Thursday, May 31, 2012

Guess Who WON the Magnificent May Giveaway?!

Thanks so much to all of you who entered our May Giveaway!  I loved reading through the entries and seeing what you guys love most about this time of year. The winner was chosen via random.org, and that lucky Bubby and Bean reader is...



CONGRATULATIONS Tara!
  You the official recipient of a prize package worth over $250 from Jigsaw London, Sincerely, Kinsey, Little Tree, Roots and Feathers, Lolita Rose, Blissoma, GrrFeisty, Oh, Nostalgia, and Ciera Design(Tara, please contact me at bubbyandbean {at} gmail.com so we can discuss getting you your prizes!)

I'd also like to say thank you to our May sponsor for donating prizes to our biggest giveaway ever.   And if you haven't already, don't forget to enter our current giveaway for a chance to win a $75 shopping spree at Vivi Dot!

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Wednesday, May 30, 2012

My Style >> Matchy-Matchy


Confession:  This was my second photo shoot with this outfit.  Sort of.  I originally had on a v-neck tee and a thrifted cotton jacket with these same jeans/shoes/accessories, and we took some pictures last week in a really cool space by the river that was full of amazing graffiti.  But the pictures didn't turn out.  At all.  And I don't mean "I'm being vain and I looked especially craptastic," or "I'm in ultra perfectionist mode and the lighting was all wrong."  (If I was being that picky, I would have trashed this shoot as well, because the wind was bordering on Wizard of Oz twister, and a good 3/4 of the pictures feature me with a mouth full of hair.)   The simple truth is that photos just weren't usable, as in everything was so grainy and out-of-focus that it all looked like one big blob.  I was bummed, because the scenery was so rad. The good news is that I ended up scoring this top when shopping with my sister over the weekend, and I liked it 5 million times better than the tee and jacket (which admittedly looked pretty sloppy, despite how much I tried convincing myself otherwise because I was really digging how comfortable they were). So it all worked out in the end.  Thank goodness.  Since failed photo shoots are such a serious real world problem and all. 

Funny enough, the print in the top matched these shoes perfectly.  And although I've been quite anti-match when it comes to colors in my outfits for a long time, I've slowly been finding myself drawn to hints of matchiness recently.  (Matchiness isn't a real word.  Neither is craptastic.  Just an FYI in case you find yourself in a game of Scrabble in the near future.)  I wore this outfit (with cut-off denim shorts in place of the jeans) to the music festival I went to on Sunday, and I'll likely wear it many times throughout the summer, in all its matchy-matchy glory.


Speaking of the shoes, I'm not sure if I can properly convey the love that I feel for this particular pair.  It's true.  They're called the 'Ellie Shoes' (love that name), and they're actually quite a bit different than what I normally go for in terms of style, but I think that just makes me like them even more.  I adore the bold coral color and the fact that they're this awesome sort of hybrid version of moccasins and penny loafers.  B.A.I.T. makes them in teal too. It took me a good day and a half to decide which color I wanted, but I'm glad I went with the coral.  I've been wearing them with everything from jeans to shorts to dresses, and they always seem to make my outfits pop.


If you've been reading Bubby and Bean much over the last week or so, you're probably familiar with Vivi Dot jewelry and accessories.  In both the giveaway we have going on right now and my interview with Vivi Dot owner Molly, I've mentioned how I own - and am smitten with - several pieces of Vivi Dot jewelry.  These earrings, called the 'Starbust on Turquoise Leaf Drop Earrings,' are just so pretty, and have a tiny hint of the same coral color as the shoes and the top.  (Three cheers for more matchiness!)  They're also quickly becoming one of my favorite pairs of earrings.  I love how they're the perfect mix of casual and dressy, and I think it's so cool how Molly put a new twist on her trademark dots by pairing them with the delicate hanging leaf outlines.  I liked the earrings with this outfit so much that I decided to add yet another Vivi Dot accessory, the Basket Weave Cocktail Ring.  The color and pattern might not have contributed to my matchy theme, but the brass floral embellishment definitely creates a connection with the metallic leaves in the earrings.  Just in case you're keeping track.

Shoes: c/o B.A.I.T. Footwear  //  Earrings + Ring: c/o Vivi Dot 
Top: F21 // Jeans: Levi's // Necklace: gift // Bracelets: handmade and thrifted


What are your thoughts on gettin' a little matchy-matchy in your outfits?  Yay or nay?

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Tuesday, May 29, 2012

GIVEAWAY // Win a $75 Shopping Spree at Vivi Dot!


I am thrilled to teaming up with the oh-so-talented Molly of Vivi Dot for an absolutely amazing giveaway!  Vivi Dot is May's featured sponsor at Bubby and Bean (if you haven't yet, be sure to read my interview with Molly right here), and I am a major fan of her handmade jewelry and accessory line.  I own three of her rings and a pair of her earrings, and I wear them on an almost daily basis.  And now one of you is going to get a wear several of her gorgeous designs too!  By entering this special giveaway, you'll have a chance to win a $75 Gift Certificate to use for a shopping spree at Molly's online shop, where you can choose from hundreds of beautiful items to make your very own Vivi Dot jewelry collection!


