Blue Eyed Night Owl

11 Things Meme

2012-02-13T11:19:00.000-08:00

Recently I was tagged by Kayte(who'll be back shortly for an interview!) to do this 11 Things Meme. It was fun to fill out and I hope you'll enjoy reading it too.

Also, the people I tag are: Adeline, Anna, Amy, Clare, Dorothy, Hannah, Heather, Kate, Lane, Polly, Suki
The Rules of the Game

1. You must post these rules.

2. Each person must post 11 things about themselves on their blog.

3. Answer the questions the tagger set for you in their post and create 11 new questions for the people you tag to answer.

4. You have to choose 11 people to tag and link them on the post.

5. No tag backs and you legitimately have to tag 11 people.

11 Random Facts About Me

1. I love chocolate so much, yet I can not eat dark chocolate.

2. I've always had a very clear picture in my head of what I'll look like when I'm 50. Wonder if I'm right.

3. The only bugs that creep me out are earwigs. And wasps because they can sting.

4. I've never tried red velvet cake.

5. When I was little I always called menstrual pads "mommy diapers", eventually I even forgot I made it up and believed that was the actual name.

6. I consider Michael Chabon one of my favorite authors even though I haven't read any of his books yet.

7. I'm pretty sure I could link any two actors together through actors they've played with in other movies.

8. So far I'm on my fourth bicycle.

9. One day I'd like to pick up songwriting.

10. I kick ass on the kazoo.

11. Lasagna is my least favorite dish.

11 Q’s from Kayte!

1. What’s your computer desktop wallpaper a picture of?

-Fur Girl, the gorgeous painting by Mark Ryden.

2. How many pillows do you sleep with?

-Only one. Growing up I always had two though.

3. Who was your first love?

-When I was five, this one kid was nuts for me and actually picked out a ring for me at the dentist. I mercilessly traded it for another one, so we can assume it wasn't that serious;)

4. If you could fly, where would be the first place you would go?

-Something with a huge gate around it that I otherwise couldn't get in to. Perhaps the pyramids?

5. What’s your favorite love song?

-This is gonna sound wrong, but..."Your Body is a Wonderland" by John Mayer. I love that song, especially the acoustic version.

6. Have you ever gone to the movies alone?

-All the time! Yet, again this doesn't sound good, does it? Anyway, I often want to see these obscure art house films and if I can't think of anyone who would like to go too, I just go by myself.

7. If you could only eat one food for a year, what food would it be?

-Blueberries. They seem like a healthy choice and their really tasty.

8. Do you have a signature piece of jewelry?

-It changes. Currently I wear this little silver necklace I bought in France a lot.

9. What’s the first website you visit every day?

-My mailbox, then Blogger, then Etsy.

10. What is your opinion on tattoos?

-I think anyone is free to get one. Personally I like the look of some a lot, but doubt I'd ever go there myself.

11. What’s your favorite charity, and why do you support it.

-Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand. After seeing this heartbreaking yet inspiring episode of Simon Cowell's Wildlife SOS, I was just in awe of the things this fellow Dutchie does there. Edwin Wiek was there on a holiday when some tourists had bought a monkey to save it yet didn't know what to do with it. From there on he built this entire organization, for all sorts of animals, including elephants that are being treated horribly. It's quite a dangerous thing to do, yet he devotes his life to it.

11 Q’s from me!

1. What is your earliest childhood memory?

2. Did you ever eat or drink anything in the store and paid for it later, instead of the other way around?

3. If you could have any animal as a pet, what would it be?

4. What would the title of your biography be called?

5. If you could be anyone else for one day, who would you pick?

6. Do you have any party tricks up your sleeve?

7. Are you a sweet or savory type?

8. Growing up did you have a special item you were really attached too?

9. Are you good at remembering your dreams?

10. Do you breath air in, out or both ways when you whistle?

11. Do you give names to inanimate objects you own?

Marvelous Music: Mark Ronson

2012-02-13T01:46:00.000-08:00

It seems Mark Ronson is mostly known for Valerie, which he did with Amy Winehouse. But he's done so many more songs and produced even more albums.

{source}

Bang Bang Bang is a song I just can't get enough of. In fact I don't think I can even play this song just once. I can't help but push that repeat button.

If, like me, you used to be an avid watcher of the OC, you will definitely recognize this next band.

I feel like a lot of music these days has been overproduced. Now, I can not claim that Mark Ronson's music is anywhere near acoustic, but it's so good and instead of covering a lack of talent up by a whole lot of load noises, he helps the artists make a balanced song with amazing beats that just helps them reveal their talent. And you can hear influences from various types of older music, yet it always sounds very innovative.

Also, if you are into Michael Jackson(aren't we all?) and can appreciate some rap every now and then, you might want to check out the album Mark Ronson did with Rhymefest, called Man in the Mirror.

Lovely Movies: Mongolian Ping Pong

2012-02-10T09:52:00.000-08:00

When the dvd of Mongolian Ping Pong caught my eye I couldn't help but take it home with me.

{source}

It's about a boy that finds a ping pong ball and doesn't know what it is. Eventually someone tells him it's the national ball of China and then he decides he has to return it as they must really be missing it.

{source}

You understand I had to see that, right?

Well, it's a really slow movie, but if you're ok with that, I'm sure you'll enjoy it just as much as I did. Also, the ending is genius!

Misty Moments

2012-02-09T11:30:00.000-08:00

This is one of my favorite cardigans. It's from Nümph and I love their stuff. Due to their great quality materials and great designs it's always gorgeous, but unfortunately also often budget-exceeding. This was a very lucky online on sale find.

I absolutely love wearing it with the necklace Jill made to look exactly like my cat Misty. Go here to have your custom cat necklace made.

Lastly, here's my moonstone ring. I love moonstone, have always loved it, it even preceeds my love for grey clothing, which turned out to work very well with my love for this gemstone.

Do you have any favorite gemstones? My absolute favorite is probably Labradorite, which is bound to make an appearance on the blog sooner or later too.

Owl Things Considered

2012-02-07T14:12:00.000-08:00

Owls are always lovely, but every once in a while I come across a truly magnificent owl on Etsy. And in this case a shop full of them!

Wassupbrothers is filled with amazing owls and creatures and what makes them even better is they're mostly made from repurposed, reused or recycled materials.

These original little characters truly seem to have a personality. And the lovely photographs just add to it.

Be sure to check them out!

Pay It Forward -> Handmade

2012-02-06T10:45:00.000-08:00

I signed up for some handmade "Pay It Forward" action on Heather's lovely blog. It was such a cool idea that I immediately jumped at the opportunity. Hopefully you will too!

The idea is that the first 3 people commenting on this post will receive something handmade by yours truly this year. Those 3 people will then:

do a similar blogpost and make something special for those first 3 commenters
and send me something handmade in return as well

Great concept, right?

Yes, this is something you need to commit too, but it's also loads of fun. It is such a lovely motivation to do more crafts and DIYs, and a great way to make someone else's and even your own day.

If you comment below and are one of the first 3, you're in! Please make sure you leave an email address so I can contact you:)

Giveaway Winner!

2012-02-06T10:06:00.000-08:00

It is time to announce the winner of the Earrings and Lush Lip Tint giveaway!

But first off I just want to say thank you for entering and also for sharing what you're currently celebrating. I really loved reading those comments<3

Ok, onto the winner...

Heather from a Hopeless Notebook

Congrats!

And what a coincidence too, as the blogpost that will be up very soon has quite a lot to do with her as well... stay tuned!

Anyway, I have a couple of other giveaways planned already, but if you would like to do a giveaway on this blog as well just shoot me an email.

Giveaway Reminder!

2012-02-05T10:35:00.000-08:00

I'll be announcing the winner tomorrow, so be sure you enter the giveaway if you haven't already!

Click here to join!

Shelter from the Snow

2012-02-04T13:04:00.000-08:00

It has started snowing recently. It looks amazing, but somehow it gives me headaches. The inside of my head pretty much feels like a snowglobe and as clear thinking is pretty much out of the question, I've decided to make the most of it and enjoy some Murakami and my very first Taiyaki.

What are you doing this weekend?

