Thursday, August 30, 2012

Summer's Last Days


Those of you who regularly read this blog know that I possess an undying love for summertime.  I realize that I'm in the minority here, as most bloggers seem to rave about autumn.  It's hard not to love autumn, with its colorful leaves and spicy beverages and pretty layered sweaters and all, but I swear something inside of me silently cries as I watch the trees become bare and the days shorter.  Once November hits, all traces of pessimism in my heart take over and I begin to view autumn as little more than the gateway to the dark, evil abyss of winter.  It's quite dramatic, I know.  I cling to summer's last days like a child clings to the final bites of a refreshing summertime popsiscle.  Sigh.  In all seriousness though, I really do hold a deep appreciation for each of these final days of endless sunshine and bare feet, outdoor concerts and evening gatherings, sundresses and sangria, fresh garden dinners and late night walks...


So in celebration of summer's last hurrah, I thought I'd share some of my favorite photos taken during the amazingly awesome summer of 2012.  Photography is fantastic in so many ways, but I think the best part for me is the fact that a quickly snapped photo becomes an instantly infinite memory - a way to carry a moment (or a season) with you for as long as you like. One of the ways I beat the winter blues is by looking through my summertime photos.  It allows me to remember that, eventually, summer will make its way back again, all shiny and sun-drenched, ready to melt away the icy snow, bitter cold, and lifelessly grey skies in a single bound.



Speaking of taking pictures, do you guys have any questions on photography, photo editing, or using photos in your blog?  If so, please join me today at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. EST for a Twitter Q&A/Chat that I'll be leading for Photoshop Elements.  To ask a question, just send a tweet using the official #PSElements hashtag.  I'll be answering from Adobe Photoshop Element's twitter account, @AdobeElements.  I would absolutely love to see some of my blog readers there!

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Wednesday, August 29, 2012

Autumn Color Love >> TITANIUM

Titanium Pantone
1. Hush // 2. Rough Fusion  // 3. ShopBop // 4. Threadsense  // 5. TopHome  // 6. Love Aesthetics
7. ModCloth // 8. Bubby and Bean Art  // 9. Anthropologie // 10. Emma's Design Blog
11. Orla Kiely  // 12. F21  // 13. ASOS  // 14. Topshop // 15. Couverture & the Garb Store


Each season, I pick out one or two colors that I'm especially loving from Pantone's seasonal color report.  (You can check out all of my color love posts right here.)  For this fall, that color happens to be titanium.  You can probably tell from my blog design that I have a slight infatuation with grey.  Grey is one of those colors that boasts unlimited possibilities.  Whether it is paired with the boldest + brightest colors or the most muted of neutrals, it just plain looks good.  And as painfully cliché as it may sound, grey never goes out of style.

Titanium happens to be as close to my favorite grey as a grey could possibly be.  It's deep toned, but not quite slate or charcoal.  It almost has a hint of shine to it - a touch of silver.  For me, it's the perfect shade for fall.  The items above are some of my current favorite representations of this gloriously gorgeous grey.


Are you a titanium fan?  Do you have a favorite color (or colors) for fall?

I hope you guys will join me tomorrow, August 30th, for a Twitter Q&A/Chat I'll be leading for Photoshop Elements!  Starting at 11:00 a.m. PT/2:00 p.m. EST, I'll spend an hour answering questions about photography and photo editing. To ask me a question, just send a tweet tomorrow during that time frame using the official #PSElements hashtag.  I'll be answering them from Adobe Photoshop Element's twitter account, @AdobeElements.  Hope to see you there!


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Tuesday, August 28, 2012

Modern Elegance >> Meet Acute Designs (+ Giveaway Winner!)

Today's post is a special interview with this month's featured sponsor, Gina of {Acute Designs}.  Gina hand makes incredibly beautiful jewelry, hair accessories and bridal goods.  Her designs are feminine, elegant, and modern, and I loved being able to learn more about what makes her tick.  I'm very excited to be able to share this peek into her life and work with you guys!  (You can also find out if you were the winner of her $50 gift card giveaway below the interview!)

