FOUR FABULOUS FINDS

1. A-thread shop. Really cute shop and they donate 5% of the funds from your purchases to a non-profit of your choice.
2. Blogshop. Cool site that offers weekend boot camp classes classes to help you better your blog by using photo shop. They do in person classes all over the country and give really neat goodie bags.
3. Gold dipped jars DIY. Don't you love these simple but gorgeous jars? Make some yourself!
4. Cupcakes and Cashmere the book AND the blog. Fun and pretty book that offers tips on lifestyle, entertaining and living a fabulous life.

I hope you enjoy your weekend and have some fun checking out the fabulous finds above.

I WEAR ORANGE

I wear orange for my brother. Orange is the support color for Leukemia.

My brother Devin was RE-diagnosed Monday with ALL (acute lymphocytic leukemia) with the Philadelphia chromosome. This is the 3rd time and he has been living without cancer for 20 years now. Do you know how rare it is to relapse with the same type of cancer, especially the type he has? It's unheard of.

Talk about a miracle. And God is going to do it again. There is no doubt. Sure, it's been scary, exhausting, frustrating, infuriating, confusing, mind blowing, stupid, lame, sad, faith depleting, faith enhancing (I could go on and on). Yes, it's basically been a big ball of emotions. But in all actuality, we're not scared of the end result. We're more bummed about the road. The road is the hard part. The chemo, the medicine, the bone marrow tests, the exhaustion. The road sucks. No other way to put it. But we have a God that is unbelievable and we fully trust in Him. This just started, but we're ready for it to be over.

I was tested Monday to see if I could be a potential donor for a BMT (bone marrow transplant), I'll know in 7 days. Of course we pray that it doesn't come to that, but if it does, as a sibling I have a 1 in 4 chance of being a match. Devin doesn't want me to be a match, just because he doesn't want me to have to go through the pain of doing the transplant IF he had to get one. Of course, I'd give my left leg, but we'll see how it goes. According to the Dr's, the BMT is not as painful as it used to be, so, that's somewhat comforting.

Dev and I one week before his diagnosis. He was already feeling pretty bad. 

My new ring. A reminder of the Hope that we have. 

 Due to Devin's lack of insurance right now, any donations to help out with expenses would be unbelievably helpful. If you are able to donate, please check out this link and give what you can. http://devin.verret.cfslive.org/.

Anything you could give would be helpful. Of course, we'll continue to take those prayers too. 

Thank you to everyone who has already given, prayed, called, texted, emailed, stopped by, brought up cupcakes or food, THANK YOU. It really means the world to see how much support we have during this time. 

Thank you all for fighting along with us. In the meantime, find something orange for yourself to wear here. 

DESSERT BARS

Dessert is the best part of any meal. Some say you should have dessert first, so you can make sure you have room for it. :) I love anything sweet, and I love beautiful decor and inspired design. Why not mix the two? 

Sweets and Dessert bars are a huge hit at weddings and parties, and we can see why. Sweet sugary delights all in one place, designed beautifully with charming take home bags...of course I'd stop by on my way out of the party! Caramels, Madeleine's, macaroons, chocolates and more. The ultimate treat bar. You can keep it simple or go all out. Either way, it will charm the pants off of your guests and have them smiling all evening. 

My friend Monica (of Dirty Bombshells) and I are endeavoring to start our own Stylishly Sweet business this year and would love for you to get involved. Do you need a sweets bar at your next event? We're ready to get started and would love to help you. While we're getting all of our business plans in line, we'd be willing to set up with plenty of awesome decor,  refill and tear down and all you need to pay for are the actual treats. We'd only do this for the first few customers of course, just to get our feet wet. We both have plenty of event planning experience for both small and large events, and we're ready to get out there and help with yours! This is a smashing deal for someone who is trying to save some money right now, or is doing their event on a budget. We'd love to help. Send me an email at featherandbranch@gmail.com and let us know what you need. We'll get back to you very soon. 

