HAPPINESS IS...

Being a BRIKA Tastemaker

Hi friends. I'm extremely honored to be featured as a BRIKA Tastemaker this week! We share a very similar aesthetic and I was overjoyed when co-founders Jen & Kena asked me to reveal my inspirations and select my favorite items from their lovely shop.

If you're unfamiliar, BRIKA is an online boutique, promoting exclusive items from hand-picked independent makers, artisans and designers. Not only do I adore their products, I'm very much in tune with their philosophies...

We are believers. Not just in life as it is now, but in the power we have to craft it into something even more beautiful. We exist to not only stand for the following values, but to support and inspire them in others:

• Everyone has a creative spark.
• A world of beauty lives in every small thing.
• Today's craft becomes tomorrow's heirloom.
• Some of life's greatest lessons are learned from one another.
• Inspiration is the engine for growth.
• We have the tools to craft a beautiful life.

{Images by Brika}

Our Engagement Pics on 100 Layer Cake!

I'm so honored to be featured on one of my favorite wedding websites, 100 Layer Cake! Have you seen it? They posted our engagement photos. Blush!

A little back story. Hal was very adamant on not doing typical engagement pics. If it were up to him, we wouldn't have done them at all and I'm sure a lot of men would agree. So I tried to come up with an idea he would like, that represented us, minus the cheese. And he was down with retro graphic art.

I turned to Christopher, my photographer brother, for a sibling collaboration. He captured Hal and I goofing around in front of a green screen, doing things we actually do together in real life. Christopher then sent me the cut-outs of our bodies and I arranged them in Photoshop, adding different shapes, colors and other graphic elements.

If you've been following me for awhile, you'll know I was somewhat secretive about this and other details of our wedding. But I'm thinking about doing a new series starting in January: a weekly post about all the stages of my wedding planning, from how I asked my girlfriends to be bridesmaids, to our save-the-dates, to our website and everything in between. This will lead up to our professional photos of the big day.

What do you think? Would you be interested in learning about the behind-the-scenes of my wedding planning process?


{Photography by Christopher Bachmann}

My Feature In Dashing Magazine

I received a heads-up tweet from Dashing Magazine that there may be a surprise for me in their latest January/February issue. I immediately clicked the link, flipped to Page 10, and squealed. My blog was featured in their Blog Lovin' section! I poured myself a cup of tea, expanded the pages to full screen, and read the rest of the magazine, cover to cover.

If you aren't familiar with Dashing, it's a brilliant new online inspiration magazine for creative gals. It was started by Charley, Fanni and Josie, three talented UK ladies with backgrounds in styling, music, and design. Their aesthetics and interests are very similar to mine, so if you're a regular reader of Happiness Is, I have no doubt you'll become a fan.

I'm flattered beyond belief to be included in such a beautiful publication. Thank you again, Dashing dolls!


{Images by Dashing Magazine}

My Love Grub Recipe

My darlings, it is high time I introduce you to one of my best besties, Tiffany Shinn. Otherwise known as Miss World. We became fast friends at USC when she joined Sirens, bonding over silly soprano lines. Since then, we've traveled Europe together, formed a book club, supported each other when the men in our lives wouldn't, and devoured more cheese than should be humanly possible.

Tiff is quickly becoming a big deal in the Los Angeles restaurant scene. She reviews hot spots from all over the country on Eat Your Heart Out L.A., a food and love blog. And she's a phenomenal writer. I challenge you to read one of her posts and not to drool on your keyboard or tear up with emotion. Each and every post artfully incorporates details of her personal life. Think Sex and the City, but with food.

She recently asked me to take part in her new series: Love Grub Recipes. Question: what special dish do Hal and I enjoy together the most? Read our not-so-surprising answer here, along with a sweet story of our relationship.

T-bird, thank you again for the heartwarming post. It is beyond words, as are you. Love you friend.

