Bookstore pick-up lines

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What a coincidence! No sooner do I ponder bookstore babes than I come across this handy-dandy cheat sheet for picking up said babes in said bookstore. Way to go, David Letterman! xoxo

Downton Abbey paper dolls

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We won't be getting new episodes of Downton Abbey until next January (nooo!!), but how cute are these paper dolls by Kyle Hilton? The Dowager Countess and her many facial expressions! Sybil in a modern t-shirt! These are the perfect little treat to hold us over until the season premiere!

Just one question: Where's my home girl Edith? #TeamEdith

[Via Vulture]

Sponsor Spotlight: Vistaprint office supplies round-up

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It's no secret that I'm a pretty big fan of office supplies. I'm actually a really big fan. I've been known to spend hours walking up and down the office supply aisle, where I'd marvel at everything from the pens to the notebooks to -- yes! -- the crayons. The colors. The shiny packaging. Needless to say, the whole experience was quite an intoxicating one for me.

And don't even get me started on back-to-school shopping; even though I've been out of school for more years than I care to admit, I still find myself battling the crowds every August in a mad rush to snatch up colorful pens and pencils to replenish my stock. When I worked as a college newspaper adviser, my favorite part of the year was organizing my office for the coming semester, so you can imagine my excitement when Vistaprint asked if I'd like to do a round-up of my favorite office supplies. The online hub is a one-stop shop that lets you personalize everything from magnets to mugs to iPhone cases. Seeing all the good deals on Vistaprint products got me thinking about what I'd include in my dream office kit. Here are six of my top picks...

Pens with a personalized touch, starting at $3.74.

Stress balls for a little rest and relaxation, $44.99 for a set of 24.

Notebooks for all those massive to-do lists, starting at $7.49.

Note cards for writing sweet little notes, 10 for $5.99.

A unique mug for a morning cup of coffee -- or, in my case, a morning kick of Diet Coke, $10.49.

And a polo shirt, for obvious reasons, starting at $19.99.

What about you, friends? What would you include in your Ultimate Office Supplies Kit? Pens? Lots of notepads? I'd love to hear!

(This post was sponsored by Vistaprint, though the opinions expressed are my own. Thanks so much for continuing to support So About What I Said's wonderful sponsors!)

P.S. New lyrics and Family Photos are coming your way shortly! :)

Honest Disney posters

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Ever wonder what the posters to your favorite Disney movies would look like if they were interpreted a bit more realistically? Well, The FW's Christina Gritmon has done just that with these nine Disney posters, and I love how honest they are. The Lion King as Hamlet? Perfect. You can see them all here. xoxo

P.S. The untold story of Disney princesses, Disneyland proposal, Disney wedding dresses and more Disney posters.

[Via Jezebel]

Psychology of color

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What's your favorite color, friends? Although this chart was created with a designer's eye in mind, it perfectly captures the relationship between color communication. Translation: Certain colors evoke specific emotions and have the power to set a particular mood. For example, did you know that lavender conjures up romantic, nostalgic and fanciful feelings? Who knew?

What feelings do your favorite colors bring out? xoxo

Bow+Arrow Art Giveaway!

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Just in time for Father's Day! Today's giveaway is from Ashley from Bow+Arrow Art, a beautiful Denver-based design studio. Ashley creates fun and colorful art prints, note cards and greeting cards. She describes her cards as fun, inspirational and encouraging and puts her own personal touch on each of her hand-drawn pieces.

She's offering two lucky readers their choice of Father's Day card. You can choose this "Dad, You're Great" card or this "P.S. You're The Best Dad Ever" card. They're both so whimsical and fun, aren't they? Which one would you choose?

For your chance to win, simply visit Bow+Arrow Art, and leave a comment below telling us which card you'd choose if you won. You can also LIKE Bow+Arrow Art on Facebook, FOLLOW on Twitter and GET INSPIRED on Pinterest for extra entries. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow afternoon. Have fun, friends!

**Bonus for all readers: Ashley is offering a special card sale. Buy 3 cards and get the 4th free! Just be sure to leave a note at checkout!

Update: Congrats to winner Sophie and Krystal. Thanks so much! :)

Sponsor Spotlight: Bow+Arrow Art

FREE IMAGES I've got a fun interview today with Ashley from Bow+Arrow Art, a beautiful Denver-based design studio. Ashley creates fun and colorful art prints, note cards and greeting cards. As Ashley says, her days as an artist began the second she was old enough to hold a marker. Read on to find out how Ashley made her dream a reality, who helped her along the way and tips for looking chic on the cheap! xoxo

Keep in touch...
Official Web site: Bow+Arrow Art
Become a fan on Facebook
Follow on Twitter
Get inspired on Pinterest

Tell me about your shop. What's the inspiration behind its launch?
Bow+Arrow Art was a long time coming, I think. I've been filling the margins of every notebook I've ever owned since I was big enough to hold a marker :) My mom and husband finally convinced me to sell some of my designs last year. It was hard to think of my doodles as "art" but it has been so fun to share them! You can read a little more about it here.

