Her Umbrella

Late Night Snackin'

2012-06-01T01:16:00.002-05:00

I love cleaning out my camera and taking all the photos off from weeks before. If it's not a trip or special event then I just take random photos for weeks and when it's time to dump all the photos it's always a nice surprise.

Found this little plate of a late night snack I made for me and mom. It's not so pretty but it was quite delicious and a great treat for the first episode of The Bachelorette ... I love, love Emily!

Anyways, I've written about this "sandwich" before. Although, this plate doesn't actually look like a plate full of nice and neat apple sandwiches, it has all the same components.

Sliced apples, dark chocolate chips, granola, peanut butter and a dash of strawberries. Yum.

A Pretty Gift-Wrapping Idea: Fabric

2012-05-31T00:53:00.003-05:00

Part of the fun in finding a loved-one a gift is the wrapping. But until recently I have never actually expanded my gift-wrapping ideas simply because, I'm really not the best at wrapping up presents as I used far too much tape and can never evenly fold the paper.

For Mother's Day though, I had a bit of fun. Honestly, I had gotten a bag too small for my present and instead of going out the next day to get a larger bag (I needed it wrapped and hidden before my mom sneaked a peek) I decided to get crafty. I had a bit of extra fabric lying around, a sheet of polka-dotted pretty and two different shades of tulle, and decided to use it!

Not only was it recyclable, it turned out to be absolutely adorable and a big hit with Mom. She kept telling me to take a photo and as I was emptying out all my photos I realized I hadn't shared the cuteness that I so proudly put together.

Hopefully this will inspire someone to take their gift-wrapping creativity to the next level, it has certainly put the pep in my step as I plan for Father's Day!

Happy Birthday Minnie

2012-05-30T00:59:00.000-05:00

Our precious pooch turns 2 today.

And in spite of her diva-esque moments and occasional stinky breath ... she's the perfect dog. So please wish her a Happy Birthday and admire her adorableness.

Free June & July Sponsorship!

2012-05-29T13:56:00.000-05:00

Summer is almost here and I've got a filled calendar of fun things to share with the blogging world!

All we have to do is swap buttons!

My large spot is up for grabs, on a first come - first serve basis (e-mail to ask about it!)

Right now, all you need to do is a send me a quick e-mail at grace.lynne.fleming@gmail.com and we can work out the details.

Since I'm still a fresh, newbie blogger I feel like this is a great way to build relationships and audiences and I so look forward to hearing from you.

As for my current sponsors, I plan to keep you here and still support your wonderfulness ... just let me know and shoot me an e-mail to let me know you're still on board to do the same. I will be re-posting your "Meet My Sponsor" posts starting in June and having a group summer shout out as well! Finally getting back into the swing of things!

This is for June & July sponsorship!

For just a bit more information check out my Sponsorship page!

Top Five Tuesday: Inspiration

2012-05-29T03:04:00.000-05:00

Five amazing, wonderful pretties inspiring my week.
**I may or may not be contemplating on changing my Top Five Tuesdays to What's Inspiring Me Wednesdays ... we shall see ...

Honestly something I truly believe in and haven't been able to put into an eloquent wording such as this. I really love to travel but I also love the feeling of the trip back home and the relief that comes when you arrive at the door.

A precious, goldendoodle puppy. Minnie is such a doll, but I wouldn't mind having one of these babes to cuddle with. Although, I'm a bit too busy and "in transition" at the moment to care for one the way it deserves ... I will have one, one day ... right Justin? :)

No one meaning the people who know you the best. Not the people whom you like to believe know you best. The people who have seen you at your darkest and still wouldn't believe.

Pretty right? The gold ... the tid bits of lace ... it's all very whimsical ... and pretty. That's how I hope the rest of my life is ... pretty and whimsical.

I loved finding this quote. I believe real conversation is just a good as learning how to write a real letter or read a book. Communication is at the very core of everyone's way of life. Whether you do that electronically or face-to-face is your own prerogative but if you're not conversing when your little, those tools can get lost in translation when you're older ... thus comes the communication issues in relationships! Talk to your children. About anything! About everything!

*make note that all these photos were found via Pinterest without a definite source back. if you know the origin, please let me know!

Saturday Round-up

2012-05-26T02:03:00.002-05:00

Just a few of my favorite posts and articles I've written up and have floating around the Internet ...

Click a photo to be taken to the article!