My Interview on The Daylight

My new Seattle friend, Laura of The Daylight, featured yours truly today for her Music + Style series! Would you like to see?

She interviewed me awhile ago but I had no idea she would put together such beautiful style boards. Makes sense, she's a talented artist herself. Also check out her first interview with Charity Rose Thielen from The Head And The Heart.

Thank you again, Laura! I'm flattered beyond belief!


{Image by Christopher Bachmann Photography, artistically rendered by Laura Burkhart}

My Blog on CBS News!

Craziness. A reader of mine let me know that Happiness Is... was featured on a CBS News Sunday Morning segment titled, "Welcome To The Blogosphere" yesterday! I had no idea. Did anyone else catch it? You can watch online. Just click the slightly hidden play button.

They don't mention me by name, but they show my blog header. I'm so flattered to be named among other huge blogs, like Style Me Pretty. What an honor. Thank you CBS!


{Image via Scarlet Ibis}

Me On Home Jelly

I'm super flattered to be featured on Home Jelly today! Such kind words... thank you Skaie. She's my newfound blog twin. A fellow design-loving singer-songwriter blogger  :)


{Image via Isabella Kereszt}

The Letter H

One Sydney Road is hosting an Alphabet Walk, where fellow bloggers take photos of things starting with a designated letter. Today is my day! I never realized how many H words I love until now  :)

P.S. Hop on over to Green April and Art Shades to see their view of H. And all other letters here.

A Pretty Prize Box

You did it friends! Thanks to your sweet comments and votes on The Lovelies, I've tied with Wolf and Willow for 2nd place in the "Design Inspiration Blog" category! And the top two blogs in each category get to choose a gift from the Pretty Prize Box, made up of goods by handmade Etsy artisans. A few of my favorites are pictured above.

But they're not for me. As promised, I'm giving away my prize to a lucky reader who voted for me. And with the help of Random.Org, the winner is...DUN DUN DUN...

Congratulations Cali of PassionBird! I'll send you an email soon so you can pick your prize. Thank you again to everyone who voted and sent love my way. I am so blessed to have you as friends.


{Images via The Lovelies}

Your Kind Words

 

Happy Monday, my dears. Over the weekend, I checked in on the status of The Lovelies. And I am absolutely floored by your comments and kind words! What did I do to deserve such loving readers? I am humbled.

So if I win, I want to give my prize to you. It will be my very first giveaway. Out of all the voters, I will choose someone at random to select a gift from the pretty prize box. 

However, only the 1st and 2nd highest votes from each category get a prize. I am currently in 4th place for "Best Design Inspiration Blog". If you haven't voted yet, please do so. 

Thank you sweet friends! 

{Image via Lauren Dorotheo}

Being Nominated for The Lovelies!

Wooooo! I've been nominated for The Lovelies! If you are unfamiliar with the awards, think of it like the Oscars...but for blogs, created by Rachel of Lovely Clusters. Thank you again Eileen for you sweet nomination!

Please take a moment to vote for ** Happiness Is...** in the "Best Design Inspiration Blog" category. Simply click here and comment on the post by February 28th. Thank you dear friends! xoxo


{Image by Nady a Bird}

My Feature on Fluffle Fritz

Kate and Melita, the lovely ladies of Fluffle Fritz, asked me to be a part of their 10 in 2010 series! Check out the interview if you'd like to learn a little more about moi...


{Image via obsessionmia}

BlogLovin'

I'm thrilled to announce that ** Happiness Is...** will be featured on BlogLovin' for the entire week! BlogLovin' is my favorite way to keep track of y'all.

Welcome to my little home of inspiration, BlogLovin' lovers. I hope you stay awhile and get to know me. I am so excited to have you.

{Artwork via Igor + Andre by Danny Roberts}

Friday Favorites

Words to live by  :)

I'm so honored to be featured on Friday Favorites of My Favorite Things today!

{Image by Quote Book}