Lovely Movies: Babies

2012-02-03T03:56:00.000-08:00

The documentary Babies is something else. In the best way possible. It's not often you can see something without any narrative or dialogue, yet still be completely fascinated and entertained.

{source}

You get a peek at the growing up of four babies from different parts of the world and get to see both the differences as well as what they have in common.

And if you do secretly want to hear someone talk about it, you can see the interviews with the parents in the extras of the dvd.

Plans and Goals: February

2012-02-02T14:04:00.000-08:00

{picture source}

Work towards getting a dwarf hamster:)
Finish reading my current book.
Go analogue again.
Buy a printer/scanner and post some analogue pictures.
Drop some books off at the secondhand store.
~~Go see Sherlock 2.~~
~~Start a new knitting project.~~
Whip up some cupcakes.
Go out to eat vegan again, as I'm loving it!

Pretty Paintings

2012-02-01T12:49:00.000-08:00

In Monday's post I showed you a beautiful necklace I bought on Etsy. It came from a shop called Meluseena, which is run by Lisa Falzon. Today I though I'd show you some of her gorgeous art.

She creates mostly digital art and it is magnificent! Her work often reminds a bit of Nicoletta Ceccoli but with some Ray Ceasar mixed in and then completely transformed into these original pieces.

All her work look like fairytales come alive. Some dark and cute, some dark and haunting and others very light and dreamy.

Lisa always seems to be making new pieces. Below is the latest one, isn't it stunning?

If you check out the Etsy shop, you'll find that each print has a beautiful description. This one for instance had this written below:

"In floating about disembodied, over forests and glens of Dream, some dreamers get snagged on the trees of nightmare forest."

Apart from prints Meluseena recently started carrying postcards. They look amazing framed. I actually have the one below and am currently putting it in a very special frame along with some other things. I'll post pictures when I'm done!

Then there's the jewelry, as I showed you Monday, and these amazing pocket mirrors!

All images belong to Lisa Falzon of course.

Now go on and check out Meluseena on Etsy, as well as Lisa Falzon's beautiful blog.

Owl Things Considered

2012-02-01T02:29:00.000-08:00

Yesterday I stumbled upon the coolest thing, an owl shaped shadow box! Perfect for stalling out lots of little owls, isn't it?

{source}

Looking back on January

2012-01-31T12:22:00.000-08:00

January has changed a lot for me. Though I didn't get round to many of the tangible resolutions yet, I did get some of the best life lessons I have ever had. I'm very busy, but most of all very confident that 2012 will be amazing!

Let's look back at some of the things that happened during the first month...

Tried some white tea that looks surprisingly black in your cup.
My blog got a huge makeover!
Learned a lot about life.
Saw the ocean for the first time in years.
Got a lovely custom order that I will show you soon.
Did an outfit post again.
Went to an Asian Food Festival.
Met up with a friend for an incredible vegan dinner.
Did an interview with Hannah Rosengren.
Rediscovered how amazing music really is.

Last Chance: Ads at 1/2 Price

2012-01-31T03:51:00.000-08:00

Today's the last day to get your February sponsorships (or 3-month deals) at half price. The large spot is sold for next month, but there are still regular and small ads available if you're interested.

Mint Dream

2012-01-30T10:14:00.000-08:00

Many years ago I spotted a very cute mint green cape with a white fur collar in a magazine, I went to the store but never found it. Believe it or not, I never managed to forget about it. You can probably imagine my euforia when I found a cardigan like it at River Island! It looks just as cute, but it's way more practical and it was on sale!

Also on sale was this stunning piece from Meluseena (Lisa Falzon's Etsy)! It is one of my all-time favorite illustrations and it looks extra special in this beautiful necklace.

I added this adorable bird ring and then topped it off with purple jeans and colorful sneakers just to balance it out a bit.

It can be tricky in the winter, with the light and all, but I missed doing these outfit posts and... more are definitely in the making!

CLOSED Giveaway! Earrings + Lush Lip Tint

2012-01-29T11:18:00.000-08:00

Apart from the 50% off sponsorships still valid today and tomorrow, I'm also throwing a giveaway to help celebrate the new layout. Up for grabs:

A pair of gorgeous earrings as well as Lush's amazing Celebrate Lip Tint.

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

How to enter?

Mandatory:
-follow my blog
-and leave a comment telling me what you're currently celebrating.

Extra entries? Always!
-tweet/share/blog this giveaway -> 1 entry each
-grab a banner -> 3 each
Please leave seperate comments for each entry!

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

Winner will be announced in a week! Good luck!
P.S. This is an international giveaway:)

50% off ads:)

2012-01-28T13:08:00.000-08:00

With the new layout come bigger and better ad spaces. I thought I'd give you guys 50% off on all sponsorships until the end of the month. And yes, this even includes the 3-month specials.

Which means you could get the large exclusive ad (that includes a guest post, tutorial or interview)

for $12,50

The regular ads for $5

Or the next 3 months for only $12,50

The small ads for only $3

Or $7,50 for 3 months

And if you don't know how to make a banner, I can make one for you at no extra cost!

You can check out the sponsorship page for more info on advertising, giveaways and reviews. Or email me if you're ready to purchase your ad-space.

Spotted

2012-01-28T10:36:00.000-08:00

Just in case you're not yet aware of the massive amount of amazing whale things that exist, I've put together a collection.

Starting with this adorable pillow.

I usually think the cardboard box suffices, but this is definitely a cuter way to store your tissues.

I love the print on this t-shirt. And it's my favorite color too!

I was already positive that nothing could beat art-jewelry, but this necklace definitely helps me make that point.

You wonder why shelfs always look so basic when they can look like this, right?

Because every collection needs an amazing brooch! Besides, I can never resist the wooden ones.

This is one of the best inventions I have ever laid eyes on.

Followed by the cutest clutch on the planet.

And I love this ring too!

Marvelous Music: Melody Gardot

2012-01-23T12:29:00.000-08:00

It was years ago when I first spotted an article about Melody Gardot. Somehow I didn't get round to actually listening to her music until a few weeks ago. I probably should have done it sooner, as I simply adore her music now.

{source}

I did soon order two of her CDs and I've been playing them like crazy. It's yet again a perfect Sunday morning cd, but I could listen to it 24/7.

Apart from having an amazing voice, she plays the guitar, the piano and writes her own songs.

She actually started playing the guitar after she got hit by a Jeep when she was nineteen. I find stories like that so inspiring. It's very similar to what happened to Frida Kahlo and I always take comfort in the knowledge that you can take something good out of bad things.

Anyway, enjoy these songs!

GlossyBox: January

2012-01-22T13:29:00.000-08:00

Since my trip I've felt the need to change a lot of things up, hence the new layout. I've been wanting to do something with a white background and bigger pictures for ages and this is what came out of my experiment today. Hope you like it too!

Also, my new GlossyBox arrived and it had a really cute Valentine's Day theme.

Due to the holiday it also came with a little extra gift, a pocket mirror. And I really liked this month's items too.

This is an eyeshadow pencil by Golden Rose, I already tried it and really like it.

Carrot face cream! I've heard good things about the brand, so I look forward to trying it.

A face mask with kaolin, which is always very soothing for irritated skin.

A fast drying hairspray.

And, and this is probably my favorite, a Cherry Blossom shower gel by l'Occitane. I have never tried any of there stuff, but am so excited to finally do so. I sniffed it already and it smells divine!

Also, I hear there are 3 more of these box-subscriptions in the making. I think I'll stay true to GlossyBox for a while longer, but there's one that I do really want to try as well. I'll keep you posted!

Spotted

2012-01-21T10:36:00.000-08:00

After coming back from my trip I went to buy some food for my cat. At the pet store I fell completely in love with a dwarf hamster! I am now trying to find a cat free place in my house for a little hamster home and if I succeed I will go and get a hamster of my own. As it's very much so on my mind right now, I thought I'd make a little collection.

First up hamster pillows, aren't they adorable?

This is a perfect example of the size and color of the hamster I saw.

But there are so many breeds. Like these golden ones, that are cute too.

This hamster-grocery list is perfect for a trip to the pet store!

A seriously odd invention is this usb hamster that runs quicker when you type quicker. Just when you think you've seen it all...

Love this painting! The rest of the shop is really cool too.

