There is a direct correlation between how you feel about what you are wearing underneath your clothes and how you feel about yourself in general. This is a truth I have held fast to for years. Yet, I have a confession to make. My lingerie situation is, well…it’s not a situation. It is pure negligence. Somewhere along the lines of becoming a partner, a mother, a woman with other priorities, I lost my way. My sleepwear alone would make you weep.  So it only seems fitting to highlight a company that curates some of the most luxurious and beautiful lingerie, loungewear, and sleepwear available during the one month of the year we dedicate to romance and love and beauty. Sometimes what is on your skin matters just as much as what is underneath it.

byLangley is an online boutique founded by Molly Lang and dedicated to preserving the personal style and beauty in each of us. By creating an e-boutique, women can shop at their leisure and pull from an impeccably curated array of well-known brands handpicked with sophisticated, modern women in mind. Rather than waste time wading through a muddled catalog of mediocre styles, try choosing from a La Fee Verte Silk Tee, an Eberjey Lady Godiva Chemise, a pair or two of Eberjey Delirious Panties, or a T Los Angeles Boyfriend Tank. However, don’t let my wishlist stifle your creativity. Spend some time online, listen to your heart when it finds what it loves and dress yourself in it. ”We Heart It” isn’t only skin deep, but it’s a good place to start.

byLangley is giving away one pair of Eberjey Delerious Panties in the winner’s choice of red or pink and one pair of Cosabella Never Say Never High Rise Thong panties. To enter to win, please answer the following question by Friday, February 10th.

What type of loungewear or sleepwear makes you feel like the most beautiful version of yourself?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 16, 2012 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

Maybe it’s just me, but I can’t help but feel like the world is my oyster every time I sit down with a well curated catalog. Ever since I was a child, I have spent many a night with my feet tucked under me on the couch, circling item after item in catalog after catalog. Before bookmarks and online wishlists, there were folded down pages and highlighters. I could tell you this obsession passed as I grew older, but I would be lying. And I like you too much to lie to you. In fact, I have a stack of catalogs sitting next to me right this very moment, begging for attention. On the top of the pile is my absolute favorite: Uncommon Goods. What better way to kick off our February theme of “We Heart It” than to bring you the cream of the crop?

To say that I’m over the moon to showcase Uncommon Goods for our January finale is an understatement. They help me accomplish the often unattainable status of “best gift-giver EVER” on many an occasion. From fun gifts for guys to creative gift ideas for women, there is something for everyone. And we’re not talking your run of the mill can opener and/or keychain (not that there’s anything wrong with can openers or keychains.) Rather, we’re talking one of a kind, unique gifts (Catapult Kit!) that make your heart swell with pride and you will find yourself high-fiving strangers for no apparent reason. That is what pure happiness does to you, my friends.

Uncommon Goods is giving away an extraordinary Photo Gift Set to one lucky reader! This set includes one Diana Camera with a pack of Black and White Film and a set of Sticker Frames. To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, February 7th.

What is the most unique gift you have ever been given?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 9, 2012 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

February is upon us, dear readers! There is something inherently romantic about a leap year, you know? This idea that once every four years we are allowed to have that one extra day to live our lives…it speaks to the child in me. I see February 29th as the most beautiful Valentine ever, a day to love more than the next three years to come. I don’t think it is a coincidence that this day lands in February, typically the coldest month of the year.

In honor of this year’s long month of love, we will be focusing on the things we love most. In other words, if we’re showing it to you, rest assured “We Heart It.” From home goods to jewelry (and everywhere in between), this month will bring out the love in all of us. We can’t wait to share everything “We Heart” with you. (And Happy Leap Year!)

Whether you are a new reader or long time ambassador of sunshine, we’d like to take a moment remind you how you can participate in our giveaways. It’s easy, fun and a great way to enjoy a bit of lemon-aide.

• Our mission to bring you sunshine every day takes many forms but the most common are the giveaways where we showcase the finest purveyors of goods we can find and highlight their endeavors while providing you with an opportunity to win something spectacular.
• Giveaway posts are clearly labeled and easy to take part in.
• At the bottom of every post, we ask a thought provoking question. Answer this question by clicking on the blue box at the top right corner of the post.
• One post per person, please.
• Our sun, shines globally…international participants are welcome.
• At the bottom of each post, we let you know the last date to enter and when to check the winners box.
• Beginning on the date stated in the post, check the winners box located in the right column of our site, to see if you’ve won.
• If you are a lucky winner, please send an email to Miss Lindsey no later than the date stated in the box.
• In your email be sure to include: your name, mailing address and phone number so we can provide this to the contributor of the prize ASAP.

That’s it! Simple and lovely and full of sunshiny goodness and sweet lemonade!

{ please visit shannonblue photography here }

As we round the corner on January and reflect on our “Happy New Year, Happy New You” let’s take a moment to talk about art. Let’s talk about what it does, what it means.  Artists put themselves out there on a visceral, fundamental level because the reflection of the world through the eyes of another is worth something. It is worth witnessing. The participation between the artist and the public is at the very core of happiness, of joy. The connection between all human beings and the beauty we put out into the world is the very reason we here at the BSP love what we do. We are here because we are honored to share the beauty we find with you in order to share their art and, essentially, their happiness.

