xo
Melissa
Melissa's questions:
3 Living things you treasure
1. My family and friends
2. The rose and hydrangea bushes in our garden
3. The huge shade trees in our neighborhood that shelter us from the 100+ degrees heat in the summer
2. 3 non-living things that you treasure
1. a special photo I took of my daughter just before her second birthday
2. our cozy little home
3. my camera
3. favorite time of the year and why
spring for its beautiful blossoms and the promise of good things to come.
4. favorite things to wear
PJs...I also love to get dressed up for special occasions
5. are you a perfume wearer ? If yes, which one? / top 3 favorite smells
Much to my husband's dismay, I'm allergic to most perfumes and typically don't wear any. However, I do bust it out for special occasions.
-The orange blossoms in our backyard each Spring
-Anything fresh from the bakery
-Paper Whites during the holidays
6. Favorite animal
Polar Bear--Have you ever seen them play at the zoo? So delightful!
7. top three events in your life(so far)
Going away to college--thanks mom
The birth of my daughter {who is now 7}
Meeting my husband
8. Top three favorite small pleasures
Holding my daughter's hand
A freshly cleaned house
Anything at the ocean
9. top 3 favorite places in the world( you have visited or would like to visit)
Positano, Italy {magical}
Paris {everything I expected it would be and more}
San Francisco {always}
10. top 3 favorite sounds
laughter
the ocean
my ipod at the gym
11. top 3 favorite things to eat
Tacos, cupcakes, butternut squash raviolli
12. 3 favorite favorites right now! (from etsy or elsewhere)
I have SO many favorites. These are a few currently on my radar:
Little Brown Pen's printable stationery: adorable and affordable! Plus, I love that Nichole comes up with the ideas for her husband to illustrate
Happify is a happy and happenin' shop. I especially love their calendar cards which can also be sent as postcards. {Scroll down and read their "behind the art" }
I'm in awe each time I visit Genine's shop and flickr stream,
13. 3 small ways someone has made your day lately
Melissa inviting me to do this interview
The other day my husband bought and filled up a gallon of gas for a man who was stranded without any money {or gas}.
On the way to her classroom this morning, my daughter turned back to blow me a kiss {I think this might have made my month!}
14. 3 small habits/quirks you have that make you specifically you!
I always leave one bite of food on my plate
I'm {nearly} always happy
I'm not a huge fan of talking on the phone.
15. Describe your life using 6 words maximum (for each time frame).
PAST: charmed
PRESENT: Blessed, busy, fun.
FUTURE: one day at a time
16. You are truly passionate about indie and handmade goods, tell us how that interest was formed:
Thanks to my mother's keen eye for great design, I was always surrounded by things I loved while growing up. Pieces in our home had special meaning and were collected over time via antique fairs, craft shows, and thrift stores. My mom was also masterful at spotting hidden gems that nobody else wanted, and if necessary, refurbishing them into something new and amazing for our home...a woman ahead of her time { and the "green" movement. : ) } I, too, learned to appreciate the thrill of the hunt and loved tagging along on these special outings with her. Eventually, this shared passion and our love of distinctive and unique pieces inspired us to open a brick and mortar specialty shop, which we ran together for 5+ years. As a store owner, I had the opportunity to meet indie artists and designers from all over and was able to experience, first-hand, the love and passion that goes into their work. It was so inspiring to hear their stories and is one of the reasons why I love to support them and their work. It thrills me that artists now have the opportunity--through blogging and sites like etsy--to reach a larger audience and fan base--and lucky us that we have greater access to these unique handmade goods and the stories and indie artists behind them.
17. favorite books, films, and music... list 3 of your favorites in each category here:
Books: I've been reading many of the classics lately with my daughter {who's seven}. Thanks to my daughter's near obsession with it, my favorite is J.M. Barrie's, Peter Pan--it's such an irresistible story.
Films: I have sooo many. The ones I can watch over and over: You've Got Mail, Breakfast at Tiffany's {actually anything with dear Audrey}, and Barefoot in the Park.
Music: I love all types of music, but find that I just don't have the time to follow the latest and greatest these days. I recently discovered Pandora and can't stop gushing about it--it's amazing.
18 .Name 3 words that you can't stand, and 3 that you love:
Love: Bliss, Mama, Notions
Can't stand: Hate.
19. What are a few of the goals you have for your future and how do you plan on making them a reality?
I'd really like to improve my photography skills--sites like flickr and shutter sisters have been so inspiring. I'm currently saving for a DSLR and also have plans to take a couple of photography classes--I can't wait. New ideas and features for my blog are always swirling around in my head--some of which I hope/plan to implement soon--stay tuned. And then of course, there's finding my dream job--the one where I'm able to apply my background and experience toward my creative interests and live happily ever after...making that a reality is a work in progress. :)
20. What is the best piece of advice you've ever heard?
Ask yourself ...is your goal to make a living or to design a life...The idea being you have a choice to focus your efforts beyond just taking home a pay check and instead, to pursue your passions and design the type of life you want to live. For practical reasons, this is not always possible, but the advice/question stuck with me and serves me well when I'm exploring new opportunities and endeavors.
21. What is your favorite quote and why? I love quotes...one of my favorites is:
"To the world you may be one person, but to one person you may be the world." For me, this so eloquently captures the joy and responsibilities of motherhood.
Thank you so much Ez and Melissa--I truly appreciate your support & encouragement and the invitation to join you for Tea + Talk! ~Suzanne
Oh, thank YOU sweetie! It is an honor and a pleasure! xo Melissa & Ez
