The Lovely Side

This giveaway is now closed.  Click here for more contests . This giveaway sweepstakes is sponsored by Muse Paintbar.  Live in Connecticut, Massachusetts, Maryland, Main, New York, New Hampshire, Rhode Island, or Virginia? I've partnered with Muse Paintbar to give away 2 FREE tickets to a painting session ! Click through and scroll to the Rafflecopter widget at the bottom to enter.  There's nothing like gathering your best girlfriends, getting gussied up, and going out for drinks—especially for a bachelorette or birthday party. But what could make the evening even better? Uncorking a bit of creativity along with the wine. Pulling out some paint brushes for the beer. And getting artistic with more than just cocktail recipes. I'm talking about throwing a little paint into the mix—making memories and  a masterpiece on your ladies' night out—at a Muse Paintbar .

You guys, I'm so excited to share this post today because this shelf is aaahhhh-mazing. I've been eyeing picture ledge shelves for a while now, but I couldn't find something "just right." Until Minted debuted their new collection of art shelves and photo ledges . Yes, that   Minted . The online marketplace that sells oh-so-lovely stationary, wedding invitations, and artwork—all created by independent artists and designers. Lately, they've expanded into home products , too. Pillows, curtains, table linens, holiday decor—you can shop it all. But these shelves are exactly what I was looking for.

This giveaway is now closed.  Click here for more contests . It's 1982. Barbara Bradley Baekgaard (daughter of Vera Bradley—yes, that Vera Bradley) and her friend Patricia Miller are sitting in the airport during a layover. A parade of suitcases pass them by—each one as dull, drab, and bulky as the next. "This place could use some color!" Barbara remarked. Those words set a colorful, creative idea into motion.  The women returned home to Indiana, got out a few Simplicity patterns and a Singer sewing machine, and set to work. The Vera Bradley Company was born. This past week on April 4th, Barbara released A Colorful Way of Living —a lovely and inspiring guide to being more, creating more, and doing more—the Vera Bradley Way.

Three dark sisters, all fair to be seen,  two to devour, and one to be queen.  I bought Kendare Blake's Three Dark Crowns  way back at my birthday in February (boyfriends who gift B&N gift cards are the best—I may be biased), but didn't get around to reading it until this week. Thanks to a few days of being sick, I spent my evenings curled up with tea, tissues, and this book. I devoured it. It's so, so good and I can't wait for the sequel this September. (And—rumor has it—a movie!)