Since it has been so long, I have seen a lot of people, places, and things that have been inspiring me. So, instead of typing away, why don’t I just share them with photos. What has been inspiring you lately? I am so glad to be back!
Archive for the ‘Happiness Visualized’ Category
Happiness Visualized
Wednesday, November 14th, 2012Happiness Visualized
Tuesday, June 26th, 2012
It has been awhile since I have had time to post a Happiness Visualized, which only means even more updates to share! This week I am loving all the sweet moments this past month and a few pretty things acquired along the way. What has been inspiring you lately?
The above picture is a re-edit of my 8Balloons photo by my fellow Bostonian/friend/rapper Grover, and I couldn’t be happier! He is turning into quite the photographer and editor amongst his other talents.
via Grovergrove
Who says you can’t celebrate your best friend’s birthday if they aren’t in the same state? I went out with a friend and they ordered me a huge cotton candy/gummi bear contraption with raspberry cake so we could at least take a picture and text my best friend on his special day 
My friend Merryl saw this idea online and decided to make a few funny cards for both her and I.
My dear friend Amanda and her fiancé Brian had such a beautiful engagement party earlier this month. At the end of the night, they gave out these awesome Save the Dates. Each slide shows a picture of the couple with information about the wedding date and location. What a brilliant idea!
I found these mouse flats and I can’t stop wearing them. via Shop Style
These Henri Bendel rope bracelets have become a favorite of mine. via Henri Bendel
Every morning my friends/baristas always leave a special note on my cup. It’s a great way to start the day!
Happiness Visualized
Wednesday, April 25th, 2012
My viewpoint from my 7am train commute to work while living in Chicago. The only way to sum up all of those memories and experiences is by saying the city is magical!
The Memo Planner is a calendar made out of post it notes via The Design Files
Through Being Cool Print by the wonderful Meeralee Illustration
Homemade treats my friend Jordan brought me to brighten up my day!
E for Effort loose leaf t-shirt via Artware Editions
The Index Notebook is perfect for on the go planning including tabs for quick notes and contacts via Russell+Hazel
Happiness Visualized
Wednesday, April 18th, 2012
It has been a crazy few weeks and I have missed you all! There has been so much I have wanted to share but with long work days and a little traveling in between, it was difficult to show up. I started to feel bad every day that passed without writing because I continually promised myself I would post. This pressure started to get to me and blocked me from getting back into the swing of things. I had to remind myself that 8B was created as a place for inspiration and creativity with no rules. It has always been a “passion project” of mine and I don’t want it to ever be anything else! Have you ever put more pressure on yourself than needed? What have you done to overcome it?
With that said, let’s start this week off on a Wednesday {no rules} with a few of the items I have been wanting to share and that have made me smile these past few weeks! What has been inspiring you lately?
Annual Easter Egg Dying with family friends
Writing thank you cards for friends via Quill and Fox
Weapons of Mass Creation iPhone Case by Bianca Green via Society6
Essie Spring 2012 Colors via STYLE’N
new Coke bottle design
{first image via Saved By Grace}
Happiness Visualized
Wednesday, March 28th, 2012
Green Cycle Designs Jane Eyre Recycled Book Paper Flowers
As much as I love sharing what inspires me weekly, I also love hearing what has been inspiring all of you! I think that inspiration is more frequent in our lives when we share with each other our ideas and discoveries. A great example of this was when one of my readers awhile ago sent me a link to an Etsy page, Green Cycle Designs, an eco-friendly home decor and accessories shop. They sent me this link because of my love for paper flowers and Green Cycle Designs created flowers in such a way I had not seen before. Tara, the owner of GCD, takes recycled paper from our favorite classic books and creates paper flowers from them. It turned out GCD were going to be at an art fair close by and so I was able to go see their beautiful creations. I wouldn’t have found such innovative inspiration if it wasn’t for that reader and that is why I am so grateful for this community we are building on 8Balloons! Below are some of the other little inspirations I have found delight in this week. Please stop by and let me know yours!
RowHouse14 Personalized Stationary Flat Note Cards
I knew it was fate when the example was my name! via RowHouse14
Disco Biscuit by Butter
Bright pink for the summer via outblush
Quotation Striped Skirt
Favorite new striped skirt via Bloomingdales
The Well-Cooked Life Vintage Mason Jars
I am loving mason jars for my drinks and also for a few new dessert recipes I want to try. I really like these vintage jars via The Well-Cooked Life
Mos Def, The Ecstatic
An oldie but still a favorite album of mine by Mos Def via iTunes
Draw Something
I am sure you have heard all about Draw Something this week, and I am happy to say it does live up to the hype. I think the game has many improvements to go, but so far my friends and I are definitely getting many laughs out of it. picture from techradar via iTunes
Happiness Visualized
Wednesday, March 7th, 2012
Make Yourself Proud Quotable Magnet
Happy Wednesday! We are almost through another productive week! Julie and I have been so busy lately with various crafts (that we will be sharing soon!) and exciting dinner parties that we have been attending with our friends. Great food, laughs and some wine… doesn’t get better than that. While we are getting ready for our own little spring break next week (taking off a few days of work to relax and enjoy, but not to worry, we’ll still be writing) we want to share some fun things that have been inspiring us!