I thought this was an adorable pendant.

This amazing print shows exactly the kind of hamster I am smitten with!

And in the off chance I become a really really caried away and obsessed crazy hamster lady, I could always carry the little creature around in this dress.

Somehow I always thought a hamster was a typical kids pet, but now I think it's perfect! They're cute, you can pet them yet they are quite low maintance and did I mention they are cute?

Have you ever had one? Do you recommend it? Is it completely impossible when you have a cat around?

Lovely Series: Raising Hope

2012-01-20T11:50:00.000-08:00

I'm back! And I had an amazing time! I feel all happy and inspired and look forward to blogging again too.

While away I still managed to watch an episode of one of my current favorite series: Raising Hope.

{source}

It's from the makers of My Name Is Earl, which I occasionally watched when nothing else was on, but didn't really like that much. Raising Hope however, is an entirely different story. I love this show!

It's unlike anything I've ever seen, yet it feels very familiar. I easily grew attached to all characters. Plus, it occasionally features Kate Miccuci! Also, for anyone who watched the Sarah Connor Chronicles it will take some getting used to a new Cromartie.

Marvelous Music: Madeleine Peyroux

2012-01-16T12:52:00.000-08:00

Madeleine Peyroux was definitely a love-at-first-sight- or listen -experience for me. Her voice is reminiscent of Billie Holiday, but a lot softer. And her songs are always amazing.

{source}

I recently added a new cd of hers to my growing collection, it is quite different from the more jazzy ones I had, but just as amazing.

Can you see how this is the perfect Sunday morning music?

Imagine the early morning sun seeping through the window, a nice and special breakfast, perhaps you even add magazine or book to the mix, while you hear Madeleine Peyroux's songs come from the cd player...

Makes me look forward to the weekend already!

All Natural: Sabon

2012-01-15T12:52:00.000-08:00

One of my current favorite stores is Sabon. I don't think it's all natural, but it comes very close and their products sure feel good. Besides they don't do animal testing, try their best to be "green" and they are pretty picky about their ingredients. Unfortunately that does show in their price tags.

{source}

Very high on my ongoing wishlist was a Sabon Body Scrub, and last month that wish was granted when a friend of mine sent me one for Christmas. It has a divine Vanilla Coconut scent, it's lovely to use and it leaves you with super soft skin afterwards.

But that was not all! I also received a Vanilla Body Lotion that really went beyond my expectations. It, yet again, has a delicious scent, it is moisturising and it is the tiniest bit fluffy. I love it!

Another thing I love about these products is that you need to use a lot less than you'd expect. I can see both of these lasting a long way. I'm really happy about that, because I'd rather not part with them anytime soon.

---

All their products come in glass jars/bottles and that has pros and cons to it. It might be a bit dangerous depending on what your bathroom looks like, but it's also easier to recycle. My fear of dropping the huge jar full of scrub combined with the size of our shower, led to me reusing a small plastic jar from a Body Shop scrub that I fill up every once in a while with the new Sabon scrub.

---

Anyway, if you ever come across one of their stores I recommend you pop in. They have a very antique and authentic feel to them and the employees are always willing to help you try their products. I once let them cover half my face with a mud mask in the shop window of a very busy shopping street, but if you'd rather not look like a fool you can always let them scrub your hands instead.

Spotted

2012-01-14T14:15:00.000-08:00

Tomorrow I'll be leaving home to spend a couple of days at the beach. I have a couple of posts scheduled for when I'm gone and there will be a giveaway soon after I'm back.

In the meantime I thought you might like to enjoy some beach themed treasures. Here we go:

I am fascinated with beach glass, that combined with owls is just pure magic.

It can get pretty chilly, so this seems like a necessity, and a beautiful one too. Stunning color!

Ok, now might not be the time to wear this, but during the summertime I can easily see myself wearing this gorgeous dress to the beach. Or to a party, the mall, or even the post office...

I shouldn't even be showing you this book as I so desperately want it for myself. Perfect colors, perfect pattern, just perfect.

With the wind and the salty air a good lip balm is a must.

If ever I decide to knit a cardigan I have to come back for these buttons.

Don't you just love prints like these?

Sea urchins are just as amazing as beach glass, perhaps even more so when worn like this:

Lovely Series: Psych

2012-01-13T11:10:00.000-08:00

There are lots of shows on Comedy Central that I always used to skip (such as Scrubs and the Office), that actually turned out to be really good. Sometimes you just have to stick around for a little while and give something a fair chance. As was the case with Psych. I now love that show!

{source}

It's about a very observant and lucky guy that runs a psychic advice business with his long time friend. Together they help solve cases for the police.

I love that it has suspense as well as a whole lot of great jokes. But for anyone who used to watch Judging Amy it will be really weird to see Sean in such a different role.

What is your favorite funny show at the moment?

Playing Games for Charity

2012-01-12T06:54:00.001-08:00

Free Rice is such an amazing website that I've known for ages. It allows you to play this little word game that not only helps you expand your vocabulary, you also help give 10 grains of rice to the World Food Programme for each correct answer. Isn't that awesome?

A lot has changed since I first saw the website, you can now sign up and join groups. Or just continue to play anonymously. Also there are different subjects you can choose now, such as literature or geography.

Enjoy!

Interview with Hannah Rosengren

2012-01-11T10:30:00.000-08:00

I'm sure you've spotted the amazing bird painting currently residing in the large sponsorspot. Well, today I have a very special interview with the creator of that stunning bird and many other beautiful illustrations, paintings and creative projects. Do not forget to check out Hannah Rosengren's blog for more of her art work as well as other fun and inspirational posts.

Now on to the interview!

How did you get started in illustration?

I originally went to school for Studio Art, but after two years at a liberal arts college decided that I needed to make a change. I wasn’t happy with my work and I wasn’t happy with the department. I’ve always been interested in narrative work and children’s media, and realized that Illustration would make much more sense for me. So, I transferred to art school, and have loved it ever since.

What are your favorite materials to work with?

Currently I’d say my favorite materials to work with are acrylic paints. I also really love working with watercolors, but usually find that acrylics suit my style of illustration. And I enjoy using pen and ink every now and then when I’m feeling fancy.

Do you have any special projects planned for this year?

I always have random ideas floating around in my head, but lately I’ve really wanted to do a series on houses in a picture book kind of format. A lot of my illustration work so far has been pretty stylized and flatly colored, and I want to push myself to make much more detailed work this year.

If you’re in need of inspiration what do you do?

It definitely depends on the kind of inspiration that I need. A lot of the time it applies to a certain project, where I have an idea for an assignment but am not really sure how to make it happen. For example, when I wanted to make felt cardinals and chickadees but wasn’t sure how to approach it, I looked at some of Charley Harper’s work and how he simplified birds to get started. If I need inspiration in general, I’ll go to my bookcase and look through a bunch of my art books at once until something catches my eye. Looking through my giant Gustav Klimt book usually does the trick.

When do you feel a project is finished?

That’s a tough one! With some projects, I never feel like they’re finished. I could change little things about them every day for the rest of my life. But with most illustrations or paintings, I feel like it’s finished when the image in front of me is exactly (or close to) the image I originally had in my head.

Who is your favorite artist or the one that inspires you most?

I probably change my mind on this all of the time, but right now I’d say my favorite painter is Claude Monet, my favorite designer is Andy Warhol, and my favorite illustrator is Arthur Rackham. I’m really inspired by Monet’s sense of atmosphere and portrayal of light, and am always awed when seeing his work in person. Warhol’s color palettes always inspire me, and I love his early commercial work. And Rackham was just unbelievably talented. I love the fantastical creatures he created and the way he illustrated classic stories like Cinderella.

What do you have in store for us on your blog?

Lots and lots of work! My spring semester is full of studio classes, and I’ll also be illustrating a picture book by a local author. In the nearer future you can expect to see pages from my sketchbook for the Sketchbook Project every couple of days, since I’m trying to finish it before classes start.

Anything else you’d like to share?

Just a huge thank you for interviewing me and helping to support my blog! It’s one thing to make work and post it but another to have people actually see it. I’m always excited to get any feedback on my work and I love finding new blogs so I can see other people’s work too!

Be sure to check out Hannah's blog to keep track of her projects and activities and her website to see her portfolio.

