Friday, June 29, 2012

GIVEAWAY // Win A $50 Shop Credit from Rouge + Whimsy!


I'm starting to think that June might just be the month of really awesome giveaways around here!  Today I'm excited to be teaming up with June's featured sponsor - the wonderful Erika of Rouge + Whimsy - to offer you guys the chance to win a $50 credit to spend in her accessory shop!  I absolutely adore the fabrics (black and white chevron and stripes alongside bold solids, yes please) and colorblock techniques she uses for her handmade clutches, purses and totes.  There are so many gorgeous bags in her collection, and now one of you is going to get to go shopping and pick out your very own (or two!). 

This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers. (If you're a new reader, just make sure to subscribe first using GFC or one of these readers.) 
To enter, just visit the
Rouge + Whimsy Shop 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.)
  • Like Rouge + Whimsy on Facebook 
  • Follow Rouge + Whimsy on Twitter 
  • Follow the Rouge + Whimsy Blog 
  • Tweet this:  Win a $50 Shop Credit to @rougeandwhimsy in Bubby & Bean's newest GIVEAWAY! >> http://bit.ly/c6j9XX via @MotM_EcoFashion

This giveaway is open through July 6th.  The winner's name will be randomly chosen and announced shortly after.  Thank you again to Erika for giving Bubby and Bean's readers the chance to win a shopping spree at Rouge + Whimsy

(Pssst... if you haven't yet, be sure to check out my interview with Erika right here.)

UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed. Please check back soon to see if you won!
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Thursday, June 28, 2012

summer color love >> yellow + aqua


It's been a couple of months since I did a color love post, which is just silly.  Plus, summer is my favorite time of year for color, so I figured it was about time for another.  Even though I'm naturally more drawn to neutrals tones (as you can probably tell by the simple white, grey, and muted mustard color theme of my blog design), I'm a big fan of bolder colors in the summertime.  I've been wearing a lot of tangerine and coral tones these days, but my biggest color crush lately is yellow (duh) paired with shades of aqua and turquoise blue.  This combination can be pretty intense, and it's definitely not something I'd wear head to toe or choose to be the two main colors for a room makeover.  But when these colors are put together in the right way, they're summer perfection in my eyes.  (This could just be because I'm a big nerd, but it's the truth).


1. J.Crew spring 2012: yellow pants, turquoise belt.
2. Yellow and aqua fabric, Scarlet Fig.
3. Yellow shopping carts + aqua tights. (source)
4. Stella Floor Lamps, Urban Outfitters.
5. Effortless Allure Dress in Gold, Modcloth.
6. Flores Yellow & Turquoise Door photograph, Niall Corbet.
7. 'Make it Happen,' peasforeveryone.
8. Hemp macramed friendship bracelet, Hemp Necklace Store. 
9. Pool Party cupcake liners, Shop Sweet Lulu.
10. Gonna Be All Bright Flat in Yellow, Modcloth.
11. Yellow and turquoise Milly Tassel Bracelets, Free People.
12. 'Crochet' photograph, S. Jane.
13. Yellow flip flops, aqua stained wood. (source)

What are your thoughts on yellow and aqua  for summer?  Any other particular combinations that are your favorite this time of year?

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Wednesday, June 27, 2012

Weekend Warrior // How I Rediscovered My Love For Short, Simple, Mini Getaways

Before I start on what will undoubtedly be a long post full of introspection, I want to provide an explanation for the pictures, in case you're wondering what they could possibly have to do with what you're reading.  They are all from our mini getaway to visit my sister Morgan, her husband Josh, and their dog Isis (aka the "Bean" in Bubby and Bean) in Indianapolis last weekend.  The trip was quick, uncomplicated, and really, really fun.

A few months ago, I posted about about a little two-day spontaneous adventure that Robbie and I took to Galena, IL.  It was a short trip to a location only three hours away.  It was ridiculously easy and super laid back, and we loved it.  We loved it so much in fact, that we both discovered a strong and newfound appreciation for the uncomplicated, minimally planned weekend road trip.  Maybe you're rolling your eyes as you read this, because, you know, everybody likes weekend getaways and it's silly to feel like I had sort some of epiphany in realizing that they're fun.  But since the day I turned 18 and left home, I've been in the "travel means jet-setting around the world" camp.  So for me, finding enjoyment in (and even preferring) these simple mini trips is a new thing.  Actually, I take that back.  It's not a new thing.  It's a rediscovery. 