Weekend Wishlist: {7}

2012-05-25T02:06:00.002-05:00

Instead of a sharing whole list of weekend fun and trinkets ... I'd rather just have one wish for my weekend ... to enjoy it. I've spent so much of my time this week worrying about small things, big things and things I shouldn't spend time fretting over that I haven't slept well and I've eaten too many non-bridal diet calories.

Blogging buddies, friends and family ... enjoy your weekend. As Ellen would say, "Be kind to one another." Don't take advantage of your relationships and be completely thankful for what you have in your actions in words. Remember someone always has it worse than you do. Create your own luck. And have a (or many) daily mantras to set your spirit free and welcome positive karma.

Happy weekend everyone!

weheartit.com

Thursday's Food Mood

2012-05-24T02:26:00.001-05:00

Chocolate Covered Bananas

Chicken Tacos

Baked Zucchini

Homemade Tater Tots

Coconut Macaroons

A Random Collection of Thoughts

2012-05-23T00:56:00.001-05:00

I'm a worry wart. I worry all the time. And if there isn't something to worry about .... I find something to worry about. It's not okay or healthy but at least I'm not in complete denial about it. Lately I've been worrying about what I'm doing and will I be able to do what I'm working towards? Ever? Let's take to Pinterest for some inspiration...

via

The fact that I have to reorganize all my photos, photo albums and jewelry ... and the fact that it's taking forever is giving me serious anxiety.

My mom's chicken salad rocked last night. She added apples and grapes to it ... and it was scrumptious.

All the ideas I've written down for stories and characters ... I believe are really special ... but minus a few the execution hasn't been too great.

I hope Phillip Phillips wins American Idol. Then I hope he starts to date Taylor Swift. (*Thought courtesy of my man, Justin)

I started reading a book called "Peace, Love & Cupcakes" ... it's about a 4th-grader and it makes me smile.

I am still reading a book called "Pledged" .... it's about a journalist who went undercover in sorority houses .... and it makes me sick.

The toy I got in my happy meal yesterday was a 'Victorious' necklace (from the TV show) ... and it was for children ages 3 and up ... that's all fine and good but why do little girls need to be wearing a necklace that plays a song with the lyrics, "My best friend's brother is the one for me." I find this to be psychologically problematic.

Top Five Tuesday: Year-Round Lipstick

2012-05-22T02:24:00.000-05:00

Some lipstick I only use in the fall & winter .... and others only in the spring & summer ... but the really special ones, that I love the most ... I use year-round.

1. Kat Von D Painted Love Lipstick in Cathedral

It's the best color for some drama ... but it's perfect for sunny days and super cold nights.

2. Sephora Collection Rouge Cream Lipstick in Oh! Oh!

Perfect for the days where you just wanna be a little out of the box ... it's a bit purple and looks best with natural eyes.

3. Tarte LipSurgence Natural Lip Luster in Fever

No matter the season ... this is a great pick if you need just a fun pop of color.

4. Revlon Super Lustrous Lipcolor in Sparkling Cider

If you've decided to play up your eyes or just want something a bit more natural, Cider is a "nude" blend that still sparkles.

5. TheBalm Read My Lips Lipstick in Scoop

A great pink (which every woman needs) and it's super versatile for all skin tones.

Easy Crafts for Newbie Crafters

2012-05-21T01:35:00.000-05:00

I'm going to be quite honest. I'm a genius-level idea person. I can create, imagine and visualize practically any story, any outfit or look, any set-up or event. So yes, visually .. I'm the bomb.

But when it comes to the execution of the crafty ideas .... there are times when it was better to just keep the idea in my head and pay someone else to make it. So today is dedicated to all those like myself and all those wanting to jump head first into the crafting world but are still a little intimidated in showcasing off their work. For you, I've created a quick list of some easy crafts for even the most novice crafters.

Butterfly Art
(lovestitched.com)

Glass Magnets
(stylist.com)

Painted Bottles
(bywilma.com)

Earring Display
(kevinandamanda.com)

Clay Display Dish
(fiskars.com)

Dixie Cup Light Garland
(heygorg.com)

Bittersweet: Book Snippets {3}

2012-05-16T00:26:00.002-05:00

"It’s the bittersweet moments that jar your memories. The first time you slid into second base. You were safe and the burn on your knee left the proof. Your first kiss was with a boy you absolutely adored. But it ended up being the most awkward moment of your existence. Your senior seminar presentation received a standing ovation by your professor. But you realized afterwards that there was a run in your pantyhose the size of Texas and there was no way anyone couldn’t have noticed it. It’s the bittersweet moments that make the great moments worth the effort."