All Natural: Badger

2012-01-08T13:37:00.000-08:00

One of my resolutions is to switch to natural products where possible. When you read the ingredients and 85% percent sounds chemical it just doesn't make sense to me to put that item anywhere near your skin. Not to mention what it does to the environment.

So any product I finish I try to replace with something more natural. You'll probably find more of these brands here soon, but I want to kick things off with Badger.

They already had me at their logo and name. This has to be the cutest brand I have ever heard of and everything they make sounds divine!

They have a variety of balms for all sorts of areas and issues. From lip balms to anti-bug balms. And each item comes in the cutest packaging with an amazing illustration.

I love that it's a family business and that they're staying true to what they believe in. They work as a team, are very "green", do a lot for charity and understand the importance of fun.

It's hard to get your hands on any Badger items where I'm from, but I'm definitely keeping my eyes open for these amazing things.

Have you ever tried any Badger products?

Great Reads: Jane Eyre

2012-01-07T13:46:00.000-08:00

Even though I love to read I have not read many classics. However, I recently managed to cross one of my list: Jane Eyre.

{source}

I really enjoyed it. It was a little odd at first, as with all the True Blood I was watching I couldn't help but picture Mr. Rochester as Bill Compton. However, halfway through the book I managed to erase that bizarre mental picture.

The more the story progressed the better it got and I found it harder and harder to resist looking up the ending somewhere. It's one of those books that make you want to read all night to find out how it ends.

Anyway, if you missed out on some classics yourself I definitely recommend you still give Jane Eyre a read.

Also, has anyone seen the new movie? Is it worth watching or should I wait till the book isn't as fresh in my mind anymore?

Lovely Series: New Girl

2012-01-06T11:27:00.000-08:00

{source}

It took me some time to truly appreciate Zooey Deschanel, but now I've done it. She just does the best movies and series and I am really won over by the new series New Girl.

{source}

It is quirky and it is very very awkward in the most awesome way possible.

It's one of my current favorite shows and I always look forward to seeing a new episode. Are you watching it too?

Peripeteia

2012-01-05T14:04:00.000-08:00

A very odd but beautiful piece of animation I came accross:

What I got for Christmas

2012-01-03T10:31:00.000-08:00

I've been wanting to show you what I got for Christmas. I'm dividing it up in a few posts and today I thought I'd share pictures of some of the things my mom gave me.

Let's start things of with some owls! Above: a cute little felt family; and below: possibly the smallest purse I have ever seen. It is tiny! And really cute and convenient too, perfect for those days you only need to bring a little money, your keys and cellphone and a chapstick along. I love it.

If you're a nail polish fanatic you are probably aware of the fact that OPI launched a Muppet collection. Well I received two gorgeous polishes: "Designer de Better"(which is what I'm wearing in the picture) and "Warm and Fozzie".

This amazing thermal "mug" was very high on my wishlist. It's gorgeous and comes in very handy this time of year! There's actually a cat in one of the blossoms on the other side.

And I also got this amazing cat mirror! Isn't it the best? And perfect timing as my old mirror was falling apart.

I am very happy with everything! Hope you got some great gifts too!

And I will be back soon to show you some things that came in the mail, stay tuned...

Marvelous Music: Eleni Mandell

2012-01-01T10:24:00.000-08:00

When I have trouble sleeping there are a few CDs I like to listen to. This may not sound like a compliment to the artist, but it is. I adore those CDs and they manage to relax me even under the most stressful circumstances. One of my favorites is by Eleni Mandell.

{source}

Her music is great 24/7 though. I just can not get enough of her CD. Her voice, the melodies, the lyrics; it's like they mixed the best of all of those together. It cheers me up every time.

And it sure beats those ocean songs with wales moaning, right?

What are your favorite relaxing CDs?

Plans and Goals: 2012

2012-01-01T03:21:00.000-08:00

Hope you all had a wonderful New Year's Eve! After a night of celebrating, it is now time for some more serious business: Resolutions!

I'm hoping to make this a fun and effective year. Once again I have plans for both the blog and life in general.

Blog:

~~Sort some things out layout-wise, maybe change it altogether.~~
~~Start posting more and bigger pictures.~~
Hold lots of fun giveaways.
Do a tutorial.
Share some more reviews and discoveries.
Finally do an "in my bag"-post.
And just keep all the regular posts going as well.

Life:

Finally get the house in order.
Get back into jewelry making and other "forgotten" crafts.
Do more with my analogue cameras.
Suround myself with the nicest things and people possible.
Make lots and lots of "Clickables".
Go "green", even more than I am now.
Start painting again and maybe work towards a second shop even...
Get better! Because this disease is getting really old.
And just stay positive:)

2011

2011-12-31T09:42:00.000-08:00

It being the last day of 2011, it makes sense to look back on the year a bit. And I thought I'd make some lists to show you all the cool stuff that happened this year, both on the blog and in real life. So here we go!

BLOG

New on the blog:

Spotted --- Monthly Goals --- Sponsors --- Outfits --- Moodposts

Special on the blog:

My very first Blog Party --- the August Break

LIFE

I got really into:

toy cameras --- brooches --- Lush --- Studio Ghibli

I tried my hand at:

making chocolates --- Japanese pottery --- driving a car --- PhotoShop

Author encounters:

met Neil Gaiman --- met David Sedaris --- and James Kennedy left a comment on my blog!

Other excited stuff:

made friends with some amazing people --- launched the "Clickables" --- knit my very first sweater

I didn't really think this was an eventful year at all, but looking back I feel quite proud and happy about it! Though I have the feeling 2012 might even be better...

Also I wanted to thank everyone for reading my blog and being so wonderful! I hope we'll continue to do and experience lovely things together in 2012.

Have a happy new year everyone!

Free January Ad Reminder

2011-12-30T15:07:00.000-08:00

Just to let you know there are still some free ads left for January! Get 'em while you can, cause regular prices will apply to the rest of the year.

Email Me to secure a spot and I'll email you back with the ad-size.

Lovely Movies: Hachi

2011-12-30T09:23:00.000-08:00

During the stomach virus I've watched a lot of movies. Mostly about animals and/or animation. I also finally watched Hachi. Apparantly it would be a very special movie about a very special dog. Sounds nice, right? Except no one told me I would cry my eyes out.

{source}

This dog is just so cute. The way he looks, how he acts and just the fact that he picks his owner up from the station every single day. It is actually based on a true story too.

{source}

It's an amazing movie, but I'm not posting the trailer(because it shows everything), so you'll just have to trust me. If like me, you're a sucker for animal movies, you will love this. Just make sure to keep the Kleenex ready.

Oh, and if you(or your kids) really want a dog but can't right now, this will only make you want one even more. Just a little warning;)

Christmas Shopping: Silver Edition

2011-12-29T11:06:00.000-08:00

So I've been enjoying the holidays, been sick and been shopping a bit too. I was hoping to catch some post-Christmas sales and I did. And how!

Today I'm showing you some awesome silver stuff I picked up.

I've been wanting a pair of brogues so bad for so long. I went to the store to return a sweater and these caught my eye, they happened to be my size as well. And these brogues really go beyond my wildest dreams. One wish granted!

The day after Christmas I got an email from Lush saying they had 50% off their Christmas stuff. Remember I said I really wanted the "Seasons Greetings"? Well I raced to the store, managed to get that as well as some other awesome stuff, including these:

When I reviewed Bridesmaids I mentioned I really wanted her sweater, right? Well I found one. Not exactly alike, because...drumroll please... mine even has pockets with bows!

So I got 3 things I've been wanting to get for ages but had pretty much given up on ever getting. I'm so excited! I got some more cute stuff I'll show you guys soon and of course I'll do a post on what I got for Christmas.

Have you been to any post-Christmas sales yourself? Picked up anything nice?

A little Christmas gift to all of you...

2011-12-25T04:41:00.000-08:00

I hope everyone will have an amazing Christmas! Whether it's with a big family dinner or just curled up with your cat. Last year I made this wreath for an amazing friend. Because I didn't want to spoil the surprise then I had to wait all year to show you guys!

Now onto my surprise for you...

