Fantic

I knew my home was missing something... Something like a baby elephant named Fantic!

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Book of the Month Clutch

Kate Spade's gone and done it again. Paying homage to three beloved classics, these Book of the Month Clutches pack in the intellectual with the chic.

And for your desktop, free Book Club Wallpapers.

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Shiny Happy People

One of the best lovelies I know, a one Miss Rachel Best, gave me the most astounding book for my birthday this past weekend.

The Shiny Happy People Book is a cookbook by Neil Roake cataloging exquisite dinner parties and beautiful homes curated by the people he admires best: his good friends. When I fist unwrapped the book, my first reaction was "How Beautiful! It reminds me of my blog roll!" But upon further inspection, I found that not only was I interested in these people, and the food and decors they had to share, but that the author and his friends-featured were all located in South Africa, which I visited this past April and fell hard, madly, deeply in love with. This weekend has been a whirlwind of birthday celebration-chaos (Cheers, 26!), but each night I've found myself getting ready for bed, slightly (or maybe more) tipsy, thumbing through this book, marveling at the beautiful pages inside, planning the perfect dinner party occasions where I shall unveil certain recipes (to everyone's surprise and delight!) and also, feeling a certain (severe) longing for South Africa growing in my heart. The places I saw there were off the beaten path and truly unreal (I am so lucky!)! This book is filling me with a rush to get back to the Garden Route with a moment's quickness, as soon as possible. Thank you, Rachel Best , you've stirred South Africa up inside of me.

You Reap What You Sow

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Postcarden

I'd be so tickled to receive one of these Postcardens in the mail! It's the age old 'thinking-of-you' with a surprise packed inside: a garden to grow! J'adore. Postcardens are available in Botanical, City, Football and Allotment.

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Rebecca Thuss

Rebecca Thuss's site makes me get this rushing feeling that I need to hurry up and come up with a reason to throw a party stat! Big time ideas to spring off of going on in here.

Too bad the plethora of summer birthdays are almost over. Hoping to have a new pad soon, perhaps a house-warming party will happen. If it does, I'll credit it all to Rebecca Thuss.

Yeah, Ya'll.

FFFFOUND

Jacksonville City Guide

My beloved hometown has made it to the big leagues, with its very own Jacksonville City Guide by Design*Sponge. I'm so proud, our city has made its way to recognition on a blog I admire so much!

Edit: Two days in a row of Jacksonville references on D*S??? Unusual, but I like it!

2010 Reads: January to July

The Awakening, Kate Chopin

Madame Bovary, Gustave Flaubert

Summerhouse, Later, Judith Hermann

The Pigeon, Patrick Suskind

Slightly disappointed I haven't accomplished more reads so far this year. Though Madame Bovary alone took quite a bit of time to push through. Hoping August - December will allow for more time to dedicate to more reading.

Tiny House

I want to build a tiny house. I don't own any property or have anywhere to actually put a tiny house. But I want to at least know how to build one. Vermont Tiny Houses offers weekend workshops to teach you how to build your very own 300 sq. ft. or less space. In one weekend! Everything you need to know! Vermont isn't exactly down the street, but I think a long weekend road trip for a project like this would be worth going out of the way for. I've always wanted to see Vermont anyways.

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