My goodness, where have I been? While I can't stand the "I'm so busy" excuse, adding the large volunteer projects (3 weeks in a row!) on top of my regular work load has sadly left my blog to suffer. Please excuse my crash & burn this week.

Now time to put my household back in order and catch up on overdue work. In tandem, I challenge us all to slow down over the next few days.

Image Source: Typography Served (via Pinterest) **And now I want to buy the typeface Babycakes

Today I will be OUT enjoying the sunshine! Another volunteer photographer gig, these seem to be a regular for me :p

I hope you are able to relish in some sunshine this weekend!

Image Sources: 1. Urban Outfitters (via Design is Mine) // 2. Craig Schlewitz (via Pinterest) // 3. Made by Amelia (via Pinterest) // 4. Jose Villa (via Pinterest) // 5. Meisi (via Pinterest) // 6. Pennywishes //

I hope your week is going well! Mine is absolutely flying. I wanted to snap a few quick photos of my current blooms before they disappear. Unfortunately my prize specimen—peonies—were destroyed by hail 3 days after their first bloom. Grrr. The hollyhocks and hydrangeas will have to do this year.

It's almost Friday, people!

I've had this inspirational print tucked away for a while, and today seems fitting. Last weekend I photographed senior portraits, and not only that they are seniors about to foster out of the system. I RARELY take portraits and it's such a different experience. It was more than a pleasure to glimpse into these young lives for a few hours, and I think this quote by an original photojournalist gangster captures it perfectly (as she always did).

Any of my readers portrait photographers? What do you love most?

Featured Artist: Photography Concentrate, print available for FREE DOWNLOAD (via Pinterest)

Happy Monday! It comes so quickly, does it not?

Should you have a few hours (perhaps vegging in front of the tv) and some pretty paper—I recommend making a sweet bouquet or stem of this flower. I'm such a cool color person that this paper had me at aqua & cobalt blue. Metallic silver is a lovely bonus.

Here's to a great week, friends!

Tutorial by: D.I.Y. or Don't! (pdf pattern available here)

Definitely a trend of late. Can't say I don't enjoy a large splash of color.

Enjoy your weekend, friends!

Image Sources: 1. Britt Bass featured on The Jealous Curator (via Pinterest) // 2. Magnus Anesund Photography (via SF Girl By Bay) // 3. ASOS (via The Sweetest Occasion) // 4. Alice & Olivia (via Pinterest) // 5. Because Studio (via Pinterest) //

This cutesy tree was a quick turn-around project I led last week. Handing off the project plan and supplies turned out really well I feel. It was a fun challenge to tie in the book drive with a tree. Hopefully through the title "Grow Our Library" and the book-paper leaves there isn't a huge disconnect.

Hope you're enjoying your week!

If you feel so inclined, donate a book to help St. Louis children learn to read!

Happy May Day! A lovely illustration of spring letters. I love the sweet accents....makes me want to put a bird on something.

Featured Artist: Erin Jane

on to the post feature: an underground dinner experience in FEAST magazine.

Local winery. Local chef. Local magazine. Splendid evening.

Remember this catering display I worked on a while back? Well, I was able to attend an incredible event by the same caterers, entre, and even more exciting—the evening is the feature article in a local magazine, FEAST.

Quick details about the event. Entre Underground is a monthly event where the menu and location are kept secret until the day of. My husband and I wanted to participate and we decided to jump at the chance for the overnight experience (knowing it included a bed & breakfast). We were given directions to Hermannhof Vineyards and packed our bags!

To begin the evening we checked into our AMAZING hillside cottage overlooking the Missouri River. From there we headed to the newly remodeled vineyard grainery to munch on hors d'oeuvres and wine. Then made our way over the the 150-year-old, stone-carved caves of the winery cellar for a five-course candlelit dinner. Just remembering makes me feel so dreamy! The relaxing continued into the morning with breakfast, followed by a lazy drive back to St. Louis through many of the small winery towns on a drizzly Sunday.

Everything a getaway should be.

For the full article and menu visit here and to view more images of the event go here.

All photography by Jennifer Silverberg for FEAST magazine. (Center images of the magazine spread by me)

Sleeping just a little longer, planning a new project, snuggling, cooking a delicious meal, spending time not doing much....I am so grateful for this season—to bask in the small joys of a slow, simple life.

Handlettering by: Ornamelle

A little delayed on creative projects, so instead I give you my current misery: a week of green smoothies. By week I actually mean 5 full days and I'm not sure I'll make it. Hunger is SO debilitating for me! At this point (day 3—supposedly the worst day), I can't remember why I am doing this or for that matter why anyone does this. Morning aren't bad but afternoon and evenings I am a complete wreck.

