HymnSing

Happy December!! I hope you have been able to take a moment here and there to savor this season of giving to others and to celebrate the true meaning of this season. I am trying to make a conscious effort to REALLY do that this year. My Christmas shopping is almost done(!). It seems getting that accomplished early really helps being able to focus on being with friends and family and just realizing the abundance that I have.

My church is doing this event called HymnSing this year. I'm pretty excited because I'm helping to plan it with a good friend and I think that it's going to turn out to be a really cool way to enjoy Christmas. It's at a local coffee shop and we'll drink hot cocoa and eat sweets and hang out and sing carols. And I was lucky enough to be able to create this little flyer for the event!

So if you're in Cincinnati, you should come! It's this Sunday from 6-8 pm at Red Tree Gallery in Oakley square. xo, Alicia

View from my apartment

It's a rough life...happy Wednesday!
xo, Alicia

San Francisco Recap + Happy Friday

Happy Friday! So I've pulled out my winter coat already since it's so cold in Ohio. I can not believe that Halloween, Thanksgiving, and Christmas are almost upon us already...I, for one, am pretty excited though:)

Last weekend was the Nike Women's Marathon in San Francisco, of which I ran the half marathon. So it was way, way, way harder than I had expected it to be (although I should have known because everyone whom I told where the race was going to be sort of gave me this, "Oh, wow, it's going to be really hilly, isn't it?" to which I replied, "Well the website says there's no cable car hills, so I don't think so!" to which I was so, so wrong. There weren't "cable car hills" technically, but there was something pretty darn close to it for what felt like about half of the race!). But focusing on more positive things...the weather was absolutely perfect, I had a great time with my girl Megan, I saw my name on Niketown SF (all the marathon/half participant names were on the wall outside!!), made some great memories with Susie who rocked the full marathon, got a Tiffany finisher's necklace, and it was just a really fun city to finally get to visit. Some of my favorite bloggers (Anne from The City Sage and Jordan from Oh Happy Day!) are from there, so it was nice to see where they write from!

(all photos by me)

New Look & New Art

Well it has kind of been a bummer of a day because I woke up with a cold (4 days before the big race), but it was productive around the blog because I was able to update the look. What do you think??

A few weeks ago, there was an art show on Hyde Park Square here in Cincy. Patrick and I picked up our very first piece of art (together) for our place. Here's a closer look:

(All photos by me)

Birthday

My family is pretty big. If you were to ask me what my plans for the weekend are, 25% of the time I will always respond by saying, "Oh, we're just celebrating ___________'s birthday." That blank being someone in my family. I love love celebrating birthdays though. We recently celebrated my nephew Garrett's THIRD birthday and my sweet mom's 60th!


I like making the day a little special, a little festive, but I am not a good ahead-of-time planner for these things. So the day before I think and think of what I can do to help make it special. I usually turn to Jordan for some inspiration--she's my kind of girl, totally adorable and totally attainable party decor.

My sister and brother-in-law helped me hang the crepe paper garlands behind the island (just used regular tape attached to the ceiling) for a little backdrop (it was a snap with two people helping), and the cake decor was just letters printed on cardstock and cut out with a circle punch glued to skewer sticks cut in half! Done and done!

What are your favorite quickie party decor ideas?

San Francisco...

So I don't think I've told you this, but I'm running a half marathon in October. Which is more running than I had planned on doing this year since my goal was to do a full marathon (checked that off the list in May). But anyway, this is not just any old half marathon...it is the Nike Women's (Half) Marathon. Which means there is a mile of Ghiradelli chocolate. And I get a Tiffany's necklace. And an awesome Nike Dri-Fit finisher t-shirt. And it means I get to go to San Francisco! (I've never been before.)


Today was the inaugural training day which was a bit of strengthening + stretching. So excited to get back into training for an actual event. Wish me luck and good health!

