Happiest Friday, everyone! I hope you’ve all had a spectacular week. As per the usual, I’m not sure where my week went. This weekend is going to be another whirlwind, wrapping up last minute design details and coding for that all-new site design I’ve hinted at a few times over the last month or two. It’s also going to be all about staying warm, because it’s definitely blustery and cold here today. Mind you, two days ago it was a freakishly warm 65 degrees and today we have 8+ inches of fresh powder covering everything in sight. Such is winter in Syracuse! Here’s hoping you all have a beautiful weekend – see you here on Monday!
{Photo + tutorial from Icing Designs.}
It’s Friday, friends, which means we get to talk about pretty things for no good reason other than we want to. Or at least I want to! I swear my online window shopping tendencies seem to know no bounds these days. And I definitely think I’m starting to get the spring itch, because it’s all about bright and punchy colors for me lately. You know. Spring. That elusive season that’s still months off in my neck of the woods. That said, I’m ignoring the fact that we’re currently getting dumped on with snow and thinking about things like flowers and sunshine instead. It’s how I get by.
{Shop: Anchor earrings | glasses | blush | clementine lotion | letter opener | iPhone case | eyelash curler | rose gold satchel.}
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This post was sponsored by The TomKat Studio. Thank you for supporting the sponsors that so generously help keep The Sweetest Occasion rockin’!
I am pretty jazzed to introduce you to The TomKat Studio today, one of our awesome sponsors. Completely in love with all things party and fun, proprietress Kim Stoegbauer is basically a lady after our own hearts. With a peppy blog loaded with great celebration ideas and a shop chock-full of awesome party supplies and printables, you’ll definitely want to pop over and get inspired for your next shindig! In particular, I am loving The TomKat Studio’s collection of amazing Valentines Day wares. From printable invitations and cupcake toppers to chevron printed goodie bags, heart stamped bamboo flatware and all the stickers and twine you need to rock out an awesome party, your Valentine is sure not to be disappointed. Oh and don’t forget the cupcake liners, balloons and tissue paper fans, too! (Personally, I need these spoons in my life. Just to say so.) Ready to rock Valentines Day like it’s your job? Pop over to The TomKat Studio and get the party started!
{Photos from The TomKat Studio.}
This post was sponsored by The TomKat Studio. Read more about our editorial policies.
Here’s the thing. As a blogger, I have totally failed you. I went to Alt bound and determined to take no fewer than 1037 photos for you. (No clue where that number came from, it just sounded good.) But see, then I got there and, like usual, the abundance of friends with whom to hug it out and the constant sparkle of sequins and confetti basically took over all intention to document things in a proper fashion. So today, I am bringing you Alt Summit in Instagram style, as I do.
Alt kicked off by running around Salt Lake with some of the coolest girls I know (namely Jenny, Lauren and Sharon) decorating for a couple of the meet-and-greet dinners that took place on Wednesday night. A flurry of brightly colored fringe and a smattering of polka dots later and we basically left ripples of fabulousness in our wake. (We know no other way.)
At this point, things basically became a blur. I took a lot of notes. I gave a ton of hugs. I got all caught up in the moment and failed to drink nearly enough bubbly. I handed out and received in return too many business cards to count. I consumed too much coffee. (Nothing new there.) I marveled at the amazing spirit and talent contained within this amazing community of design bloggers. I thanked my lucky stars a few times to be doing work that makes my heart happy, that feeds my soul, that allows me to call so many incredible bloggers my friends and in, a sense, my family.
If you wanted to know, The Grand America has amazingly yummy things to gobble up. This yogurt, oatmeal, fruit concoction was my breakfast two days in a row and it was stupidly good. If you were at Alt, there’s a good chance you heard me raving about as much.
Alt as we know it would not be possible with the contributions of some pretty amazing sponsors. You can see the full list of conference sponsors on Alt’s site.
Here’s a look at my conference day outfits. (You know, if you’re into that kind of thing.) There was kind of an abundance of chambray, polka dots and boldly patterned scarves, which is just alright by me. It’s how I do. (Ok if we’re being for real over here, most days I blog in yoga pants and bare feet, but when I leave the house, it’s usually looking something kind of like this.)
On Friday morning, Nathan Williams of Kinfolk, Promise Tangeman, Vivian Mansour of ish & chi and I hosted a panel discussion highlighting the top up and coming blogs. Here’s the view from the speakers’ stage! It was so fun to look out and see so many faces that I know but don’t get to see often enough.
And then I took some more notes. I’ve used the same notebook at every Alt I’ve ever attended so I have all of my trusty tidbits tucked into one place so I can look back as often as I like and remind myself of the things I want to do and accomplish and the ways I might get there.
Oh, I hammed it up in the Smilebooth sponsored by Bing with my girls from Babble. I love getting to work with them and seeing them at Alt and sharing good girly quality time was basically priceless. A highlight of the week for me!
Alt is famed for amazing parties and this year was no different! From walls of giant confetti to rainbow-colored dance floors and bloggers decked out in as many sequins and feathers as they could muster it was fairly well awesome, as was to be expected. And that, friends, was my Alt Summit in a nutshell. It should probably go without saying, but I’m already excited for next year!
{Photos by Cyd Converse on Instagram.}
Friends, I have hearts on the brain big time this week. You’ve heard me say before that I don’t love the super commercialized version of Valentines Day that I think mention of the holiday brings to mind for most of us. However, I totally love sweet, homemade Valentines Day gestures to show a bit of love to your favorite people. This morning at Babble, I’m sharing ten super cute heart-shaped DIY projects all sure to add a little love to your Valentines Day!
One of my favorites? This amazing DIY heart backdrop that my girl Jenny of Hank + Hunt dreamed up! It’s just so festive and colorful. It’d make a perfect addition to a Valentines Day party or make the sweetest surprise for your better half on Valentines Day morning. Pop over to Babble for all of the projects that have captured my heart (pun totally intended) and make sure to visit Hank + Hunt so you can make your own flurry of floating hearts!
{Photos by Hank + Hunt.}
