six nice things

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1 | These Banana Bran Muffins from Eating Well. I haven't made them yet, but they look scrumptious (without the nuts and chocolate, please). And they'd be the perfect way to use up that extra pound of whole wheat bran I've got in the pantry that Mom's been encouraging me to use . . .

2 | I know it's trendy and the thing to do if you're in certain college hipster crowds, but I nonetheless think that TOMS is a wonderful brand with a good mission and some awfully cute shoes. I especially like the burlap ones.

3 | I am so totally in love with this picture display idea that I found via Domestic Life. And I have a huge wall in my room that I've been debating what to do with for a long time, and I think this will be perfect in every way (especially with that price of $16).

4 | The movie Forrest Gump. I've never seen it before today, but I liked it a lot. (Though be warned that there were a few parts I fast forwarded through . . . )

5 | This "Work Hard & Be Nice to People" poster that plays off the wording and styling of the "Keep Calm & Carry On" poster that's been circling around the design world for some time now. But I like the message of this one better, along with the more rustic design.

6 | I love this idea from Inchmark about how to host a "favorite things" party. What a lovely idea. I've also heard of having book swap parties, which I've thought sounds wonderful too.
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six nice things

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A few things that I've been liking recently:
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1 | three-quartered v-neck tee from gap -- I bought two of these on a recent excursion to Gap and I have been wearing them pretty much all the time since then. They're fairly cheap (I got them on sale for $10) and they are super comfy. And what I love most about them is that they are really versatile: I can wear them to ballet with gauchos or I can layer them with a cardigan for a more dressed up look. The fabric is pretty thin and the neckline obviously comes down rather low, though...so a camisole underneath is helpful.
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2 | the gentle art of domesticity by jane brocket -- For Valentine's Day, my lovely parents gave all of us kids gift certificates to Barnes and Noble. So yesterday afternoon, Brother and I stopped by the bookstore and perused around for awhile. I happened upon this book and absolutely fell in love with it. I will write more about it later, but it is so full of beautiful, eye-catching inspiration. The photos are beyond gorgeous. And it makes me just want to stay home and knit and bake and start a garden and study art history.
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3 | painted red album by jj heller -- I happened upon this music album the other day and I am completely in love. It's a wonderful mix of that sort of indie sound and beautiful + contemplative lyrics. I think JJ Heller might be a new favorite.
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4 | hair pom pom DIY -- I am on this little kick and I am loving any sort of flower or pom-pom squeezed in next to a pony tail or a bun. They tend to be rather expensive store bought though ($10-15), so I am thinking I will have to try out this lovely little do-it-yourself hair pom pom.
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5 | nexxus nourishing botanical shampoo -- I have been using this shampoo for the past couple of weeks and I really, really like it. It's a tad bit more expensive, but there really is a silky difference between this shampoo and others that I have used. It's also paraben and dye free. And it smells incredibly good. (And, by the way, it's much cheaper in stores than what I've linked to here on Amazon.com--I don't spend $30 on shampoo, thank you very much.)
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6 | the small rain by madeleine l'engle -- This is another book I picked up at the bookstore yesterday with my brother. I've thoroughly enjoyed anything I've read by L'engle, so I was excited to find another one of her books. I've only read the introduction and the beginning part of the first chapter, but I already adore it. According to the back cover, it is a "genteel exploration of the interior landscape of a sensitive young girl."
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