I don’t know about you, but I’m a sucker for a memoir. I absorb myself in the different ways in which experience shapes us, living vicariously through the lives of others. I especially love stories about people taking chances, leaps of faith and unexpected love. Justine van der Leun provides all that and more in her book Marcus of Umbria, What an Italian Dog Taught an American Girl about Love. Van der Leun sums it up best herself when she says:

Marcus of Umbria is my memoir of the hilarious, trying, illuminating year I spent living in a 200-person Umbrian farming village, where I discovered true love in the form of a neglected English Pointer whom I rescued from a rusty pen. It is a most unusual love story: Girl meets boy. Girl falls in love, chucks it all, and moves to Italy. Girl meets dog. Girl ditches boy, keeps dog, and life opens up for her in unexpected ways.

Give me a hammock, a pitcher of sun tea, a long afternoon and a copy of this book and you have my perfect summer day.

Justine van der Leun is giving away to one lucky reader two (2) copies of her book, Marcus of Umbria, What an Italian Dog Taught an American Girl About Love, one to read and one to give away. What better way to enjoy a book than to be able to talk about it! For your chance to win, answer the following question by June 20,2010.

Justine fell in love with an Italian gardener while on vacation and impulsively left her friends and Brooklyn apartment to move in with him and his family in a tiny village in Umbria, despite knowing not a word of Italian. Crazy, right? Or, as the Italians say, Pazza! We all do crazy things for love. So she wants to knows: What is the craziest thing you’ve ever done for love?

Please begin checking the winners box on June 23, 2010 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

{ please visit house of plumred here }

The constant search for inspiration is one of the reasons I fell in love with The Bright Side Project so many moons ago. Every single day, I found myself looking forward to my daily dose of sunshine delivered here and I cannot begin to tell you how much brighter my days have become since becoming the Weekend Editor here. Each time I sit down to introduce a contributor or artist, I find myself leaving my desk inspired, invigorated and hopeful. There is quite a special collection of individuals behind these labels and it is such an honor to share them with you.

House of PlumRed is no exception. Michaella Pahl, the 25 year old entrepreneur behind this online boutique, curates a collection intended to accentuate a woman’s self-confidence and strength through amazing fashion, style and affordability. Spend some time shopping around and make sure to bookmark this shop. Quantities are limited so you’ll want to be first in line each time something new comes in. Currently, the Colorful Tunic Top honestly screams my name and I find myself answering with a resounding “Yes!” The Editorial Layer Floral Dress makes me feel like dancing around at an outdoor music festival and I don’t even like music festivals. That, my friends, is inspired.

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Miss Krista, our Weekend Editor, is a mother, a lover and a big believer in the power of a cupcake. She loves double entendres but is not a fan of the high-five. She blogs about the corners of her heart at my life as i see it.

House of PlumRed is giving away a $100 gift certificate (I know!) to one lucky winner. To enter, please answer the following question by

What is one fashion risk you’ve always wanted to take but never have?

Please begin checking the winners box on May 5, 2010 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

{please visit pretty smitten here}

I understand turquoise is THE color for 2010. I don’t know about you, but turquoise (although beautiful and always in my heart) was my color last year. This year is beginning to show herself as moss green. Elizabeth Johnson feels my pain. Johnson is the face behind Pretty Smitten, a company that specializes in personalized stationary, party papers and gift items. Don’t be fooled by knock-offs, either. Pretty Smitten’s signature mini Swarovski crystals adorn their paper products, separating them from the crowd. Gorgeous prints and graphics, a vast array of colors AND sparkle? Yes, please.

I am currently in the process of teaching my two year old daughter the art of a good “Thank You” card. What is more perfect than personalized Kid’s Note Cards, with her choice of design and color? Absolutely nothing is more perfect than that. Johnson has raised the bar as far as I’m concerned. She has married form and function in a way that makes me, well, yes, it makes me smitten. I’m also thinking of buying myself a You Are My Sunshine poster in, you guessed it, moss green. Le sigh.

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Miss Krista is a mother, a lover and a big believer in the power of a cupcake. she loves double entendres but is not a fan of the high-five. she blogs about the corners of her heart at my life as i see it.

Pretty Smitten is giving away one set of their Monogrammed Folded Note Cards, featuring graphic patterns. The winner will choose his/her favorite pattern and colors and will receive 12 note cards, 12 return address labels and 12 colored envelopes. In order to enter to win, please answer the following question by Saturday, February 20, 20210:

Who will be the first person you write to with your new note cards and what is the occasion?

Good luck!  Please start checking the yellow winners box on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 to see if you won.

{please visit lovely pieces here}

You know how when you fall in love the world looks somehow brighter? The sky is a deeper blue, the flowers shine and even the clouds sing of spun cotton as they cushion rainbows. Ashley Austin obviously knows that feeling.  Austin is the mastermind behind Fine Day Press, a line of luxe paper goods and gifts sold via her Etsy store, Lovely Pieces. Her products shine through with a deep love of color and there is a reverence in the simplicity of the LOVE Valentine’s Day card that can’t be forced. I look at this card and finally understand what all of the Valentine’s hoopla is about.  Austin, a graphic designer by trade, opened her store in the summer of 2009 and channels all of her creative energy into creating eco-friendly pieces, whether in the yoga-inspired clothing and art or the (absolutely amazing!) collage pieces such as Lotus Flower. Fine Day Press will debut a line of letterpress greeting cards and wedding stationary this spring. I’m not even getting married and I’m anxious for the unveiling! You can also keep up with Austin’s inspirations and designs at her blog, Lovely Pieces.

