe Purdy
32 | The Stable Song - Gregory Alan Isakov
33 | The Heart of Life - John Mayer

8tracks || Spotify*

*To listen on Spotify, click the link, choose Spotify as the application to open it with and voila! This is my first time linking a Spotify playlist, so please let me know if you have problems using the link.

Happy Listening!

BAKING | BLUEBERRY PIE

Earlier this week, my friend Melissa was my partner-in-crime for my first pie baking experience! Now, I have baked a few things like pumpkin cookies and red velvet cupcakes, but let's be honest.. those were definitely out-of-the-box kind of recipes aside from the made-from-scratch cream cheese frosting (favorittttte).

Baking a pie from scratch just feels more intimate. You literally know every little ingredient that goes into that pie, roll the dough yourself and put it together in the pan. It was quite a messy experience, but the best reward in the end! Also, did you know how soft your hands feel after kneading dough? Long story short, I love pies, I love baking and next time I need to wear an apron :) Of course I had to take photos of my "first" time. I am still trying to get flour off my camera. Oops!

Did I mention our pie was vegan? Here is the book we used!

Go grab a napkin.

I think you may have just drooled all over your keyboard.
You're welcome.

GUEST POST with Dot in the City | Work Attire Edition

I am thrilled to be joining you today! When Melissa suggested I guest blog, it took me a bit to decide what to share with you. I started thinking about everyday challenges we all have. It's not really a challenge, but some days getting dressed can be a challenge, mostly because I want to look ready for work, yet show some personal style.
I've been thinking a lot about my wardrobe lately. Partially, because I can't wear a good portion of it now that I'm 16 weeks pregnant. I've also been thinking about what I want my pregnancy wardrobe to consist of as I build it. It takes me back to about eight years ago when I transitioned from student to professional. Honestly, I didn't give a lot of thought to the kinds of clothes I was buying when I was in college and grad school. I also lived in a part of the country that was pretty casual. If I wore jeans to my part-time job every day in Colorado no seemed to notice.

Fast forward through graduation and I found myself on the east coast with a full-time job where I was not allowed to wear jeans. That's right for the first three years of my professional career I was forbidden to wear jeans. It was brutal, but I survived. Now, that I find myself in a somewhat similar situation, I am giving careful considering to each piece I buy, even if I only plan to wear it for the next six-ish months.

A woman's wardrobe can be complicated, but it doesn't have to be. Sure, I love the many options we have especially compared to men, but a great foundation should be laid before we get too crazy with the latest fashion trend. I don't think color blocked dresses are going to be quite as hip in 2015...but I could be wrong.

My wardrobe basics usually consist of brown pants, solid cardigans, solid dresses, a handful of blouses, a suit jacket and comfortable yet cute shoes. I try to buy pieces that can be mixed with others to create more versatile looks. I put together a few inspiration boards. The first is more classic look in black and white and the second includes navy and grey as the base.

bnw work-ready by bbgoad featuring h&m

J.Crew j crew / J.Crew j crew / Boden peter pan shirt / H&M , $40 / Sheer white blouse / Boden fitted blazer / LOFT elastic waist skirt / Mango highwaisted pants, $48 / Me Too ballet high heels / Børn flat

navy work-ready by bbgoad featuring flat shoes

Boden peter pan collar dress / Boden jersey dress / Boden / H&M chiffon blouse, $24 / Old Navy / Boden / Boden printed pants / Boden long pants / Børn flat shoes / Clarks ballet shoes

Finally, here are a few tips for building a basic work-ready wardrobe:

>> Choose a color pallet and try to stick with it. If you look better in brown than black, you may want to buy more brown/khaki items as your base. You should still own some black, but if you're more comfortable in a different hue, it's okay to veer from that (I own mostly browns and have only been wearing black more recently).

>> Spend more money on timeless/classic items because you'll want them to last longer. Spend less money on the seasonal trend since you won't be wearing it long.

>> Accessories are really the key to dressing up or down an outfit. Be aware of what it means to be overdressed in your workplace and try to avoid it. You don't want to stand out too much.

>> Trying to figure out where to start in your quest to build a work-ready wardrobe? Consider what you'd wear to an interview. How can that look be transformed to a day in the office (i.e. exchange the jacket for a cardigan)?

