I spend a lot of time in the kitchen, as I'm sure many of you do too.
Lately it's been the kind of time dedicated to things I really don't care much for...cooking + dishes instead of what I REALLY love: BAKING!! You guys, if I'm not baking then being in the kitchen is a chore...a much dreaded chore. And for various reasons I haven't been doing a whole lot of baking over the last couple of months. *frown*

Anyway, I remember when I was newly married and my kids were toddlers, cooking for my family was something I really REALLY enjoyed and genuinely looked forward to. I was the queen of meal planning and trying new recipes.

I don't know what ever happened to that girl but I cannot find one ounce of passion for dinner-making let alone dish cleaning anywhere - not even in my pinky finger.

But...I have found there are some small things I can do to help make the experience much more enjoyable; having pretty dish cloths for washing dishes and having darling hand towels hanging and accessible for wet fingers and hands is one of those small things.

I recently ordered some adorable handmade items for my kitchen from the cutest Etsy shoppe called The Vintage Home Studio.

I actually discovered Michelle Gann and her pretty kitchen hand towels on Instagram and it was love at first sight. The charming fabric selections she uses to create her towels aren't just beautiful, they are high-quality which makes them durable and simple to wash.  

She chooses a fabric and then hand crochets a matching trim edge to finish it off beautifully.
And I just love the cute tags she sews onto the towels too. (see below).

I picked the "Bee Bar Towel" with grey crochet trim and a set of creamy white crochet dish cloths for my kitchen. I love them both! Not only are these items pretty but they are practical.

Mother's Day is coming up and I knew I wanted to order some towels for my mom and thought some of you may want to do the same. OR you may want to add them to your own Mother's Day wishlist. *wink*

Here are some of my favorites but there are plenty more adorable fabrics and color selections to choose from...

Nip + Pluck Bar Mop Towel with turquoise crochet trim

Spring Floral Bar Mop Towel with orange crochet trim

Fleur Bar Mop Towel with sea blue crochet trim

Cherry Bar Mop Towel with red crochet trim

Another thing I love about Michelle's shoppe is that she purchases bulk fabrics to use one time and then typically does not reorder so she can offer fresh, new towel designs. This can be a good thing if you love exclusivity - knowing you've got a cute limited edition towel hanging in your pretty kitchen. But once it's gone...it's gone.

I do hope you'll check out The Vintage Home Studio to add some charm to your own kitchen.
I'm loving my cute towels + dish cloths and look forward to adding more to my collection.

More ways to find, connect with + keep up with Michelle and her pretty creations:
The Vintage Home Studio on Instagram
The Vintage Home Studio on Facebook
The Vintage Home Studio Etsy Shoppe
The Vintage Home Studio on Pinterest

KEEPiNG iT REAL
As a designer, I appreciate the small details.
Michelle's branding + logo for her shoppe with the old door and the blue + green colors completely won me over before I ever even held one of her products in my hands. Then...when I saw the quality of her work and her cute little tag sewn onto her pretty towels...well...that's all I needed.

FOUND | Rustic Farmhouse Safety Pins

Photo Credit: Ballard Designs

Love. at. first. sight.
That's what it was when I stumbled upon these oversized decorative rustic safety pins from Ballard Designs.  I've been trying to add a little charm to my mudroom - which is really just a laundry room but I like the way "mudroom" sounds better so that's what I call it - and I really think these are going to work perfectly.

They come in a set of 3 for a really reasonable price so I snatched up these giant safety pins this week and can't wait for them to arrive.

Photo Credit: Ballard Designs

I love the product description from the Ballard Designs website:
"Based on real pins we found at a flea market, our hanging Safety Pins are authentic down to the tiniest detail. In fact, they even open! Each style features a different finish and closure design popular in the late 19th and early 20th centuries".

Did you read that!!?? They even open! How cute!!

So anyway...like a best friend should do, I HAD to share them with you...just in case you think you want to snatch them up for your mudroom...or laundry room...or even your baby's nursery too!!

Want them? Click the link below:
Safety Pin Plaques - Set of 3 - Ballard Designs

Not interested? That's okay.
You can keep busy with other things like...
1. Entering to win the $100 Shutterfly Gift Card I'm giving away 
2. Finishing up the Keep It Simple book we've been reading this month
3. Picking up a copy of The Secret Language of Flowers we'll be starting May 1st.