A few resources I've found helpful:
5 Day Green Smoothie Challenge (for breakfast) by A Beautiful Mess
With Style & Grace (my favorite juicer/health nerd, including this pumpkin smoothie)

Any of you tried the craziness of quasi-fasting? Any other tips. Perhaps it's easier if you don't work from home—where the kitchen is taunting you 24/7?

Wrapping up the week with some earth day inspiration. Tentatively I'm planning to ride my new bicycle to the park for St. Louis Earth Day to get out and enjoy some great weather. Anyone else have fun plans for the weekend?

Photo Sources: 1. Katie Daisy (via Going Home to Roost) // 2. Jessica Durrant // 3. Paper & Paper Co. // 4. Brainstorm (via Pinterest) // 5. RokinRonda for Society6 //

So I've been easing into the homemade soaps movement.  Saving money and avoiding harmful chemicals are the only perks I need to be interested. Bonus being hardly any work (less than a monthly shopping trip). Here are my thoughts on the two recipes I'm using.

Laundry Soap // I LOVE this stuff and couldn't be happier. So much for so little $! There isn't a strong smell to the clean clothes, but that is because I am choosing not to use softener or add scented ingredient.

Dishwasher Soap // So far this is not comparable to store bought. I may experiment with rinse aids to help with residue, but it's also really crusty which makes it hard to dig out. I want to research other recipes, but overall it's still been a good buy.

Both these recipes came from Being Creative to Keep My Sanity. I've also tested a handsoap recipe (total flop), but I didn't use the bar in the recipe so I'll need to try again...when I run out of this gallon of snot soap....which may take years...

Has anyone else had luck with making their own household soaps? Perhaps cleaners???

A little love never hurts.

Featured Artist: Spring Olive

why bokashi composting?

No smell. Does not attract insects. Low maintenance. Quick and convenient. Small scale. Bokashi creates a liquid that is steroids for house & yard plants (called bokashi tea). You can ferment ANYTHING, including meat and dairy, dead leaves, paper, etc. Did I mention no smell???

Bokashi mix is also great for eliminating the stink in kitty litter boxes AND you could make an outdoor bin for dog doo doo if you'd like a better way to discard dog waste (do not use this as compost for edible plants).

what is bokashi?

Originating in Japan, bokashi is perfect for urban dwellers with little space because it can be kept indoors. The bokashi mix contains effective microorganisms (EM) that ferment the food, as opposed to letting food decompose. If you are interested in learning more about the biology in layman terms, this is a good read. I purchased my bokashi mixture from this local store for $12. It is also available online or you can make your own bokashi if you are really hard core.

step by step of using bokashi

Here is what composting looks like for me. Once the bucket is made (directions below), you throw in a few handfuls of bokashi and then start a layer of food.

Every time food is added another handful of bokashi is thrown on top, then I use plastic bag to keep it airtight before adding the bucket lid.

I only add scraps every 2-3 days, so in the mean time I collect food in a plastic container that is stored in the freezer.

Once the entire bucket is full (which has only taken me about one month!) it is sealed for two weeks. Note: Because there is this two week gap, we are probably going to make a second bucket. After this point the pickled food will need work (or maybe you can hand off to a gardner you know). Bokashi bucket contents need to be buried underground for 2-4 weeks in order to become actual compost. Once I complete this step I'll update the post about my experience.

diy bokashi bucket

TOOLS // Electric drill.
SUPPLIES // Two 5-gallon buckets (or large tupperware or kitty litter buckets), screen cut to fit bucket, bucket lid, and bokashi mix.

Optional: Spigot, O-rings, and a connecting side.

Take one bucket and drill holes in the bottom for drainage.

The spigot goes on the bucket without holes and was slightly complicated. And I'm not sure it's necessary. Once we drilled a hole for the spigot and screwed it into the connecting side, we still had to use calking to seal it for leaks. Do over, I'd skip this. We have yet to accumulate enough "bokashi tea" to use the spigot. Instead, you could lift up the inside bucket every 3-4 days and dump out the tea that has accumulated.

Once finished you have: outside bucket with or w/o spigot, inside holy bucket containing the screen, and then a lid. Rough cost estimate: Buckets $3 ea, used screen free, lid $3, spigot + rings + connector $7, bokashi mix $12, totaling $28. You can also purchase pre-made bucket sets for around $60.

bokashi wrap up

All this may sound really complicated but I promise it is not bad at all. This post is long because I wanted to give a general overview of this composting method. So far I really like using bokashi and it's been really convenient. Feel free to ask any questions about getting started, I am no professional but feel somewhat knowledgeable!

Happy heart the earth week!

Resources used for DIY: Bokashi Blog, Just Like My Nan Made, Lulu-Lenore