As a little Christmas gift and a nice start of the new year, I'm giving away all Januari ad spaces for free! (At least all I have room for.) I'll give them on a first come first serve basis. Email Me if you're interested and I'll email you back to let you know what size banner I'll need from you.

___

So what are your plans for today?

I exchanged a few of the gifts during coffee and now I don't really know what to do... Christmas makes more sense in the evening I guess. So I'm just looking forward to that. Then I can just watch a movie, unwrap the rest of the presents and have a nice Christmas dinner. I'll be back with an update of course.

Merry Christmas!

Lovely Movies: the Secret of Kells

2011-12-23T12:42:00.000-08:00

I love animation and it has been the perfect distraction during this time of stomach flus. On my to-watch list was the Secret of Kells, so this week I unwrapped my dvd and sat down to watch it.

{1,2,3}

It was amazing! So magical, so original and so freakin' cute. I love the way the movie looks and I really enjoyed the music too.

If you're into animation, or even if you're not really, you have to see this. It is completely different from most of the films that hit the big screen, but definitely worth watching.

Have you seen it? Do you know any animations I should watch?

Some Christmas Sweets

2011-12-22T10:34:00.000-08:00

Christmas is about eating. And eating a lot. Some lovely sweets have caught my eye these past weeks and I thought I'd share them.

Aren't these merengues amazing?! You can make them yourself!

Strawberry Santa hats? So clever! And delicious with those brownies too.

Last up the cinnamon M&Ms! We don't get special editions here, but if we did I'd definitely try them. Have you?

Are you making anything special this year for dessert or a cute snack?

Owl Things Considered

2011-12-20T08:43:00.001-08:00

Animal hats can be tricky to wear. Sometimes they look awesome, sometimes they look childish. But as every owl lover would probably want some owl-goodness to keep them warm in wintertime, I found a nice and less risky alternative: ear muffs!

{source}

And they have another huge advantage: they won't spoil your hair! As an avid wearer of hair buns(though I am growing used to wearing my hair down more often), hats can be a bit of nightmare. Besides, it's nice to change things up a bit.

{source}

Aren't these cute? And I think they're pretty do-able as a DIY...

Wishlist: Dumbphone

2011-12-19T12:00:00.000-08:00

Smartphones are the nr. 1 gadget right now, it looks like the majority has one. Though I have to admit it might come in handy, I also get a bit annoyed sometimes(especially at concerts) because people are constantly stuck to their phones.

So when I heard about the "dumphone" I got very interested.

It's so cute and simple. You only have the necessary buttons and...tah dah... it has a little address book in the back. Also, it comes in pink!

I actually saw one on sale a little while back, but thought it was still a bit too expensive for such a simple item. Besides, you can't text on it and I think that might cause problems when people are trying to reach you. But still...a girl can dream. And maybe one day.

GlossyBox: December

2011-12-18T09:07:00.000-08:00

The second GlossyBox was yet another special one because it had a Christmas theme, as you can clearly see.

It came with 6 items, instead of 5, and a cute candy cane.

There was a full sized volumizing mouse, a miniature Dermalogica cleaner and a miniature Koh handcream.

In the make-up department: a nice black kohl(+coupon for a discount), a sample of Scaredy Cat eyeshadow and some Cowshed lip balm.

I haven't had the chance to try everything yet, but so far the eye shadow is my favorite. It's super cute and the perfect color for little highlights.

Well that's it for the Christmas box. I am very happy with it and am definitely sticking around for next month.

Have you tried any of these products? What did you think?

Tiny improvements

2011-12-16T11:17:00.000-08:00

Still feeling pretty awful. It went from bad, to way worse, to now slightly better. I now know it's just a virus and that it'll pass. And I can finally sleep again at night. So I'm hopeful.

Anyway, it's been a boring time so I was dying to get back on the horse and do stuff. I finally send out some blogger surprise mail I'd been wanting to do as a little Christmas-project.

So a bunch of bloggers can expect a little something in the mail!

And I hope from now on I can blog again too. I have some things planned already. Glad to be back! And thank you all for your kind words on last post, it helped made me feel a little better.

Not much of a surprise I guess...

2011-12-09T12:13:00.000-08:00

Yet again, I'm not feeling well. This time mostly due to stomach aches, nausea and not being able to sleep well. So what have I been doing to get through these days?

{picture via}

Well mostly reading! Lots and lots of Jane Eyre. Sometimes accompanied by Jack Johnson.

And I have found a very simple pleasure! Reading with nice lip balm and delicious hand cream on. I am not kidding, this is one of the best ideas I've had in ages. Makes life so much better!

Be back soon!

Framed it!

2011-12-07T14:17:00.000-08:00

A few weeks ago I mentioned I'd gotten a gorgeous print in the mail. I've framed it and finally took a picture to show you guys. Isn't it awesome?

Thanks again, Julia!

Mini Misty!

2011-12-06T13:19:00.000-08:00

A while back I mentioned I was lucky enough to win a custom cat pendant on Jill's blog Dapper Toad. Well... my mini Misty came in the mail today!

Isn't it amazing?!

The packaging was adorable right from the start, the mailer looked cute, then the little box that held my Misty in a teeny tiny little bag. And then of course, the actual pendant. I love it!

It just is her!

That's always the trickiest but most important part of any sort of "portrait", not does it look like the person/animal, but is it the person/animal. And Jill definitely pulled it off.

You can't really see it on this picture though, as my cat isn't really comfortable in front of the camera and always pulls strange faces. (Weird, right?) But I thought I'd post a reminder of what she looks like, and she just happened to crawl into a cabinet today which, any cat owner knows, is always photoworthy.

Be sure to follow Jill's blog. And definitely check out her shop too! Because let's be honest, can you think of any Christmas present that could top a custom kitty necklace? Of course not!

Thanks Jill!

Plans and Goals: December

2011-12-05T11:52:00.001-08:00

{picture source}

~~Keep warm~~
~~Read a lot~~
Comment as much as I used to on other blogs
~~Send out some exciting things~~
Start knitting a new hat
~~Bake cookies again~~->microwave cake!~~~~
~~Watch more True Blood~~
~~Go see Breaking Dawn~~
~~Wrap gifts~~
~~Just enjoy Christmas~~
~~Catch some post-Christmas sales~~
~~Maybe make some resolutions~~
~~And wrap a few things up before the new year~~

~~I can't believe this year is almost over! Can you? What are your plans for this tiny little bit that's left of 2011?~~

You know you're weird when...

2011-12-05T05:57:00.000-08:00

you love having 369 tweets

when it's exactly 3 o'clock

and you have 66 followers and

are following 99

Interview at Chickiedee

2011-12-04T12:53:00.000-08:00

RobbieLee just started a new series on her amazing blog Chickiedee, this time interviewing people about their creative process. I was very honored to go first, and if you're interested in some behind the scenes Blue Eyed Night Owl action you should head on over there now.

And be sure to subscribe to her blog to see the rest of the series too!

P.S. The interview also features some pictures of my creative process and... my newly re-done desk area. Which I promised to show you guys.

In the Mail...

2011-12-04T06:31:00.000-08:00

A little while back I was lucky enough to receive a gorgeous Fabric & Handle tote bag.

They came in all sorts of colors but I liked this one best. Somehow I immediately pictured myself taking it to the Japanese supermarket for a bento and then sitting on a bench in the park reading some Murakami or Banana Yoshimoto. Not the time of year really, but I did take it to a conveyor belt sushi place already.

Though we haven't spent that much time together yet, I am already head over heels with this tote. It is very pretty and very functional. And it has the perfect amount of compartments and a little ring you can snap your keys on. The handles are just the right size too.

I am one happy girl!

Check out their website if you're thinking of adding one to your Christmas wishlist.

Lovely Movies: the Adventures of Tin Tin

2011-12-02T14:16:00.000-08:00

Having grown up with the comics, I didn't think I'd like the movie one bit. I'd seen a bit of footage and wasn't impressed. But when my dad wanted to see it a second time, I caved and went along. It turned out to be very entertaining.

Though animation is very different from comic books, it didn't really bug me. Yes, the characters did look a bit different, but I expected it to be a lot worse.

This is definitely a fun movie for any age. Enjoyable if you've read the comic, enjoyable if you haven't.