Love you guys!

KEEPiNG iT REAL
What is it with me and old, rusty things?
Do you know when I was first newly married and struggling to make ends meet, (over 20 years ago), I actually recycled wooden cable wire spools to use as side tables and coffee tables. To think that it's actually a "trendy" thing now kind of makes me smile. (and I can say it's trendy because it was actually mentioned in the Keep It Simple book we've been reading this month - how crazy is that?!)

NEW | Shutterfly Wedding Stationery + $100 Giveaway

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THIS IS A SPONSORED POST BY SHUTTERFLY.  

PEN N' PAPER FLOWERS HAS RECEIVED COMPENSATION AND/OR PRODUCTS 

IN EXCHANGE FOR SHARING...BUT FRIENDS…AS ALWAYS...

ALL OPINIONS ARE MY OWN + I ONLY SHARE PRODUCTS  I LOVE + ADORE.

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I have some exciting news to share with you today!
Shutterfly has announced a new line of Wedding Stationery!!
The new wedding invitations are so pretty + fun and there are so many different styles to choose from!

What's even more exciting is that these are FULL stationery collections which means there are coordinating RSVP enclosure cards, directions enclosure cards, thank you cards and address labels available too!

Sit back and enjoy a peek at these new wedding suites by browsing these lovely photos taken by Ten22Studio, styled by my sweet friend, Kim, from The TomKat Studio in collaboration with Shutterfly.

You'll find everything from rustic to romantic, classic to casual, relaxed to refined...
You name it...there's something for everyone!

PRECIOUS PETALS COLLECTION

I love the bright cheerfulness of this one - which is also available in pink or green! 
But the orange option is definitely my favorite.

LOVE NEVER FADES COLLECTION

Oh my goodness! This color combo is a favorite since it reminds me of the Graduation party I helped host last year for my daughter + cousins. The nice thing is, for those of you who aren't into the pink + orange, it also comes in an orange/yellow or lavender color options.

LOVE + LAUGHTER FOREVER COLLECTION

This is so perfect for a rustic themed wedding + it's also available with a chalkboard background. 
I think the scalloped edge finish on this one is cute - and you can get that on any of the invitations.
But that font!!?? I just adore it - especially with brush lettering being all the rage right now.
And you guys...how perfect would the Rustic Popcorn Bar or Chalkboard Popcorn Bar collections 
in my shoppe work perfectly with this line of invitations? It's like they were made for each other!!

FOREVER MORE COLLECTION

What I really like about this pale blue invitation is that it's simple + feminine and that gorgeous calligraphy font for the word "forever"! It's got a classic vibe going on but with the polka dots on the backside there's a surprise element of whimsy...and I love that. 
Oh! And there's a chalkboard background option too! 

FOREVER HEARTS COLLECTION

I love the look of kraft paper + pink hearts are always charming so this one won me over!

Don't you just love the pink striped backside? Again, this has a chalkboard background option too!

BUDDING ROMANCE COLLECTION

The black background makes this one really elegant but there's also a plum background option and my favorite is a pretty linen/beige background that makes it perfect for a more casual wedding.

FOREVER IN LOVE COLLECTION

There's something about watercolor designs that just make them extra special.

Not only does this collection come in the pretty green as shown below 

it's also available in pink or blue and I love them!!!

GRACEFUL ELEGANCE COLLECTION

Omgoodness! As much as I love this beautiful collection in the coral color shown below 

I'm madly in love with the vintage blue OR charcoal grey color selections
as shown on the Shutterfly website. Trust me. Go and check them out!!! Sooo pretty!!

PATIENT + KIND COLLECTION

"Love is Patient, Love is Kind" is such a classic for weddings.

The pretty scroll accents on the backside of this invitation really helps finish this off beautifully.

Along with this plum color there's also a deep taupe available. 

REGAL PAISLEY COLLECTION

I think the black + gold color combo and paisley pattern in this collection really makes this 

one perfect for the bride and groom looking for a very elegant vibe for their wedding. 

I love the grey option (shown on the Shutterfly site) and the full paisley backside is just gorgeous.