This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers. (If you're a new reader, just make sure to subscribe first using Google Friend Connect or one of these readers.) To enter, just visit Vivi Dot and leave a comment below telling me which item is your favorite.  That's it!


Once you've completed the mandatory entry above, you can also gain one additional entry for each of the following.  (*Please put each extra entry in a SEPARATE comment in order for it to count.)

This giveaway is open through June 5th.  The winner's name will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after.  Thank you again to Vivi Dot and the wonderful Molly Gaines for giving Bubby and Bean's readers the chance to win such an incredible prize!
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Monday, May 28, 2012

long weekends


Happy Memorial Day!  I've been so enjoying this long weekend, and although looking at my "to do" list for tomorrow makes my head spin, it's been amazing to have a nice long break from the computer and actually live life.  Friday night I drove out to my mom's for an awesome grilled veggie dinner and some serious relaxation time.  Saturday, my sis was in town, and we sat outside for lunch (and massive amounts of coffee) with my mom at one of our favorite restaurants, then hung out with my grandma and uncle for a few hours, had pizza for dinner, and went shopping. Very low-key, which is kind of how I prefer things to be these days. (Side note: Morgan stole my super cute Vivi Dot Blue Blossoms Ring for the day!)


Yesterday morning I got up super early and drove down to a music fest with my friend Annie. Her husband is the guitar player in the band Robbie works for, and they were headlining and had shows all three days, but we opted to just spend the day there.  It was a long drive for a day trip, but we listened to music and talked and before we knew it, the three hours had past.  It was ridiculously hot and Annie is 7-1/2 months pregnant, so we spent the majority of the show on the side of the stage where there was a nice breeze.  When Robbie was done working around 5:30, we drove home, ordered pizza (again), and watched Mad Men.  And I fell asleep on the couch, which never happens.  I'm feeling some subconscious pressure to catch up on work today, but I'm going to try to force myself to do as little work as possible and finish the long weekend off by gardening, running errands, and having some beers with friends.  The older I get, the more I realize the importance of stepping away and making time to enjoy life. 

I hope you've all been getting to enjoy life today this weekend too!


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Friday, May 25, 2012

life this week (via photos)


It's Friday you guys!  Yeah!  Instead of doing a Friday is for Favorites today, I thought I'd share some moments from life lately, via good ole' Instagram photos. 

Pics from top:  loving my new coral shoes from bait  // is there a 'hoarders'-type reality show for people with too many necklaces? // swirly sunset // tiny moon // 2 of my favorite things: coffee and my alma mater // first haircut in 7 months (p.s. my face looks especially gelphling-ish here) // the baby robins finally left the nest yesterday (i miss them!)  // got this killer shot of the eclipse sunday! // container garden looking slightly wilted in robbie's absense // my very favorite necklace from roots & feathers

What are your plans for this three day weekend?  My super bad ass Uncle Chris is going to be in town from NYC, so my sis is coming up from Indianapolis as well, and we're all going to hang with my rockstar 97 year-old grandmother tomorrow.  (She is seriously the coolest lady ever.)  Then on Sunday my friend Annie and I are driving a few hours south to a festival that Robbie and the band are playing.  I usually go to this festival for the entire four days, but this year, I decided one day is plenty.  Which means I am either (A) the old, boring person that I used to make fun of, (B) smart, or (C) all of the above.  Robbie comes back for a few days Sunday night, and we'll probably meet up with friends Monday for some Memorial Day snacks and beers.  Even though I work from a home studio and tend to work much longer hours than I probably should, I always feel much less stressed to get things accomplished over three day weekends.  So I'm pretty excited.

If you haven't yet, don't forget to enter our May Giveaway for a chance to win $250 worth of goodies from our May sponsors!  Have a glorious weekend, friends!
Are you on Instagram?  If so, leave your user name in the comments so I can check out your photos!  You can see more of mine here or under the user name bubbyandbean.

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Thursday, May 24, 2012

Dot Girl >> Meet Molly Gaines

Molly of Vivi Dot
Today's post is a special interview with this month's featured sponsor, Molly of Vivi Dot.  Molly is rad you guys.  Really rad.  She is one of the sweetest people ever, an amazing dancer, an awesome dog and cat mama, and an incredibly talented accessory designer.   I own three of her rings and a pair of her earrings, and they are among my absolute favorite jewelry pieces!  I hope you enjoy this little glimpse into Molly's world...

Hi Molly!  Tell us a little bit about yourself.  Where do you live, what you do for a living (if anything) besides making your jewelry, and what are your favorite hobbies?
I live in Ballard, which is a cute little neighborhood in Seattle. In addition to running Vivi Dot I also have a full time day job - I'm the Director of Partnership Marketing for an Internet company.  I also teach tap and hip hop classes two nights a week.  Juggling all of my jobs doesn't leave too much time for other hobbies, but my husband, Duncan, and I try to cook and work in our yard whenever we can.  We also have a dog, cat and three chickens so they're always a fun distraction too.

