Hello, dear readers. One special new feature we’ve added this year is the occasional spotlight on one of our contributors. Inherent in the mission statement of The Bright Side Project is the unspoken belief that to “Do What You Love, Love What You Do” is an absolutely essential component in creating a happy and healthy lifestyle. Every now and then, we will ask our contributors to answer a few short questions on the ideas of happiness, creativity and sunshine. We hope these rays of light help inspire you to find the sunshine in your day, today and everyday.

Today we are honored to introduce you to fresh grammar!
Please introduce yourself to our readers and explain a little bit about your business.

My name is Alex and my ‘day job’ is a philosophy PhD student. It’s extremely consuming (definitely not 9-to-5) and could basically fill up all my waking hours if I let it. Reading, thinking, and writing all day is mentally exhausting, but physically boring, and I’ve always loved doing things with my hands. And it’s a great change of pace to express myself through things rather than through words. So my business is, more than anything, a way for me to relax and share the stuff that I dig with other people!

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?

I can’t imagine my life being any more a reflection of this. The only reason to do philosophy is because you love it, and my business is basically an awesome hobby I love and want to share with other people!

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 slightly obsessed with architecture and industrial design, so a lot of my inspiration comes from there. I also used to work at a boutique flower shop (http://www.ilexflowers.com/), so I see a lot of beauty in plants and nature.

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

I may not like walking in the rain, but I love listening to it. So I open the windows a crack so I can hear it and brew a nice big pot of tea. Usually I’ll just get some (school)work done. If there’s not too much to do, I’ll bake something, or just surf the internet and play some video games.

What are you most grateful for?

It’s been a hard month for my family, so I’m most grateful right now for my health and the health of people I’m close to. Without that, you can’t really do much else.

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from fresh grammar!

One of the most luxurious ways to ready your skin for fresh air and sunshine is to exfoliate and moisturize. However, body scrubs in boutiques and stores can run upwards of twenty dollars. (I know!) Here is a simple way to use ingredients you most likely have in your kitchen already to create your very own sugar body scrub. All it takes is a few minutes and you can have your very own spa day without ever leaving the house.
There are tons of recipes out there but I have found that simple is always better. Gather your ingredients: white sugar, brown sugar, ground coffee, olive oil (or grapeseed oil, almond oil, coconut oil – use whatever you have on hand), essential oil (if you wish) and a clean jar. There is no need to go out and buy a fancy jar. Here, I am using an upcycled jar from some delicious jam.

Now, I don’t really use specific measurements, I just add the dry ingredients until it is the texture I want. As a general rule, I tend to use more white sugar than brown but that’s just a personal preference. You can play around with your measurements to suit your liking. The ground coffee adds a great exfoliating texture and smells fabulous.

Shake and/or stir your dry ingredients to distribute as evenly as possible.

Pour in your oil, mixing as you go. If you are making a large batch, this works better in a bowl. I like the serious moisture that olive oil brings and there is just something so rustic about it, you know?

Add your essential oils or scents if you are interested. I added a couple drops of vanilla leftover from a soap-making brainstorm that never took hold.

Stir until you have the texture/consistency you’re looking for. I tend to go heavier on the oil than some. It’s a preference.

If you are giving this away as a gift (as I will be doing) then add some simple fabric and glue something pretty to the lid. Voila! Your very own coffee & brown sugar body scrub!

To use, I suggest standing in the shower. Cleaning up this mess off the bathroom floor isn’t the most relaxing way to wind down once your’e done. Simply rub the mixture into your skin and rinse off. You will smell great, feel softer than ever and feel proud of yourself knowing that you made this yourself!

Enjoy!

xo,

Miss Krista

This season let’s all make a pact to make a statement, shall we? In a world that sometimes pays too much attention to the drama and the pain and the darkness, let’s collectively focus on the positive. Let’s focus on celebration, on color, on love. Let’s embellish the greatness in our lives and adorn our very beings with the small things that make us smile. Because, honestly, sometimes one small smile can change everything. That’s the kind of statement we should make.

It is no coincidence that statement jewelry is the kind of stuff that gets people’s attention. It is the kind of jewelry that changes things. Personally, I find that a good statement piece with a pop of color has the ability to change the day I am having. It is a physical reminder to live life out loud, with purpose. Rachel Wightman of not Tuesday creates exactly the types of pieces I find myself drawn to when I need a dose of inspiration and brightness. From the humble simplicity of her handcrafted beads to the chic artistic designs, these necklaces make a statement without you ever having to say a word. They make a statement about color and celebration and, yes, love.

not Tuesday is giving away one ‘not quite cylinder beads make a long necklace’  (pictured above) to one lucky winner! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, May 15th. Comments now closed…good luck!

What is your favorite personality trait about yourself?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 21st, to see if you’ve won…Good luck!

Hello, dear readers. One special new feature we’ve added this year is the occasional spotlight on one of our contributors. Inherent in the mission statement of The Bright Side Project is the unspoken belief that to “Do What You Love, Love What You Do” is an absolutely essential component in creating a happy and healthy lifestyle. Every now and then, we will ask our contributors to answer a few short questions on the ideas of happiness, creativity and sunshine. We hope these rays of light help inspire you to find the sunshine in your day, today and everyday.

