Fantastic 14: Day 11: FOLK Magazine

I am going to go ahead and assume that, by now, you have heard of FOLK Magazine. While I am well aware of the old adage of "those who assume...", the data shows that this once tiny startup magazine has now reached international status and ranks amongst glossy heavy hitters such as Country Living and Better Homes and Gardens. 

From the FOLK blog:

 "FOLK magazine is devoted to presenting a fresh and youthful interpretation of simple country lifestyles, while focusing on the stories that make America our collective home sweet home. This down to Earth magazine fills a unique niche in the shelter publication landscape: content is part lifestyle, part editorial, all heart."

FOLK Editor in Chief and founder Ben Ashby is the main source of the magic at FOLK. I was impressed (to say the very least) when I read the story about how FOLK came to be (I'm not gonna spoil it; you have to read their mag to find out!).

Right beside Ben in the FOLK lineup of chiefs is Hillary Lewis and Heath Stiltner, 

two of the hardest working folks in the business.

While I will shout from the rooftops praise and love for FOLK Magazine, I am writing today to share the love with their amazing blog. What you will find here is a collection of life stories, beauty, fashion, DIY projects, recipes, anecdotes, and personal challenges that will keep your mind, body, and spirit feeling energized and refreshed.

With an all-star cast of contributing bloggers, you will quickly become addicted to finding out what is going to be posted next. Will it be a fantastic DIY project from Eclectically Vintage? An inspiring story from At the Picket Fence? Maybe a delicious recipe from MommaHen's Frugal Life? 

Friends, I HIGHLY recommend you take a moment to visit the FOLK blog, grab yourself a subscription (it's a STEAL), and follow them on Facebook, Twitter, and Pinterest. 

Happy Reading!

Fantastic 14: Day 1: At The Picket Fence

Meet two of my favorite bloggers: Heather and Vanessa from At The Picket Fence!

I had the distinct honor of meeting Heather at the Country Living Fair in Atlanta, GA in October 2012. I immediately felt a fast connection with her, and since then she has been one of my favorite blog friends. Heather is the kind of girl that immediately makes you feel comfortable and happy...like you are long lost sisters.

While I have not had the opportunity to meet Vanessa in person, she is definitely at the top of my list of most beloved"online/blog" friends. I am hoping that we can meet up at the Fair this year 

(hint hint...)!

Heather and Vanessa describe At The Picket Fence as "A lifestyle blog where two sisters share their DIY projects, crafts, recipes, tips, tricks and our faith as we strive to turn our houses into homes!"

The sisters offer a sneak peek into their amazing homes...

I think my favorites are Vanessa's buttery warm living room

...and Heather's gorgeous country kitchen 

(which you may have seen in Better Homes and Gardens' October 2012 issue!)

When you visit At The Picket Fence, you will immediately see why 

these two lovely ladies are so popular.  

Aside from having dream-worthy homes, you will find a slew of recipes,

DIY projects,

party ideas,

 

 and just overall fantastically clever ideas that will make you feel

 like you and your craft supplies can take on the world.

I could go on and on about how much I love everything these two talented women do, but the best way for you to get a true impression is to visit their blog, subscribe as a follower, and be glad that you are now in the company of two of the most wonderful women in the "blogosphere". 

Happy reading!

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 13: Leftovers

Is this one too simple? Sorry...it's true. Few things bring as much joy as finding some delicious leftovers when it's time for me to begin my dinner preparations.

It's not just the joy of food that does not need to be prepared: it's the memory of what was most likely an enjoyable visit with a friend or loved one (at least, for me it is). When I open my fridge and I see that little silver or foam box, I am reminded of the precious time spent enjoying the company of another. Sure, it's fantastic that I don't have to cook, but the memory of laughs shared brings a smile to my face all the same.

At the basic level, though, I'm just really glad I don't have to cook for at least another day. Thanks friends!

What do YOU do with your leftovers?

"Leftovers in their less visible form are called memories. Stored in the refrigerator of the mind and the cupboard of the heart." -Thomas Fuller

31 Days, 31 Reasons to be Thankful: January 5: Collaboration

col·lab·o·ra·tion  

/kəˌlabəˈrāSHən/

Noun

1. The action of working with someone to produce or create something.

Friends, this is a biggie for bel monili. At it's basest, most pure meaning, collaboration is what makes the world go 'round. Since the beginning of human kind, man has found that working together is the way to go. There are lots of quips and quotes: "two heads are better than one", "many hands make light work", "a chain is only as strong as it's weakest link"... the list could go on and on.

Our family system is set up for collaboration. Two people pair up, start a team, and (ideally) together decide how things will be run. They ask each other questions and bounce ideas off of each other. In school, most classrooms are now set up to encourage teamwork. Students are grouped together and taught valuable lessons in how to get along, brainstorm, and compromise. I won't even BEGIN to get into the buzzwords that fly around in the business world about collaboration and team building...those kind of make me cringe. Sorry.

For the purposes of my business, collaboration has given me the support structure I need to build and grow. I have had the wonderfully good fortune to partner with some of the best boutiques and shops in the area:

Boutique 208

KoolKat Designs

Pageboy Salon and Boutique

Spoiled Chics

Wholly Craft!

Wildcard

I have an amazing network of friends who guide me on a (literally) daily basis...I look to my closest pals for advice on everything from what shows to do all the way down to how I should put my business name on my checks. Without these people and their talented, tolerant minds, I would have lost mine a LONG time ago. Here are just a few of the fantastic friends I've been lucky enough to grab a hold of:

Ben Ashby, FOLK Magazine

Tamara Barker, Boutique 208

Jennifer Baron, Handmade Arcade
Jack Bellas, Eileen French, Gina Vensel, Revive Marketing Group

Jeanne Cherry, juNxtaposition

Cari Cucksey, Cash and Cari, RePurpose Shop

Krystal Doring, Green Bubble Gorgeous

Kelly Elko, Eclectically Vintage

Hillary Lewis, FOLK Magazine

Morgan Moore, All Around Awesome Girl

Carrie Nardini, I Made It! Market, Propelle, Indie Foundry

Heather Patterson, At the Picket Fence

Shelly Picard, Neighborhood Blonde

Stephanie Sheldon, Parfait 

Melissa Smith, 1820 House

Mary Urban, National Ovarian Cancer Coalition- Pittsburgh Chapter

Mike Yanchak, Mike Why, DoubleShot!

And, really, there are so so so so so many more! These are the people who give me the strength and inspiration to keep on truckin'. It is my collaboration with an amazing group of talent and creativeness that has given me what I need to grow and flourish in this business. I can only hope that I have been able to offer something to my circle of friends and business partners, and that they have benefited from our collaboration as much as I have.

"I think it is in collaboration that the nature of art is revealed." - Steve Lacy