Shannon of shannonblue photography shoots the kind of pictures that frame dreams. From bold and bright statements of color to achingly poignant captures , these are the kind of photos that draw you in. You find yourself looking closer at each one, reading the mood of the light and the shadows. You catch glimpses of the way shannonblue photography sees the world and you find yourself opening your heart to something you hadn’t seen before. All of a sudden, your “Happy New Year, Happy New You” is underway and you find yourself looking forward, smiling.

shannonblue photography is giving away one 2012 desk calendar (base not included) to one lucky winner! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, February 7th.

Is there a song/poem/painting/photo that always makes you smile? What is it?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 9, 2012 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

Today’s spotlight is on shannonblue photography.

1. Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

I’m Shannon, of shannonblue photography.  I started exploring my passion for photography four years ago, learning on my own as I went.  Now I sell my work on Etsy and Society6, and I’m branching out into portrait photography.  It makes me extremely happy whenever I sell a piece, knowing that someone chose my art to be hanging in their home or workplace to see it every day.

2. We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?

My background is in engineering; I spent twelve years working in science and high-tech environments.  Never in a million years did I imagine I’d be working in a creative profession.  I’m extremely fortunate that I was able to leave the 8-5 workday in the land of cubicles behind once I had my children.  It was then that I began learning all that I could about photography and it became my passion.  To be able to call myself a photographer has been a dream come true.

3. Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?

I’m always searching for beauty and find it not only the obvious places, like how the bright colors of the sunset fade into one another, but also the unexpected, like the chipped nail polish on my little girls fingernails.

4. On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a bit of sunshine?

I crank the music up loud and dance with my kids. We try to see who can be the silliest.

5. At this very moment, what are you most grateful for?

Hmmm, as I sit here in my office right now I’m thankful for these huge windows that let in all this sunshine every day.

 Please look for a giveaway from shannonblue photography later today!

{ please visit design des troy here }

January is the time of year I find myself searching out new stationary goods. Somehow the new year doesn’t feel quite so new without some fresh cards to use for thank you cards, notes to friends and birthday greetings. Over the years, my stash has started to become something of a collection of fantastic artists who pride themselves on the art of find paper goods. I find that if I keep myself well stocked with options that I would want to receive, it’s easier than ever to choose one to send out on a minute’s notice. Plus, January is the absolute best time to stock up on holiday greetings for next year because it allows you to be ahead of the game from the get go. The perfect way to a “Happy New You.”

Samantha and Owen Troy, the husband and wife team behind Design des Troy, create the kind of stationary I wish I could claim as my own. The “I Heart Your Guts” Valentine card is actually making me rethink my “no Valentine” policy with my man. And the “Triangle Pattern” cards?. Swoon. As far as that jump start on next year’s holiday, look no further. The “Death Ray Rudolph” cards are absolute perfection. Design des Troy also creates custom invitations for weddings, album covers, you name it. A “Happy New You” seems to wrap up nicely when its got the right design, don’t you think?

Design des Troy is giving away three 2012 “Teeny-Tiny But Still Pretty Colorful” calendarsto three lucky winners! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, February 7th.

Imagine you were to write a notecard to a person you don’t know personally but admire very much. Who would it be for and what would you say?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 9, 2012 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!

Today we would like to introduce you to Design des Troy.

1. Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.
Design des Troy is Samantha and Owen Troy; we met while studying graphic design at RISD and fell in love. After the terrifying but awesome experience of collaborating on our own wedding invitations, we decided to collaborate on design work more often. We make a line of gocco-handprinted cards and stationery in addition to custom wedding invitations, album covers, branding and more.

2. We believe that one of the ways to achieve happiness is to “Do what you love, love what you do.” How does this philosophy apply to your life?
We’re working constantly to make our work interesting and challenging for us. We love making the sorts of designs that we enjoy ourselves, and hope that others enjoy them as well.

3. Our mission here at The Bright Side Project is to spread sunshine on a daily basis because we firmly that life is (still) beautiful. Where do you find beauty and inspiration?
We find inspiration from many sources, but often from exploring cities, whether traveling or at home in San Francisco which offers beauty at almost every turn. The pastels of the victorians look lovely after a rain. We love the panoramic spread from Holly Park or the top of Clipper Street, or sunlight glinting off the maze of highway interchanges from the crest of Crescent.

4. On a dreary day, what do you do to infuse your life with a bit of sunshine?
Tea with toast, some Otis Redding, cuddling with the cat.

5. At this very moment, what are you most grateful for?
So sappy, but really true: each other.

Please look for a giveaway from Design des Troy later today!

To download, click on the image to open it full size and select file “save as” for your own personal use.

And be sure to leave a comment or email us with your suggestion and you may see your “name in lights!”