And did you know they acted everything out in front of a green screen and then put the animation on top of that? I don't think that's been done before.

My Christmas Wishlist

2011-12-01T09:11:00.000-08:00

Over the past few weeks I've seen so many amazing things online. Since it's December today, I thought I'd put them all together in a Christmas wishlist.

Superheadz cameras have been on my wishlist for a long long time. All the colors are lovely, but I have to say this Light Blue Kumo San is definitely my favorite.

I've been looking at index stamps like these, seems so handy to use in my diary. And it looks adorable too.

I don't think I've ever seen sewing pins as cute as these, have you?

It's nice to have a little speaker for your MP3 player, I know there are some fun ones out there, but non can beat these tiny wooden ones.

I've never had a satchel in my life, I think it's time to change that.

Practical owls are awesome! I love that you could even keep track of 2 time zones on this watch necklace.

And as it's time for sweaters!

You can even get santa hat pins to pin all the little kittens, these sweaters are the best find ever!

Too bad Lush can be so expensive. I think I'll keep my eyes open to see if there are any after Christmas sales I can snatch this up. But I'd settle for the "Little Green Bag";)

I've been eyeing these cuties for a while now.

Saw this amazing tea set on Elycia's blog.

I just can't resist quirky things like this.

I love this set of amazing 6 pairs of earrings!

What do you have on yours?

Looking back on November

2011-11-30T10:52:00.000-08:00

This has been an odd month. Some fun things have happened, but I've also been really tired. I hope I'll have some more energy for the holidays:) Anyway, here are some highlights.

Because of the cardigan weather, I've been wearing lots of brooches. Like the Armadillo above.
My Etsy surpassed 100 sales!
I bought a Bamboo pad, that I'll show you soon.
One of my all time favorite shops, Chouettes, reopened.
I shared my delicious chocolate recipe on Andrea's latest blog party.
Did a great swap with Julia.
Discovered lovely great products.
Started watching True Blood.
And received my very first GlossyBox.

Owl Things Considered

2011-11-29T08:07:00.000-08:00

Of course you remember Andrea's amazing tutorial for the Autumn Party. Well, she so very kindly sent me one of the brooches!

Isn't it gorgeous?! I'm sure you'll see lots more of it in future outfit posts.

But that wasn't all. There was also an amazing little owl painting, and, miraculously, I happened to have the perfect frame for it.

Above you can see the magnetic board on my desk as well. I re-did my desk area, but more on that later.

GlossyBox: November

2011-11-28T12:05:00.000-08:00

For months and months I've been hoping we'd get a cosmetics-box subscription in this country. This month, my wish has been granted when GlossyBox got released. I immediately subscribed, and a little while back the first issue arrived!

To celebrate the first issue they made sure to be a little more generous than usual. The (gorgeous looking) box looked quite full!

I received a Herome WIC nail polish(which is one of my favorite brands) in the color "New York". It's a classic red, and oddly enough I didn't have that one in my huge collection yet. It came with a glass nail file that also had a travel case.

There was also a pair of expensive tweezers and eyebrow gel(I love eyebrow gel!) and a very nice lip gloss.

That's it for the make-up.

But the box also included some "miracle" night cream, a jar of hair mask and a tiny bit of hair oil.

I was very pleased with this box. Not bad at all for €12,50( including shipping), right?

As next month is Christmas time I think they might do something special again. Can't wait!

Do you have any subscriptions like this?

Project catch-up

2011-11-27T10:27:00.000-08:00

Last month I knit my very first sweater. I've been dying to show you guys but haven't gotten round to it before. But... here it is! (Pardon the picture! Not a lot of daylight and not a lot of time...)

It took quite some hard work as it was a pattern for quite small needles, but it was fun to do and I'm pleased with the result.

The yarn was given to me by a friend that wasn't going to use it anymore. As a thank you I made her a cowl with it. I really love those buttons by the way!

She seemed to love my sweater and was really happy with the cowl when I gave it to her yesterday. Though I absolutely love cowls, I know they're not everyone's cup of tea, but I'm glad they were hers too.

Are you busy crafting anything?

November Sponsors

2011-11-26T13:44:00.000-08:00

There are still ads available in all 3 sizes. You can get a small one for $4, a regular one for $6.50(both come with discounts if you buy 3 months at a time) ~~or the exclusive large spot for $10!~~ (SOLD, but you can reserve the large spot for a different month.)

For more info, go here. Or Email me if you're ready to buy a sponsor spot.

Lovely Series: True Blood

2011-11-25T13:15:00.000-08:00

I realise I'm not real quick with jumping on the True Blood bandwagon. But since last week I've been hooked. When you can look past all the gory violence and sex, it is actually a very addicting series.

{source}

Though I'm not particularly fond of the leading characters, there are some I really like.

Lafayette of course! Because he is awesome, he just is. He's both very feminine and masculine, it's very odd, but very cool.

{source}

I also love the cute Jessica/Hoyt storyline. And I was quite relieved to see some genuinely sweet people in the series too. To balance out the rest.

{source}

I'm currently nearly through the second season. And thankfully have the 3rd season lying here too. After that, to make sure I get my True Blood fix, I bought the 10-book box. I have a feeling I won't be bored this winter.

Interview with Pam Creates

2011-11-24T13:15:00.000-08:00

Today I wanted to shine the spotlight on head sponsor Pam who has a lovely Etsy store full of scrapbooking supplies. She very kindly answered a few questions so you can get to know her a little better. Enjoy!

What is it you love most about scrapbooking?

Creating something that will last for generations to come and knowing that my scrapbooks will be passed down for other and enjoyed.

When did you first get into scrapbooking?

When my daughter was about 2. So about 10 years ago.

But I have been doing crafts since I was about 7.

Do you have any tips for people who'd like to start scrapbooking?

The best tip I have is to pick one event and start with that. Birthdays are the easiest and have many items on the market to create with. Books with scrapbook sketches or templates are also a wonderful way to start. They give you your basic layout and all you do is add the pictures, papers and embellishments as you like.

Do you have any other creative hobbies?

I love creating digital items as well in photoshop. Bookmarks, gift tags and scrapbook embellishments. They are so much fun to create and use in your scrapbook layouts.

What's your fondest crafting memory?

When my grandma would teach me to sew. She had a room all set up and we would make all sorts of fun items on her sewing machine. It was always so much fun to go to grandmas and sew something special with her help.

Be sure to check out Pam's shop! It's filled with loads of fun items and lots of themed things for Autumn, Winter and the holidays. She's currently having a Black Friday sale with 25% off your entire order. You can also check here, for more of her offers.

Just this...

2011-11-23T13:54:00.001-08:00

Owl Things Considered

2011-11-22T12:09:00.000-08:00

My mom emailed me such a great owl video, I just had to share it with you all!

Doesn't this make you want to get an owl yourself? You shouldn't of course, but a girl can dream.

The video somehow led me to this bizarre little clip:

Just when you think you've seen everything...

Marvelous Music

2011-11-21T14:24:00.000-08:00

I heard a song on the radio but didn't know who it was by. Until last week, when I visited someone that had the song playing too and told me it was Ed Sheeran.

He has some really nice music! And with lots of variety too! He has soft songs like this:

But this up tempo one is very reminiscent of Jason Mraz's songs:

As is his voice by the way. He also reminds me of Justin Nozuka. And I hear someone else to but I can't put my finger on it just yet. If you know, let me know, cause this is driving me nuts!

Either way, he is his own person of course and a pretty awesome one. Ok, just one more song! Because I'm excited and because I love these loop-songs. Enjoy!

Sponsor News!

2011-11-20T10:46:00.000-08:00

As Pam's way of thanking everyone for the support of her shop, she's doing some awesome things for the rest of the year.

Every customer will receive a free gift! And... she's hosting Facebook giveaways on EVERY Sunday till the rest of the year. Go visit her shop or Facebook for items, updates and giveaways.

Jamie from Easily Dunn is giving you 25% off everything in her amazing vintage shop!

And Samantha from Reinvented in Seattle has been adding loads of lovely Christmas items and is offering 10% off everything in her cute shop!

Spotted

2011-11-19T13:54:00.000-08:00

Being homebound lately I suddenly realised how cute the simple house pattern really is. So today a collection of cute little houses!