*Enter My Giveaway! It ends May 21st!

Happy Mother's Day, Momma.

2012-05-13T01:39:00.001-05:00

A little girl, asked where her home was, replied, "where mother is." Keith L. Brooks

It doesn't matter how old I get, or after I get married in 8 months, or when I have children of my own...there will always be a feeling of home my with mom. That's what she is to me and I can't foresee that changing in the future, ever. She will always be one of my biggest comforts.

"A mother is a person who if she is not there when you get home from school you wouldn't know how to get your dinner, and you wouldn't feel like eating it anyway." Anonymous

Sometimes dinner is better with mom. Sometimes a movie is better with mom. Moments in life are better with my mom there to experience it with me and that goes for even the tiny ones or ones most would think are insignificant. There's a certain amount of appreciation that goes into life's moments when you have people with you that hold pieces of your heart.

"Making the decision to have a child - it's momentous. It is to decide forever to have your heart go walking around outside your body." Elizabeth Stone

If you've met my mother, this one needs no explanation. Take this as literally as you possibly can when it comes to my momma. She worries like she would if I were actually holding her heart in my hand and with one false move, I'd break it. It's like she's constantly holding her breath with worry for her children. *I must say, I find myself doing this with both of my parents. The tables have now turned and I worry about them, sometimes I feel as though I worry just as much as they me (I realize this probably isn't possible, but sometimes I feel it so).

"A mother is a person who seeing there are only four pieces of pie for five people, promptly announces she never did care for pie." Tenneva Jordan

Sacrifice. To the last piece of pie to entire pieces of her life, mom has sacrificed a lot to raise her children. She's sacrificed everything from personal time to plans for her future. But I must say, I sure am grateful she did. Because if I had any other mom, great or not, I wouldn't feel the content that I do.

Happy Mother's Day Momma. I love you bunches.

Weekend Wishlist: {6}

2012-05-11T00:20:00.004-05:00

1. Just keep writing .... and get the courage to send a manuscript into an agent.

2. Paint my nails red.

3. Get ready for Emily to visit on Monday and Tuesday. (I'm extremely pumped to have some time with her and her momma. And we get to order her bridesmaid's dress .... exciting!)

4. Going down to devour some Loveless Cafe biscuits on Saturday night with Justin's family.

5. Tonight we're seeing Dark Shadows. My mom is super pumped. Like ... super pumped.

Happy National Children's Book Week

2012-05-10T05:00:00.000-05:00

I just found out that it's National Children's Book Week?! How could I not know this since I am in the midst of writing three different manuscripts for three different wildly weird and whimsical children's stories?! I have no idea.

So here is my ode to the wonder of a good children's book. The illustrations and fun rhyming words .... the color and the funny plot lines and characters.

Take a look at some of my absolute favorites from when I was younger .... and still favorite books of today.

Thursday's Food Mood

2012-05-10T00:20:00.000-05:00

Baked Tomatoes

spoonforkbacon.com

Dipped Peanut Butter Pretzels

sweetpeaskitchen.com

Chicken Crepes

heatovento350.blogspot.com

Avocado Toast

Raspberries & Chocolate

Justin, the leopard tamer.

2012-05-09T01:17:00.000-05:00

Let me first start off by letting you know what Justin does for a living, before everyone gets seriously confused and thinks he works at a petting zoo. (That'd be cool, except I'd be seriously allergic to him.)

Justin works in sales at the Nashville Convention and Visitor's Bureau and that was the place to be yesterday afternoon. Because the CVB has a partnership with the Nashville Zoo .... and it was "bring your children to work day" ... it was someone's genius level idea to bring in some leopard cubs for the kids (and adults) to see.

I must admit I'm extremely jealous that Justin got to play cuddle-me with this little precious kitty (with giant paws) but I also get to brag about the fact that my fiancé, has it fact, had a leopard cub fall asleep in his arms.

A List Of Favorites

2012-05-08T01:45:00.000-05:00

Lately it's been all hands on deck in terms of writing up articles, keeping up with my miniature ebay store and blogging (at various places). So I decided to do a very short roundup of some of my work that I had a lot of fun putting together ....

Click on the photo to take you to a recent favorite of mine.

Giveaway Winners Announced: Stationery Suprises!