When I was growing up, my parents were weekend warriors when it came to travel.  We never went to Disney World, or on week-long journeys to the south to escape Chicago's cold during spring break, or wherever most families go on vacation.  We went camping, or on day trips to offbeat museums, or on adventures in small Illinois and Wisconsin towns.  My parents were pretty free-spirited and certainly weren't against a traveling lifestyle, but short, unconventional road trips were their thing.  My sister and I adored these trips.  They meant sandwiches in the car and picture-taking sprees and fun little shops and the chance to use our imaginations.  We were kids, so maybe the fact that the travel times were shorter resulted in less boredom, or maybe we just weren't able to comprehend the fact that we were somewhere just a few hours from home vs. a long way away.  Regardless, these trips were major opportunities for exploration in our minds.  We looked forward to them for weeks in advance, and continued to talk about them for weeks upon our return.

As I grew older and hit my teenage years, my childhood fondness for the weekend road trip began to diminish, and was replaced with an insatiable case of wanderlust.  In addition to being enveloped by the unavoidable angst phase (ie the farther away from my parents, the better), I started to feel suffocated by my limited experience with any travel that extended beyond a few hundred mile radius.  I wanted to see the world.  I studied French in high school (and went on to minor in it in college), and daydreamed about spending time in Paris and backpacking around Europe.  I wanted to travel the U.S. too, and I wanted to do it in every possible way - car, plane, bus, train.  All of it.  I wanted to see and experience everything, from New York City to San Francisco, from the Rocky mountains to the Redwoods. 


By the time I got to college, I'd never been on an airplane or seen an ocean, and I just couldn't fight the urge any longer. During the school year, I worked part time jobs and made clothing and jewelry to save up for my travels.  And every chance I had to go adventuring, I did.  I finally flew to NYC, and explored Colorado, and went swimming in the Atlantic and Pacific oceans.  I never turned down the opportunity to accompany friends to new places.  I remember being beyond excited to graduate my senior year - not so I could be done with school, but so I could have more freedom to plan even bigger and better trips.

After college (and up until very recently), my excessive case of wanderlust remained.  I literally built my career around travel when I started Mountains of the Moon.  My main source of income at that time was selling my clothing and accessory designs at music festivals throughout the country.  Over the years, I scheduled trade shows and fashion shows that allowed me to travel to new destinations.  I even moved to 9 different states within 12 years so that I could fully experience spending time in different places.  And of course, every extra cent and piece of free time I had was put toward seeing more of the world.  I visited Costa Rica, the Bahamas, Mexico and Canada, and continued to travel the U.S.  When I met Robbie, our mutual love of exploration made my travels even more frequent.  His career (Stage Manager for a band) was based around travel as well, and through careful planning and saving, I was able to accompany him to places like Australia, France, The Netherlands, Belgium, Jamaica and Mexico.


Eventually, like all good things, the wanderlust (finally) began to fade, and the big, jet-setting trips (for the most part) came to an end.  I could probably attribute this to several factors, the main one being that, well, I grew up.  I should clarify that I am by no means implying that lots of traveling means you're not grown up or that growing up means you have to slow down on travel.  I just mean that I hit a point where I felt like I'd seen and done a lot in my life so far, became bored with living out of suitcases, and started appreciating much simpler things than I ever had before (like the blissful comforts of just being at home).  My interests started to change too.  Suddenly all those postcards and passport stamps and plane ticket stubs - as much as I will always appreciate them and wouldn't change a thing about the experiences I've had - seemed much less interesting than planting a garden, decorating my home, and hanging with my husband and friends on a more local scale. Robbie seemed to hit this point right at the same time as me, on an even greater level.  I'm sure the fact that his job keeps him traveling half the year plays a big part in it, but like me, he's traded in travel books and planners for home-based projects and an overall simpler way of living.


