things that make me happy

summer is here

Source: designspongeonline.com via Sugar on Pinterest

 popsicle weather

Source: delightedmomma.com via chartreuse and a twist - on Pinterest

casual but well styled summer outfits

Source: calypso-celle.com via Tori on Pinterest

cake jars

Source: elizabethkartchner.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

pretty peonies

Source: mysweetsavannah.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Care to share what is making you happy?

I am lucky enough to be part of an amazing organization made up of equally amazing woman who are all supporting their other half in medical school. We get together for different activites/social/service events and the other day we got together for a mini class on floral arranging. I've professed my love of (novice) flower arranging before, I enjoy it a LOT! I thought I'd count this as my monthly creative project.

I was happy to come home with this little arrangement I made using this great tape idea from Martha Stewart {via}. It made it really easy to use the shallower bowl I had on hand as a vase.

I am going to bid you happy weekend a day early! I'll see you back here next week friends!

perfectly pink

I think Mother's Day rubbed off on me as I'm feeling a little bit sweet today. Happy Monday!

country living

somewhere splendid

shop til you drop

Source: iloveswmag.com via Holly on Pinterest

Source: None via Heather on Pinterest

have your cake

Thanks for letting me take a bit of a break last week. I was able to focus on my family and took some time to think about my priorities and this blog. As much as I love blogging, it isn't on the tip top of my priority list with right now. While I would like to blog five days a week, I have to be honest and admit that I most likely won't be able to do that for the next little while. I want to give you guys good content and not post just for the sake of posting so some weeks might have two posts and others five. I hope you can understand. Thank you for all of your comments and for reading! You are awesome.

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My mother in law, Linda, is an excellent cake decorator (she even made our wedding cake). A couple summers ago she held a cake decorating class for her nieces and daughters in law where she shared some of her wisdom and experience. I had a lot of fun learning how to use all the frosting tips but haven't practiced much since then I'm afraid. I'm thinking a refresher course is in order when we head home to visit this summer (how about it Linda?).

These gorgeous cakes below serve as great inspiration for when I finally bust out those tips and decorate a cake. I LOVe that ombre cake and how awesome is the cake with rock candy? I'm thinking it would be so fun for Olivia's next birthday.

Source: strawcut.tumblr.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: stylemepretty.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: marthastewartweddings.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: postcardsandpretties.blogspot.com via Heather on Pinterest

Source: a-ladys-findings.tumblr.com via Heather on Pinterest

a bit of interior eye candy

Pretty vignettes from the Sydney home of Karen Lavecky.

{via table tonic via shop til you drop}

thinking spring

Hello my lovely readers! How pretty are these blooms? Doesn't it just make you crave spring? We are having some really wonderful weather right now in Fort Worth so my little family and I have been spending lots of time outdoors.

Source: flowermag.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: flickr.com via Mary on Pinterest

Source: acreativemint.typepad.com via Mary on Pinterest

I am going to take an early weekend and leave you with these florals as we are headed to San Antonio today to finish up our spring break. I hope that you have an amazing weekend and Happy St. Patrick's Day today! Thanks for reading olive & a!

p.s. If you'd like...you can now "like" me here.

have a wonderful weekend!

{image: country living}

have a sweet weekend

From the Ruche Spring '11 Look Book

favorite room of the moment

Tia Zoldan's dining room from the premeir issue of High Gloss Magazine

be jeweled

would you look at all that color.

these gorgeous jewel tones have me craving spring bad!

Oh spring, please come soon!

{via}

well hello there...

 aren't you pretty

{ 1, 2, 3, 4 }

things that make me happy

 This print

sweet treats

stripes

parties

flowers

I'd love to hear what's making you happy today?

{all images via mary ruffle}

general store

I would love to spend an afternoon in Sydney browsing (and shopping) around the donna hay general store. The clean, fresh look of the shop really appeals to me and the products look just as nice.

If you aren't familiar with Hay, I'd venture to say that she is Australia's Martha Stewart. Her website is full of recipes I want to try and pretty style ideas to use.

workplace envy

I so wouldn't mind being the coffee girl if it meant I had the opportunity to work at the headquarters of Urban Outfitters (including Anthropologie and Free People). Okay...that isn't entirely true, I would more prefer to be something like the in-house clothing tester but any job would be amazing. Can you imagine working in a place like this? Totally inspiring!

The company moved its headquarters from downtown Philadelphia to the city's decommissioned Navy shipyards. In repurposing the buildings for use, they tried to leave as many elements of the buildings as they could...even graffiti on the walls. I love that!

For an interesting read on the headquarters and more photos head here. 

{via: Haven and Home}

winter tablescape

I am in love with this tablescape... vintage details. red and cream with touches of aqua. little owls. pretty florals.  

For more of this party go here.

a fresh take on a halloween bash

Alli of the blog hooray and photographer Andrea Dozier have collaborated on a fun little styling series which will feature mock holiday parties. I love their idea of finding basic elements that can be used from one party to the next and then adding details specific to the holiday. First up is this fresh + gorgeous Halloween party.

For more images and sources head here!

If you don't already read hooray, I'd suggest adding it to your reader and stay tuned for the next party in the series.

{photos: Andrea Dozier}

midweek eye candy

gold + pink + turquoise = pretty tablescape

{Sarah Yates for Sitting in a Tree via Somewhere Splendid}