One Charming Garland: Balance

 

I have so missed blogging, friends!  For months, my days have been filled with a busy schedule, late nights working, health concerns (and still, more, health concerns about loved ones), some good times for sure, but mostly, trying to find some balance in life again - a solid way to start again after things fell apart.  For a while there, I definitely forgot to stop and smell the roses, to wake up and notice all of the inspiration around me, and especially, to realize that the part of me that keeps going, loving, living, and thriving hasn't died...and it never could!  Instagramming daily has really helped to jump start the "little things lover" in me, and I am equally as excited to be back and blogging again.

Nothing perks me up like something fresh, bright, and just the right amount of whimsical, so I thought that this Hot Air Balloon Garland Kit from Especially Paper was the perfect pick for revamping my One Charming Garland feature.  I love that it's DIY, and I think that it would be the perfect addition to either a going away party (it reminds me of Oh! The Places You'll Go) or a baby shower.

 

Here's to life, balance, and new beginnings!

 

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Do you have a garland photo, project, or find you'd like to see featured on One Charming Garland? Send away to papergarland@gmail.com!

Polish Giveaways of May: Lapiz of Luxury

Happy Friday, friends!  I hope that you had a lovely week and are looking forward to a warm and sunny weekend. 

Each Friday in May, I will be giving away one bottle (1) of my favorite spring-inspired polish colors from the Essie collection, with the winner announced the following Friday.  I am so excited to announce the lucky winner of last week's color, Turquoise & Caicos, and invite you all to enter again to win this week's.  Without further delay...

Congratulations! I will be in touch with the details.

Up for grabs this week from their Resort Collection (definitely, one of my faves!) is the dreamy ocean blue....

  



Modeled by Holly Arabella, check out the link for her review (and many others)!

This color gets me thinking about...

...a perfect, cloudless sky.

...looking chic on a warm night and enjoying a rooftop dinner.

...outdoor summer concerts!

To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below (and please comment, as well!). May the odds be ever in your favor.

a Rafflecopter giveaway

My New Favorite...

...bracelet!  Gold, personalized, and summer-ready?  It doesn't get more perfect than that if you ask me!  The Custom Initial Anchor Bracelet ($16) from Simply Chic 93 is sure to stand out from even the most enviable stack of wrist candy and would look almost too cute paired with a nautical striped top.  I bet any girl with a summer birthday would be just tickled to receive this as a gift...*wink*.

Fashion Namesake

Inspiration photo credits: Mint macarons photographed by SFO Photo, Glitter blown glass necklace by The Studio 8, Gold pyramid studs from Rivet Button Shop.

When I was young, it felt so deflating to walk into a store with personalized keychains, license plates, and other fun novelty items and never be able to find my name.  "Pamela" was always the closest I could find, and it was never considered a worthy substitute for the real deal.  The 8-year-old me definitely squealed when I stumbled upon such a beautiful shoe named after yours truly (hey, a girl can dream).  I'm just dying over the edgy sweetness of these Kate Spade "Paloma" Metallic Bow Pumps!

Polish Giveaways of May: Spring Into A New Look

When I'm having a stressful week (which lately, is every week), one of my favorite breaks to take is a one-woman nail painting party.  I get to change my look, feel productive, and focus on something fun for a few minutes.  Since, I know I'm not the only one who's running around crazed - I know that so many of you students have finals right now - I thought I'd offer up a little dose of relaxation to you as well!

Each Friday in May, I will be giving away one bottle (1) of my favorite spring-inspired polish colors from the Essie collection, with the winner announced the following Friday.

Up for winning this week is the lovely bluish green....

This color makes me dream about...

...sitting on the beach in cutoffs before it's warm enough for a bikini
...lounging in the park, eating rainbow sherbert
...a vacation on the coast of the Mediterranean Sea

Ah, I could go for any one of those right now!  To enter to win, simply use the Rafflecopter below. Good luck, lovelies!


a Rafflecopter giveaway

Bits & Baubles: London Style

Aesthetically, I found London to be incredibly inspiring!  Even with the generally gloomy weather, I found the city to be extraordinarily vibrant, colorful, and full of life.  The best part?  The seemingly countless markets that inhabit every neighborhood - Portabello, Borough, and Spitalfields, just to name a few - make every turn through town surprising and exciting.  Here are a few more peeks into the lovelier bits of my week away...

On my long list of things to do, testing out afternoon tea was a must!  I swear tea tastes different (and better!) when accompanied by mini scones, crustless sandwiches, and piles of pastries!

