Today’s guest is Amy of Old Sweet Song. Now, I’m going to be completely honest. I only asked her to be part of this so maybe she’d ask me to be part of her Blogger Crush series. Ok, not really, but it would be cool. The truth is that I have a blogger crush on Old Sweet Song, and I’m extremely envious of her {any other bloggers} living in NY. Granted, I’m not sure I could handle living in NY, but I like to pretend that I could. Besides living in NY and having a pretty cool blog with one of my favorite series’, Amy shares some of my tastes. I call for another blogger meet up next time I’m in NYC. Amy, you are officially invited!

{Being in love} My boyfriend Anthony is the love of my life. He makes my heart smile.

{Chocolate} The darker the better. My favorite is Green & Blacks dark chocolate with dried cherries. Seriously, I cannot get enough of it. In fact, I am eating some right now. Not even lying.

{New York City} It’s an amazing thing to live in the greatest city in the world. After 5 years I still have moments where I think “wow, I live here!”

{Etsy} I can waste hours peeping all the lovely things. People who make things totally inspire me. One day I will join them. Some recent pretty finds here and here.

{Food Blogs} Another tine suck of mine, food blogs. I never tire of looking at them and reading recipes. Bonus points for food blogs that feature gorgeous photography like SproutedKitchen.com which is one of my faves.

{Good Books} I like to fall asleep reading. Right now I’m reading Half Broke Horses by Jeannette Walls. I’ve just started it but have high hopes, considering she wrote probably the greatest book ever.

Photos: 1. weheartit, 2 & 3. Flickr, 4. Etsy, 5. SproutedKitchen, & 6. Scribner

So, today is obviously not Thursday, but let’s make it an EBL day. I hope you are all having a wonderful weekend so far. I usually don’t blog on the weekends, but I’m making an exception for the month of December.

Judy of the fabulous frock heaven, known as Sunday Brunch Dress Shop, is our EBL guest this week. She’s witty, intelligent, and following the dream as young, female entrepreneur. {Within months of launching, her shop was featured in Lucky.} She kinda rocks. I can’t wait to meet her, although I’ll have to; I missed her last time I was in NY.

{Love} My wonderful amazing loving wonderful fiance makes my life more beautiful and happy than I could have ever imagined for myself.

{Fuzzy Best Friend} My English Bulldog Munch. We adopted him when he was 4 years old. He makes my life that much more joyful and funny. All he needs from life is food (preferably as much as possible), pets and a soft bed to snooze in all day. We can all learn a lot from him.

{Paris} There is something magical about this place. It’s something in the crepes perhaps. Everything is more beautiful in Paris. When I’m there all I can think about is when I will be back.

{Internet} Um, really. What would my life be without the Internet??

{Sketchbook} I’ve never been good at keeping journals or diaries. But since I started keeping a sketchbook my brain has felt much less cluttered. It feels good to get ideas and thoughts and images down on to paper. This is the first step to creating.

{Coffee} I have no problem saying this: I love Starbucks. I love them for their dependability, and I love them for their ubiquity. They are there when and wherever I need them. I’ve also taken to purchasing their beans rather than the hit-n-miss I did too often at Whole Foods. Every morning I feed the bulldog and brew myself a strong cup of Starbucks in my French Press.

{Fashion magazines} I love the glossies, always have. It’s glamorous, mysterious and unattainable beauty at it’s finest. I can’t identify with them at all, but I don’t need to identify with things to enjoy them.

{Freshly laundered bed sheets} I hate stripping the bed, washing the sheets and putting everything back on. But in the end when I get into bed….aaahhhh. Totally worth it.

{New tube of toothpaste} I LOVE opening a new tube of toothpaste. It’s so clean. And full of hope! With most things I will be sure to use up every last drop so as not to waste xyz. But the anticipation of opening a new tube of toothpaste results in recklessness and me throwing out the last week of toothpaste in an old tube, to my fiance’s dismay. But we’ve come up with a new system. Where I get to open and use the new tube as he finishes up the old one. That is love.

{Fry something} I love fried food. Oh I know I know it’s not good for you but when I’m having a bad day, nothing satisfies me like a big order of fries.

