DIY ~ Make Your Own Valentine's Day Cards

Nothing is more personal than a handwritten note, so why should Valentine's Day be treated any differently? Show someone you care by making your own Valentine's Day cards. Get your construction paper, felt, scissors markers and glue... add some stickers, glitter, stamps, paint brushes and paint... and go to town! I promise you will have fun!

Related: Love Birds on a Wire ~ a watercolor painting

photos: flickr, martha stewart

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Bright Ideas: Beat The Winter Blues and Smile

Are the Winter Blues getting you down? Here are some tips to be happy and energized! For me, I instantly feel happier when I make my bed, get outside, connect with friends, do something good for someone else every day, and smile! Even if your smile is a fake one, it will instantly make you a little bit happier. Go ahead, try it right now...

A smile is a curve that sets everything straight. ~ Phyllis Diller

Beauty is power; a smile is its sword. ~ Charles Reade

Of all the things you wear, your expression is the most important. ~ Janet Lane

I just like to smile, smiling's my favorite. ~ Quote from ELF

So go ahead and Send Flowers to someone you love!

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Related "How To" be Happy during the Winter

Apartment Therapy: 1 Simple way to be happy in the New Year

Real Simple: 9 Things You Can Do to Be Happy in the Next 30 Minutes

Martha Stewart: Body and Soul Challenge

photo: Beautiful Smile

How to Organize Your Jewelry with Decorative Bowls

How do you organize your jewelry? I love my decorative bowls, and I use them to keep my jewelry separated and in groups.

When I saw the above image on Emily Clark via Martha Stewart, I went right upstairs and took a photo of my Anthropologie bowls.

Related: Organize your home with Pottery Barn

More Organizing Tips and

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Follow Bright Bold and Beautiful with bloglovin to enter for a free original watercolor by Laura Trevey! The winner will be chosen from my Bloglovin followers on January 31st ~ Good Luck!

Christmas Wishes ~ Best of Blogs

What an amazing year this has been! I have made so many wonderful relationships through the blogosphere, and want to thank you for that. I appreciate each and every comment you leave and wish you the very best this holiday season. Below are links from my fellow bloggers as well as some new friends I have recently made through blogging.

I look forward to a wonderful 2011 with you guys...

For the absolute most glamorous ~ visit {this is glamorous}, Dustjacket Attic,

little blue deer, Haute Design, Everything Fabulous, Dress Design & Decor ...

I am always inspired by you!

For inspiration from the most talented business women ~ Made by Girl, Isabella and Max Rooms, decor8, Colour me Happy, La Dolce Vita, Table Tonic, House of Turquoise, Plush Palate, The Love List, Ada & Darcy, coco+kelley

I learn so much from you!

For the ultimate in Fashion, Design and Style blog ~ The Zhush, The Decorista, Simplified Bee, Couture Carrie, Haven and Home, Pure Style Home, Flourish Design and Style, A Diary of Lovely, Lovely Clusters, Bon Bon Rose Girls, So About What I Said..., Casa Bella, Bright Bazaar, Emily Clark, La vie J'aime, Brunch at Saks, Decorology, apartment 34, escapade, everything LEB, deliciously organized

You are always on the cutting edge!

and Amazing Artists who always inspire ~ CREATE, Annechovie, Katie Daisy

Love your creative style!

~ Submit Your Favorite Blog post of 2010 {from Your blog} if you have not already ~

Top 10 of 2010 Favorite Blog posts on BB&B

Win a watercolor painting ~ Follow BB&B via Bloglovin'

Happy Holidays from me to you... Wishing you all the success for 2011 too!

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photos: pinterest, marthastewart.com

Bright Ideas: How to Care for an Orchid

I was so excited to receive this elegant orchid from a friend for my birthday. It goes perfectly on my desk, and even coordinates with my watercolor painting on the wall. I did some research on how to care for an orchid, since {I am afraid to say} this is my very first one! Sonia Uyterhoeven, Gardener for Public Programs at the New York Botanical Garden, gives great watering and fertilizing tips.

Watch this video on How to get your Orchid to rebloom.

Related resources:

Martha Stewart: Orchids 101

Orchid Care Tips: Watering

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Don't miss the sterling stacking ring giveaway!

Bright Ideas: Bud Vases Centerpiece

Create your next table setting centerpiece by placing multiple glass bud vases together with your fresh blooms from the garden. Easy and economical too!

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{via marthastewart.com}

Cottage Chic

I saw photos of this cute little cottage on photographer Douglas Friedman's website and finally did a little investigating about it. Turns out that it belongs to Cove Landing (995 Lexington Avenue, 212-288-7597) co-owner Angus Wilkie and was featured on one of Martha Stewart's house tours. It was built in the early 19th-century and looks like the perfect kind of place to spend the long 4th of July holiday weekend. I also love that they left the glue covered plaster walls as they appeared after paper was removed from them. It's an interesting contrast to the collection of engravings and Biedermeier furniture. I think most people would have also bought the place and knocked it down to build a McMansion so it's also a testament to the keen eye and fabulous design sense of Angus Wilkie. As Marta would say, "it's a good thing." Enjoy!

Photos by Douglas Friedman