———–

January’s “Honorary Ambassador of Sunshine” is Secret Agent L. I was first introduced to the lovely Laura Miller via our personal blogs and it has been an honor to witness her evolution through good times and bad. This project stems from the simple, sincere desire to put good out into the world. She is an inspiration and living proof that kindness is contagious. Please feel free to get in on some of the action and (as Secret Agent L says): “Be Kind. No Exceptions.”

*Tell us a little bit about yourself: who you are and what you do.

Laura, 33, is currently an administrative assistant at Duquesne University in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, and holds a bachelor’s degree in English and Theatre and a master’s degree in English Literature (with an emphasis on 18th-Century British drama and actresses) from the same institution.  She also models and acts professionally and has been working in the industry for over thirteen years, filming various commercials, industrial films, and recording voice overs.  Laura is also actively involved in promoting mental health awareness and works closely with the National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) of Southwestern PA, on whose Board of Directors she currently serves. Laura regularly serves as a guest speaker at events around Pittsburgh where she talks about the ways in which intentional acts of kindness can change people’s lives and the communities in which they live. She has been the keynote speaker for the Girl Scouts of Western Pennsylvania’s Annual Conference, Kindness Ambassador for the Allegheny County Library Association’s One Book One Community project, keynote speaker for the Propel Schools Challenge Day (which focuses on anti-bullying and tolerance in the high school community) and a panelist for the Martin Luther King, Jr. Day Sunday Supper event.

Laura remained anonymous until July 2010, when she revealed her identity at a charity fundraiser for NAMI, which was attended by over 200 people and raised over $1,500.  By putting a face to the project, she hopes to increase even more awareness around the importance of kindness and its increasingly powerful effects on the world.

“This project is the greatest honor of my life,” she says.  “Every mission touches my heart, whether it’s one I complete or one my Affiliated Agents complete.  I feel so incredibly blessed to be a part of this international kindness movement.  I truly believe this is my life’s work.”
*Have you spread some sunshine recently or have you witnessed a random act of kindness? Please explain in detail.

Since the SAL Project has taken off in a pretty significant way in the last year or so, I’ve been more focused on the work my Affiliated Agents are doing in terms of acts of kindness. I continue to receive emails from them on a regular basis where I see the missions they carry out in the name of kindness. It’s been an incredibly humbling and inspirational experience for me to have people I will probably never meet decide to be a part of the SAL family, carry out their anonymous missions of kindness, and share them with me in such exuberant ways!
I still carry out missions of my own on occasion, but the focus of the SAL Project really has morphed toward that of the Affiliated Agents and the recipients of their missions of kindness. It’s now a community that has both an online and real-world presence. A recent mission carried out by an Affiliated Agent from Illinois was met with a response from the individual who received that act of kindness, and we were able to feature both sides of the story on the website. I continually feel my heart swell when I receive emails from people who have stumbled upon an Affiliated Agent’s mission of kindness who express such gratitude and joy in the experience. And I almost always hear people say that they truly needed that boost of love at that moment, which just goes to show that the majority of us are walking around each day with burdens in our hearts, longing for a sign that we matter, that we are loved, and that there is goodness in the world.

My heart is overjoyed by stories I hear of entire families deciding to become Affiliated Agents who do missions on birthdays, holidays, and other dates of importance to them. I am blown away by the grandmother whose granddaughter decided that every birthday she wants to go do a mission of kindness. I am consumed with the deepest joy that a preschool teacher in Missoula, Montana, started the Superheroes of Kindness, complete with capes and all, as a result of her experience with the SAL Project.

The SAL Project is not about me. I’m merely the flesh-and-bones facilitator. I simply want to inspire people to realize that every single person matters, that love and kindness should be intentional rather than random, and that we are all in this together. As Mother Teresa said, “If we do not have peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to one another.”

———-

{ please visit frediasophie here }

Great jewelry is what legends are born of. The kind of pieces you hold onto, smile when you wear and pass on to your children. One facet of my “Happy New Year, Happy New You” focus has been to only keep jewelry that makes me feel like the absolute best version of myself. To only add pieces that add something to me; no fluff. This requires a somewhat discerning palate and discriminatory nature. You also have to know yourself, know what you love, know your heart.

My love for Friedasophie is no secret. Here at the BSP, we have been fortunate enough to have the opportunity to showcase the stunning works of art created by this San Francisco artist. Each time I visit the store, I am more and more inspired to be the absolute best version of myself. Here is a perfect example: the “Midnight Sunstone Gold Necklace” brings to mind every great novel I’ve ever read, my favorite song, the perfect cup of coffee. The “Delicate Gold Double Chain Ring”  makes me feel like walking outside in the rain, singing. This is the kind of jewelry love songs are made of. (Seriously, friends. The Midnight Sunstone Necklace? It is magic.) And magic is exactly what a “Happy New You” is all about.

Friedasophie is giving away one set of “Delicate Gold Silver Band Rings”to one lucky winner. To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, January 31st.

What jewelry are you wearing right this very minute? What does it mean to you?

Please begin checking the winners box on February 2, 2012 to see if you’ve won. Good luck!