Today we are honored to introduce you to not Tuesday.

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

Well hello. I’m Rachel and not Tuesday is my little creation of accessories to hang around your neck. My former dining table (now the making stuff table) is the place where I am quite happy playing with polymer clay, mixing colours and putting together unexpected combinations of beads I make by hand, to create pieces of vibrant simplicity.

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?

The most obvious answer is my work. I create in a way that is completely me. I feel very lucky that others have appreciated and bought what I make, and the fact that I get to call this my job! I don’t feel the need to conform or please the boss anymore – so refreshing!

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 see beauty and inspiration everywhere! I live in inner Sydney and don’t have a car, so I do lots of walking. There are some gorgeous little laneways to explore and there are always new and interesting details/architecture/shops/bars/strange and funny graffiti/galleries to stumble upon. I love wandering around and absorbing the little things that you would miss if you were stuck in traffic.

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

Watch some Flight of the Conchords. Those boys never fail to crack me up.

What are you most grateful for?

My ridiculously amazing 3 year old daughter who I am completely in love with, and the fact that she is finally now in bed at 11.36pm. That, and the glass of wine in my hand.

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from not Tuesday!

It’s time again for another installment of weekly wisdom, a free download to keep you inspired. This week’s quote is from Steve Carell.

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!”

Have a great week!

xo,

Miss Lindsey

Happy Friday, dear Bright Siders!

This week, we kicked off our new theme for May, Adorn, with giveaways from Olive Yew! and ReStrung Jewelry. There is something about pretty jewelry that just makes spring sing, don’t you think? We presented you with a quick idea on what to do “When Life Gives You Lemons.”  Please let us know if you made some preserved lemons for yourself. We would love to hear how it worked out.

Here are some things that made us smile this week:

::Have you heard about Caine’s arcade? Talk about inspiration.

::An amazing story about what sportmanship really is.

::Harper Lee makes a surprise appearance at a literary luncheon and receives a Harper Lee award. To be a fly on the wall…

What special events are taking place in your town this weekend? Share them in the comments…we would love to know what you’re all up to! Wishing you a wonderful weekend full of laughter and sunshine and joy.

xoxo,

The BSP team.

They say you are what you eat. However, I think it should also should be noted that you are what you wear. In my humble opinion, nothing says more about a person than their personal style. It is one of the few choices we have in our lives that really speaks to who we are and how we see ourselves. Granted, style is fluid. It is also subject to context, but for the most part, how we adorn ourselves directly reflects who we are. We show our beauty, our love, our hearts all through the styles we choose. (Except for that dark period known as the early 1990′s. None of us should be held accountable for that.) On that note, it’s so exciting when we find designers that put just as much energy into sustainability as aesthetics.

ReStrung Jewelry is the fusion of designer Naomi Celestin’s biggest passions: art, music, and philanthropy. Inspired by the sight of her musician boyfriend’s guitar strings hanging on the wall, she started creating jewelry out of them. Realizing she had a never-ending well to draw from (with the broken strings of all of her musician friends) she found a way to create art out of an unrecyclable material. Using vintage gems and stones, Celestin has created a truly eco-friendly line of beauty. These Hot Coral numbers are amazing. And, to top it off, Celestin donates proceeds to philanthropic organizations and continues to give back to the community (all while adorning it!) ReStrung Jewelry is the epitome of doing good while looking good.

ReStrung is giving away two pair of Turquoise Dangle earrings to two lucky winners (one each)! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Thursday, March 10th. Comments now closed…good luck!

What is the last time you practiced (or witnessed) a random act of kindness?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 14th. Good luck!

Hello, dear readers. One special new feature we’ve added this year is the occasional spotlight on one of our contributors. Inherent in the mission statement of The Bright Side Project is the unspoken belief that to “Do What You Love, Love What You Do” is an absolutely essential component in creating a happy and healthy lifestyle. Every now and then, we will ask our contributors to answer a few short questions on the ideas of happiness, creativity and sunshine. We hope these rays of light help inspire you to find the sunshine in your day, today and everyday.

Today we are honored to introduce you to ReStrung.

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

I’m Naomi Celestin, and I’ve been involved in the arts my entire life. After working for nearly a decade in arts administration, I moved into web and graphic design, which allowed me to develop my tech side while being creative. As much as I enjoy designing for web, I really missed creating tactile things with my hands. So, in January of this year, I began to tinker around with some of my boyfriend’s (singer songwriter Truman Holland) broken guitar strings and made a few pair of earrings out of them, incorporating some old beads and stones I had. I decided to list them an Etsy – and two pairs sold immediately. That was all the motivation I needed to move forward. I thought that this could be a viable business project. Shortly after, and with the encouragement of family and friends – ReStrung Jewelry was born. I wanted to use recycled strings from area musicians, so i put the word out among my music industry friends, and the buzz began to spread. Donations from some of Louisiana’s finest musicians began to pour in! With material to work with, i got busy creating all sorts of designs, drawing inspiration from my surroundings in both New Orleans and Lafayette. I feel very blessed to have a life so full of art, music, great family and friends- so the inspiration us endless.

