Looking back on January

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

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

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

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:)

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

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

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.

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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

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

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

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.

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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

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.

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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

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.

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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.

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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.

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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

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

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!

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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

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

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!

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