Hi Gina!  Please tell us a little about yourself.  Where do you live, and what do you do for a living?
Hi Bubby and Bean readers!  I am so happy to be here today to share a little about myself and my business. My name is Gina and I run own a handmade accessories business called {Acute Designs}.  I also run a blog with the same name. I am from the Midwest but I currently live in San Diego with my husband and two sweet and loveably crazy dogs. Running {Acute Designs} is my full time job and is something I am determined to turn into a success.

How did you become interested in making accessories?
I was working in a dead end and super boring job and I decided to start an Etsy shop as a "hobby" and as something to keep me creatively inspired while twiddling away at my boring day job. After a few weeks, I knew I wanted this venture to be more than a hobby, so I did what I did with my most things and went at it full force.  The past three years have been a learning experience – full of research, trial and error, learning about business, and an (what I assume will be never ending) evolution of my style.


What are your favorite materials to work with?
Anything vintage. Whether it is vintage lace, fabric, or old jewelry, I love the way these materials can totally transform a design that I have in my head.

What types of things inspire you in your work?  Are there any other artists or businesses who have influenced you?
Oh, too many to mention. I love businesses that work hard to create a unique, well made product, while in turn respecting their employees and creating a business that gives back in some way.


The Bubby and Bean blog focuses on living a creative lifestyle.  Aside from making your bags, are there other things you particularly enjoy creating?
Yes! I am a DIY fiend and love a Saturday afternoon home décor project.  Also, food and cooking are two of my main loves (I have a small food blog called taste where I post all my healthy-ish recipes).  I can never get enough experimenting with new recipes and trying to make the not so healthy dishes healthier.

If you had to pick one of your designs that was your favorite, what would it be?
I love my 'Something New' Modern Style Blusher Veil (seen in top image above). I think it is stunning and would suit a bride who wants just a little something different for her look.


Where do you see yourself and/or your business in 5 years?
Still plugging away – designing new products, writing every day, and supplying more stores with my product. My main goal this year has been to see my product in more stores and although I have accomplished that, I still want to grow and grow my business!  I am not sure when I will be satisfied or think, "ok, I have done enough."

One of our most popular series on Bubby and Bean is 'Friday is For Favorites.'  Tell us your favorites of the following:  color, movie, food, band, show.
Gray is my favorite neutral and I am also a big fan of yellow, gold, and teal.  I love so many movies but I would say my favorite classic is Gone with the Wind.  I have always been a tv-aholic and I have a slight obsession with anything on Bravo... especially the Real Housewives.  My favorite foods are a really rare burger, french fries, pizza, goat cheese, ice cream, or a perfect salad.


Thank you Gina for sharing a little about yourself and your work with us!  Make sure you guys visit Gina's shop a visit so you see all of her gorgeous jewelry and accessories!  Gina has also generously created a special coupon just for Bubby and Bean Readers >> Take 20% off your entire order at {Acute Designs} with code BUBBYANDBEAN

You can also find Gina on her blog, Facebook, and Twitter.

And for those of you who entered the giveaway to win a $50 gift card to {Acute Designs}, we've chosen a winner!  From the 259 entries, random.org chose lucky #6.  'SaraBethMcGee,' that was you!  Please contact me at bubbyandbean (AT) gmail (DOT) com so we can get you your prizes!

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Monday, August 27, 2012

Huge August GIVEAWAY // Win 10 Prizes Worth $250!

Huge August Giveaway!
We are sending August out with a bang you guys.  This could quite possibly be the most excited I've ever been to announce a giveaway.  I mean it.  That's because this month's group giveaway is officially our biggest ever - a package of ten different (and equally amazing) prizes valued at nearly $250!  And thanks to the incredible August sponsors who donated these goodies, one lucky Bubby and Bean reader will win it all!

VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG   ///   VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS BLOG


VISIT THIS SHOP


VISIT THIS SHOP   ///   VISIT THIS BLOG




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 readersThen just leave a comment with the item you'd most like to win from this giveaway.  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 September 3rd.  The winner's name will be chosen randomly and announced soon after.  Thanks again to the generous Bubby and Bean sponsors who contributed these amazing goodies!  GOOD LUCK!

