clicks of note: you're moving on the backroads by the rivers of my memories...

get your week off to a colorful start...

LISTEN.

• I've been a fan of The Band Perry since they played Roanoke's Festival in the Park back in 2010.  Their new single has a very traditional sound - Glen Campbell actually made this song popular in the 1970s, but TBP gives it a bluegrass twist.  I'm linking up with Musical Mondays at My So-Called Chaos.

SWOON.

• Loving this reading nook project at Apartment Therapy.
• A garden fete with a rich color pallete (Snippet and Ink)
• More rich colors at this Southern Wedding in Texas.
• The cutest anniversary session from SMP (with dogs!)

SMILE.

• Audrey's first style challenge for 2015 is one we can all do.
• A fun looking thrift store art project from Honestly WTF.
• Jimmy Fallon could have dated Nicole Kidman - hilarious.
• Lily Pulitzer's bright, cheery patterns are coming to Target.

LEARN.

• Elite Daily's resolutions you actually need for 2015.
• Helene has 30 winter blog post topics if you're feeling stuck.
• From the New York Times: can we make ourselves fall in love?
• Interesting: Wikipedia's top searches from each day in 2014.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year I chose my favorite styles from the Golden Globes along with hair and makeup, continued to work through Lara Casey's goal setting series by reflecting on what didn't work in 2013,
• Two years ago, Sunday Social was all about blogging.  I picked my favorite Golden Globes looks, collected ideas for bridal portraits, and shared my January blog loves.
• Three years ago I rounded up side braid hairstyles.

clicks of note: like the ceiling can't hold us...

get your week off to a colorful start...

LISTEN.

• I'm loving Macklemore and Ryan Lewis' "Can't Hold Us" right now - the perfect party anthem!

SWOON.

Limn and Lovely

• This California orange grove engagement shoot at Limn and Lovely makes me want to pack my bags!
• I love this Greek goddess inspired bridal look at Project Wedding.
• You can't even understand how much I love this Anne of Green Gables inspired shoot at Ruffled.
• Southern Weddings features some twists on one of my favorite southern comfort foods, hushpuppies!
• From Style Me Pretty: a couple who married in their hometown staged an anniversary shoot in their new city, Chicago - what a great idea!

SMILE.

• The chicest "what's in my handbag," from Australian Vogue editors (via This Is Glamorous)
• Twinsters - two women who are possibly separated at birth identical twins! (via Cup of Jo)
• Katherine's post "Boring and Proud" at A Practical Wedding made me want to stand up and cheer:

"the fact that I found someone that I love, married him, and now get to eat breakfast with him every morning is not just exciting, it is incredible. Sipping coffee with your soulmate may not land you on magazine covers, but it is something to be valued."

MAKE.

• If you have company coming over, I recommend these skillet shrimp fajitas from Rachel Ray - there's more at my Pinterest board, Dinners with Seafood.

FLASHBACK.

• Last year we threw together a Titanic dinner party, and decided to become not-so-extreme couponers.

sunday simplicity #86 - show your colors

Heart Love Weddings

Rhett Miller (from the Old 97's) started a diary on September 11th, 2001.  

It is one of the most relatable pieces about that day that I have read.  I recommend it.

christmas in july?

I can't remember why Mr. Q and I were talking about "Christmas in July" the other day, but it got me wondering... where did that idea even originate?

Pocketful of Dreams

According to Wikipedia, the 1892 opera Werther includes a scene with children rehearsing Christmas songs in July... so perhaps the current-day trend of Christmas decorations appearing in stores when we're still wearing short sleeves isn't terribly new after all.  In 1933, a girls' camp in North Carolina held a Christmas in July celebration.  The bottom line today seems to be that there are no major holidays between Independence Day and Labor Day and stores want a theme for their sales.

Epsom Salt snow from Simply Klassic Home

My friend Mary is doing a Christmas in July series on her blog, exploring the different characteristics of God that are named in the Bible.  I love her idea and I'm enjoying reading the posts and finding encouragement.

Reindeer cookies from Bakergirl

For me, "Christmas in July" when I'm at home seems like a good excuse to watch The Holiday and bombard you with our-of-season Christmas inspiration.  Since I'm at camp this week, it seems like a good day to create some sweet little surprises for my friends.

Have you ever celebrated "Christmas in July"?

Sunday Simplicity #78 - Inspired by Europe

Marianne Taylor Photography

With the 99th Tour de France ending today and the London Olympics just around the corner, I'm dreaming of a trip to Europe...

Segerius-Bruce Photography

new traditions: the anniversary shoot...

One thing that surprised me about becoming a bride was all of the pictures.  In my head, we needed two pictures: a nice posed picture with Mr. Q looking super hot (eat your heart out, mean girls!) to place in the newspaper with our engagement announcement, and a nice posed picture with me looking especially hot in my wedding dress (eat your heart out, ex-boyfriends!) to place in the newspaper with our wedding announcement.

Little did I know that in this world of Facebook albums and do-it-yourself book publishing, two photos would never be "enough," and that the photo-taking does not even end on the wedding day.

Enter a relatively new tradition in the world of marriage: the anniversary photo shoot.  Whether it's for the one-year anniversary (we've survived, but has the top layer of our cake?), the five-year, or beyond, I think anniversary shoots are precious.  Although a professional shoot is probably not in our budget this summer, here are a few anniversary shots that inspire me from around the web as Mr. Q and I approach a full year as husband and wife:

Love In October

Two Ring Studios (you know I love pinwheels!)

p.s. I'm very jealous of brides who still fit into their dresses a year later.  

I don't think mine would zip.  What can I say, I married a good cook.

Inspired By This (it's that vintage-looking sign...)