Zigging and Zagging Through Delight

Hello all! The holiday season is approaching and I wanted to explain my plans for "Moments of Delight." In a nutshell, I am going to zig and zag through topics over the next two months. 

Many blogs do daily countdowns or holiday specific posts, but I have SO much to share from my travels these last 3 months that I can't possibly shelve everything until January. So...

I will jump in with holiday content, as needed (like the Cornbread Turkey) but I will also sprinkle in restaurant recommendations, embroidery projects I'm working on, design tips, parks & rec, and a host of other beautiful content. 

My plan is to delight, just know that I may zig when you expect me to zag.  I think it is important to distinguish that this is not "real time" content, like Instagram. The photos or recipes weren't photographed in the last 48 hours. How could I possibly keep up? 

For example, I have a dahlia garden that I want to show you. The blooms have faded in Seattle, but would you really want me to wait until NEXT September to share them with you? Me, either.

Remember, it is all about finding delight in everyday life. Enjoy!

Poppytalk for Target: A Cake Stand After My Own Heart

I stood mesmerized in front of an endcap in Target.  It was June and the limited edition entertaining collection called Poppytalk was now on the shelves.  

I was in Seattle at the time and tried to figure out how much I could fit in my luggage. I decided that I could manage the 3-tier paper cake stands and gave it priority because I LOVED it.

Poppytalk is described on Target's website:

 Poppytalk is an internationally lauded design blog with an indie sensibility. Jan Halvarson, co-founder of Poppytalk, along with partner and husband, Earl Einarson, mine the beautiful, the decayed and the handmade, pinning inspirational DIYs, home designs and ideas for entertaining. Jan lives, works and pins from Vancouver.

I have been moving around so much, it was only recently that I put the cake stands together and took this photograph.  Isn't it perfect for my design style? Jan Halvarson is kindred spirit, that's for sure! 

Since Poppytalk for Target is limited edition, I'm sorry to say that the items are now on clearance (view it here) and the cake stands aren't available online anymore.  But that doesn't mean that you can't find them in store.

If this collection speaks to you, get yourself to Target and see what you can find.

My Blog About Finding Delight

I thought today would be a good day to explain my philosophy of delight.  I just surpassed 1,800 blog posts and the accomplishment has brought out some great questions.  

Why do you blog?

I love being able to share my photos, thoughts and ideas. I strive to write reliable and informative content full of delightful images, ideas and recommendations.  I post five days a week, with one of my original photographs accompanying each post.  An executive once told me that success comes from passion and persistence.  I think my passion for things that delight (flowers, ice cream, entertaining, crafts, collecting, travel) can be recognized within each post.  I show my persistence by posting day-after-day, year-after-year, with the hope that my words and images will bring delight to someone at just the right moment.  I have over 10,000 people visit my blog each month, so I have a hunch I am on the right track.  I published my 3 books so that my readers could have a physical collection of my photos and suggestions to read and show their friends.  

How do I decide what I am going to write about?

I believe that "finding delight in everyday life" means looking for delight in a variety of places.  Accept an invitation to a jazz concert, order an unusual dessert, experiment with color in your sheets and pillowcases, grow herbs, try painting.  Can you see what I'm getting at?  You don't have to specialize in just growing bonsai trees or collecting stamps.  Dabble in a variety of things and see what speaks to you.  

As a result, each day in my blog is a surprise.  Sometimes you will get a recipe. Other days an anecdote.  And when I am traveling, I called it a "City Series" and I write a string of posts.  You can "come along" on my trip and see the shops, sweets and treats I found.  I label each post with the city or region, so that later you can go to the sidebar of the blog, find the "City Series" section and click "Atlanta" and read all of my posts from Atlanta.  At the absolute bottom of the blog (scroll down) you can see my other labels: "accessories", "Jell-O", "hydrangeas" - you name it! Click the topic you are interested in and all of the posts in that topic will appear on one page.  

How do I find my way around your blog? I don't understand what a blog is.

A blog is just like a webpage.  It has an address (www.MomentsOfDelight.com) and you can visit it any time you want.  The most recent blog post appears at the top.  You can look in the sidebar and see links to visit my "Moments of Delight" Facebook page, Twitter account, Pinterest boards and Etsy store.  You can also use the SEARCH box to look for a particular post.  Click around and see what you can find.  You can't hurt anything, click away!  

If you want a reminder to read my blog, you can locate the "Follow Blog By Email" box in the sidebar of my blog and enter your email address.  Each new blog post will be emailed to you.

What rose is that?
This magnificent rose is called "Abraham Darby" by David Austin.  You see it here, blooming in my rose garden in southeastern Michigan.

6 Year Anniversary for "Moments of Delight"

Can you believe that I have been blogging for 6 years?  Today is my blog-iversary.  Since May 7, 2007, I have written 1,758 posts (paired with one of my photographs) at www.MomentsOfDelight.com

Why do I blog?  

It makes me feel good to put beautiful photos and inspiring ideas out into the world.  I like that my readers can rely on me to post ideas on flower arranging, baking, friendship, collecting.  

Etsy is exciting if you want to buy handmade designs. Pinterest is fun if you want to see photos; I blog because it is important to me to provide inspiring text as well.  Remember, thinking is good for you.

I tell people that my blog is "where sugar rules and stories matter."

I hope that over the years I have: shown you something you had never seen, inspired you to try a recipe or flower arrangement, answered a question or simply gave you delight.  

I am here, still blogging and committed to this delightful life.  All the best, Anne

A Brand New Year

Hello!  Happy New Year!  I hope that you are happy and healthy - that you've spent the last 30 days eating pie, hugging your family and getting glitter on your clothes.  I personally feel wonderful.  But my blog has had some real gaps in the last few weeks and I'm sorry.