UPDATE: THIS GIVEAWAY IS CLOSED. THANK YOU TO EVERYONE WHO ENTERED!

Friday, August 24, 2012

friday is for favorites >> my 8 very favorite things this week

ModCloth.com
I know ModCloth pops up on a pretty regular basis in my Friday faves posts, but I just had to share a few images from their latest stylebook, called 'Fashion From the Art.'  All of the designs are based on the artwork of Modcloth fans, which I think is pretty rad.  And the dresses themselves are really cute - especially the amazing triangle-print Shape on It Dress in the upper right corner.  Want!  Also, art and dresses are two of my favorite things by default, so clearly they had to be a part of my favorites list this week, right?

This website wins for both the cutest and the funniest thing I've come across this week. Seriously.  I think all of us who have or have had dogs (or any other pets for that matter) can relate to the adorableness that is an ashamed animal.  I swear Bubby had the guiltiest conscious of all time. I mean, if he even thought about doing something bad, his face would jut out and he'd purse his lips and become so visibly remorseful that it was impossible not to bust out laughing and hug him for a good ten minutes.  

I love everything about this arrow ring from Anthropologie.  I'm all about simple jewelry pieces that make subtle statements.  I'd pair this with a plain tee, some colorful jeans and a scarf and leave it at that.  Perfection.


This is probably the most beautiful font I've ever seen - at least in terms of artistic value.  It's called Elka and was created by Karena Eibatoba, who describes it as "like something alive has turned into a letter and stood still."  Stunning.



I have a serious thing for avocados, so it's not that surprising to me that I've had this incredible looking avocado salad dressing bowl recipe on my mind since I first saw it earlier this week.  Because I am incredibly awkward in the kitchen, it's usually things that appear to be fast and easy to prepare (like this) that stand out to me.  And if these things also contain avocados, black beans, or cheese (favorite foods ever), I may even actually attempt to make them.  This one is definitely a winner.

Yeah, so, if anyone wants to buy me a house in the woods complete with a massive deck and an outdoor nap swing, please feel free.  Seriously though.  A nap swing.  Best idea ever.



As much as I openly express my woes about summer coming to an end, there are a few choice things that make me cool with fall's eminent arrival.  One of these is the discovery of a truly amazing sweater, like this elbow-patch cardigan.  I'd actually take the entire outfit that the model is wearing, and happily parade around in it in search of a pile of gloriously jump-able autumn leaves. 


I really do.  (Great work, Sean Wes.)



Time for another edition of Friday is for Favorites!  For new readers, 'Friday is for Favorites' is my (almost) weekly series where I become a rebel, and break all of my own rules of design cohesiveness to which I normally adhere on the Bubby and Bean blog.  No themes, trend collections, or matching aesthetics here.  Just a gathering of a few random things that I happen to be loving this particular week, now shared with you.



Do you have anything fun planned for this last weekend of August? (I may have had a tear falling from my eye as I typed that; sweet, sweet summer, why must you end?)  My weekend plans are low-key, but I have a feeling that it's going to be a good one nonetheless.  Robbie flew out to a festival with the band for the weekend early this morning, but thankfully my little sister is coming to town tonight (hurray!).  My step dad's 60th birthday party is tomorrow, and my mom has been busy getting ready for it for weeks (she is one creative lady).  So Morgan and I are going to help her with the finishing touches tonight and tomorrow.  Because I am a dork and freaking love decorating for parties (especially when things like wine and mimosas are involved), I'm pretty excited.  Then late Sunday morning, Robbie comes back home for a few more days before the band starts up their big fall tour.  It's always really hard to say goodbye for weeks at a time, and I tend to smother the poor guy with annoying amounts of affection in the final days before he gets ready to go.  (If you're reading this babe, consider yourself warned.)

I hope you guys have a great Friday and an equally amazing weekend.  See you Monday!

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