Coming to a Mailbox Near You

I bought two packs of note cards yesterday. They're pretty darn adorable, no?

Made by Green Paper Company, these cards are printed with soy ink on 100% post-consumer recycled paper ... which means no new trees were used to create these cards. And, the plastic sleeve they come in is biodegradable.

Look!

I've staged my own botanical print inspired photos! Ah, I feel so much better.

After looking through my photo folders, I found this, which would seem to suggest that I was on to this whole concept before I was even aware:

Pluck and Press by Number

I only ever post my own photos on this blog, but this Flickr photostream is too good {and strange} not to share. I'm not as much a fan of the strange bathtub pictures ... but I quite like the botanical print quality of some of the shots. This one is like a museum cupboard of its own ...

{Photo Credit: "4" on antufev's Flickr photostream}

It's True

{I *heart* Kevin Pin purchased from day-lab}

Cupid Wuz Here

I have a friend who's just had a financial crisis. She has no money whatsoever. For Valentine's Day, I left her a little something in her mailbox, just to take the edge off.

Charity can be a sticky thing ... so, as far as she knows, Cupid's got her back.

Day of Smooching

Whatever you're doing {or not doing} this Valentine's Day, do it with a smile.

An X and an O to each of you.

{Vintage Swedish Tin Tray purchased from Joules; Letterpress Calendar made by ilee papergoods; Cuddle with Cider Sachet purchased from Chewing the Cud}

Junk Shop Booty

You're looking at about $15 worth of goodness. The creamer just slays me, it's so cute. It's Balmoral China from England. The little hints of turquoise, the funky handle, and the overall silhouette made it a must-have. You can't quite tell from the first photo, but the shape starts out narrow and bells out toward the bottom.

The tea cup and bowl are both vintage Stoneware, which isn't anything fancy, but the patterns make me smile. They look like someone took a fine-tipped pen and went to town with some line drawings.

I practiced restraint at the junk shop; there was so much more that had me oohing and ahhing, but I had to think quick {I arrived only forty-five minutes before closing and had a lot of territory to cover}.

Happy Friday. I'll be popping in tomorrow, so stay tuned.

How Old Are You Now?

Today is Mr. Original's birthday. He's an old man. I wanted to show you how I wrapped up one of his presents because I think it looks pretty swell. Can't tell you what's inside ... a certain someone might be snooping. The paper is made by Cavallini and it's in a muted {and fairly masculine} color palette. I topped it off with brown satin ribbon.

P.S. The trick to a good wrapping job, as I learned in retail, is double-sided tape.

P.P.S. I have some junk shop finds to show you tomorrow. Off to bake a loaf of banana bread for the one I love.

Freebies

While at a former employer's home, I complimented her on her bright blue juice glasses. She said "OH!" and ran off to her cupboard, returned with these beauties and told me they were all mine. The intricate gold-detailing is what I love most about them. Oh, and the fact that they didn't cost me a thing.

Lucky Me

Mr. Original gave me these tulips last night. It's rare {and wonderful} that I have TWO vases of flowers at the same time!

Thank Goodness for the Flowers ...

because I didn't actually leave my cupboard this weekend. I've been sick, so pajamas and tea were the only requirements. I thought I'd share a peek or two from around here:

I hope you've all had a good weekend {perhaps pajamas and tea, but no sickness}. To cheer me up, tell me how you spent it.

Bringing Spring In

I just bought myself these roses -- their color is called "Mambo" -- to liven up my cupboard. Lately, I can't stay away from orange {they're pretty fiery, actually; lipstick red on the outside petals and butterscotch in the middle} ... the brighter, the better. In truth, these are more gorgeous in person.

Who of you have flowers inside your cupboard today?

An Auction

The talented Leanne Shapton {of Elle Magazine fame} has written an incredibly innovative "novel" set in the form of an auction catalog. I'd read about this in the back of the most recent Elle and knew I had to get my hands on it. Shapton's book preps us for an auction -- to take place on Valentine's Day of this year -- of all the possessions associated with a now-ended relationship between {the fictional} Lenore Doolan and Harold Morris.

I just bought this book last night, so I'm loathe to flip through it too much until I really have the time to sit down and commit to a session of reading. But I thought I'd at least tell you about it. How fascinating to render a relationship using all of the physical evidence it leaves behind ...

Loving Them and Setting Them Free

I scooped these up today at a fantastic and affordable antique shop. The top two are from Sweden and the third one is from Holland. They've got bits of brown on their undersides from being used over flame; I love getting something that has held a meal for someone else. These are really special ... and I'm giving them away! A dear friend {the one who bought me the Anthropologie plates I'd lusted after} would adore these, so I'm surprising her with them tomorrow. Some things are not meant to live with me in my cupboard.

Coffee's Not Enough

I'm nervous about an obligation I have this afternoon. I don't like public speaking. I'm so full of anticipation, I've forgotten to eat.

A good breakfast won't hurt.


P.S. Thank you for the grapefruit spoons, Mom.

Little Luxuries

My cupboard is composed of many things I don't actually need, but am made happier by having. One of these things is a pretty, little spoon rest ... or three:

Another thing is a happy tin for storing tea bags or small secrets {one is not enough}:

It's even important to me to have a colorful garden growing on the handle of my pizza slicer:

What are your little luxuries?

Riotous

I couldn't get these beauties to sit still! I love a head-banging lily.

P.S. Ever notice how lilies have a smattering of freckles on each petal?