Life lately according to Instagram

1. My mum recently gave me a burl clock that she painted years ago for her mother. I love that I have a home I can display her artwork in now. It’s the perfect addition to our guest room. 2. Local grown cherries given to us by some friends. I ate like two and got sick instantly, but they sure did look pretty. Chris enjoyed them in his lunch all week. 3. How my “tart deco” Essie nail polish looked over white. The “turquoise & caicos” color didn’t work as well, unfortunately… 4. Sparkling strawberry water at our barbeque with friends last friday night. 5. What we ate at the barbeque. My husband loves to put chili powder on his corn on the cob. 6. I got a pop for the first time in a long time last weekend when my mum came to visit. I always add a lime to mine. So yummy!

Feel free to follow me on Instagram.
I think its such a fun way to share and celebrate the everyday.
What have you taken pictures of lately?

Currents for today

• TIME: 2:45 pm
• LOCATION: at work in my little computer corner.
• DRINKING: my usual: an iced white-chocolate mocha with salted caramel and rice milk. The girl that makes it just how I like it was working at the coffee stop today so I had to get one!
• LISTENING: my Katie Herzig Pandora station.
• FEELING: so happy with my test results I just got back from the doctor. My cholesterol levels are down by half in 3 months!
• LOVING: that Chris is off at the lake with friends on their boat and having a great afternoon.
• ENJOYING: planning out my month on my blog.
• WANTING: to be with my best friend Kelly and her new little baby BOY! Yup, it’s a boy…and its killing me that I’m not feeling well enough to make the long trip up to see them.
• DREAMING: about working from home.
• THINKING: about starting The Creative Habit book that came in the mail from the library last week. I’m excited to read it.
• CREATING: a couple fun blog designs for friends and repeat customers.

What are you doing currently?
Share something of yours from the list above.
Its worth celebrating!

Find me elsewhere

This month I am so excited to be sponsoring a couple of my favorite blogs and getting to meet new people who find my blog through them. I have made so many new friendships online since my blog’s update in May, and a lot of those connections have been made through sponsoring. Today I wanted to share where else you can find me (well, just that nice picture of my face anyway) on the world-wide-web.

First up is my friend Mandi. We’ve known each other online for a few years now and connected through scrapbooking and paper crafting and sharing that on our blogs. She just migrated to a brand new blog at the end of last month and I’m so excited to be a little part of her new space.

On her blog you’ll find some pretty great DIY’s, fashion inspiration (and cute maternity looks since Mandi is expecting her first baby this year!), home décor, and  pictures of everyday life. She’s always got something fun planned for her blog, and I can’t wait to see what she comes up with next. Read more about Mandi here, and check out her blog. Its going to be one you add to your reader for sure! Tell her Shaina sent you!

I am also sponsoring over at Colleen’s blog Inspired to Share. It is a design and lifestyle blog that I just stumbled upon and fell in love with last month.

I love her fresh take on finding inspiration and curating it in a way that makes it her own. When I first found her blog I spent tons of time going through her archives and reading past posts. Her Dream Job series is killer and I love the music mixes she shares from collaborator Kelly Anne of Flowerchild Dwelling. One of my favorite posts that she wrote was her “Things I’m Afraid to Tell You.” I think I might give that little challenge a try sometime soon.

I hope you pop over and take a peek at these two lovely blogs. I just like them so much I had to share.

How do you feel about sponsorship on blogs?

Have you had good/bad experiences with it?

Feeling, not overthinking

I saw this quote from Elise on her Instagram which is one she included in her Project Life. It just struck a cord with me and I wanted to share.

Working on feeling more, living more. And “figuring out”, overthinking less…about lots of things: work, paying the (new and piling up medical) bills, being out of sync with husband for a couple days, the crazy new neighbors we got. Instead I’m feeling grateful for a quick visit from my mum on Saturday, eager to keep learning Russian, happy that we do have jobs that support us, and blessed that Chris and I always get back in sync.

What are you feeling today?

Welcoming in a brand new month

Today is the first day of July 2012. I am blown away that this year is already half way over! July brings extra hot days with the AC running all the time, reading in the sunshine, grilling for dinner and the crisp taste of iced tea. July will hopefully bring the arrival of the baby that is past his or her due date and visits with friends. This new month means going to weddings and parties and staying up way too late. It will be full of journal writing and more blog designing and time outside. I am looking forward to enjoying the long days with Chris and going to see the tummy specialist for more answers and hopefully some relief. Summer is in full swing, and I plan on celebrating every day of it. Welcome July…you’re going to be just swell.