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Happy Thanksgiving for all the US readers. Today I’m thankful for many things, which I’ll be sharing with you. I’m thankful for all my EBL participants. You all have given us a peek into your lives and helped us reflect on our own. I’m also thankful to Lori of Automatism for preparing this post, despite the death of her computer and having to get a brand new one this week. She’s a blogging ninja! Let’s take a look at what makes her life Everyday Beautiful:

Each day begins with a cup of tea. It’s a quiet daily ritual that centres me and readies me for the day.

I don’t leave the house without lipstick, which to me is a wardrobe essential. Not only do I not feel properly dressed without it, but I love the old school elegance of it, too (no lip glosses or the like for me!).

Blogging has led me to so many happy discoveries — at the click of a mouse I can view beautiful images of art, interiors, clothes and more. There’s so much beauty out there, just waiting to be found. Every day brings something new.

I always have a book or two (or more) on the go, dipping into in here and there when I can during the day — exploring the worlds within the pages of a novel is an ever-renewable pleasure to be savoured.

I love being an illustrator for a living, even when it’s tough (such as slow work periods or slow payment). To have a job creating art is a real joy, and I look forward to spending a day creating something beautiful.

Photos {via} 1. Debbie Trolar, 2. Marta, 3. Design*Sponge, 4. Sweet Home Style, 5. Lori Langille

I feel like everything is such a blur. It’s Thursday! {Again? Wasn’t it just Thursday?!!} Today we have the amazingly creative Ez of Creature Comforts. She’s got a fab flickr and a very nice package. {For real, could the name of her shop be cooler?} Check them all out after you read her post! {I love the first one on her list. That’s how I feel about munchkin!}

{My Daughter} As a single mom, much of my world revolves around my 10 year old daughter.  Through her eyes I get to see the world in better and brighter ways every day (she also has the best sense of humor and is constantly cracking me up).  As corny as it may sound, she is my morning light, my evening star, and the sunshine that lights my days.  I think she is the most beautiful thing in the entire world.

{Blogging} I honestly don’t know what I would be doing if I had not discovered blogging.  There is not a day that passes without leaving me inspired or moved by something or someone I come into contact with via my blog or blogland.  The connections and community of blogging are irreplaceable, and I am so thankful to be a part of it all.

{Music} Music is essential to me.  I can never remember an artists name or a song title (friend’s tease me about it), but regardless I am inspired daily by the music I listen to.  From classical to pop (and everything in between), I can’t live without it.

{Photography} Taking photos is a lot like breathing, in that it is utterly essential to my existence.  I love the stillness that takes me over when I am leaning in for a shot, or the way an image story is mapped out in my mind as I’m setting a photo up.  The entire process is wonderful and I hope that it is something that I will continue to learn and improve upon over time.

{Noticing Small Things and Mundane Details} This one seems kind of funny, but I guess I want to list it as one of the things that make my life beautiful because it hasn’t always been easy for me to find joy in the small details…and I know that when I take the time to not only look, but really see what is all around me, my life truly is filled with beauty.

All images by Ez Pudewa

Yikes, this week has flown by. I’m running out the door, but had to give you this weeks EBL. We have Paloma of La Dolce Vita. With a blog name like that, you know she’s got something to say about living an Everyday Beautiful Life. Thanks, Paloma!

My husband is not only the love of my life, but he is also my best friend. He knows more about me than anyone else in the world. He knows how to get under my skin, but he also knows how to make me laugh and feel like the most special woman in the world.

Travel feeds my soul. I have a major case of wanderlust and am constantly dreaming of our next trip. I find so much inspiration when I travel, whether it is to a brand new place or one that I am already familiar with. There is something so special and exhilarating about being removed from your usual surroundings. I love nothing more than walking through the streets of a beautiful city and taking in the sights and sounds.

I absolutely adore beautiful flowers, but then again, what woman doesn’t? My absolute favorite are pink peonies, whether in a bright magenta like the ones pictured above, or a soft blush tone.

I cannot imagine my life without blogging. Never in my wildest dreams would I have imagined that my blog, La Dolce Vita would allow me to meet so many amazing people. I have grown so much as a result of my blog and have explored new interests because of it. It is ingrained in me and is most definitely a part of my everyday life.