The thing is, I'm pretty sure that once you aquire a case of wanderlust, it never really goes away.  So despite our recent enthusiasm for sticking closer to home, our desire to get away from time to time remains.  And here is where the point I've been trying to make with this long-winded rambling comes in.  From my teenage years through my early 30s, I had an insatiable thirst to journey as far as possible, as often as possible, and to spend as little time at home as possible.  Then, out of nowhere, I realized something that many of us realize in our adult years, despite swearing up and down for the majority of our lives before this point that we'd never feel this way: my parents were right.  Yep.  They'd spent their late teens and early 20s traveling far and wide, only to discover with time that there is an undeniable magic in exploring close to home.  Of course the obvious factors that would inhibit world travel came into play for them as well (things like having kids, and the fact that big trips cost an awful lot of money).  But they made the conscious choice to take lots of small, short, more local getaways, rather than saving time and money for the big annual vacations that the families of my friends always took growing up.  And I get it now. 


So after all this time, I've rediscovered something that I knew as a child, but forgot about for many years while I sowed my wild oats: simple, mini-getaways are the ideal vacation.  They are low-commitment, take very little planning, and cost very little money.  They don't create the same type of post-vacation depression and panic ("omg, I have so much to get caught up on") that big trips do.  They allow for all the things that people love about road trips (like getting to see cool things you wouldn't normally notice, and getting to stop and go as you please) without all the things that people despise about road trips (being in the car for excruciatingly lengthy amounts of time).  There is no jet lag, no checked baggage, no airport security lines.  And best of all, mini getaways have to ability to re-teach you how to discover bliss in the everyday. 


It's true.  Mini getaways have some sort of special power that subconsciously re-wires your brain to remember how to enjoy simple pleasures.  It's easy to feel thrilled and inspired by seeing the Eiffel Tower and the Mayan Ruins and the Great Barrier Reef.  Really easy.  (Trust me, I've seen them).  But when the big trip ends, the come-down just plain sucks, because your house and your job and your town are just so not thrilling in comparison. With mini-trips, those extremes just don't exist.  You still get to feel thrilled and inspired, but by smaller, everyday things - like driving through a massive wind turbine farm or getting to try a new restaurant.  And even if the thrills are so tiny that you normally wouldn't appreciate them, you do on mini-getaways, because you're technically on vacation.  Plus, when you get home from a mini getaway, instead of feeling let down by your everyday life in comparison to what you just experienced on a big trip, there is almost a trickling over of noticing (and feeling grateful) for the small things.  At least for me.  I've noticed that when I go on a weekend (or even day) trip, where it's impossible not to take an interest in my surroundings, when I get home, I notice and appreciate more little things in my everyday surroundings too.


One example of this is a field of daisies that we drove by on way back from Indianapolis last weekend.  I couldn't stop staring at the field as we drove by it, feeling almost overcome by how beautiful it was.  When we got home, I noticed myself staring in a similar way at a patch of flowers outside of our house.  I've been passing by this same patch of flowers every single day for months now and I don't think I ever noticed they were there.  But because our mini getaway allowed me to clear my mind and really acknowledge the beauty in the little things I came across, suddenly that patch of flowers became a daily treat for me - something I now feel grateful to be able to look at.  It's true.  Maybe these mini-getaways that I find myself loving so much these days are even more powerful than I thought.


If you're still reading this, you rock, and I'm thinking you should probably reward yourself by taking a mini trip of your own.  Seriously, just try it.  Whether you're a world traveler or a homebody, I'm telling you - a quick, inexpensive getaway, even for just a day, can do wonders for your soul.  I hope that I can squeeze a few more of them in this summer, because they've become one of my absolute favorite things to do.  Also, mom and dad, I'm sorry for all those times during my teenage years that I told you I was deprived and possibly even permanently damaged by our lack of major family vacations.  Because as you know, I was determined to make up for it and then some over the years, and ended up - by choice - right back where we started.  Mini getaway club forever!


P.S. Absolutely off topic, but only 1 large, 1 medium, and 3 small sponsor spots remain for July.  If you're thinking of sponsoring next month, now's the time to book. :)  All spaces are first come, first serve (upon approval). More info here.