What are some of your favorite design trends?
Well I loooove how imperfect is beautiful in a lot of trends these days. From hand-written typography to vintage furniture, people are finding value in the old and flawed. It makes my heart so happy that people will buy my cards and prints because they're original and reflections of me rather than a perfect cookie-cutter copy!

What's your #1 piece of design and style advice?
I'm not good at offering advice...and I don't consider myself to be particularly stylish. I say be you and find the people who love YOU.

What are some ways that people can still look chic for less?
I genuinely think that confidence is the most beautiful accessory there is. Find something to love about what you wear and rock it with pride. It doesn't have to be expensive, and it certainly doesn't need to be what everyone else is wearing. My favorite outfits originate from $4 skirts at the Goodwill, but they make me feel sassy, and I feel really good about saving money and not contributing more waste by buying brand new clothes!

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?
This is my current fave. Mostly because I'm madly in love with the old hymn it comes from and I came up with this design while daydreaming about a tattoo I'd like to get :) However, this is my close runner-up because it's like a little pep talk every time you see it!

Vintage reading posters

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I've mentioned my family's love of libraries before, so I suppose it's only natural that these "yay, reading!" posters are making me all sorts of nostalgic this morning. These mid-century gems are so sweet and child-like, aren't they? I wonder what a typical plugged-in teen would think of these, especially the ones about how the books are arranged...HA!

If I ever have a home library one day, I'm definitely hanging a few of these on the wall. They'd even be perfect for a kid's room or an elementary school library...ahhh, the possibilities are endless! xoxo

P.S. More library-themed posts, including a little library, theatre turned library and library engagement.

[Via Brain Pickings]

Paper-Treats Greeting Cards Giveaway!

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Today's giveaway is from Deanna of Paper-Treats, a Rhode Island-based paperie and design studio. Deanna specializes in custom design projects -- everything from cards to invitations to stationery. "One-of-a-kind patterns, hand-drawn type and illustrations bring our designs to life in a way that's timeless, unique and beautiful," she says. "Every design is inspired by you and your special occasion!"

She's offering this set of eight greeting cards to one lucky reader. These greeting cards fold to 5 by 7 and are printed on high quality heavy card stock. The envelopes are carefully lined with a striped pattern. Aren't they cute? It would be fun to send a loved one a little surprise to make them smile, wouldn't it? I especially love the cookie card!

For your chance to win, simply visit Paper-Treats, and leave a comment below telling us who you'd send a card to if you won. You can also LIKE Paper-Treats on Facebook for an extra entry. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow afternoon. Happy browsing, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner Krysten! Thanks so much! :)

Sponsor Spotlight: Paper-Treats

FREE IMAGES You all know I'm a pretty big lover of words, but when it comes to crafts and design, well, let's just say that my skills are pretty lacking. Today, friends, I'm excited to share a fun interview with Deanna of Paper-Treats, a Rhode Island-based paperie and design studio. She has a knack for combining both, and the results are beautiful. Read on for Deanna's behind-the-scenes story, what she loves about owning her own shop and her awesome shopping tips! xoxo

Keep in touch...
Official Web site: Paper-Treats
Become a fan on Facebook
Get inspired on Pinterest

So tell me a bit about your shop and the inspiration behind its launch.
Paper-Treats is a paperie and design studio that showcases my work. I love to dream up designs for invitations, cards and all sorts of paper goods. When I got married, I loved designing all of the little details for my wedding from the invitations to the table numbers. Soon after, a friend asked me to design her wedding invitations. Before I knew it, more people were looking for wedding invitations. This sparked Paper-Treats. I recently launched a greeting card line when I realized that I struggled to find the perfect cards in stores.

Where do the ideas for your designs come from?
My greeting card designs are inspired by things that I find in nature, design blogs, magazines and on Pinterest. I carry a little sketchbook with me at all times where I doodle down inspiring ideas that I see. My one-of-a-kind designs are inspired by the person that requests them. I like to learn about my clients before I begin to design. Through a series of design concepts, we come up with the ideal solution for them. Sometimes the bride isn't sure what she wants. I look at this as an adventure instead of a challenge. I love to gather and share inspiration with them so that they can tell me what they see and like.

