Friday Favorites: New state, new house, new stuff:)

Little Bird at last has a new nest! We are proud homeowners! The fam and I just closed on our house in Texas last week! (See happy family standing outside new home!!!) After spending a few nights in an empty house with nothing more than an air mattress, some beanbag chairs and a laptop (with no internet access), we decided to retreat back to Alabama for a more comfortable visit with family:) However, the kids did love running laps through the 1st floor without pesky furniture obstructing their path. Our belongings will slowly begin arriving from Japan and from storage in California in the next few weeks (possibly months) and I cannot wait to start unpacking and making the home truly ours! In the meantime I am coveting well put together homes. My new "favorite" and enormous occupier of time is this lovely blog from an adorable couple in my home state, VA. Young House Love. Basically I want to kidnap them, bring them to my house in TX and have them make it beautiful:) They simply have beautiful, comfortable taste and I'm now obsessed with their site, furniture, paint colors, rugs, color palette, diy approach ect. I now defer to their blog for all things home related! Not only is their blog well written and informative, they also provide links to EVERYTHING you see! Nothing is more frustrating to me than seeing something beautiful, desperately wanting it and being devastated when I'm unable to locate it. Sound a bit dramatic? Perhaps, but true! I SO appreciate their thoughtfulness! Young House Love just makes me smile:) I think you'll like them too. I'll leave you with a few rooms that I LOVE!!!!

Friday Favorites: Hometown Views - Barboursville, VA

Today is my last full day with my family in Virginia. Yet another family and home to miss! It's been so peaceful and refreshing to be "home" with the sights and smells of my childhood. At the same time, I've been a hermit with sick kids unable to visit friends I haven't seen in so long! (Sarah, Dusti, Colleen, Staci, Nicole, Kathryn - sorry for being a lame friend!) While listening to the birds and watching the squirrels and deer with my little ones I am again amazed by the beauty all around us. Through our extensive traveling Virginia remains one of my favorite places. The vineyard where Mike proposed and we were married is just a few miles away. I drive by sometimes for a peek and a face splitting smile is immediately pasted to my face. Seeing the Blue Ridge Mountains everyday is something I will always cherish. I love how it looks like a beautiful watercolor painting from a distance. Expect to see some Blue Ridge inspired designs from Little Bird:) A fond farewell to all my loved ones in Virginia. We won't stay away for too long:) And hello ALABAMA.... for a little while! 

Friday Favorites: good friends and lifelong memories

It's been a pretty busy time for Little Bird and family. We have moved back to the states from Okinawa, well, mostly. Poor hubby is still there packing up the chaos I left behind!

Okinawa was our home for almost 3 years. It's was where Isla was born and where Dane has spent most of his life. It's where Little Bird Paperie went from being an idea to an operational design studio. It's also where I met some of the most amazing friends I'll ever know. And where my heart ached to be closer to the family and dear friends we left back here in the states. I will miss the safety, the kindness of the local Okinawans, the great noodle shop in American Village (yes, that's its real name), the beautiful beaches minutes away, the sushi-go-rounds, giant roller slides, that amazing bagel shop that finally is open for breakfast, the 100 Yen shops, the teachers and staff at my son's school that taught him so much (I love hearing him sing and speak Japanese, though I have NO idea what he's saying!), but most of all, I will miss my Okinawa family. The amazing thing about living there was the bonds we made. The relationships fuse faster, harder and in some cases stronger than those back here. Partly out of necessity, partly out of shared appreciation for a unique situation. I will miss "the Breakfast Club" and Seaside Cafe. I will miss great neighbors that became amazing friends and the promise of a listening ear right next door... or 2 doors down:) I now have an appreciation for a slower pace of life and for new experiences. I <3 you, Okinawa!

With a heavy heart we left Okinawa, but with overwhelming joy we are back in the US and with our family. Just one more stop on the way to Little Bird's new nest... Texas! A new state, a new house and that means.... an new OFFICE!!! We'll keep you posted:)

The Breakfast Club:)

Happy Birthday Isla:)

I can hardly believe that an entire year has passed so quickly. My baby girl turned 1 yesterday. The day started with Dane singing Happy Birthday to Isla at 6:25 am. I am not a morning person and no one's supposed to be awake until 7. But honestly, how can you be upset about the lost sleep when your kids are smiling and laughing together. They're getting so big! Blinking is completely prohibited. What an amazing year it's been. Seeing our little family grow has been indescribable. Not always easy, but always rewarding, worthwhile and I wouldn't change a thing... save sleep deprivation:) It thrills me to say that Isla is a healthy, happy, sweet, loving baby that eats nearly everything I give her! Dane is an incredible big brother and just a really cool kid. He is sweet, thoughtful and as long as he's gotten enough to eat and sleep, he's one of the most fun kids I've ever met. So this Friday my favorite thing is my family.

Friday Favorite: A walking Isla:)

My absolute favorite thing this week: watching Isla WALK to me for the first time! She's taken a step or two here and there, but now she's walking! She's amazing. I'm only the slightest bit biased. Also amazing was Yai (my mom) getting to bare witness to the milestone half way around the world via Skype. Sometimes technology really is grand. Sadly, daddy missed out as he was in Hawaii for work, but for some reason I just can't bring myself to feel sorry for him:)

Please enjoy this clip of my little beauty taking some pretty big, all be it, shaky steps. I warn you, as any good, super-excited mother would, I am screeching, so please mute or lower your volume. Apologies:)

Friday Favorites... on Saturday... again:)

Last week's favorites were all about color and this week all I can think about is WHITE! With the Okinawa springtime weather rolling in I am reveling in thoughts of white, linen curtains billowing in the breeze from the open window of my fabulous, white, dream office. Note 1, these are strictly thoughts at this time as I do not have said fabulous, white dream office. Note 2, yes, I dream of being in my office working amid this glorious weather. I'm addicted to Pinterest for what I call "research" that will help me to concept and create Little Bird's nest:) So my favorites this week are all the yummy, crispy offices I've been coveting. I hope you enjoy:)

Source: myidealhome.tumblr.com via Leslie on Pinterest

Source: bhg.com via Meredith on Pinterest

Source: perfectlyputtogether.blogspot.com via Tam on Pinterest

If only I had this much space!!