If you enjoyed these tips, I hope you'll stop by my blog, dot in the city, where I share life. To be honest, I'm not actually a fashion blogger, but I do love to write about everyday situations and solutions. You can catch me on Twitter, Facebook or Instagram too!

_____________________________________________

Thank you so much Beth for the great tips and for stopping by the blog today! Her guest post couldn't come more at a perfect time since I have fairly recently had to transition from college girl closet of comfy yoga pants and hoodies to the world of pencil skirts, flats and no jeans (well, except on Casual Friday!). I hope you all got inspired to work on your professional attire... I sure did. I need to find more comfy, classic pieces that won't wrinkle when I sit at my desk for 8+ hours! It is about time some fashion posts come back to the blog :)

MANTRA TO START THE WEEK

AND DO IT OFTEN

Remember this today, this week, this year and always.

At times we get stuck in this idea of what we are supposed to do versus what we desire to do. Sometimes we feel as if we do not have a choice and we conform to do what we are told. Guilty...guiltyguiltyguilty. I am making a conscious effort to find time to do what I love more and work towards doing it full time... personally and professionally. Can I honestly say that I am where I want to be professionally? No. Personally? Absolutely not, but before I settle and commit to something for security reasons, I need to first figure out what I love. I am no in way disregarding how blessed and thankful I am for having a job and how much I really have grown to love it, but every opportunity is a stage in our forever-growing lives and who knows where this will take me. I have always wanted a Master's degree, but first I want to take a few classes to build up my technique and knowledge. For example, I am interested in graphic design and brand identity, none of which I really got a chance to learn about in undergrad... just something I picked up along the way and get to do it part-time. (I say really because let's face it, those media publishing/graphic classes were just introductions to the world of graphic design.) I want to make sure these passions stays afloat and do not get lost in the sea of regrets because I wanted "security".

Don't get me wrong, security is important, but if it is with something you are not passionate about that is a copious amount of sacrifice. Forgive the cliché but life is way too short to settle, to conform and to push back your passions for the lifestyle you think you are supposed to be living. Rediscover what you love and just do it. Do not let the conformity of others or the little things that seem like big things hinder you. Do what you love, love what you do and do it often.

Make sure you find that "extra hour" to either do what you love, discover what you love or put forth effort to finally do what you love. So may I ask... what is it that you love?

____________________________________

// image

PS. Notice the little blog facelift? :) She's still a work-in-progress. Slowly, but surely.

TUESDAY TUNES | SONG FOR ZULA

This week I didn't have time for a full playlist, but with this song by Phosphorescent, you won't even need it. One my dearest friends Renée, who has a new blog called Cultura Nouvelle, introduced me to this song and what can I say, I fell in absolute love. If this is one of the last songs I ever hear I think I could be perfectly content with that.

This song is a perfect blend of heartache, transparency and mystery that we all have maybe become familiar with. It is as though Matthew Houck took a part of every breaking soul, built it right into his voice and right into those violins. Feel it for yourself...



Some say love is a burning thing  That it makes a fiery ring Oh but I know love as a fading thing Just as fickle as a feather in a stream See, honey, I saw love. You see, it came to me It put its face up to my face so I could see Yeah then I saw love disfigure me Into something I am not recognizing  

For more Tuesday Tunes posts, click here.

A BOOK A MONTH | NYR 01

Photos were taken in my old college apartment when I was fixing up my bookshelf about a year ago

One of my New Year's Resolutions (NYR) is to read one book every month. Maybe five years ago this seemed nothing out of the ordinary, but for this post-graduate lady, reading a book sounds as "impossible" as getting eight hours of sleep a night. I seriously thought after college meant more sleep and less things to do. Boy was I wrong. If anything it is less sleep, more things to do. And it just gets crazier from here, right?

The last book I read was Shades of Grey (cue blushing), but I never had the inspiration to finish the last two of the series. They are stored away in my Kindle and I suppose one day I will finish them. Is it me or did it just seem repetitive? I mean, I could only deal with so many, ahem, hardcore not-so-Disney-channel scenes in a book series. Goodness I sound like a prude. Was I judging the other two books too quickly?

This month I am reading Eat Pray Love and I couldn't be more excited. I think I will jump back on my Goodreads account and try to not look like a loser on there anymore. Yikes it looks rough on there!

I will make an effort to track my progress through my blog. I've created a button (naturally) so that I make sure I hold up my end of my NYR deal. Feel free to snag the button if you would like to join in on this challenge! I would love to see what everyone is reading lately since I have been out of the game.