[Photo credits: Fleet Street Scandal, The Heads of State]

The Marathon...

is done. xoxo

Lexington

Happy Monday! Well, like I mentioned on Friday, we went to Lexington and stayed at a B+B this past weekend. It was so nice to get away, and Lexington is such a pretty little city! There are so many gorgeous old homes (including the B+B we stayed in!) in the city. On Friday night we got in around 6 pm and took our time getting out to a nice light dinner at Natasha's and then saw Black Swan at the Kentucky Theater right across the street (have you seen the movie--what did you think??). On Saturday we woke up to a great breakfast and then headed out to see Keeneland and do a little shopping.

Now tell me how your weekend was! xo, Alicia

[Photo credits: 1, 2 + 3 taken by me]

Happy Weekend!

Patrick and I are headed to Lexington, Kentucky for a little southern hospitality later today to escape for a little weekend getaway before things start getting insane as he finishes his last semester of school. We'll be staying at the Lyndon House. I'm so excited to just hang out and take it easy with my best friend!

Here's some weekend links:

Is it seriously time to think about Valentine's Day already?

I love these glimpses into Alli's home here and here.

Get the look: old-school movie stars. (via A Cup of Jo)

Red carpet review from the Golden Globes.

Have a great weekend!
xo, Alicia

Running for a Cause

Like I mentioned a few weeks ago, I will be running my first full marathon this year on May 1st. To motivate me through the training and also because I believe this is a great organization, I'm raising money for Samaritan's Purse during these months leading up to the race. Specifically, the money I raise will go to clean water projects in Uganda. This video says it better than I can, so if you feel lead, you can click here to watch it.



If you feel compelled, I would appreciate your prayers for an injury-free training + race. And if you'd like to donate money to the cause, you can do so by clicking here: http://www.firstgiving.com/fundraiser/alicia-clinton/aliciaclinton

Thanks for reading! xo, Alicia

The Year in Review

Last year at this time, I made a set of goals for 2010 that I wrote down and hung up to keep me inspired and motivated. My list was:

Run a half marathon.

Start up a paper goods company on etsy.


Have 100 transactions by the end of the year through my etsy shop.

Visit somewhere I've never been.


Visit a friend I haven't seen in a while.

Read the entire Bible all the way through.

So how did I do?

Well, I didn't run a half marathon, but it motivated me (toward the end of the year anyway) to get back into running (and sign up for my first full marathon during this year!).

I quit my job at Starbucks to focus on teaching Pilates and also to have time to devote to my brand new etsy shop that was opened in February 2010.


I surpassed my sales goal through etsy and felt + wire right in time in December!

Patrick and I went to Chi-town for our anniversary weekend! We had both only passed through Chicago before, so we let it count as going somewhere we'd never been before.


We were able to go to a couple of weddings this summer where I saw friends I hadn't seen in about two years!

I was able to read through the Old Testament of the Bible (which I had never done before) during the year.


2010 was a great year and I'm looking forward to an even better one this year! Happy Tuesday:) xo, Alicia

[Photo credits: You are my Fave, Oh Joy, This is Glamorous, Mochatini, Creature Comforts, La Dolce Vita, Hooray]

Happy Monday + Happy New Year

Hope your year is off to a great start!! I'm very excited about what this year will hold:

Growing my Pilates practice and learning as much as I can.

My husband will graduate.

I'll be running in my first full marathon in May.

Growing Bella Card Company.

Reading more classic literature.


The new year brings about fresh perspective, a blank slate that you can fill in however you want. I'd LOVE to hear what your goals for the new year are!


[Photo Credit: The City Sage]

What I'm Thankful For.

Happy Thanksgiving! Hope you are enjoying the company of friends and family. Remember to take a few moments to tell others how thankful you are that they are in your life or just to reflect on all the good things in your life.

Today I am thankful for:


My sweet husband. I couldn't have dreamed up a better person to complete me. He is the one who is always, always there for me.


My family. This was taken at my brother's wedding last year. I'm so happy that we all have found someone else to spend the rest of our lives with. It's so fun having EIGHT and not just four of us now:)


My job = teaching Pilates. I can't say enough about how much I love what I do. Instead of going to work and leaving with a feeling of stress, I get to go to work and de-stress. (Granted there are those occasional clients who might get the best of me...but it's so rare!)


