simplified datebook from laura!

a couple weeks ago I entered Laura's Simplified Datebook Giveaway... and I won! when I came home late last night, there was a package sitting on my porch!!!!!

you know she wrapped it in pink paper ;)

♥

she even threw in a couple of extras. because she is amazing. how amazing is she?! this is not rhetorical. I actually want you all to tell me how amazing you think she is :)

and the datebook looks amazing. I go back to work for some training before the school year starts, so I will truly be able to report on how amazing it is after I begin using it!

Laura's blog is wonderful. a mix of photos, product shares/reviews, some birchblogging, and posts about daily life. not to mention her adorable pup, Riley! what's not to love? you should all go check it out!!

i ♥ IG

I have been loving instagram more and more since getting an iPhone 5 just before Christmas (thanks mom & dad!), and being able to play with a bunch of new apps.

some of my faves are AfterLight, VSCO, XnView Fx, and of course the new photo app from the lovely ladies over at A Beautiful Mess.

I also love, love love Chantelle's (aka fatmumslim) photo prompts. they are so inspiring and fun! not only do they encourage me to take photos every day, but they challenge me to interpret the prompt in a number of different ways, and maybe gain some new perspectives. AND to my absolute surprise, Chantelle has featured two of my photos on her instagram account in the past couple weeks. how amazing is that? twice I logged into instagram to find way more notifications than I'm used to (which is anything more than 5, ha!) to find that she had shared my photos. I'm being super nerdy about it, but I was just so excited! what an amazing lady!

if you have instagram, you should totes leave your username in a comment and I will check out your feed. or check mine out! my username is sofia_maria. happy gramming!

things I love today: instagram edition

I "liked" a lot of photos on Instagram over the past week or two. here are a few of my favorites:

what a cute sweatshirt emmaredvelvet is wearing! you may recognize Emma from the blog she shares with her sister Elsie, A Beautiful Mess. you may recognize the sweatshirt from Hello Apparel. it just makes me smile! I would love to have something like this :) and Emma wears it so well.

truelane, aka Chelsea, of Zipped is always putting together outfits that make me swoon. not to mention her photos of delightful coffee, baked goods, and daily life. she's the best, and so is this "grandma sweater." :)

another Chelsea. this time, it's seablanket. her photos are always lovely and interesting, and this one is just so whimsical.

I love every, every, every one of sandrajuto's photos. sandra's blog and IG account are full of the most beautiful photos. you should check her out if you love exceptional photography. especially if you love food photography!

Zoe of ladybirdlikes shares her inspiration wall for her lookbook photoshoot. posts like this always fascinate me. organization freaks (like me), eat your heart out!

I adore tattoos. I especially adore Carly's tattoo. the design, the placement; it's so perfect. plus, she is an amazing artist. visit Carly's instagram, imapuffin, for a peek into her life. you won't regret it!

I have been using Chantelle's photo-a-day prompts for months now. she has inspired me out of many a photography lull, and she continues to do so. she posts her favorite 4 photos DAILY for each prompt, as well as her own photos. plus, since studying abroad in Australia, I have a soft spot for Aussies :) visit her blog, instagram, facebook page; you can't go wrong.

I have always adored Sarah's photography and art. she always seems to be on an adventure, and the second best thing to being there alongside her is to live vicariously. both Sarah's blog and instagram are filled with lovely, breathtaking photos, and unique art. plus, her dog Boo Radley is pretty darn cute too.

last but certainly not least, an old friend of mine, enjeibee. Nick and I used to work at a pub together while going to college. I had no idea that we had so much in common until I started following his instragram and ChicagoNow feature, Hoppy Times. craft beer, big cities, good food. if only I had known sooner. Nick, you're doing an amazing job. I love your photos, and I hope you're loving life as much as it seems!

aren't all of these photos beautiful? what instragram photos are you loving lately? if you have an account, comment with your username, or follow me @sofia_maria!

things i love today: blog attack!

maybe it's just because I love all things fall, or maybe the authors on my blogroll are just feeling particularly inspired lately, but I have been blown away by many posts by many of my favorite bloggers. behold!

the very inspiration for this post. a list of 25 things to do this fall by kate over at wake up, lovely. I adore this post. some favorites?

5. Spend a night with your favourite person, banning the use of electricity. Rely on candles and fires.
10. Paint a canvas.
19. Get a tattoo that nobody will see until the summer.
22. Spend the whole day watching the Harry Potter films.

we should all be inspired to make our own lists. thanks, kate :)

hot off the presses! today, sophia (an awesome name if I do say so myself) over at shabby apple posted a fall bucket list entry today. drool. I love the leaf art idea. you have to check it out!

I totally made this pumpkin risotto, and it was totally delicious. totally try it. totally. and check out elsie and emma's other pumpkin recipes over at a beautiful mess while you're at it! so, so perfect and autumn-tastic.

hello! chelsea of zipped is my go-to for fall fashion. everything she posts I instantly want. is that bad? I don't think so. is it? you be the judge.

holy crap, how amazing does this pudding look? I love love love beca's blog. her photos, her adventures, her recipes, her incredible handmade frames. amazing! go check her out.

one of my favorite things about fall is the fashion. namely, tights. and gloves. chantilly, you've done it! she has written a few more season-appropriate posts, and her words are always so real. totally smitten with her genuineness.

katie of katie's pencil box is always posting amazing photos! I know this screencap doesn't to the post justice, but her fall-inspired post got me all excited for the leaves to change, and the crops of gourds to flood the farmers' market.

and last but not least... this has to be my favorite

kinsey of sincerely, kinsey posted the most amazing crochet top diy, made from... a thrifted blanket. how amazing is that?! it totally inspired me to research sewing machines on craigslist. any advice for first-time sewing machine owners? any features/brands I should keep my eye out for?

what blog posts are you loving this fall?

* I enjoy sharing with my readers shops, items, and other things that strike me as unique and beautiful. all opinions are 100% my own. *