From its inception, I felt it was critical that ReStrung donate a portion of our profits back into the community. Since musicians are a huge part of my life – and our state’s cultural economy, it seemed fitting to re-invest some of ReStrung’s profits into programs that help maintain and support our musicians. We are currently working with our statewide Healthcare Initiative for Musicians program, as well as researching some national organizations that support and promote artists and musicians.
ReStrung Jewelry is a mash up of art, music and giving back to our community, and it’s quickly become my biggest passion. It has solidified my mantra: “Be Cool. Do Good.”

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?

I’ve spent a lot of time telling others this and encouraging friends take risks and follow their bliss – but I haven’t always practiced what I’ve preached. Now however, I feel like I’m on exactly the right track with ReStrung!

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?

Oh, everywhere! In conversations with strangers and loved ones, in books, looking at flowers, listening to music, laughing with my daughter, traveling. You name it. I’ve tried in recent years to be more conscious and appreciative of all the positive and good things in my life – and that consciousness has helped my to see the beauty in everyday life.

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

If its rainy and yucky outside on the weekend, I like to make a fresh pot of coffee, cook up a real big Southern breakfast – then curl up in my PJ’s and watch old movies on Netflix!

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

My amazingly wonderful, kooky, beautiful and supportive family and friends.

Check back later today for an amazing giveaway from ReStrung!

Sometimes life gives you lemons. But there is only so much lemonade one can drink, yes? In this ongoing series, we will be introducing you to ways in which to best utilize those ever abundant lemons in order to keep the sunshine blooming in all of our lives! (Also, if you would like to contribute your own “When life gives you lemons…” project, please email krista@thebrightsideproject.com!)

Hello, dear Bright Siders! For our first “When life gives you lemons…” installment, we are going to make preserved lemons. You can find a ton of different recipes online for how to preserve lemons, but the bulk of my afternoon was spent consulting Jamie Oliver’s recipe. (Not a bad afternoon, don’t you think?) I modified mine a bit by not adding any spices (mostly because I didn’t have enough on hand.) The idea with any of these DIY projects is to make it as easy on yourself as possible. Because when life gives you lemons…it’s hard enough already.

First, scrub your lemons and cut off 1/4 inch from the ends.

From what I gathered online, Diamond Crystal Kosher Salt seemed to be the best salt to use. I’m still not sure why but since I already had it on hand, I felt one step ahead of the game. Make sure to sanitize your jars before using. Here is simple way to do it.

Quarter each lemon without cutting all the way through so that they stay intact.

Pour salt in between the wedges. If you think you are using too much salt, you’re not! In fact, you probably need more.

Shove the lemon down into the jar and push down so that the juice squeezes up. This is incredibly satisfying if you’re having a bad day, by the way. There is something so gratifying about they way they compress.

Keep adding salt and lemons to the jar and top with more salt. There should be enough lemon juice to cover all lemons. If you need to, add some fresh juice from an extra lemon. Clean the rim of the jar and seal. Let sit for at least a month. For the first three days, turn the jars over once a day to distribute the salt and juice throughout the jar.

These are a great gift as well! I recently co-hosted a baby shower for a friend and we gave jars of preserved lemons away as a favor along with a list of suggested uses.

“Suggested uses,” you ask? Here are a few I found:

The Secret Ingredient from Serious Eats

Best Uses for Homemade Preserved Lemons from Chowhound

Please let us know if you have any special ways to use preserved lemons that we should know about!

They say that beauty’s only skin deep. (They being The Temptations; yeah, yeah, yeah.)  Sure, true beauty lies within, but I am a firm believer that what we decorate ourselves with says as much about our hearts as our words. We adorn ourselves daily as a way to feel like the absolute best version of ourselves. Our accessories speak our beauty to the world, whether we realize it or not. As we welcome in the month of May, let’s celebrate our new theme of Adorn with the type of beauty that is more than skin deep.

Angela Parker-Kennedy started creating her own jewelry after her grandmother advised her that since they were “a petite bunch” it would behoove her to stick with simple and small jewelry. Unable to find pieces she wanted to wear daily, Parker-Kennedy took matters into her own hands and Olive Yew was born. Her innovation is our good luck. These are the types of pieces that make you feel beautiful just by looking at them. Personally, I fell head over heels for the Little Gold Tangle Ball necklace and the Long Bar Rose Gold necklace when I first spotted Olive Yew and I would be lying if I said this crush was going away anytime soon. Olive Yew, indeed.

Olive Yew is giving away one Double Circle necklace and one Rose Gold Bow necklace to two (one necklace each) lucky readers! To enter to win, please answer the following question by Tuesday, May 8th. Comments now closed…good luck!

What is the one thing in your life that keeps getting better and better?

Start checking the winner’s box on Monday, May 14th, to see if you’ve won!