Needing a Spring Break

The aqua, yellow, and green combo on this sweet graphic tee caught my eye--and inspired a quick search for other items that mix these aching-for-springtime hues.

(Sigh. Can you tell how tired I am of all the snow around these parts? Even a random t-shirt makes me pine for spring...)

Hills T-shirt, $20, ♥maryink

Crocodile Scales giclee print, $30, farouche at etsy

Felted wool nesting bowls, $75, maddy and me designs at etsy

Green Bird Bag, $68, retrofied at etsy

Seam Flower Vases, $39, CLIO

All images / websites / content © their respective owners.

Can you say “ranunculus”?

I cannot. I couldn't even spell it again after today if I tried. I can, however, try to learn how to arrange them. That's why they're this week's installment of my One-Bouquet-a-Week Challenge.

Rifling through the shelves above my refrigerator recently, I can upon this old milk bottle I have from a creamery in High Point, NC (score!). All week, I was determined to find the perfect flowers to go in it, and I think I did it with this bunch of ranunculus (R-A-N-U-N-C-U-L-U-S. Ranunculus). I love its delicate purple-ly pink detail and its slender stems. I also love the raised lettering on the bottle; I tried to capture it with my camera, but I definitely didn't do it justice.

Also in this batch, I just HAD to include a stunning orchid (we all think it's an orchid, but after hitting the flower stand this week, I am not so sure. Do you guys know?) that my always-generous co-worker Cynthia gave me this week (thank you, friend!). It's one of those flowers that stops people who walk by my office and makes them ask what it is and where she bought it (in Rockefeller Center, methinks).

It's a week full of flowers! Is there anything better?

A few good-ish men

Thanks for all the hard work, fellas. (And also for the day off.)

George Washington pillow by awahldesigns at etsy

Richard Nixon Rug by Jonathan Adler

Neapolitan Abe - Archival Print by JustinRichel at etsy

President Herbert Hoover painting by PatKewley at etsy

Barack Obama / handcarved rubber stamp by lilimandrill at etsy

Jimmy Carter 39th President Portrait by Jack Wolf from smokeyfriedfolkart at etsy

All images / websites / content © their respective owners.

You complete me.

In honor of this day of chocolates and arrows shot by fat flying babies and hearts made from red construction paper, I thought it would be an appropriate time to send you all a bit of love.

It's simply this: I really, really appreciate that you stop by, take the time to give M-Dashing a read, and leave your thoughts, stories, and comments! It's such a great motivator to grab my camera, explore my city (or my favorite websites), find new events and activities, and report them back. The fact that you're out there makes me feel like I'm not sending my thoughts out into some sort of Web-vacuum. Thanks so much for connecting with me and inspiring me to write even more.  (-:

Just a few particular shout-outs, in no particular order:

Michele - All the way from Belgium! Your comments always make me smile. And I may not be able to read everything on your own blog (je ne parle pas français) (got that from Google), but I can see your lovely family in gorgeous photos that always tell a good story.

Brooke - Now representing Canada and one of my biggest cheerleaders. I miss seeing your face on a regular basis, pretty lady.

Lydia, The Clueless Crafter - You were one of the first people to regularly comment on posts outside my immediate realm of friends, and it was SUCH a thrill for me! So glad to be getting to know you and your hilarious world. Looking forward to hanging with you at a future tweet-up.

Vicki, iwantthat - I get so excited when I see South Africa in the house...

Tess - You know the drill. How I'd love for you to be blogging, too, my soul sister in design love! You always, always crack me up.

Nichole, Little Brown Pen - Lovely Nichole. You were just the kick-in-the-pants I needed to start blogging. You've always been so supportive, and you work inspires me on a daily basis. Thank you, thank you!

Then there is my amazing-friends-before-the-blog commenting group. George's Mom. Courtney. The other Courtney. KHache. Leah. Allison. Anna. Zovig. Lauren Z. Beth. And, of course, my mom. Thank you all for everything, as always.

(And for those of you who are reading and may not be commenting, I appreciate you just as much! Thanks for being there and for coming along for the ride.)

I may be a little blog, but I've got big love for you all. Be mine?