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Miss Krista is a mother, a lover and a big believer in the power of a cupcake. she loves double entendres but is not a fan of the high-five. she blogs about the corners of her heart at my life as i see it.

Lovely Pieces will be giving away to one lucky reader the Raindrop Collage Organic cotton Tote Bag AND the Vintage Birdcage 8×10 Print (unframed).

In order to win, please answer the following question by Friday, February 19, 2010:

Do you believe in love at first sight?

Good luck!  Start checking the yellow winner’s box on Wednesday, February 24, 2010 to see if you won.

]]> http://thebrightsideproject.com/archives/3350/feed 257 http://thebrightsideproject.com/archives/3338 http://thebrightsideproject.com/archives/3338#comments Thu, 11 Feb 2010 08:00:29 +0000 Miss B. http://thebrightsideproject.com/?p=3338 {please visit modern chic home here}

Nothing makes me happier when I am scouting for the BSP then to A) find a gem that perhaps you haven’t heard of yet, B) finding a contributor that totally ‘gets’ the project and bonus C) is a kindred spirit. Interior Designer, Julie Thigpen the founder of Modern Chic Home was all of the above and more.  She’s gets an extra gold star for being generous + having great taste (she happens to carry a well edited selection of the new Trina Turk home collection—insert squeal here).

Thigpen was working as a project manager for a design firm in 2008 when they closed their doors forcing her to make some big decisions. Despite the dreary economy she took a huge leap of faith,(with the moral support of her husband , friends and family) and started her own  residential design business. After finding success with that endeavor she decided to finally follow her heart and start her dream business—Modern Chic Home; which is Thigpen’s destination for ‘fabulous finds and fresh designs.’  MCH is a well thought out company offering a unique shopping experience by combining her design experience with her love for fun, chic, mod items.  If you are having trouble deciding you can go to her ‘Shop the Look’ section and peruse her inspiration boards (*warning*-everything looks dangerously good). Still stuck?  Thigpen offers a variety of design services in all budgets and an on line version for those not in the immediate vicinity.

“Even though most people would frown at the idea of launching a new business in the middle of a down economy, I refused to give into the gloom and uncertainty of it all and charged forward with optimism and hope! I’m so glad I did!”

Sigh, I love a success story, especially when it involves turning lemons into lemonade…

Julie Thigpen of Modern Chic Home is giving away not one but TWO gift certificates for $50 USD each.  Two winners?  Yes!  I thought it might be fun to offer two questions, answer whichever one your heart desires by Thursday, February 18, 2010:

In honor of ‘We love hue’, what color best describes your personality and why?

Visit Modern Chic Home , mosey on back here and let Julie know what  item(s) you would spend your gift certificate on and why?

Good luck!  Start checking the winners box on 02.24.10 to see if you won.

{visit graphic image here}

We had the extreme pleasure in September of last year to do a feature + give away with Graphic Image. They gave away a generous Italian leather dictionary and thesaurus set.  Miss K and I considered many times entering to try to win ourselves, after all they are our favorite books and well we kind of deserve them, no?  Alas, we didn’t play and the lucky winner was Miss Melissa of Melissa Loves.  We hope that Melissa loves both Graphic Image and us now too.

I received an email yesterday from our friends at Graphic Image wanting to let all of you know that they are having their annual huge Winter sale.  How huge?  Many of their products are half off, calendars up to 75% off. How does that sound?  Huge?  Yes, agreed. It gets better for U.S. Bright Side Project readers you will also get FREE ground shipping for the month of February (code is brightside)!  I say stock up now and have gifts galore for the rest of the year.  Graphic Image is my go-to gift company for both work and personal (I was introduced to them by an uber chic NYC editor).  The collections are finely made, the colors are on trend (but they still carry classics), they personalize, their prices are right and the present always comes off as thoughtful and never pretentious. When I asked them if there was anything in particular they wanted me to mention in their feature they answered, “We really just want your honest thoughts and opinions on the collections.”  Well that’s easy enough.  I could have written this in my sleep, they are one of my favorite companies. I love them.  I want to marry them.

Graphic Image being the fabulous company that they are was also game to spread some more sunshine! Since their collection is perfectly in line with the ‘We love hue’ theme and I am obviously playing favorites (but I didn’t think you would mind) they are doing another giveaway but this time there will be TWO winners.  Think of it as our early valentine’s to you.

Graphic Image is giving away (in winners colors of choice):

1st Prize winner: A brights medium leather envelope, a 9″ leather wire-o notebook and a brights large leather flat zipper case

Runner up: A large patent leather zip wallet

In order to enter to win Graphic Image would like you to answer the following question by Wednesday, February 2010:

If you had a magic datebook where you could re-live one of the days of your lives, which day would it be and why?