How did you become interested in making jewelry (specifically your fantastic dot jewelry and accessories)?
I started making and selling jewelry when I was in the fifth grade so it has always been something I've loved to do. As for the dots, I was casually collecting 1-inch buttons at all of the concerts I went to when I was living in San Francisco, and eventually decided I wanted to make my own.  I started out making earrings and magnets with comic book pages and origami and it all evolved from there.


What are your favorite materials to work with?
I have an intense love of fabric so I'd say that's my most favorite material. I design a lot of the prints myself and use fabrics I fall in love with from other sources as well.

What types of things inspire you in your work?  Are there any other artists or businesses who have influenced you?
It's all about color and pattern for me. The changing seasons here in Seattle constantly give me ideas for new color combinations and I am always looking for pattern inspiration in ordinary objects.  
The Bubby and Bean blog focuses on living a creative lifestyle.  Aside from making your art, are there other things you particularly enjoy creating?
Definitely!  As a dance instructor I'm not only choreographing dances, but also putting together costumes and building props.  I love cooking and making up my own recipes.  My husband and I also just bought our first house last summer so another creative outlet is decorating and working on remodel plans for our home.

If you had to pick one of your designs that was your favorite, what would it be?
This changes all of the time, but right now I'm seriously in love with the print I call Midnight Garden which is a fabric by a Washington State designer. I also wear my Shimmering Denim Cocktail Ring more than any other item these days. I usually wear dark denim so it goes with pretty much every outfit I wear.


Where do you see yourself and/or your business in 5 years?
I hope to grow both the retail and wholesale sides of my business in the next 5 years. I'd love to get to the point where I feel like I have to give up my day job because Vivi Dot has grown too much for me to handle them both.

One of our most popular series on Bubby and Bean is 'Friday is For Favorites.'  Tell us your favorite of each of the following:  color, movie, food, band
Color: Green. //  Movie: The Fantastic Mr. Fox.  //  Food: Oatmeal Chocolate Chip Cookies  //  Band: Hot Chip


Huge thanks to Molly for taking time out of her busy schedule to share a little about herself and her work with us!   Make sure you take a minute to check out more of her incredibly cute jewelry and accessories in the Vivi Dot shop.  Molly has also generously offered up this special coupon for you guys (it's a good one!)  >>  Take 20% off your entire order at Vivi Dot through May 31st with code BUBBYANDBEAN

You can also find Molly on Facebook, Twitter and her blog.  Keep your eyes out here on Bubby and Bean over the next week for a pretty incredible giveaway featuring Vivi Dot too!

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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Want to Be on Bubby and Bean? Now Accepting June Sponsors!

This is the official call for June Sponsors here at Bubby & Bean: Living Creatively!  June is going to an exciting month around here.  We're planning on covering some awesome summer DIY projects, style features, summer recipes, personal and travel adventures, and we have a pretty amazing partnership in the works that we can't wait to share.  And you can be a part of it through a Bubby and Bean Sponsorship!

I'd love to help promote your blog, small business, Etsy shop, boutique, or online portfolio to thousands everyday this June.  For more information on our various advertising packages, current stats, press, and pricing visit our sponsor page.  You can also book your ad space there directly in one click.

We have just a few remaining ad spots in large, medium, and small for June.  The XL featured spot is booked through the end of July, but is available for August.  All ad spaces are first come, first serve.  Have questions?  Feel free to contact me.

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Tuesday, May 22, 2012

DREAMING // Amazing Warehouse Fashion Shoot


When I received this submission from photographer Kelsey Goodwin, I was instantly smitten. Kelsey told us that this warehouse fashion shoot was one of the only personal projects that she's been able to photograph in the past year, and that it was such an inspiring experience that it reminded her why she loves being a photographer.  "These are the kind of artistic projects that make me feel giddy while I’m planning and shooting. Plus, it’s one of the only areas where I actively work with other creative professionals to create something exciting."


Kelsey said that she came across the old warehouse where she did the shoot (in her local Victoria, BC) when she met the owner of Gabriel Ross Furniture.  "They had recently purchased the building and were about to renovate the space into a modern, industrial showroom... There was a small window between clearing the space of circa 1930′s debris and the renovation, in which Ross was kind enough to let us into the space one December afternoon."


The way that the smoke diffuses the light and the expressions of the model are just so ethereal that you can't help but think that the girl in the images is dreaming - of possibilities, of unseen adventures, of something imaginary and wonderful.  And the gorgeous vintage dresses that Kelsey chose are just so stunning.  I have a feeling we'll be hearing Kelsey Goodwin's name a lot more frequently in the near future.

Photography: KGOODPHOTO // Hair: Jenna McInnes // Dresses: Vogue (Vintage)
Stylist: Franklin Porter  //  Model: Grace Walling

You can view more of Kelsey's amazing work via her website, blog, and Twitter.


P.S.  Do you have a photo session or project you'd like to submit to Bubby and Bean?  You can find more information on how to do so here.

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