Everything's Popping Up Spring!

(click on the picture above to be taken to my 

spring inspired treasury list on easy!)

Being a FL Girl, I never really understood why people got 

so dang excited about spring.

To me it was just always that non-season in-between 

hot and hotter.  

Since surviving the back half of my first 

Colorado winter…I get it.

There is a lot of excitement that surrounds 

the first leaves coming onto the trees,

new blooms of bulbs and flowers, 

the birds chirp chirping away,

and the return on the "short sleeve".

So in honor of things starting to look a little more like spring 

around here I put together a little list of all the 

things I'm crushing on for spring! 

Enjoy!

Meet Bella Lulu Ink!

As you may have noticed, Turquoise Violets got a little bit of a face lift! This was something that I have been wanting to do for quite sometime now.  And I finally found the perfect design and designer!!! I found Chelsea, of Bella Lulu Ink, on Etsy and she came to my rescue and gave my ho-hum blog and kick in the butt! Not only is she creative and talented, but quite frankly one of the nicest people that I have meet through blogging.  She walked me through my indecisiveness and together we came up with something really special! I am so honored to have her work displayed in my bloggy home!  Chelsea also writes a blog of her own, Bella Lulu Ink, where you can grab free printables every Sunday! They are all to die for, but this is my favorite so far:

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 You can subscribe to her blog, Bella Lulu Ink, and never miss a freebie sunday! And if all of that wasn't enough she was cool enough for a little interview! SO with no further ado....Here She is! 

Everyone, Meet Chelsea!

ET: How long have you been doing blog design? 

Chelsea: Well, on Etsy, a whopping month!  :)  I've been manipulating blogs for about six years now, but didn't really start getting serious until about two years ago.  I've always loved changing my own blog design, and at some point it occurred to me that I could put all this creative energy to good use and make templates for other people rather than change my blog up every single month!  

ET: Where do you find your inspiration?

Chelsea: I am almost obsessive about visiting new blogs.  When I find a blog, I try to check out the sidebars and visit all the blogs linked to on said blog.  Sometimes I get lost for hours just hopping from one blog to the next.  I also follow some amazing graphic designers on Pinterest and I get daily inspiration that way.  

ET: Why offer Sunday free printables?

Chelsea: I started it because I had some printables I'd designed and figured I might as well put them out there in bloggy land.  Now it forces me to be creative in a different vein than I'm used to doing with all the current blog work I have.  I've been very gratefully busy since opening up shop, so I'm started to actually dream about designing blogs...every single night.  True story.  Being able to work on something a little different from time-to-time is fun!  It keeps me a little sharper than I'd otherwise be.  

ET: What could you be found doing when you are not blogging and designing?

Chelsea: Well, I have three children four and under, so most of my time not blogging or designing is spent loving on them, cleaning up spills, changing diapers and blowing on tummies.  And spending time with my geek of a hubby (he's a software engineer) who has inspired me and taught me so much!  Life is pretty crazy and totally busy, but I love it.    

ET: Who or what are your style icons?

Chelsea: Oh man, I don't know where to start.  First things first, I'm really into minimalism.  It's hard to sometimes break out of that box when designing for people who may not be so minimal.  I love lots of white space.  Bold black and white are my favorite.  But then I am totally crushing on all the watercolor that has filled the design world lately.  

I used to work at a newspaper as an account manager.  Basically, I was the go-between for the client and graphic designer.  I went to school for Public Relations and Advertising, but had no idea I'd end up falling so in love with the graphic design side of things.  Anyway, I could ramble forever here, but one of my favorite graphic artists that I worked with, Mary, is probably my biggest inspiration.  I love everything she does!  She inspired me to branch out and actually try the graphic design side of things.  

I also adore the Heartmade Blog, Take Heart Blog Design, Angie Makes {yeah, she's a competitor but her stuff is amazing so I can't not mention her!}.  I could go on and on and on.  

ET: What is one funny thing that most people don't know about you?

Chelsea: I won't use women's razors.  Random, but true.  Men's razors all the way!  :)

inspiration lookbook: hello

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presidents day sale

presidents day sale!

now through monday

20% off 

everything in the store!

enter coupon code:

presidentsday20

at checkout

happy shopping!

