February Photo A Day Challenge~Days 24-29{Finis}+Happy Leap Day!

Happy Leap Day Everyone!! So I wish I could say I did something awesome with my extra day but not so much. But wait let’s see…I did confirm a spa day for myself and maman! I’m soooo excited about that, haven’t had a facial and professional pedicure in a looong time. I joined a book club. I got my tax return money {yayyy!} so I’ll be putting money back in savings and getting things checked off my to do list a little later. I’m also blogging! And I found out about this, Lilly Pulitzer Chroniclers Program, and am super excited to work on my application this week!! Sounds like a lot of fun and a great experience. Fingers crossed! So in conclusion. Busy week and day 366.
So here are the final days of the February photo a day challenge!
24}Inside your bathroom closet~I like nice things and I like my nice things to look nice and be displayed as much as possible. My shelf has vintage glass containers {an inexpensive way to organize things like nail polishes, perfumes, and soaps}. A collection of glass vases holds dried lavender. A vintage soap dish has potpourri from a trip to Cambria. Mom started my collection of antique makeup and perfume bottles for Christmas this year. You don’t have to spend a lot of money to make even the smallest or mundane of spaces look nice. Just think creatively!

25}Green~I have a lot of green things in my room but the thing that stands out the most is my hand painted cabbage tureen from Nanny. I love it and it has a lot of sentimental value. Last year I used at Easter to make Curried Carrot Soup. Delicious! It sits on my green hutch next to a green framed photo of my grandmother Hazel and her poodle. Also snapped a pic of my green books, they are now color coordinated on my shelves. Another easy way to change things up.

26}Night~Love this picture. Walking the Thames at night a few years ago. London Eye in the background. Wish I was back there now having tea and sightseeing.

27}Something you ate~Sketti!

28}Money~Money from voyages past.

29}Something your listening to~Current song on my Pandora playlist.

Well today is the final day of February Photo A Day Challenge, check out twitter #FEBphotoaday. Blogger Fat Mum Slim, who started February photo a day, summarizes the  month here and shares the March photo a day challenge list. Check it out. Join. Enjoy! It has been fun and am so excited to start a new month.
March comes in like a lion! Here we go people!

Have a extra bright day!
Bright Girl

February Photo A Day Challenge: Days 20-23

I hope everyone is having a great week! Tomorrow is Friday, yay! Not sure what to do this weekend, I want to do something fun!
Okay here goes #FEBphotoaday continued.
20}Handwriting~I see these everyday on my fridge. Postcards home from Paris and Montepulciano. Wonderful memories, can’t wait for a new adventure.

21}A fave photo of you~I rarely get my picture taken anymore, need to do more fun stuff on my weekends off now. These are two of my favs. The first one is me 27 years ago after coming home from the hospital in my teddy tee from Aunt Patty:) The other photo is me at the Burwell wedding in Santa Barbara. What a great day, so pretty. I need a Cali fix again v. soon.



22}Where you work~I’ve spent many long hours in this location in this exact state working on homework, reading, researching, killing time, blogging, etc. Computerizing in bed. Where I am most nights. V. Exciting.

From my current location I’m watching Willow Snow rub a catnip cookie to death. Funniest 10 year old ever.

23}Your shoes~I love shoes. I used to hate shoes. I’m 5’9 and therefore I have big feet so it’s always been hard to find cute shoes in my size. Now that I’m adult and I’ve grown into my own sense of style it’s easier to find things I like. Today I went with a nautical theme. Talbots blood red patent loafer flats. So cute and I got them for a sickeningly good price, originally $100 I paid about $20. Blue tights from Target. Paired with a navy skirt and this Old Navy tee on top. Super cute!




Well tomorrow is another day. What is everyone doing over the weekend?
Happy Friday! Make it bright!
Bright Girl

February Photo A Day Challenge: 15-19

Okay so I apologize, it’s been a busy week. I haven’t been spending much time on the computer and have gotten behind on blogging this week.
So here goes, photo a day challenge days 15-19.
15}Phone. So I recently got an iPhone, which has been an awesome upgrade, time saver, life saver, etc. I knew if I ever got an iPhone I would definitely want a Kate Spade case, they had a sale last week and I snagged this cute silicone cover for $17. Awesome!! I’ve had several people comment that my nails match my case. In case you were wondering my polish is the new OPI Holland Collection color Kiss Me on my Tulips. Super cute! I bought mine at Natural Body, who basically carries the entire line so check it out!


16}See above. I just got this great cardigan and striped top at the Gap. Channeling my inner French girl, oh la la!


17}Time. This is how my day is organized now. Lots of keeping up and time management.