Here's to new year resolutions that will be accomplished and getting lost in a book.

<a href="http://www.the-25thhour.com/search/label/A Book A Month"><img src="http://i1183.photobucket.com/albums/x475/mashleyvega/abookamonth_zps64011238.png" alt="The 25th Hour: A Book A Month Challenge" target"_blank" width="300" height="300" /></a>

TUESDAY TUNES | COVERS

PLAYLIST
01. Fast Car - Boyce Avenue feat. Kina Grannis
02. Skinny Love - Birdy
03. The Boy Who Blocked His Own Shot - Andrew Belle
04. I Can't Make You Love Me/ Nick of Time - Bon Iver
05. Wagon Wheel - Mumford & Sons
06. Yellow - Sara Bareilles
07. Don't Worry Baby - Jim Hanft
08. Addicted to Love - Florence & The Machine
09. Can't Help Falling in Love - Ingrid Michaelson
10. 1901 - Birdy
11. The Freshman - Jay Brannan
12. I Want to Hold Your Hand - T.V. Caprio
13. You're Gonna Make Me Lonesome When You Go - Miley Cyrus
14. Free Falling - John Mayer
15. Imagine - Jack Johnson
16. Grow Old With Me - The Postal Service
17. Make You Feel My Love - Adele
18. Landslide - Dixie Chicks
19. What Makes You Beautiful - Boyce Avenue

Here is a collection of my favorite covers. Part two will come soon.
What are some of your favorite covers? I'd love to hear!

Listen on 8tracks
Album photo + design (c) Melissa Vega

FEATURED ARTIST + SHOP OWNER: DEAR MOONBEAMS

 

blog | shop | twitter | pinterest

I have been following Megan's blog for quite some time now and actually won two of her giveaways (lucky me!). Most recently, I won this wonderful embroidery hoop from this giveaway! It is currently hanging up in my cubicle :) Anyway, I think her shop is absolutely adorable with embroidery hoops to make any house or space feel like home! Read along to learn more about her precious shop and her inspirations. Be sure to check out the READER'S COUPON at the bottom of the post! My readers will receive their own discount code :D So... what you waiting for? Read along and snag one of your own Dear Moonbeams embroidery hoops!

THE INTERVIEW

1. Introduce yourself and a little background info!
Hello! My name is Ms. Megan, I am 22 years old and I love reading, taking bike rides, baking up sweet treats, watching doctor who + pushing daisies, taking photos, playing with my cats, going thrifting, browsing book shops, taking long walks and drinking tea.

2. What inspired you to create an embroidery shop?

My dear friend AMY started embroidering as a hobby and she created the sweetest little hoop for me. I commented how talented she is at everything she does (she writes beautifully and takes the most enchanting photos!! I highly recommend checking out her BLOG!!) She told me how simple of a hobby it is to start and pointed me towards MOLLIE'S BLOG for tips and tricks for beginners and I just started from there!! I found more techniques online and I love watching movies + reading books for inspiration for the quotes that I stitch.

3. What other crafts/diy are you interested in?

I love scrapbooking, sewing (mostly by hand as I can't work a sewing machine!) making jewelry, painting, creating banners to hang up around the house and anything else I find on Pinterest! ;)

4. What's the story behind the shop name?

I wanted something to go with my blog name (Moonbeam Wishes) and I thought that the name Dear Moonbeams would fit right in. I love wishing on stars and gazing up at the moon and I thought the affectionate title seemed just right! I also kinda love that it looks like the beginning of a letter. :)

5. When you're not owning your own shop and blogging, where can we find you?

Usually curled up with a book with a cup of tea by my side and a cat or two underfoot.

6. What's your favorite part about owning your own shop?

The hours are great, the all you can drink tea is heavenly and I really rather like my boss! ;) I also love the freedom to go wherever the wind takes me and I can get as creative as I wish.

7. What's in the future for you and Moonbeam Wishes?

Hopefully great and wonderful things. :)

Here are a few of my faves:

 

1 / 2 / 3 / 4

READER'S CODE
You can also let your readers use the coupon code THE25THHOUR for 15% off in my EMBROIDERY SHOP from now till February! :)

Thank you Megan for the wonderful interview here at The 25th Hour. It has been a pleasure getting to know you :)