What's your favorite part of owning your own shop? What has surprised you the most?
My favorite part of owning my own shop is using my imagination. I love to be creative and just have fun trying to imagine what people want. It feels really great to take something from concept to reality; for me, it's really about the journey as much as the final product.

What is your advice for people looking for great online shopping deals?
I think the more you browse, the smarter the shopper you will be. You'll start to recognize who really cares about their craft. Ultimately, the best deals are when you find items that give you the most pleasure for your dollar. If you appreciate great design and can get it for a fair price, then everyone wins!

What is your favorite item in your shop and why?
This is a really tough question...I have favorite bits and pieces of each project. If I had to pick, I would say my wedding suite for Dana & Colin. I loved working with them. Dana was so open to any and all ideas. She was so excited throughout the entire process. We pulled inspiration from everywhere. Each piece is so unique but still works together with the other pieces. This project let me be a fine artist and a designer. I created a custom font style for their names by hand and then brought it to the computer. Seeing everything together -- from the folded invitation, stamp, post card, etc. -- really makes me smile!

Bird Cards Giveaway!

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Today's giveaway is from Melissa from Artist in LA LA Land, a -- you guessed it! -- California-based "wonderland of paper play for children and kids at heart." Melissa's shop of DIY paper dolls and DIY clever cards cover the gamut and include everything from paper puppet dolls to romantic cards to Father's Day cards to graduation cards to baby shower cards.

"When I was a little girl, my sister would want to play house, but I wanted to play mail," she says. "I created cards and paper dolls, then delivered them to imaginary mail boxes. That's when it all started."

She's offering one lucky reader three (3) cards of her choice from the new line of clever bird cards. Aren't they cute? Which ones do you like? I'd go for the mom and new baby card or the Father's Day card. Melissa usually offers only the DIY, printable PDF version of her cards, but the winner will receive physical copies of her three cards.
a Rafflecopter giveawayWe'll be using Rafflecopter this time. For your chance to win, simply visit LA LA Land, and leave a comment below telling us which cards you'd choose if you won. See above for all the ways to win. A winner will be chosen at random next Thursday, May 23rd, so you've got a whole week to enter. Have fun, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winner Anni. Thanks so much! :)

Jennifer Beaudet 8x10 Print Giveaway!

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Today's giveaway is from Jennifer from JBeaudet Studios, an amazing art studio based in California. Jennifer specializes in original oil paintings, landscape prints, flower prints, blank notecards and original custom paintings.

"The greatest joy is when someone receives their painting and lets me know how much they love it! I love to hear where they will hang their painting," she says.

She's offering two lucky readers their choice of 8x10 print. I love how all her pieces have so much life to them, as if each one has a story to tell. Don't you just want to jump into the beauty of each painting? Which ones have you got your eyes on? I'm loving the woman in the red dress, the fall trees, the Hawaiian landscape and the barn scene.

For your chance to win, simply visit JBeaudet Studios, and leave a comment below telling us which print you'd choose if you won. You can also LIKE JBeaudet on Facebook and FOLLOW on Twitter for extra entries. A winner will be chosen at random tomorrow afternoon. Happy browsing, friends! xoxo

Update: Congrats to winners Karen and Susan! Thanks so much! :)

How do you deal with haters?

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Remember when I wrote about certain anonymous creepsters for xoJane, friends? Well, if I've learned anything since graduating from high school and college, it's that the bullies and the haters and the general creepies magically disappear once you graduated from high school and college. In a perfect world, they would. But unfortunately, they don't.

So, my strategy for dealing with them has always been one of blind indifference -- that sort of "turn-the-other-cheek" mentality with the hope that once they see they can't get a rise out of me, they'll get bored and move on to their next victim in the metaphorical playground that is the Internet. The strategy has worked wonders (yay!!), and save for the occasional comment here and there, I think I've finally found my balance and no longer want to spend my evenings drowning my poor sorrows in a tall glass of root beer.

But, embrace my haters? Even more, love my haters? Huh? That's something I've never really thought of, and yet, that's precisely what author Ann Friedman is doing. In her New York magazine article, Friedman describes how, instead of ignoring her haters, she actually loves them. What's more, she even treasures all that hate mail she receives, taking it as a sign that her writing is really making an impact.

"Haters aren’t something to be feared," she says. "They’re validation that you’re a big deal. And they’re fuel to do better. Now you’re inspired to prove that their jealousy is warranted."

To illustrate her point, Friedman came up with a Hierarchy of Haters, a handy chart to help rate the hate. "The hierarchy just helps me to compartmentalize them. It’s not that I stop caring altogether, it’s that I care much less about the least consequential among them," she says. She explains it like this...