2012-05-07T00:02:00.000-05:00

The 3 lucky ones who will be receiving a box of surprise paper goodies

1. nujlh May 6, 2012 03:02 PM

do i even have to ell you how much i love paper, cardstock, ertc. and, i love office supplies too. pretty pretty paper, expecially picks, blues, & greens. oh heck, any color will do. and you know how much i love getting mail and cards, expecially from someone really special who always cracks me up.

2. Sarah May 3, 2012 08:36 AM

Great giveaway, following via gfc! I love pretty pieces of paper, and I use a lot of it now because of my course!

3.Annelise @ Aunie Sauce Apr 30, 2012 03:44 PM

I follow you! You are wonderful!

Congratulations ladies. I will be in touch shortly :)

...................................................................................................

Sunday Décor: Lemon Raspberry Parfait

2012-05-06T01:31:00.003-05:00

An experiment gone very, very right ... this Lemon Raspberry Parfait (custard-like) recipe was a hit around my house. It's quite the refreshing little treat.

What you'll need:

premade crust (I used Keebler's)
2/3 cup sugar
2 lemons (zested)
1 (8 oz.) package cream cheese (I used Philadelphia, the best of course)
the juice of 1 lemon
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1 cup fresh raspberries (lightly smashed)
Whipped cream

What to do:

First, gather and mix all of your ingredients into a bowl. Use a hand mixer to smooth the cream cheese before adding the berries. And once you've got your berries folded into the mixture, pour it all into the pre-made pie crust.

Let it set in the fridge for around 2-3 hours until "custard-like." Once firmed, spoon into some individual bowls.

Then...

And of course, Enjoy!

Don't Forget To Enter My Giveaway! It ends tomorrow! Win some surprise paper goods! There will be 3 winners!

GIVEAWAY {3 Winners!}: A Surprise Box of Stationery! {CLOSED}

2012-04-30T00:00:00.000-05:00

Stationery, greeting cards, notepads, sticky notes .... pretty much all paper products in general .... I absolutely adore. And that's why I plan on sharing & giving away some great paper finds with everyone.

3 Lucky Winners will get a surprise array of note cards (and possibly some pens and stickers!) to share and send to friends, family and of course their blogging buddies!

To enter:

You must become a GFC follower (located in the right sidebar) and leave a comment telling me about your love for all things paper! (please include your e-mail so I can get in contact with you if you win!)

For extra entries (all located in the right sidebar):

Follow me on Twitter & Tweet about the giveaway (make sure to add @herumbrella so I can see your tweet!)

Friend me on Facebook and post the link!

Follow Her Umbrella on Bloglovin'

Blog about the giveaway (leave the link in your comment)

*Please add a separate comment for each additional entry if you want them all to count! :)

Winner be selected on May 7th!

Now Closed

Weekend Wishlist: {5}

2012-04-27T00:00:00.000-05:00

Weekend Wishlist is back ya'll! And it's staying....

What's in store for this weekend?

#1. I'll be hunting for some dead sea salt body scrub. It's magic.

#2. I'll be seeing The Raven. Since I'll be getting married on Edgar Allen Poe's birthday it seems fitting.

#3. I also plan on having date night with Justin and going to see The Five Year Engagement, again seems fitting since we're engaged. That and I have a crush on Jason Segel...don't judge me.

#4. I'll be in the kitchen at some point in time, whipping up some Paula Deen cupcakes. I haven't made any in a while and I'm in desperate need of cupcake-baking-relaxation. Even though I rarely eat the cups I bake ... they're super duper fun to experiment with.

#5. And finally, Saturday morning I will be going to get measured for my dress and try it on (again!) for my dad. The measuring part has the potential to be a mortifying experience but the trying on part will most definitely make up for the trauma.

Thursday's Food Mood

2012-04-26T01:13:00.001-05:00

Grilled Cheese with Tomato

via framedcooks.com

Raspberry Sorbet


thekitchensinkrecipes.com

Pistachios

userealbutter.com

Caprese Salad


eat-yourself-skinny.com

Spinach Pizza

recipe.com

All that is needed to be said....

2012-04-25T01:50:00.001-05:00

via piccsy.com

Top Five Tuesday: Bridal Hair & Makeup Inspiration

2012-04-24T01:06:00.002-05:00

After saying yes to a dress, I'm definitely in the bridal mood. Here are my top five bridal hair & makeup inspirations .... but that doesn't mean they're my inspirations for my day .... or maybe they are? It's a secret.

brides.com

1.bp.blogspot.com

onewed.com

hairandmakeupbysteph.com

projectwedding.com