Good food and wine are always better in the company of good friends!

Inspiring Interiors are a huge part of my life and my blog. I love looking at a room in a new light or being inspired by a lamp or a rug. I absolutely love interior design, so when I see a new space that inspires me, it makes for a bright spot in my day.

My puppy, Tate has become a huge part of our lives. My husband and I always joke that he is like our first-born child. We adore him with all of our hearts and have spoiled him rotten. He always manages to put a smile on my face, even if I am in a rotten mood.

Image Credits: Rodney Smith for New York Magazine, Unknown, Domino, ELLE DECOR, Richard Foulser, Miles Redd for Domino

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Holy oh my goodness, is it Thursday already? I think the more time you need the faster it seems to go! Well, if it is Thursday that means it’s time for {EBL} and a happy dance. Today our guest is artist and blogger, Jordan of Art of Jordan. She’s talented {see photo above}, can rock short hair better like Aggy or Rhianna, and she basically makes me want to go to Australia to have tea and eat chocolate with her. Today she gives us 10 things that make her life everyday beautiful.

{art}
Art is the shining light in my life. I can’t really express how vital it is to my life, soul and well-being. I’m in a really good place with my art at the moment – I can spend hours in my studio. I don’t know who I would be without it.

{pets}
I’ve always loved animals. More than people quite often. I recently took in a shelter cat, Hilda. She’s my baby. There really is nothing better that a cat purring in your lap. Whenever I’m ridiculously sad she nuzzles me, purrs and looks up at me with big gooey eyes. Which just makes me cry more (with joy).

{blogging}
I’ll never forget the moment when I entered the blogging world – I couldn’t believe I’d never noticed it before. Regardless of who reads my blog, or who I have connected with through blogging, just the act of posting something that inspires me is liberating. I will continue blogging even if it’s to an empty room!

{tea}
There’s nothing like brewing a teapot of delicious herbal tea. I have a big selection of teas in my studio. I love tea emporiums (T2 in Aus is ah-mazing), trying out new blends and varieties. Tea is incredibly soothing for frazzled nerves.

{bed}
I’ve just spent the entire weekend in bed. Which I don’t like to do too often, but curling up under a fluffy blanket, silky cotton sheets and copious pillows is a temptation too hard to resist for me. Especially when Hilda curls up under the sheets with me.

{reading}
I’ve always loved to read. I read a lot as a kid and have never stopped. For a time you can be totally lost in another world. I’ll daydream about the characters and storyline of a really good book when I’m not reading it. And regular reading improves your vocabulary exponentially. (I’m still flabbergasted at the number of people I know who have private school education and can’t spell properly…)

{shoes}
Show me a woman who doesn’t love shoes. My Mum always tells me I have a shoe fetish. I’ve lined all my favorite shoes up under my bed so I can admire them every day! A beautiful pair of heels gives your foot great structure, smoothes out your leg, adds a punch to your outfit – but more importantly – changes the way you walk. You strut. You feel sexy. Can’t argue with that.

{hairstyling}
Despite being the laziest person alive when it comes to hair styling – I adore a good hairstyle. I do some occasional hair modeling and let the stylists go crazy. They always create something that’s unusual but totally perfect for my features. It totally changes the way you feel (there’s a reason we transform our hair after a breakup!).

{chocolate}
Really. Who doesn’t love chocolate? I love chocolate cafes especially (Guylian, Lindt, Max Brenner). ‘Chocolat’ is one of my favorite books. I reckon I could live on chocolate. Actually I think I have at times.

{music}
Talking with a friend the other day I mentioned that I know a song is good when it gives me the urge to twirl around a huge, empty room. Or dance like a maniac (depending on the tempo). I’ve recently discovered the acoustical delights of Sia and La Roux. On repeat…

Photos: 1. Jordan at her studio, 2. unknown, 3. unknown, 4. aime likes to take pics, 5. unknown, 6. tip toe through sunbeams, 7. the cherry blossom girl, 8. trish mcdonald, 9. unknown, 10. glumii {via} ffffound