*High-order haters are those who really know how to hurt you; they may have real power or influence in your social or professional world. These are the folks you might consider responding to, or otherwise defending yourself against.
*Low-level haters are usually people of little professional or social consequence to you. These are the folks who call you fat and ugly because they disagree with your views on, say, the federal debt.
*The lower a hater is on the pyramid, the more likely it is that the best response is to ignore him — while taking pride in the knowledge that, wherever the hater falls in this hierarchy, his or her very existence means you’re succeeding in having an impact.

How refreshing is this? What a great way to put a positive spin on something that could potentially be a very negative experience. Do you agree with the hierarchy? Anything you would add to it? How have you dealt with haters in the past, friends, either online or in your everyday life? xoxo

P.S. Haters gonna hate and Internet niceness.

[Top illustration by SoSticky]

Success chart

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Yes! Proof that success is not linear. :)

[Graphic by Demetri Martin, via Swiss-miss]

Matchbox illustrations

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Aren't these tiny matchboxes adorable? Such a clever and creative touch for an ordinary, everyday object. xoxo

P.S. A new In The Pursuit of Happiness is coming up shortly!

Jane Austen stamps

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To say that my friend Grace likes Jane Austen would be the understatement of the century. In fact, I challenge you to find anyone who has a deeper appreciation for the 19th-Century author. So when Grace posted about these Jane Austen-inspired stamps on Facebook last week, I was almost worried that she'd have a heart attack from all the literary excitement. England's Royal Mail is celebrating the 200th anniversary of Pride and Prejudice with a special series of stamps featuring all six of Austen's novels.

Don't they remind you a little bit of Downton Abbey? They'd even look great framed on a book case or above a desk, don't you think, friends? xoxo

P.S. More stamp love, including Johnny Cash, Roald Dahl, cute animals and honesty stamps. :)

P.P.S. A new Open Letter is coming your way this afternoon! :  

Sponsor Spotlight: Ceville Designs

FREE IMAGES I recently had the pleasure of chatting with Laura of Ceville Designs, the Ohio-based design shop full of art prints, collages and mixed media pieces. The artist extraordinaire has worn many hats, including serving in the U.S. Air force, but says her shop is, "who I am and an opportunity to find my voice." Read on for more of Laura's advice and a peek at her favorite item in her shop! xoxo

Keep in touch...
Official Web site: Ceville Designs
Become a fan on Facebook

Tell me about you and your shop

A word that sums up the spirit of my shop is "whimsy." I like to do things that are colorful and fun. My pieces and subject matter are varied, similar to my background. I am Panamanian and was born in Panama. My Dad joined the U.S. Army, so we left Panama. I've lived all over the U.S., and I spent four years in Germany. I am a U.S. Air Force Academy graduate and spent a little more than four years in the Air Force. Military folks were often surprised when I told them I was an artist. For most, it seemed to be too much of a departure from what our "mission" was. But my parents never told me what I couldn't do. They just said whatever you do, strive to be the best. And not to be the best compared to others, but to be the best compared to my own potential. I enjoyed the Air Force tremendously, but there was a bigger life I was called to live. I became a real estate investor and eventually found my way into the insurance industry. I am the Vice President of The Brubaker Company, an independent agency based in Eaton, Ohio. I have been self-employed since I left the military in 2006, and I love what I do and the opportunities I have each and every day to make a difference in this world. I feel blessed! I am a big believer in the power of positivity and have a tremendous passion for sharing joy and possibility with others. My shop is an example of setting your mind to something and doing it! As I tell my agents, "Pull the trigger!"

What's the inspiration behind its launch?
I have been creating art and writing children's stories since I was a little girl. My shop is an expression of who I am and an opportunity to find my voice as I test new mediums. My shop opened when I made the decision to put my passion at the forefront of my life instead of waiting for "someday." My shop is a work in progress. I am developing my style, and I invite everyone along for the journey!

What's your best piece of advice for people looking for great online shopping deals?
There is ALWAYS a sale sooner or later! :) Be patient and diligent!

What are some ways that people can still decorate for less?
I am a big fan of recycling up! Be creative with what you already have! Solid colors are eternal! When you buy, imagine how your item will pair with other pieces that you already have! Simple, clean lines are always in style!

What is your favorite piece in your shop and why?

My favorite piece is currently this swan mixed media piece. It is my favorite piece because every time I look at it, I can't help but smile!

Disability PSA...

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I saw this on Facebook a couple days ago, and I just couldn't resist posting it...there are several people I'd like to give this to. Or even better, how cool would a huge poster be? Ahh, the possibilities... xoxo

 

P.S. Remember when I debunked disability myths for Glamour?