Good luck!  Start checking the winners box Wednesday, February 24, 2010.

{visit chronicle books here}

If you are an avid reader you probably have your favorite authors but not necessarily a favorite publishing house. Well, I love books and I love nearly anything from Chronicle Books.  Viewing their newest catalogs inevitably fills my wish list each and every time. It is easy for me to deem them my favorite publisher and rightly so. Founded in 1967, they have continuously produced award winning books and merchandise covering trends in cookbooks, fine art, children’s books and popular culture.

Chronicle Books of course has plenty of finds befitting our February theme. Their Colors Mini Journal Set contains four petite journals perfect for jotting down notes. The portable size makes them great for on the go moms or business women. In a variety of hues, the interior of these journals feature coordinating colors and lines making them a stylish option for scribbling.

Another colorful find is John Rombola: Eclectic Eccentric. As an illustrator, Rombola has produced works for Life, Town + Country and Holiday. Rombola’s art is on permanent collection in the Cooper-Hewitt National Design Museum. Eclectic Eccentric is the first ever compilation of his work which is spirited and and rambunctious. Lush gouche and ink drawings document his travels to New York and Europe in a spirited and often humorous way. Lively, whimsical and of course colorful this book is a feast for the eyes. I’d expect nothing less from Chronicle Books!

One lucky winner will receive a copy of John Rombola: Eclectic Eccentric and a Colors Mini Journal Set. To enter to win please answer the following question by February 16, 2010.

The worldwide authority on color, Pantone, has declared turquoise THE color of 2010. What is your color of the year?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 24, 2010 to see if you’ve won.  Good luck!

PSST!  Can’t wait to win? Note that all BSP readers (that would be you) always get 30% off all Chronicle Books + Free Shipping!  Your code is GETBOOKS, just click on their sponsor ad to the right!

{please visit dingbat press here}

There’s just nothing like your home team winning the Superbowl (proud Louisiana girl + Saints fan here). Except maybe beautiful, letterpressed calligraphy. Adrienne Berry of Dingbat Press understands my love for this art because she’s made it her mission to create amazing examples of such. Outside of her love for her husband and children, nothing compares to her affinity for letterpress.  It shows in her work too!

One stop by her shop and you’ll see her passion in each and every piece of her work: cupcake recipe cards pressed into crisp white paper, lovey dovey Valentine tags, notecards adorned with nature’s beauties and calligraphy calling cards. Oh, the calligraphy calling cards! So incredibly swoon-worthy!

Adrienne is partnering with Danae Blackburn-Hernandez of e.Danae calligraphy for your Bright Side Project prize. Blackburn-Hernandez has been practicing fine lettering since the ripe age of twelve! Mostly self taught, she works from home with her trusty Mac and countless bottles of inks and nibs. In addition to wedding stationery she also combines her lettering with watercolors and illustrations. For Dingbat Press she will create your name in her hand for Adrienne who will then lay it out and press them into calling cards that stand out from the crowd.

And if beauty was not enough, 10% of the profits from custom calling cards are donated to JDRF, Adrienne’s favorite non-profit organization which specializes in advocating and finding a cure for children with type 1 diabetes. Pretty with a purpose. What’s not to love?

Two lucky winners will win a set of 50 calling cards from Dingbat Press! The cards will be adorned with their name in calligraphy along with a phone number or email in one ink color. To enter to win please answer the following question by February 15, 2010.

Adrienne says she’s kind of a serious person. her hubby says she needs to lighten up a little! What are some things you do to lighten up and relax?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 17th to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

{please visit jimbot here}

I was first introduced to Jimbot on Apartment Therapy last summer. My household has a strong affinity for all things robot and monster and I fell in immediate and undying love with the mind (and subsequent artwork) of Jim Demski. Demski lives in Wisconsin with his wife and baby girl and spends his free time creating all sorts of awesome.

I wish Jimbot had a baby registry back when I was pregnant. I would have signed on for Robot Alphabet Letters in my daughter’s name, a “tweety” bird onesie and a tote bag to carry diapers in. Don’t worry if you’re not a baby-centric person. There is plenty of artwork to be had that doesn’t assume you’ll be decorating around cribs and rockers. I’m partial to anything Gocco and “The Gang’s All Here” sort of screams my name. Put your ears close, you’ll hear it, too.

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Miss Krista is a mother, a lover and a big believer in the power of a cupcake. she loves double entendres but is not a fan of the high-five. she blogs about the corners of her heart at my life as i see it.

Jimbot is so awesome that he has decided to give not one but TWO people prize packages!

First Prize will receive:
-Spell out TWO names in Robot Alphabet letters

-One Jimbot poster

-One Gocco print
-One print of “Together We Are Safe-CMYK Monsters”

Second Prize will receive:
-Spell out ONE name in Robot Alphabet letters

-One print of “Together We Are Safe-CMYK Monsters”

In order to win, please answer the following question by Sunday, February 14, 2010:

If you could have a robot take over any task for you, what would it be?

Good luck!  Start checking the winners box Wednesday, February 17, 2010 to see if the winner is you!