In the meantime, here is some eye candy to inspire you. Check out more on my Pinterest board here.

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WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME...YOU WERE TRULY HAPPY?

People say happiness is relative. What do you think?

I think those people are right.

"Happiness does not depend on real quality of life" I like that.

I honestly believe you can be happy in good times and yes, even the ugly bad times. Sure, the bad times, well, they are no fun and it's very hard to see the silver lining sometimes. However, did you know, that  in some of the poorest countries, happiness is higher than what it is in America? I think that's because we have so much and we constantly want more. We constantly want the next thing, the next gadget, the next i-whatever. I'm just as guilty, but I've found it's really the experiences in life that make us happy. Not the things.

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When was the last time you were truly happy? I mean, TRULY happy? I'd have to say my proposal was the last time I was just unbelievably happy. Like, hugging kittens, happy. I cried and laughed, all out of sheer happiness. Yeah, that doesn't happen often, that was a different type of happiness. I can tell you that I'm pretty happy most of the time though. I mean, I'm a Gemini so I definitely go into the mully grubbs like once a month (and no, it's not because of what you think...eww) but I just feel life is to short to not be happy. Don't get me wrong, I'm very far from perfect, and when I'm in those mully grubbs that I mentioned in the previous sentence, yeah, please don't come around (or when I haven't  eaten and my blood sugar is low, don't come around then either).

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We all need things to remind us of what makes us happy. Here are some tips to get to that place, I mean, you know, when you really need to. Not saying you do, maybe you are always in that place. So to you that are, I applaud you and ask that you share YOUR tips with ME. :) For those that need a little extra help sometimes, read on, maybe you will be inspired. 

1. Give to someone. 

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Give to someone with needs greater than yours. Gifts can be free, whether you volunteer at a soup kitchen, give blood at a blood drive, or bake a cake for a shut in, you can be greatly reminded of your true happiness, when you give of yourself to others. It's really the easiest thing we can do and sometimes seeing someone with different needs than yourself can help you remember what you are truly happy about in life. 

2. Go outside and take a deep breath. 

Yes, go outside, breath deeply and just let it all go. Smile, look at God's beautiful creation and think back on your happiest moments. Those moments were happy for a reason, what were they? You can have that again. 

3. Do something exciting, something you've never done before. Scare yourself. 

Sometimes, we just need to feel alive to remember what it feels like to be really happy. When our lives become mundane and we have the same routine everyday, our joy can start to fade. Why not go and do something crazy? Something that scares you silly, but shows you what life is really all about. It's about those new experiences, it's about learning something you never knew. It's about being crazy sometimes.   Obviously be smart when you do these crazy things, and don't do anything reckless. Crazy doesn't have to mean skydiving or riding motorcycles, sometimes it means going to a local restaurant and getting to know the couple beside you. Sometime crazy means trying out a new hairstyle that you were always afraid to try, but really wanted to. Sometimes crazy is telling that someone you love, you love them, when you've been to scared to. Whatever your crazy is, why not do it as soon as possible? 

4. Hug those dear to you. Really hug them. 

Hugging can release stress, calm you down and lower your heart rate. So, hug it out already! Hugging helps you remember why you love that person. Breath them in and get your squeeze on. Hugging is sheer happiness. 

I hope you find one (or all) of these tips helpful at some point. Either way, I believe we all deserve true happiness and I wish that for each of you. 

What makes you truly happy? 

CHEERS, TO NEW YEARS!

As the days get closer to 2013 and 2012 comes to an end, have you planned your New Years festivities? If not, here is some inspiration to get your party started.

Check out my Pinterest New Years page for more ideas.

mini champagne servings via pinterest

balloon decor via 

mini baked alaskas via

glam and glitz via

golden topped smores via

pretty party poppers via

golden photo booth backdrop via

new years sparkly confetti via

pink and gold sparkle hats via

Whatever you do, I hope you have a fabulous and safe New Years celebration. I wish you many blessings and lots of joy in 2013!