All of these 5x7 invitations come with pretty trim/edge options and I love that each collection has at least a couple of different design colors to choose from. 

Not only that, each collection offers full personalization and there are also designs on the backside to really finish off the invitations to truly make an impression on your guests.

You guys already know I love Shutterfly from the Christmas Cards I shared with you, the Holiday Baking invitations I sent out and the fun "Baby Love" baby Shower I styled using their products. I love the high-quality card stock and outstanding customer service Shutterfly offers and now with a brand new line of full wedding stationery...it's just one more reason to love them even more!

There are way more invitation designs to see so be sure to check out the complete line of Shutterfly Wedding Invitations + Suites.

Getting married? Know someone who is? or just LOVE Shutterfly products like I do?
How about $100 towards your next Shutterfly purchase?

Use the widget below for an easy entry to win yourself a $100 Shutterfly Gift Card!!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

Credits:
Styling - The TomKat Studio
Photography - Ten22Studio

KEEPING IT REAL
I sure wish this new line of wedding invitations had come out a few months back when some friends were shopping around for some. They ended up having a nightmare experience with an Etsy shop owner and I know ordering from Shutterfly would've been such a different experience.

In other news...
Exterior house paint colors have been picked.
Waiting on the architectural review board to give us the thumbs up and then it's showtime!
I promise to share the after pictures!

MUSIC | Bright :: Echosmith

So...you know my one little word for 2015 is Shine...

And when I heard "Bright" by Echosmith I added it to my "theme song" list for the year!
It's an upbeat song with positive feel-good vibes and the lyrics above are just a few of my favorite lines. I also love "Heaven + Earth have finally aligned. Days are good and that's the way it should be.
You sprinkle stardust on my pillowcase, it's like a moonbeam brushed across my face."
I think it's a perfect reminder to "shine bright"! *wink*

I'm always listening to a plethora of music so I really can't define my music style.

Right now though, over the last few weeks I've found these titles blasting while I'm working or in those rare moments when I'm driving alone in the car. Some of them are for motivation while exercising, some are to wind down and others are just because. No judging. *wink*

Bad Blood by Taylor Swift
Clean by Taylor Swift
This Love by Taylor Swift
Scared or Selfish by Kye Kye
Birthday by Jillian Edwards
Pieces by Andrew Belle
Multiple Love by Paper Airplanes
Smother by Daughter
Black Bear by Andrew Belle
Peace by Kye Kye
Still Here by Digital Daggers
Finale by Mashur & Kevlar
DJ Turn It Up

Maybe something will "strike a chord" with you too?!
Let me know if any of them do...

KEEPiNG iT REAL
DJ Turn it Up should be played on a music system with a lot of bass...wait for it to "drop" *wink*
Pumps me up every time and makes me want to dance!!

MAKE IT | Fresh Fruit Birthday Cake + mini cakelets

My middle daughter, Emalyn, turned 16 in March. Yes...sixteen. *sigh*

For the 4th year in a row she made her infamous request for a "fruit cake" as her birthday dessert.

With this being the 4th time I would be creating a fresh fruit masterpiece for her on her birthday my wheels started to spin about

BOOK CLUB | May Selection :: The Secret Language of Flowers by Samantha Gray

image provided by Ryland, Peters and Small

The book selection for May, "The Secret Language of Flowers" by Samantha Gray published by CICO Books and illustrated by Sarah Perkins is so perfect in so many ways...

First and foremost...

DISCOVER | The Secrets of Tulips

Aren't they pretty!!??
On a whim, I stopped by Terri's Eustis Flower Shop last week and picked up this gorgeous fresh bunch of tulips. While there, I learned a couple of things about tulips (+ flowers) I never knew.
I was amazed at this first gem of information...

OUR HOUSE | Exterior Paint Color Selection :: Decisions! Decisions!

Our house last Spring

Quite a bit on the orange side...right?

Say hello to the "Pumpkin House".
That's what the neighborhood has nicknamed our house...and rightly so.
Of course this name was bestowed on the original owners and then kindly passed along to us when we purchased it some years back.

Anyway, back in 2014 we experienced a rainstorm that produced hail which resulted in roof damage to a lot of homes in our neighborhood - including ours.

Now, when I say roof damage...