This was the first year that I couldn't "live the life" and document it in real time.  Those of you that follow my on Facebook and Twitter knew that my holidays were packed with fun.

So today I am actually going to go backwards a bit.  I have photos from the holidays that you must see.  Pictures of how projects turned out and decorations that I made and want to show you.  So, I have retro-blogging to do to make this holiday season make sense.  Come back tomorrow and scroll through December.  You'll see a much better picture of a glorious holiday season.

Happy New Year! xo Anne

Delightful Blogs

House Beautiful magazine has recommended that people look into finding and reading "delightful blogs" (March issue, p.78). And since that is precisely what I have been writing about here at MomentsOfDelight.com for the past 5 years,  I want to applaud them and welcome you to my 1,600 original posts.

I am an author, photographer and crafter, so the photos, thoughts and ideas you see here are all mine.  My mission is to delight my readers with topics that range from interior design and baking, to friendship and collecting.  You never know what I will be writing about each day, but that is part of the fun!  

I have a "City Series" displayed in the right hand column that lets you read my posts from a specific city, if you are planning a trip.

Just below that is "Anne's Favorite Recipes" section so you can jump to my recipes by name ("Cheddar Leaves" for Fall parties!).

The "Blog Archive" is displayed by month, so if you want to read about a particular season with me, choose "April" within "2009" and you'll see Easter and Spring posts.  

There is also a "Search Box" if you want to read about something specific like roses or honey.  Have fun!  Reading about delight is good for you.

xo Anne, Architect of Delight at MomentsOfDelight.com

Country Living Blue Ribbon Blogger

Country Living magazine is having an event to recognize bloggers.  I've nominated my blog, Moments of Delight and would love if you would chime in and let Country Living magazine know that you enjoy my blog too. Thanks, Anne
http://www.countryliving.com/2012-blue-ribbon-blogger-awards-nominations

5 Year Blog-iversary

This week marks my 5 year blog-iversary!  I started with the idea of providing beautiful and inspiring content on a daily basis and next week will mark my 1,500th post!  

I find delight all over my life - in cooking, travel, photography, gardening, crafting and I love to show you what I'm working on and what I'm thinking about and hope that it inspires you to do the same.

"May you always find delight." - Anne Reeves

The Love of Blogging

Want to bring me delight?

I just nominated my blog, Moments of Delight for the "Blue Ribbon Blogger" Award at Country Living magazine.

This is not a contest, but a selection of the best blogs out there. Country Living is asking for nominations from blog readers.  You can nominate blogs through August 1st. 

If you would please: Click this Country Living link, type Moments of Delight and a few words about why you like my blog.  After 4 years of blogging 6 days a week (over 1,200 posts to read!), I feel that I really have fun, interesting and inspirational content for my readers. 

It would mean the world to me to be recognized.  Thanks!

Anne Reeves Blog Update

Moments of Delight blog update: 

I've added another feature to make reading, sharing and searching my blog a bit easier.

Notice the "topics" bar listed alphabetically at the top of the screen (roses, mint, Paris, candy).  You can click any of those topics and be routed to my blog posts & photos on that subject.  Neat, eh?

Three Years of Delight

I still can't believe it...I have been blogging for 3 years!

Six days a week, I post one of my photographs along with a recipe, thought or idea that focuses on the beauty of everyday life.

I write about travel, baking, gardening, crafts, interior design, holidays, collecting...all while tucking in some sweet stories as they happen.

The comment box may seem quiet, but did you know that over 4,000 people are dedicated to delight and return more than a 100 times each year?

Thanks for finding delight!

Paris Daily Photo

If you love Paris, what could be better than a daily glimpse inside your favorite city?

Paris Daily Photo is the brain-child of Eric Tenin, a photographer that has been posting his view of Paris online every day for the last four years. I visit often and can appreciate his mix of historical and pop culture "snap shots."

And just how popular is Paris Daily Photo? It has such a loyal following, an annual picnic is hosted each May so that resident readers (and those visiting Paris) can meet for an evening to "comment" in person. Love it!

I was able to sit down with Eric for tea & pastries at Angelina's last week and we spent the whole time talking about photography, technology and blogs. I was in heaven. Thank you, Eric!

Moments of Delight

This is my 500th blog post.

My name is Anne Reeves and I am an entrepreneur dedicated

to bringing the world Moments of Delight.

I am including the forward from my book to relay how I feel

on the day of this big achievement, my 500th post.

Thank you for reading.

Delight can be found by appreciating
what is right in front of you.
In a cupcake or a sunset.
in a wonderful story or a lavender field.
You can enjoy these moments in your life,
if you slow down and look for them.

I’ll show you and then you’ll start to see it.

This book combines gardening, crafting,

baking, collecting,
travel, story-telling and entertaining -
punctuated by my photography and
rolled into the state of mind I call delight.

As you read through this book, notice which pages you react to.
Notice how happy you feel, simply by thinking.

I find delight all over my life...
at different times of day,
in different cities and settings,
with people that I love and in strangers that I meet.

These are Moments of Delight...

Flea Market Finds and Spode Blue Room

Friends at the Paris Daily Photo blog were talking about the enamelware pots sold at Paris "Vide Grenier" (essentially garage sales) and I promised to post a photo of some of the enamelware I have found over the years. As I was rearranging items for a close-up, I pulled back and saw this. My world of blue & white looked so pretty, I am including it all. The dishes on the plate rack are Spode's Blue Room. Can you see the sweet wool sheep? He is a hand-crafted ornament that I bought at the Wool and Sheep Festival in Romeo last year. Does blue and white bring you delight?