This ring is so clever and cute!

There are so many cute desk organizers out there, I've been thinking of getting one for my orders and labels. This one is definitely one of my favorites so far.

Gotta love totes, right?

I love Heather Kent's Etsy, always filled with amazing jewelry and it was bound to have some cute houses as well.

So cute and tiny! If my bookshelves were without still trinkets I'd definitely put these up there.

Since I'm loving brooches, I had to include this gorgeous one!

Perfect housewarming gift!

It may be past Halloween, but I'm still loving these.

It's nearly impossible to have too much stamps and I would not mind adding these to my, still pretty humble, collection.

3 new discoveries

2011-11-17T13:52:00.001-08:00

I was never one to spend much money on cosmetics and stuff like that, sure I loved to visit the Body Shop every once in a while but I never really understood what the big deal was. Well until now.

When you have very low energy for a while other things tend to get messed up too, like your skin. Suddenly I couldn't handle all my skin cremes any more, so I decided to take the risk and spend a (what I considered) massive 26 euros on a pretty small jar of Vanishing Cream at LUSH.

So worth the risk! I was hooked since the very first time I tried it on.

LUSH has won me over. I'd never tried anything except some lip balm and their (unfortunately discontinued) black licorice solid shampoo, but now I can't wait to try more, well... if my budget allows it.

Next up, I had to buy my mom some birthday gifts and unsurprisingly found something at the Body Shop. The lovely lady gave me all sorts of discounts and things and I could even pick out one of their new lip balms. Though the rest of the flavors seemed really nice too, I chose the one with mint. Mint could, of course, be either boring or overwhelming, but it wasn't. It's just perfect!

Lastly, I don't know if you've heard of Sabon, it's a really cool, but yet again, quite expensive soap store. A while back though, I could not resist their Pure Vanilla Hand Sanitizer.

Perhaps a bit germophobic, but I hear the desk area is the grossest place in the entire house, and figured that was the perfect excuse to get this unbelievably delicious stuff!

I really ~~need~~ want one of their body scrubs one day, but it's quite the investment so I'm putting it off.

Anyway, in this weird and "foggy" time, I'm just trying to take care of myself as best I can and I'm super excited I found some great things that definitely make life better. More coming soon as they recently released GlossyBox here and I was there to try their first one!

Feel free to share any products you've found recently or just can't live without. It's always great to discover new things!

Some exciting art news...

2011-11-16T10:03:00.000-08:00

I recently received this stunning print in the mail! It's by Julia from A Girl with Horn-Rimmed Glasses. You know, the amazing girl that also gave you guys the beautiful downloadable desktop calendar for November!

Anyway, I wanted to let you know that you can actually win this print for yourself, because she's giving one away on her blog! So follow this link and join in!

Owl Things Considered

2011-11-15T12:21:00.000-08:00

I try not to buy stuff from Threadless because it often leads to expensive custom fees. But just when I decide to not order anything for a long time, they always throw something cool at me, like this:

Knight Owl!

Come on...! Not fair!

And on top of that the design that's been on the top of my wishlist for ages is back too! And then there's this one. And of course... this one.

A girl can only resist a certain amount of owls! And I'm really reaching my limit here...;)

Jelly Bean Video Clip!

2011-11-14T07:37:00.000-08:00

You may already know Kina Grannis. She's a singer/songwriter made big through her YouTube channel. And she always seemed like a really nice and cool girl, but I was really won me over by her amazing music video. It's made entirely out of jelly beans(nearly 300.000 of them!), and it's super cute!

I was dying to know how they did it and thankfully there's a "making of":

I love it when people put so much time and effort into something relatively small, because in the end those are the coolest things! My favorite part is probably with the bats, but the whole clip is pure genius! Hope you enjoyed it too!

November Sponsors

2011-11-13T12:16:00.000-08:00

November is a month of mixed things for me, on the one hand I am drained, on the other I'm happy too. And perhaps more importantly, on the one hand I'm currently unable to blog as much as usual, on the other there are loads of new followers!

There are also some amazing sponsors! And you can read all about them now.

shop

"I am a part time worker, full time student (teaching here I come) and always a mom for my wonderful daughter.
I started crafting when I was just a little girl with my grandma and mother. My family has always been crafty and artistic and so it was only natural that I would also enjoy it. I love making unique crafts and always get excited when people buy them to put into their homes or scrapbook layouts to enjoy."

blog - shop

"A ballerina, magician's assistant, black belt, and former model

finds true love. A sweet little baby falls from the stars. A tale of

gypsies, dinosaurs, and high seas adventure. A chronicle of everything

we do, everywhere we go, and all the days we felt alive."

shop

My dear friend Lily has temporarily reopened her gorgeous shop. Be sure to get your hands on her beautiful jewelry before it's too late!

website

If you've missed my review of the amazing graphic novel Picket Line, you should definitely still give it a read. Or just hop on over to the website to preview the book for yourself or download the free soundtrack!

blog - shop

"Hi I'm Samantha from Reinvented In Seattle. It's a haven for this highly caffeinated Seattlite to ramble on travel, food, books, and the pretty things I make with my sewing machine. If you like coffee and seeing the world through rose colored glasses I would love for you to stop by and say hi."

website

And the Giraffe is an amazing new band! Their dream-folk will have you hooked in no time. You should really download their EP, it's even available for free! Also, be sure to check out the interview they did here on Blue Eyed Night Owl!

blog - twitter

Clare is working on some amazing things! For instance the incredible notepaper-project. But her blog is always amazing and you should check it out if you haven't already!

blog - shop

RobbieLee released an amazing line of onesies last month! Also, she's starting a new blogging project this month, so keep your eyes open...

blog - shop

Rachell has an amazing blog about all things photography and it has recently undergone a makeover!

blog - shop

Sara's projects, outfit posts and mommyhood mondays will definitely be on her blog this month too!

website - shop

shop

---

This will be the last sponsor introduction (or at least for now), I'm definitely continueing the sponsorships only November will be the last time it includes introductions and updates.

The exclusive large spot will still come with a highlight, interview or guest post though!

Find all info and rates here.

Fun things while I was M.I.A.

2011-11-10T09:51:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed I'm a bit M.I.A. and here's why... The changing of seasons is always a rough time, for anyone really, but that combined with me having been too busy and my regular health issues, is making me super tired. Usually I'd continue blogging, but this time I'm just way too foggy.

{source}

Though I have a few clear moments a day, I get very little done behind the computer. So most of your emails are waiting for replies and blogposts have been less frequent. I hope I can be back daily, like I always am, soon. Until then here are some great things that have happened:

Clare is busy with an unbelievably cool project! She's making notepaper with incredible drawings she makes of her favorite bloggers. I was so excited to see this one:

It is dead-on! And isn't it the coolest thing you've ever seen?! She's also done an amazing one of Andrea! Speaking of which...

Andrea is having an Amelié Blog Party! I had made some chocolates for the occasion, and if you want to find out how to make them, you should head on over there! If not, you should head on over there too because there are loads of fun things going on!

Also, I received an email from Jill saying I won the Custom Kitty Charm giveaway! Don't worry if you missed it, because they are also available at her Etsy shop The Dapper Toad, which happens to be filled with the most amazing and unique things you have ever seen!

And of course an update will follow when I have received my Misty-miniature in the mail!

So despite feeling exhausted and foggy, you can see lots of things have cheered me up and I am by no means depressed. In fact I am very excited and can't wait to be back more often!

Owl Things Considered

2011-11-08T13:35:00.000-08:00

If you're an Etsy member you probably know you can add people to your circle to keep track of all their activity. However today someone added me, and because of that I found their amazing shop.

Needle felting is one of those hobbies I just have to try one day. And the shop cutelittlething has the loveliest DIY kits!

They have 3 different animals too choose from, and what a hard choice that would be, as both the owl, the hedgehog and the adorable little bunny look so incredibly sweet!

Not only do these kits provide everything you need to get started(material, as well as, I hear, really clear instructions), you'll also help raise money for charity. And they'd make a pretty awesome Christmas gift too! Whether it's as a kit, or as a lovely animal made by you already.

I recommend you check out this shop!

Giveaway winners!