YES. 1000 TIMES YES.

Yes, it's official, I'm engaged. Let me tell you, I'm ecstatic. I've never been happier and I'm so in love with my fiance.  I can't wait to plan our special day and I look forward to sharing all of those details with you along the way.

 But, just quickly, here are a couple photos of the ring, because I clearly know what's most important. ;)

In love with my Asscher cut diamond ring circa 1920's from Lang San Francisco. My jaw dropped when I opened the box. Talk about a surprise!!! WOW! I was beyond surprised. :) 

*sigh*

One happy and lucky girl. 

FOUR FABULOUS FINDS

{Beauty} Aveda hand relief. It feels buttery and the smell transports you to a spa. It's heavenly.
{Book} Blog Inc by Joy Cho. Reading this on my iPad now. Lots of good information.
{Blog} All Women Stalk. LOVE this blog. Plenty of tips and tricks on doing basically ANYthing.
{DIY} Painted/Glitter mason jars. Easy to do and makes an amazing impact.

WHEN WAS THE LAST TIME YOU...SCARED YOURSELF?

I mean, REALLY scared yourself. I mean, like, took your breath away, you couldn't believe you were doing what you were doing and you even thought, "wow, I could die or get seriously injured right now." OK, I don't typically recommend living on the edge to the point you are actually questioning getting hurt, but, I'm not saying you shouldn't do that sometimes either. ;)

The last time I REALLY scared myself was about 3 weeks ago. For those of you who know me, my boyfriend is a huge fan of motorcycles and going to track days. Track days are when guys (and some pretty hardcore gals) take their bikes out, pay a nice big fee to ride a professional track, and go really fast. Sounds dangerous already, I know, but they are actually pretty safe for those who've ridden a lot because it's a controlled environment and there are not cars or bicycles coming out of nowhere. You pay attention to those around you. So, where does me being really scared come in to play?

Right here...

Yes, that's me, on the back of an instructors bike. I decided to take a few laps with him around the track. I had just met him 10 minutes prior. Yes, I'm a crazy person. Granted, I didn't realize HOW fast we were going to go, but he filled me in, after I was all suited up of course. "Make sure you lean with me on the turns. Make sure your helmet is to my right or left, depending on the turn. Don't look down. People always look down, but don't do it. The ground looks a lot closer and we'll be going pretty fast. Just look straight ahead."

Yeah, OK.

We hit the track. It was 100 degrees that day (which means, even hotter on the track), and I was for sure sweating in my rental suit that was just a little too big. When we hit the first turn, I think my stomach was in my throat. I was honestly, totally, scared. Each turn I kept telling myself, "Breathe Danae, DO NOT freak out....don't do it" And, I just breathed. The turns were the scariest, coming out of a fast straight away. We'd slow down pretty fast and I would slide into the instructor's back, lean to the right (or left) with him almost dragging knee and then continue to the next turn and I'd force my butt backwards on the seat so we weren't a motorcycle sandwich. We were passing other guys on the track, which was pretty crazy, considering we were riding 2 up and they were riding single.

 (check me out in the bottom right hand corner, hehe)

After the first lap, I almost tapped out, but something in me said "no way! this is thrilling, you'll be fine, just enjoy it!" So, that's what I did. I just enjoyed it, for 6 more laps.  Still, stomach in my throat, but it started to ease and I just rode with it. When we came back in to the Paddock, I was smiling ear to ear. Honestly, it was the most thrilling thing I've ever done in my life, and I can't wait to do it again the next Track day we attend. The instructors name is Blue (cool right?) and he told me afterward that we were going over 150 miles per hour on the straight away. HOLY COW! I felt this connection to him afterward, because, seriously folks, I put my life in his hands and I felt like I came out of that ride a better person. He later told me that it's always a risk for him too, so he's extra careful. I'm thankful for the extra careful part, but I'm even more thankful for the flippin awesome time I had. He also told me a I was a good passenger, which was awesome to hear, since this was also my FIRST time on a motorcycle. I forgot to mention that part huh? :P

I have been dealing with a lot of stress at work lately, and when I rode on that track, I felt it all release. UH OH, we may have an addict on our hands now. Living on the edge made me feel more alive than I've felt in a long time. Maybe riding on a track at 150 miles per hour is nothing to you, but man, was it something to me. It was life changing. Yep.

