Single Awareness Day

Although I am sure Single Awareness Day, also known as SAD, a humorous alternative for Valentine's Day has been around for awhile, I recently heard of it a couple years ago. By the way, I personally think the acronym is hilarious!

Love and Sonnets print by LoveSugar

I was talking to someone today and I can completely understand why some of us "single people" can get bummed out on Valentine's Day but for years I've thought of it as an opportunity to take the emphasis off of myself and make someone else smile! I typically give my family members cards and some type of candy or gift on this day to remind them that they are special and loved. It is also a blessing to be able to show love to friends and coworkers who may have recently been through a breakup or some other type of hardship. Everyone needs love and it can make you just as happy (if not happier) to give love as it would to receive love! 

Love is Spoken Here print by tuesdaymourning

The scripture below is used very often during wedding ceremonies but it is also something to take into consideration as a single person.

"Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres." - I Corinthians 13:4-7

love defined cafe mount by hopeink

I am working on showing others love through patience and humility. I plan to refer to this scripture as a way to show love to others not just today but all year long!

Love Card by Strawberry Jam Factory

Resolve to think of Single Awareness Day as a day being single allows you to bless someone else and let them know they are loved. Happy Valentine's Day!

Will You Marry Me? Contest Winners - Gabriel and Jasmine!

Happy Valentine's Day! I hope you had a great weekend! I just wanted to share a post about the winners of Essence Magazine's Will You Marry Me? Contest! Essence.com is giving the winning couple a massive wedding gift! "The winning couple receives a wedding gown from My Fair Wedding's David Tutera's own line, $10,000 dollars to spend on their dream wedding, cakes courtesy of Amazing Wedding Cakes, wedding consultations with Diann Valentine, and an amazing honeymoon in Maui!"

The 2010 winners are Gabriel Sheffield and Jasmine Harris of Manassas Park, Virginia! If you have looked at any of their blog postings, photos or videos, you have seen how in love these two are! They are so adorable and intent in putting God first in their relationship. Check out more information on Essence and the contest!

Congratulations Gabriel and Jasmine!

Video, images and quotation from http://www.essence.com/

Seven Dresses and Skirts

As you may already know, I love Etsy. I love shopping on the website and browsing the beautiful items from various sellers. A couple months back one seller in particular caught my eye- Sarah Seven! I love her feminine and flirty designs, not to mention the great photography! You can check out Sarah's Etsy Shop here! I've also included some photos below for your enjoyment!

A Peaceful Afternoon Floor Length Gown

Robin's Egg Dress

Secretary Skirt
Doesn't the woman in this photo look like a young Sarah Jessica Parker?!


All photos from http://www.etsy.com/shop/sarahseven

Calling All Cupcake Snobs!

I know they are but what am I? Okay, okay, I'm a Cupcake Snob too. I'll admit it! Maybe that is why I love this place! Cupcakes Actually is located in Fairfax, Virginia. Although I haven't visited personally, a wonderful friend of mine kindly brought me a box of these DELICIOUS beauties! :o)

The following photos are by Jennifer Winter from Cupcake Actually's website.

My first favorite: Pucker Up. This one has a real lemon head on top!

Meet Chipaliscious.

He's awesome and smooth and has a secret stash of chocolate chips inside! Yumm!!!

Next up, Mint Julep. This one is definitely a must for all of you chocolate lovers! The mint buttercream on top is amazing!

Simply Red is simply adorable.

How can you resist that little red heart on this red velvet cupcake?

Last but not least is Banana Split. There isn't a professional photo on the website of this one but it was a delicious and soft banana nut bread with caramel on the inside and yummy buttercream frosting that had been dipped in chocolate and drizzled with caramel. It was amazing! Here is a photo of the Banana Split that I took mid-consumption with my cell phone!

I absolutely LOVE the packaging from Cupcakes Actually! These babies are definitely transportable!

My other favorite cupcake spot is located here in Baltimore! The Baltimore Cupcake Company has some truly delicious flavors! Some of my favorites are Vanilla Woo, Key Lime and Cherry Oh. They even have a "happy hour" from 5 p.m. - 6 p.m. where you can get these yummies at a discounted price. Visit soon and often!

Well back to the gym for me. More cupcakes equals more time on the treadmill! I earn my indulgences! Cheers! :o)

Pretty, Pretty Pendants!

I was just browsing through the Tiffany website at a few pretty things and I thought I'd share! All of these items are $200 or less! Enjoy!

Tiffany Cupcake Charm and Chain

Tiffany & Co.® Shopping Bag Charm and Chain

Tiffany Pretzel Charm and Chain

Tiffany Keys Oval Key Pendant




Tiffany 1837™ Lock Charm and Chain

Tiffany Crown Charm and Chain

Posters Celebrating the Beauty of Natural Hair

Her Royal Flyness, Andrea Pippins of the blog Fly, has a great line of prints in her shop I Love My Hair. These loveable prints feature creative illustrations of African-American women with natural hair along with the positive thoughts and feelings many women with natural hair may share. Check out some of the images below!

The Only Regret by Andrea Pippins

Kinky Coily Curly by Andrea Pippins

Self Love by Andrea Pippins

While I've Been Away - Paint Project #2

I hope everyone is having a great weekend! I sure am. :o) I wanted to take a few minutes and post another project I worked on towards the end of 2009!

I have some great prints that I collected throughout 2009 that really made me smile and I wanted to finally put them up in my home! However, my search for fun and colorful frames to display the prints in turned up empty. So, you know what they say... If you want something done right, do it yourself! (They give great advice! LOL)

As some of you may know, I spend more than my fair share of dollars and hours in A.C. Moore, JoAnn Fabrics and Michaels craft stores. So, when the the big Black Friday sale hit I knew exactly where I wanted to go to buy my frames... A.C. Moore! I got all four of them for 50% the regular price! Woohoo! :o)

I was unable to find spray paint in all of the colors I wanted, so I used paint samples from Home Depot for the yellow and teal frames. The drying time was longer but it was so worth it! I love the bright colors!

Here is a photo of the original frame before I began painting.

The spray paint took to the metal very well! I love the reflective qualities! Pink spray paint mania! :o)

I decided to use the mirror as an insert for one of the frames. Some of the art may look familiar to you if you are a regular Etsy shopper like I am! The first on the right is by Shelli Dorfe of Studio Mela. I'd had my eye on this print for awhile but wasn't sure where I would display it in my home! Once I figured out where I wanted it to go, I was quickly on Etsy making the purchase!

You may have seen the print directly beneath it online as well! It is well loved by many bloggers and has gotten a lot press. I Love You Blogs and Tea is by Jennifer Ramos of Made By Girl.

The other print is from the Must-Have Boutique rebranding! As I mentioned in another post, this is a custom drawing by Alexa Roy of WhatHeLoves.

I decided to create my own work of art on the mirror!

This is a temporary place holder until I pick up more window paint!

Tada! Here is the finished project!

Custom Print by Alexa Roy of WhatHeLoves

So Very Happy (Limited Edition) by Shelli Dorfe of Studio Mela

I Love You, Blogs and Tea by Jennifer Ramos of Made By Girl

You can see my finished Paint Project #1 table in the background! :o)