10 things i couldn't live without this week

1. after a few weeks of having to skip ballet (due to the hubs insane work schedule), i went at if full force. i felt like i was having to make up for some lost time. i was so incredibly sore come tuesday morning. like 'take one step out of bed and fall on the floor' kinda sore. and i am not going to lie...my calves...they still hurt. they will probably be better tomorrow....just in time to make them sore again.
2. the tuesday duck park followed by taco tuesday lunch date is really starting to become quit the tradition. but this past tuesday, i was pleasantly surprised to find one of my friends, lily, from orlando working at the restaurant. she was in town doing some interviews for managers and was just sitting down to eat some lunch when we rolled up. how awesome for me! so it was great to spend the hour over tacos, swapping stories of how we have been for the past year or so, and chucking over the boys antics.
3. we had an amazing story time this week. the boy has been so good at story time after spending a few months away from it. he sits cross legged and listens and answers questions and tells little stories. it's really cute. we love the lake worth library and story time!
4. the boy and i went to our first real beach playdate of the year. it's crazy to think about it being january and playing in the sand and sun, but it happened. we ran up and down the beach. splashed in the waves. and we both suffered our first sunburn of the season. note: sunscreen expires.
5. i finally opened my etsy store this week. i have talked about and planned for this shop to open for what seems like years. but i did it. i finally did it. if you haven't stopped by yet, please take the time to check it out.  i will eventually adding some vintage clothing and some of my handmade goodies. if there are any pieces that i have made and featured here on the ole' blog that you would like to purchase please let me know and i will list them for you.
6. i was asked this week to be a featured blogger for UK shopping blog called Shopaholic. I am so stoked for this opportunity and it just kind of blows my mind.
7. after the hubs crazy work schedule this month, spending the past two days with him has been amazing! i always love it when he is off, but these have been really good. we've stayed up way past our bed times trying to take advantage of every minute that he doesn't have to be at work.
8. oh man i made the best mac and cheese friday night for dinner (and i can't wait to finish off the leftovers for dinner tonight!) i used this recipe from country living, but added a bit more cheese and an entire package of thick cut bacon. it was amazing! by far the best homemade mac and cheese ever!
9. we took the boy to the fair last night. it was a blast. the last time when just the boy and i went, he didn't want to go on any rides. this time (probably because his daddy was there) we went on tons of rides. at first the hubs and i were super nervous that the ride was going to start and he was going to freak out and we were going to just have to sit there and watch him panic. or as the hubs declared...he would have jumped in front of the ride so they would have to stop it.  so we waited and waited for the first ride to start. i could feel our nerves getting higher. then it started. the boy looked a little unsure at first, but then almost in an instant a smile spread from ear to ear and he was laughing so hard. he loved it. it was pretty much on after than. he rode so many rides alone, and we even found a few that we could all ride together. we ate more deep fried food than i care to admit to. played carnival games. and touched a lot of stinky farm animals. the boy was passed out in my arms before we even got to the parking lot!
10. this may seem silly to some, but i have to say that this is one of the biggest highlights of my week....we finally got a new rug for the family room. i loved our old rug. simple cream colored shag. or at least it was when we got it. over the years the dog and the boy have destroyed that rug. the few beginning months of potty training is what really did it in for that poor rug. but now we have a lovely mustard yellow pee free brand new rug.

shops open for business!

drum roll please! it's official....you know all that news that i have been hinting about....well folks here it is. i finally did it. i opened an etsy shop. the shop will be stocked full of vintage treasures and eventually some handmade goodies! please please please check it out and leave me some feedback. if there are any of my handmade gifts that you know for sure you would like to see please let me know! i am so excited about the shop, and it kinda make me feel like i am gonna puke! hahaha

my momma always said....

so i have been finding myself lately discovering that no matter how hard we try, eventually we turn into our parents. my mother has always been one to see something that she wants or needs and then figures out how to make it. i have been in the making mood lately. and i fell in love with a dress. and call me a megalomaniac, but i can't help but love that this etsy model looks like she could be me, weird.

as my mother once told me, "all crafting really is, is ripping off other peoples ideas and putting your own spin on it."

so i figured out how to make this dress.....

i am so in love with this dress. and i must admit, it didn't work out right the first time. i have a bad habit of rushing through projects that i am really excited about. i was really annoyed with the dress when i put it on for the first time and it was completely wrong, so i put it away for a few days. well i pulled it out yesterday, and i accidentally put it on backwards. well wouldn't you know if it wasn't a perfect fit. i also dropped the draw string in the waist down about 4" and through a belt around it. i can't say enough about how much i love this dress!

thanks mom for helping me work it out! love you.

brainstorming

the hubs company hold an annual conference at the beautiful long boat key club. that weekend getaway always sneaks up on me.

for the few weeks of cool weather that we get way down here in the tropics i like to allow myself to hibernate (ie. not shave my legs, get fat, and majorly pasty)

every year the motivation to get my butt in gear (and in the sun) is the culminating event of this conference. the formal awards ceremony. that's right.... formal! well as formal as a bunch of restaurant executives get. every year i get so excited about putting on the dress and the makeup, and seeing the hubs in something fancier than a polo. yet every year i feel like i play it a little safe with my wordrobe.

since i have been so inspired to sew lately....here's what i am thinking for this year:

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so i want to make a skirt like this. but not so heavy. i am thinking a silk chiffon, and possibly multiple layers. and the beautiful tropical watercolored fabric that i fell in love with is no longer available. i am debating dying my own. thoughts?

please let me know what you think! all feedback is encouraged and needed! i am still on the fence about wether or not i can pull it off.

Item #1 on 2010's Wish List!

This awesome hand stamped necklace comes from a great little etsy shop called The Rusted Chain. She has some amazing and inspirational handmade jewelry! Some serious MUST HAVES! I have really been wanting a necklace like this one with Ash's name on it since before he was born! Maybe the hubs will get the hint for my birthday! The Rusted Chain also has a great blog! Check Check It!