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Tuesday, June 26, 2012

SUMMER CELEBRATION GIVEAWAY /// Win a Package of 8 Prizes Worth $180!

By the number of times I've mentioned it recently, I'm fairly certain that you guys know by now that summer is my favorite time of year.  So it probably comes as no surprise that I'm extra excited about today's post, officially announcing our Summer Celebration Giveaway!  We've put together a really amazing prize package from some of our June sponsors that includes everything from handmade jewelry and accessories to personalized stationery to skincare to a goodie subscription box to gift certificates and blog ad space!  It's everything you need to celebrate summer in style, and one lucky Bubby and Bean reader will win it all...


VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG



VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG



VISIT THIS BLOG  ///  VISIT THIS SHOP



VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG



VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG



VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP



VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP



VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP



This giveaway is open to all Bubby and Bean followers/subscribers.  If you're a new reader, just make sure to subscribe first using GFC (click here, or click on the blue "Join This Site" button under "FOLLOW" in the right side bar), or with one of these readers.
Then just leave a comment telling us your favorite way to celebrate summertime.
  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 July 2nd.  The winner's name will be chosen randomly and announced soon after.  Thanks again to the amazing Bubby and Bean sponsors who donated such rad prizes! 
UPDATE: This giveaway is now closed.  Please check back soon to see if you won.





Monday, June 25, 2012

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

This is the official call for July Sponsors here at Bubby & Bean: Living Creatively!  July might just be our best month ever you guys.  We have some cool DIY projects and tutorials we'll be sharing, summer style posts, home decor and before + after posts, summertime recipes, photography posts, giveaways, travel tales, and more of our adventures as a Photoshop Elements Ambassador!  I'm really looking forward to all of the fun things we have in the works next month.  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 of readers everyday this July.  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 currently have just a handful remaining ad spots in large, medium, and small for July.  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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Friday, June 22, 2012

life this week + new days ahead


I can't even express to you guys how happy I am that it's Friday.  I felt like this week was just one of those weeks where so many little challenges seem to pop up that by the time it's over, you're in dire need of a break.  The positive thing about these kind of weeks is that you not only feel extra appreciative of the weekend, you can even sort of look forward to Monday rather than dreading it, because you know it's a brand new week and a chance to start fresh.  I know it sounds cliche, but it really is important to look at the bright side and recognize the cloud's silver lining and all that.  No, really.  You have to experience struggles and less-than-perfect days to really be grateful for the good things and the new days ahead, right?  This wasn't a bad week anyway - just a challenging one.  There were plenty of good moments too, and those are the moments I'm sharing here, via good ole' Instagram photos. 

Pics from top:  lost screw found = favorite sunnies fixed  // my friend marissa's dog city, who looks just like bubby, loving on bubby's old toy // behind-the-fence shot of my city // the best costa rican food outside of costa rica can be found at irazu  // what better way to show my out-of-town guests gokee + marissa a good time than by crashing a neighbor's party? // more party crashing shenanigans // gifts for new baby ruby + her big brother townes  // our garden is growing and i can't wait to eat it  // a necklace a fashion designer can truly appreciate // some of the prettiest clouds i've seen all year


Do you have anything fun planned for the weekend?  This is Robbie's last weekend off tour for a while (the band starts up again on Thursday), so we're going to drive down to Indianapolis tonight to visit my sister and her husband for a couple of days.  He's being a good sport, because in reality, I'm pretty sure he'd rather spend the last weekend before he goes back to work just chilling at home.  But other than our spontaneous adventure day trip back in February, it's been a really long time since we've gotten out of the house to do something fun together, and this sunny summer weather has been making me itch for a mini road trip.  Depending on how much work I get done today, we might leave this afternoon and take back roads in an attempt to make what is otherwise officially the most boring drive in America a little more interesting.  Either way, I'll be sure to post pictures to Instagram and updates to Twitter.  Because I love you guys (and maybe also because I can't seem to live life anymore without a constant connection to social media).

If you haven't yet, don't forget to enter our Camera Bag Giveaway for a chance to win the camera bag of your choice from Epiphanie!  June's group giveaway will be posted over the next few days as well.  Have a wonderful 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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