2011-11-06T12:11:00.000-08:00

It's time to announce the winners of the giveaways from the Autumn Party. A lot of people joined it and since there were three giveaways there are three winners today.

Drumroll please...!

The earrings from Chouettes

go to...

Hannah Rosengren

The clutch from Structured Chaos

goes to...

Sara

And the notebook

goes to...

Sunny Sweat Pea

Thanks Lily and Lady Pattie for making these awesome prizes available!

And thank you all for joining! If you haven't won, don't worry. I'm sure there will be more giveaways soon.

Reminder of Giveaways!

2011-11-06T01:46:00.000-07:00

Remember there are still lots of giveaways you can enter. Don't delay as I'll announce some winners later today!

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

Lovely Handmade Vintage Earrings

by Lily

from Chouettes

Gorgeous Citrus Hannah Clutch

by Lady Pattie

from Structured Chaos

Cute Autumn Notebook

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

Good luck!

Spotted

2011-11-05T13:08:00.000-07:00

I just love stuff with birds. I'm not exactly sure what it is, I just think they are amazing, they have such nice shapes and always have a friendly feel about them. So for today I hunted down the best golden birds for you.

Everytime I see this print I get really excited, isn't it gorgeous?

This brooch is just perfect. I love the smooth and shimmery finish.

Since I did the pottery class last weekend I find I appreciate nice pottery a lot lot more. And this jar really stood out.

These amazing bags come in lots of colors, but this one might just be my favorite.

This print is adorable.

Time for another laser cut piece of plastic jewelry. The shape of this bird is so beautiful and I love how the plastic and the chain match so incredibly well.

It's not that I need any more clothes, but I might just go hunting for a vintage inspired dress like this one. And with 3/4 sleeves? Perfection!

This ring has me speechless.

Everything about this necklace is great. Such a cute and original bird!

It looks like we've found the perfect Autumn art print!

And I would not mind adding this cardigan to my Autumn wardrobe either.

Plans and Goals: November

2011-11-05T05:53:00.000-07:00

{picture source}

~~Show you my knitted sweater.~~
Post about all the Japanese stuff.
Finally get some film developed.
~~Finish re-doing my desk area.~~
~~Try out my latest acquisition...~~more on that later...
~~Read some more Jane Eyre.~~
Learn to make my own chai.
~~Show you some things that came in the mail.~~
~~Announce the winners of the running giveaways.~~
~~Do some pretty exciting things on some pretty exciting blogs!~~

Last month I actually manage to complete all my goals but one. It was such a busy time that I didn't manage to squeeze "bake something" in there. I'm hoping to take things a little easier in November.

What are your goals?

Lovely Movies: Mary and Max

2011-11-04T12:08:00.000-07:00

When I read this post on I Just Nod, I really wanted to see the Mary and Max claymation movie. A few days later the dvd happened to catch my eye while I was shopping, needless to say I bought it. And... it was amazing!

{1,2,3}

It's such a great story, both cute and sad. Though it really was amazing, I wouldn't recommend you'd watch it with young kids. As a matter of fact I'm still a bit baffled that I found it in the kids' department as it has a few scenes in it that might shock kids.

This is probably one of the best films I've seen this entire year. It is so refreshing, I have never come across anything like it before. And I love that it's even based on a true story.

Chouettes is open!

2011-11-03T15:52:00.000-07:00

One of my all time favorite Etsy shops, Chouettes, has reopened for a limited time only. If you like handmade jewelry with vintage rhinestones, you will adore this shop!

Also, you can still join in on the giveaway from the Autumn Blog Party, where Lily is offering these super gorgeous earrings to one lucky reader!

Click here to join!

Looking back on October

2011-11-03T09:59:00.000-07:00

Two years ago today I did my very first blog post! Can you believe that?! Thinking about that made me quite excited, as did looking back on some of October's highlights!

I knitted my very first sweater! (pictures will be posted soon)
Clare came in and made you a lovely tutorial.
I read the amazing graphic novel Picket Line.
Released "clickables".
And launched another new owl item.
Andrea had an amazing Tim Burton Party.
I went to all sorts of Japanese events: a film festival, flea market and pottery class.(more on the last two soon)
Did my very first blog party and loved it!

Pretty Sculptures: Earl Santaniel

2011-11-02T13:24:00.000-07:00

I am smitten with Earl Santaniel's creatures. Found them today and already feel like I need one, especially the octopus below. Though he has some pretty stunning owls too! Check out his DeviantArt, as it's full of these creatures, along with amazing drawings!

All images belong to Earl Santaniel of course!

100 Sales!

2011-11-01T11:15:00.000-07:00

Guess what? I had my 100th sale today! Though I knew it was coming soon I was still super stoked to find out about it today, a little celebration is in order, right?

So I'm giving you 10% off everything in my shop until the end of the week with the coupon code "MILESTONE100".

It's a wrap!

2011-10-31T10:10:00.000-07:00

I hope you've all enjoyed the party. I sure did:) There were quite a number of amazing guest posts and it's making me enjoy this beautiful season more than ever. Thank you all for joining in with posts and comments and for making this such a lovely party.

Below you'll find all the posts categorized for your convenience, be sure to check out the ones you haven't seen yet!

Giveaways!

Lovely Handmade Vintage Earrings

by Lily

from Chouettes

Gorgeous Citrus Hannah Clutch

by Lady Pattie

from Structured Chaos

Cute Autumn Notebook

Freebies!

November Desktop Calender

by Julie

from A Girl with Horn-Rimmed Glasses

Tutorials!

Owl Brooch DIY

by Andrea

from PaperSparrow

Embroidered Apllique Tutorial

by Suki

from The Owl Club

Zombie Cake Tutorial

by Amber

from The Owl's Den

Glow Jars Tutorial

by Carrie

from Carrie's Little World

Recipes!

Sweet Mint Hot Chocolate

by Clare

from Borderline

Spiderweb Cookies

by Hannah

from Made By My Rabbit

3 Favorite Autumn Recipes

by Lily

from Chouettes

Other Posts!

5x5 Great Things About Autumn

Best Dog Costumes

Well that's all of them. Hope you've enjoyed!

Now let's give these wonderful ladies a round of applause, shall we?

Chouettes Giveaway!

2011-10-31T02:52:00.000-07:00

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

As announced earlier, my friend Lily has offered up something beautiful for one of you. Aren't you just in total awe of these gorgeous earrings?!

Her shop Chouettes has always been a favorite of mine, sadly it closed down, but....

So very soon, you'll have a second chance at buying her amazing handmade jewelry made from the prettiest vintage materials.

CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED CLOSED

But now... the giveaway! It is, yet again, international:)

Mandatory:

Leave a comment saying what outfit you'd wear these earrings with.

Extra entries(please leave a seperate comment for each):

-Favorite Lily's shop, that way you can keep track of her Etsy!

-Follow this blog.

-Blog about the Autumn Party or put the button on your website.

Winner will be announced on November 6th. Keep your fingers crossed!

5x5 Best of Autumn

2011-10-31T01:34:00.000-07:00

I really wanted to do a post that was "head to toe" Autumn, and as much Autumn as possible, so I chose 5 of my favorite things for 5 different categories, but all about Autumn. I hope you'll enjoy them all!

-Best things about Autumn-

{1,2,3,4,5}

Marshmallows

Hot Beverages

Leaves Crunching

Fingerless Gloves

Sound of Rain

-Favorite Autumn Movies-

{1,2,3,4,5}

Reign Over Me

Sweet November

Good Will Hunting

Dan in Real Life

Autumn in New York

-Colors for your Autumn wardrobe-

Mustard Yellow

Grey Brown

Dark Magenta

Pumkin Orange

Olive Green

-Hobbies best enjoyed in the Fall-

{1,2,3,4,5}

Browsing Secondhand Bookshops

Baking

Doing Puzzles

Knitting

Windy Walks on the Beach

-Favorite Autumn CDs-

{1,2,3,4,5}

Mariee Sioux - Faces in the Rocks

Jason Webley - the Cost of Living

Ben Harper - Welcome to the Cruel World

Ray LaMontagne - Till the Sun Turns Black

Emily Loizeau - Pays Sauvage

Feel free to leave your favorite Autumn things in the comments;)