 This olive bar at Borough Market was a delicious sight for an olive lover like me (Olive lover = Oliver?)

When I walked into our rented flat for the first time and saw this Barbra artwork, it felt just like home!

Marzipan double decker buses are delicious! 

A stack of stunning trunks that I'd love to have in my home from Cambridge Satchel Co.

Cambridge Satchel Company: A Handbag Lover's Dream Part II

As I weaved my way around the endless rows of gorgeous, multi-colored satchels at The Cambridge Satchel Company, I was worried it was going to take all day to choose!  (How do you distinguish between perfection and perfection?)  What I did know was that I wanted an 11" version for more casual and everyday use (but definitely checkout the larger sizes, like the 14" and 15", which would be perfect for school or work!), since a crossbody has become my daily bag of choice.  I quickly decided that the "The Classic" was the perfect size, style, and aesthetic to fit my needs, and so all that I needed to do was pick a color.  I mulled for a long time over whether to go with gorgeous, rich Oxblood (a deep, classic maroon) or tailored, perfect Navy.

While I mulled over my color quandary, I wandered into the back of the shop to check out the embossing station.  Let me tell you, if you are a lover of all things monogrammed or personalized, you would have been in for a treat!  I absolutely loved the fact that I could see the craftsman do his work and the setup was just so charming.

Cases of letter blocks up on the wall and rolls of colored tape for stamping

The whole area was surrounded by examples to help customers

choose their favorite stamping style.

Once I saw the examples on display, I knew I just had to go with navy with silver embossing. It just looked so timeless and versatile for both professional and casual use. I was sold, and soon, it was my turn to watch my bag be transformed! 

The craftsman embossing my brand new bag!

The beautiful finished product!

Needless to say, my experience in the shop was one I won't forget. I love supporting the work of handmade doers and the quality of Cambridge's pieces is not often replicated. They even have a clearance section of bags with what are often extremely minor design flaws - now that is a commitment to quality and customer satisfaction!  Also, if you'd love your own, Cambridge Satchel is offering free international shipping throughout the month of May.  Though ordering a bag online isn't as colorful as jetting off to London to visit in person, I hope that I could offer you a lovely enough glimpse of the artisanship and love behind this brand through my experience.  Hope you enjoyed!

Cambridge Satchel Company: A Handbag Lover's Dream Part I

Once upon a time, many years ago, a girl with classic and fashion-forward taste spent hours and hours drooling over classic and fashion-forward bags that she found on a very modest-looking website.  These bags looked well-made, tailored, timeless, and positively dreamy.  She hoped to own one of these mystical things one day, but with no more than a few pennies in her purse at the time, she quickly closed her web browser to keep herself from hoping too hard.

However, it quickly became clear that she was not their only suitor.  No, in fact, these bags were being coveted the world over by bloggers she admired - Fashion Squad, Honestly WTF, and What I Wore, just to name a few.  She began to dream more and more vividly of the day she could call on of these lovely bags her own.  Then, upon hearing the story of their creator's journey to create these special things (tales here, here and here), she fell totally head over heels.

One very lucky day, with a ticket to London to thank, she found herself in Covent Garden, ready to make her dreams come true...

All photos taken by myself in the Cambridge Satchel Company, Covent Garden flagship store

Instagrams from Overseas

Hello, America!  I am back from a week away in Londontown and had a lovely time taking in the sites, munching on delicious local treats, frequenting more markets than I could ever wish for, and learning lots of fun slang and reciting it poorly.  I had never been a big Instagrammer in the past, but with all of the British charm around me, I couldn't help posting a few snaps from along the cobblestone roads.  Here are a few of my favorites from the week, and since I'm hooked now, I would love if you would follow along with me for many more shots from Boston and beyond on my page here.

I have a couple more surprises to share from my recent adventure, so stay tuned!

Bits & Baubles

While I'm still posing as an expat in London-town (lots of fun photos to come!), enjoy these bits and pieces from my last couple of weeks strolling around Beantown.  I hope that you had a fantastic week!

 A little sunshine calls for celebration, and a dinner date with myself at Trattoria Newbury!

Packing fun, solid and patterned blouses for my trip.

Super versatile!

The Ahi Tuna salad at Stephanie's (a Boston staple)

The beautifully lit archway in Christopher Columbus Park

My latest polish purchase: Essie's "Turquoise and Caicos"