Source: sterlingstyle.net via Haley on Pinterest

Source: thesimplyluxuriouslife.com via Mojo on Pinterest

Source: designsponge.com via Karla on Pinterest

Source: paloma81.blogspot.com via Karla on Pinterest

Friday Favorites on Saturday morning:)

So, admittedly I am the world's worst blogger and have already faltered in keeping my New Year's Resolutions, but I'm a work in progress. Apologies all around for my blogging gap. As explanation to my absence, the hubs and I ran and completed the Okinawa Marathon last weekend, much to my own shock and amazement! It's an experience I will not soon forget and hope to never relive. I'm humbled by those that continually train and run marathons year after year, you are amazing! As for me, my marathon days are behind me and my bucket list is a little shorter. The most heartwarming and memorable part of the day were the incredible Okinawan supporters. For 26+ miles they never ceased encouraging, cheering, feeding, and motivating the thousands of participants to the finish line. They even sprayed runners down with icy-hot when needed! I love you, Okinawa!

Better late than never, here are my Friday Favorites and it's all about COLOR!

Watercolor Wallpaper
Brilliant! Make an impact of epic proportions with an amazing piece of "wall art" from Black Crow Studios. BCS specializes in custom wallpaper to fit your style and sensibility. They create true art that's meant to surround your everyday life. If a wall mural is too much for you, they also offer their works on canvas. LOVE this:)

 
Ombré & Blush
Never having been a big fan of pink, my life suddenly changed when our baby girl arrived almost a year ago. I'm slowly coming around to the notion of pastels and the unavoidable pink she always seems to be wearing. As my mind and color palette are broadening I am continually drawn to ombré (a gradation of color) and shades of blush. As of late I'm even searching for a dress in blush, which is highly out of character. Yes, I know it's essentially just pink, but blush makes me feel better! These images from Decor8 are a beautiful example of a blush ombré in multiple applications. I found this image through my very stylish and very witty friend Mara of Scribble Babble: the life and times of a would-be author. Very enjoyable blog!

Dramatic color + simple imagery
This is an image I found on Pinterest. I love the simple repeating elements in dramatic, fiery shades patterned on the door with the patina of this unusual doorknocker. I also just love doorknockers in general:)

Source: p-o-p-s-i-c-l-e.tumblr.com via Jeff on Pinterest

And the winner is...

Congratulations Maren Thacker! You are the very first Little Bird Paperie Calling Card Giveaway WINNER!!!!!

Thank you to everyone who entered our contest! It's so nice to know that you all took the time to enter to win one of my creations:) Very gratifying.

And a very big thank you to Alice at Nuzzerbox.com! Thanks for making this contest doubly successful! Please pop over to Nuzzerbox for inspired gift giving ideas. Valentine's Day is right around the corner...

It's GIVEAWAY Time!!!!

Little Bird Paperie is teaming up with gift-giving genius behind Nuzzerbox to bring you the very first Little Bird Calling Card Giveaway! And because Little Bird and Nuzzerbox are participating, you get 2 chances to win:)

Calling Cards are a great way to promote your business or, in the words of Nuzzerbox, "solidify your stay-at-home mommy status with calling cards that tells [everyone] you consider their profession legit".

Prize:
100 personalized custom calling cards, personally designed by LBP (retail $50).

Details:
To enter, simply post a comment below! Get a second entry by leaving a comment on Nuzzerbox.com.
Contest ends January 24th. Winner will be announced right here and contacted by Little Bird Paperie.

What is Nuzzerbox, you ask? Nuzzerbox is a fabulous blog to solve all your gift giving quandaries.  Search by occasion or just follow the ever enjoyable posts to help you find the perfect gift for someone special. "Like" Nuzzerbox on Facebook! A fantastically charming experience you just have to see for yourself!

Happy Giveaway!!

Friday Favorites:)

It's no secret to those who know me, little things really make me happy. So for this reason I've decided to bring you "Friday Favorites" - just a few things that made me smile this week. I hope they make you smile too! And for our first installment....

Copco Travel Mug
This was gifted to my husband by a witty co-worker after an unfortunate coffee spill that managed to sully everything in the office, except for Mike's clothing:) At first glance it appears to be an ordinary Starbucks disposable paper coffee cup. Not so! This double insulated, plastic travel mug is meant to cut down on unnecessary waste. By refilling this each day rather than getting a to-go cup, you can keep trash out of landfills and it's BPA free. This one has been confiscated and is now my property and is only filled with my morning green tea:) Convenient, practical, eco-conscious and witty; my kind of product:)

The Bubble Chandelier
This fabulous chandelier is from Twig Decor and is constructed with glass Christmas ornaments. What an ingenious idea! This just makes me smile:)
I recount my childhood and how magical bubbles can be.

Glass Bottle Color Palette
From Ali Z. over at Designalicious. LOVE it! I much rather choose my color from this fantastic image than from a color wheel. The light is so beautiful and ethereal. Just in time for spring designing!






Haha! Mike just walked up behind me and said, "why are blogging about a coffee cup, a light and some bottles?" I shook my head and thought, silly man. I explained aloud, "inspiration and great design can come from anywhere!"