18}Drink. Glass of iced tea in my Chelsea glass which was discovered at a relatives house a few years ago. Fittingly now mine and perfect refreshing boost to get me going on a cleaning rampage.

19}Something I hate to do. Well this was kind of hard. I did a lot of cleaning and purging today, not necessarily something I hate to do, but I did clean out the litter box, which I don’t like to do, and I finally got going on reorganizing and cleaning out my photo albums, which I was dreading because I knew it would take FOREVER!! 4 hours later I finished purging only to realize I don’t like the albums I bought. So I’ll be returning them and finding new ones. For now I have about 300 pictures that need albums but everything is organized and the rest of my pictures are fine in their current albums, just much leaner and better organized. It was fun going back in time and finding fun pictures…and others that make me grateful for time…everything gets better with time, some pictures didn’t have a chance escaping the trash bin.


Well I’m exhausted after all that organizing! Downton Abbey finale tonight was great, I’m glad things ended on a somewhat tidy note. Sad we’ll have to wait until next year for more but something to look forward to. Which reminds me Mad Men is coming back in a few weeks, HOORAY!!!
What did you guys do this weekend? Do anything fun? Go somewhere for a drink of your own? Did you have to do something you hate? Do tell!
Have a bright night!
Bright Girl

February Photo A Day Challenge{12-14}+Happy Valentine’s Day!

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12}Inside Your Closet~Well if you’ve been keeping up with my blog then you already know I’ve been reorganizing and cleaning out my closet. {Quick and Easy Refabulizing & Quick and Easy Organization}. Not much new to share but I did take a pic whilst debating what to wear to Pink Girl’s Valentine luncheon. It was wonderful as always! Be sure to check out her blog Marie Arden Pink Living.

13}Blue~I love those baby blues! Miss Willow Snow. Pictured here with Jane.


14}Heart~The shirt I wore today{LOVE!}. I saw a lot of hearts today. We even had a Valentine parade at work today.

Getting ready to make cupcakes for the kiddos, my view.
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I also had a great time at Pink Girl’s Valentine luncheon. She is a great hostess and cook. {Delicious chocolate mouse heart from Douceur de France}. Always have a great time at chez pink and bonus we got to meet Snowflake and Soufflé-Marie plus all the new birdies

!

Miss Charlotte Moss looks lovely in her pink bow. And all the pretty birdies were very chatty.

New babies Snowflake and Soufflé-Marie are doing quite well. Snowflake is completely adorable and loves to play! {and sleep, haha}. If you’re considering adopting a kitty yourself be sure to check out Good Mews!

I love Miss Moss’s picture!

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Binxy says Ooh La La! Are you making that pour moi? For dinner I made a delicious chicken pot pie. Very easy recipe {available here} cooked in a crock pot and made puff pastry hearts for the crust part of the pie! A little fresh tarragon to sprinkle on top, iced tea in a perfectly pink Jamestown tea glass, and pink and red Le Jacquard Francais complete the setting.

I hope you all had an awesome Valentine’s Day! What did you do to celebrate the day? Do tell!

Have a bright day!

Bright Girl

February photo a day challenge {Day 10 & 11} + “Les Petits Macarons” with Kathryn Gordon @ ISAC + Jane Adventure

Continuing on with the February Photo a Day Challenge {#FEBphotoaday}
Day 10}Self Portrait~Cleaning out my files and pulled out my artwork from study abroad Montepulciano, Italy. One of these days I’ll get some things framed but for now it’s fun to pull out and reminisce every once in a while.

Day 11}Makes you happy~Bed time. Stella is sleepily watching her big brother Pumpkin. Soooo cute:)

The other day we headed over to the International Sugar Art Collection School of Sugar Art by Nicholas Lodge for a macaron baking demonstration  and book signing with Chef Kathryn Gordon, who has a new book out Les Petits Macarons.
Here is Day 9}Front door at ISAC. Gearing up for class!

Checking out the shop before class started. Jane found some fun things.

SUPER CUTE!! Cupcake packaging from Meri Meri. Brings me back to my days at the Swooz.


Jane loves free samples!

Look at all those confectionary delights!

Getting ready for class to start. Such cute cheerful décor.









I want a pink chef hat!






The finished products + a lovely peacock cake decorated with macarons and pulled sugar artwork. Wouldn’t this be so much fun at a party!





One of my favorites, basil buttercream macarons.



Mmm. Apricot Pate de Fruit.




Thank you everyone for a fun and informative evening. Can’t wait to try out the recipes in Chef Kathryn’s new book!
Have a bright day!
Bright Girl