My business. It is so much fun being able to do something else I love and bring in a little extra income. I have learned so much from starting Bella Card Co. this year.


The support of my church through the community group that Patrick and I started attending this year. It feels great to be connected to other Christians, who have now become friends.

[Photo credits: 1, 2, 4 are personal photographs. 3 via The Breathing Room, 5 via New City Presbyterian Church website]

Fresh Flowers

Sweetest Day was this past Saturday...did you know that? My husband + I don't usually celebrate it, but for some reason this year, Patrick decided to. (I still feel a little bad that I didn't really get him anything in return...) Which means I have fresh flowers sitting next to me as I type this, and I am all for that! If you don't have fresh flowers in your home right now, the next time you are out running errands stop by the grocery or flower shop and pick some up -- the lifting of spirits every time you look at them is worth the $5-10!

[Photo credits: From Me to You]

Jack-o-Lantern

Yesterday was a beautiful fall day (okay well actually it got up to 90 degrees...the changing colors on the trees were the only way you knew it had to be October!). So the husband + I decided to carve into the pumpkins we got a few weeks ago at the pumpkin patch. His is the jack-o-lantern. I only show you a photo of mine drawn on (the cat) because when I finished carving, I realized that it was all going to come out in one big chunk...boo. This was only the second time I have ever carved a pumpkin, so I'm not sure why I attempted something so complex! P said that we could get another one and he would help me next time. We'll see how it goes!

Happy Wednesday!

Teatime

In preparation for the tea party baby shower we're throwing for my sister, I went digging through some china I inherited recently from my great grandmother (top row above) + the formal dishes I received for my wedding (bottom row). I absolutely love the pieces that I have + am so glad I have them because they will be so useful for the baby shower! We were thinking about going antiquing to find some odd + end teacups or teapots, but this is a much more personal (+ thrifty!) route to take.

Hope you have a happy Monday!

xo, Alicia

Happy Weekend :)

Hope your week has been awesome! I am planning to see Eat, Pray, Love this weekend, even though I haven't read the book yet (still waiting for it on hold at the library). If you've read it, what did you think of it?

[Photo credits: top, bottom]

Tea Party Planning

Last week we decided to throw a baby shower for my sister (even though it's her second baby). Her first was a boy, and this one is a girl, so we were naturally VERY excited about the prospect of a girl on the way + thought it only appropriate to handle this situation by throwing a very girly shower: a tea party! Above are the invitations for this event that I designed.

Midweek Dinner Party

Last night my mom hosted a dinner party with some of my friends from high school + their families. It is always good to catch up with those you haven't seen in a while, isn't it?? They are all such fun + great people, and I thought I would share with you some of the details from the party. Unfortunately because of the time of day I took these, only a few of the photos turned out looking okay.



We made the tablecloth, runner, and fabric napkins with just some old fabric we found at Hobby Lobby. The drink coasters were made using cocktail napkins + an iron-on design I had made to coordinate with the invitation (based on the idea here). I created the "take-home" favor bags, also to coordinate with the invitation design (based on the idea here), and put some candy + cookies inside (found at Trader Joe's). We also got all the flowers from Trader Joe's for SO cheap (that place is so awesome...every town should have one!). I found this great recipe for a Chocolate Almond Pastry recipe (originally from Martha Stewart, modified by Fish Food) to finish off the meal on a sweet note. Thankfully (for my mom as the hostess), it was a huge success!

Have a great Wednesday!
xo, Alicia

Happy Weekend!

Hi! Hope your week has been fantastic. Mine was full of Chicago + then coming home to lots of family, which can only make for a good week. Here are a few photos from my recent anniversary trip to Chicagoland.


We had such a great time getting away and just spending time focusing on each other! And now for a few links to browse through this weekend:

* Reese Witherspoon's great style summed up

* Cupcake in a jar?? Yes, PLEASE!

* Gorgeous paper flowers you can make yourself

Have a great summer weekend! xo, Alicia