-Elizabeth xoxo
first image via Amazon
The Gratitude Journal App for the iPhone and iPad is perfect when you’re on the go! Features include custom fonts, bullets, image, frames, calendar view, ability to add quotes to entries, and just overall has a fun design.
Gratitude App
Spending some time creating DIY ideas.
Creating
Julie hosted an Italian dinner for all of her girlfriends and sister.
I hosted a dinner for my best friends
Italian Dinner
Tiramisu Cake
One of Elizabeth’s favorite quotes when things get tough via Whimsical Inspirations
Elizabeth Taylor quote
Happiness Visualized: Leap Day
Wednesday, February 29th, 2012
Hello Life Print by Amanda Catherine Designs
Happy Wednesday – Hump Day – Leap Day! Fun fact to start the day – I read that if you were born on Leap Day you are referred to as a “leaper” or “leapling.” I also read that anything started on this day is said to be assured a success! I thought that was kind of cute- any readers celebrating thier birthday today? In the spirit of making the most of this “extra day,” I will be working on my book a bit more today as well as on some little projects that I have been putting off far too long. My inspirations this week are motivating me to be more productive … what’s been motivating or inspiring you?
Happiness Visualized
Thursday, February 16th, 2012
Create Happiness Print by Earmark
A Holiday week always brings me a little more inspiration than others because my sensory levels are peaked with colors, decorations, excitement and anticipation. I was loving the color red for obvious reasons (Valentine’s Day), baked goods, music, and friends. I went to my dad’s bakery this week and baked a huge cookie cake for Valentine’s Day and I must say, it was so yummy! But the week hasn’t been all filled with excitement, it has also been riddled with a few bumps in the road including writing my book and career choices that I will go into another time. I might make a perfect cookie cake but I don’t claim to be perfect and I will never pretend to be on my blog. When I can better understand my bumps in the road and choices that lay in front of me, I will then share them and the insight I have gained. But for now, I will focus on staying in the moment and doing the best I can right now. I hope you all have a wonderful rest of the week and an even better weekend. Truly grateful to my online community!
first image via my favorite new Etsy shop, Earmark Social Paper Goods
Valentine's Cookie Cake
Valentine's Themed Nails
Sleigh Bells Concert
Postalco Notebooks that I can't wait to use!
Happiness Visualized: Ode to Lace & Crochet by Jenni Kupelian of JarFly Designs
Thursday, February 9th, 2012
Ode to Crochet & Lace
I love having guest bloggers contribute to 8Balloons, especially on Happiness Visualized. It allows me to feel as though I am reading another blog that day and gaining more inspiration from a fellow blogger I admire. Jenni Kupelian of Jarfly Designs has become a great friend of mine and has contributed to this blog a few times before. I adore her clean, vintage, and girlie style and her blog has become one of my favorites because of the wonderful inspiration collages she continues to create. I gave her the task of creating a visual board of anything that has been inspiring her lately. I was so excited to see her favorite inspirations as of now; crochet and lace. I really haven’t thought too much about lace but when I saw her picks, it put a whole new take on the idea for me. Now I might have a coinciding obsession as well with it Thanks again Jenni for letting us in on a little of what has been inspiring you.
Check out Jenni’s beautiful blog at Jarfly Designs
1. Lace Tank Anthropologie
2. Lace Brass Necklace Livin’ In Style
3. Pillow Behirah
4. Lace Edge Cards Almond Crafts
5. Vintage Lace Earrings The Whirlwind
6. Lace Flats Urban Outfitters
7. Bunting Ami Elisah
8. Lace Doily Cards A Fete Beckons
9. Heirloom Throw Anthropologie
Happiness Visualized: All About Polka Dots
Wednesday, February 1st, 2012
Anthropologie Teacup
Lately, my eyes have been drawn to polka-dots. I discussed my love for stripes before, but I think I might be having an affair, ssshhh! Polka Dots are just like sparkles to me; they bring a smile to my face and always seem cheerful. Black and white dots are classic while colorful dots are just the right amount of splash of color. It was so difficult cutting down the list of images I wanted to include, but here they are! (more…)
I am 8Balloons curator Julie Reif and I love all things paper and other beautiful creations. I am not the artist but rather the admirer. 