(some before shots)

When was the last time you really did something that scared you? Would you do it again? Did you feel like it changed you? I'd love to hear.

Now go out and be daring!!!

DIY:: FLOWER TABLE NUMBERS

I love fresh flowers. Especially fresh flowers that are inexpensive and gorgeous, at the same time. :) I came up with this fun little DIY to use as table numbers at your wedding or next party. It's easy and quick but the result is quite lovely. Depending on how many you make will determine your cost, but 4 only cost me about $15 bucks!

Here's what you'll need: 
Small Metal Tins
Floral bunches
Small spice jars (Ikea, or any other brand as long as they fit discreetly in the tin)
Burlap
Black Paint
Number Stencils
Scissors
Glue

I was lucky enough to find these cute little tins at Michaels for $2 bucks each. However, all you'd have to do is go to your local garden shop and buy some small galvanized tins. Run by Joanne's to grab some burlap, number stencils and black paint. Cut squares of burlap (about 4 inches by 4 inches), let fray naturally. Place your stencil on top of the burlap and blot black paint to create the number. Let dry. 

Once dry, go ahead and glue on with E6000 glue. I promise, it holds just about everything. 

Fill your little spice jar only half full with water.

Put your jars inside the tins. {easy right?!}

Cut your flowers down to size and start arranging them inside your little glass jars. Try to hide the edges of the spice jar and tin, but if you can't completely, that's OK, it has a very natural look no matter what. 

I hope you enjoyed this little DIY and try it out for yourself sometime. :) Have a great day!

FOUR FABULOUS FINDS

 

I wanted to share 4 fabulous things I'm loving right now. I'll bring you 4 new finds every week, so stay tuned. Enjoy, and have a fantastic weekend!

1. DIY: Flower Heels. How cute are these? You can do these with any shoes and it's easy!
2. Blog: Joy Ever After. Follow her on Pinterest too! She has some beautiful boards.
3. Beauty: Tarte Primer. I use this everyday under my makeup and I love it. It's smooth and creamy.
4. Book: Parisian Chic. Such a fun read. Makes me want to say ooh LaLa. Get it here!

DIY:: SPARKLE PINS

I wanted something sparkly to wear this weekend, but couldn't find "just" the right thing. So, I decided to make that sparkly something myself. I found some round wooden disks at Michael's, glitter, glue and paint, and the rest is history. I hope you enjoy this little tutorial. These are a lot of fun to make AND wear. :)

Here's what you'll need:

I started with the letter D. Fill a small bowl or dish with glitter of your choice. Spread some tacky glue on the letter or shape with a sponge brush. Make sure you get all the edges. Dip the shape in glitter and make sure to press down really well. This will help adhere the glitter to the glue better. Voila! Let dry.

Go ahead and get your paints out and paint as many shapes as you like. I went with a pretty mint color (in satin finish) and gold ( in a metallic finish). I used separate sponge brushes for each of these colors.

You can then do just about anything with the surface, once it's dry. I started adding painters tape and then putting glue on just one side, dipping it in glitter, and getting a unique half and half design. I also put 2 strips about a 1/2 inch from touching each other, to create a cool glitter line down the center. And some, well, I just dipped them completely in glitter. :)

Just hot glue a pin on the back and you have a brand new brooch, with lots of sparkle!

I just love the way these turned out!

Put these on your favorite shirt or cardigan. You can even pin them to your backpack or purse. They are so pretty and versatile!