Favorite Things Thursday

Happy Thursday! My favorite thing today this week is my new blog design! Over the past two months I have been working with Kelly Ann of Kelly Ann Creative to create an updated design for The Anchored Elm. Kelly Ann's self described approach to design includes a deep love for color, white space, and typography. Even though I haven't had the best relationship with my blog lately, I feel inspired by the new design and I can't wait to create new content!

Here is a peak at our correspondence about the design:

Let's talk blog design. What would your dream blog look like? Would it be colorful and crazy? Or clean, practical, with lots of white space? Somewhere in between? When a reader visits your blog, how would you want them to feel? (Energized? Peaceful? Refreshed? Inspired?)

My dream blog would be practical, open and airy with a focus on content. I want readers to feel inspired and find the layout easy to navigate and read. I would like the anchor/nautical/mermaid theme represented as well as the Raleigh/acorn theme present in the design. I would like a color palate that uses jade, evergreen, mint and teal along with natural hues and black accents. I would like the content to move up towards the top of the page, not pushed down by a header.

During the process Kelly Ann suggested that I create a Pinterest board so I could share my ideas about the colors, mood and aesthetic feeling of the design. I found this to be really fun and I think it made the process run smoothly because I was able to provide visuals in addition of written description. I like discovering new ways to utilize social media platforms!

Kelly Ann is currently offering a 10% discount for blog designs to The Anchored Elm readers! Just send her an email at kellyann@flowerchilddwelling.com and mention my name (Elisha) in the message!

What are you loving this week?

Favorite Things Thursday

 

Stained Glass Fairytales by Mandie Manzano

Mermaids Lagoon | The Mermaids Song

These beautiful, vibrantly colored art prints inspired by fairytale characters and pop culture are amazing! These are my top two favorites, but there are so many more in Manzano's portfolio on Society6. I haven't bought anything from here yet, but I think it might be a good go-to for sourcing art when we have more wall space in the future.

Favorite new show of the summer so far, Family Tree on HBO. The show is written and created by Christopher Guest and Jim Piddock. It's a single-camera, documentary-style show that follows Tom Chadwick, played by Chris O'Dowd, who begins exploring his family heritage after inheriting a mysterious box from a great aunt he never met. Unsure of his identity, he uncovers a world of unusual stories and characters as well as a growing sense of who he and his real family are. It's so funny!

"Set the foundation with the powdered ashes of Susan B. Anthony." - @tadelesmith

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I am still getting used to the "share", "reblog", and "heart" buttons being at the bottom of each after being being relocated there by, I am assuming Yahoo's people. It makes so much sense, but after years of tumbling and scrolling back up to the top to like a post, my scrolling finger just seems to be stuck in it's old ways... Is it just me or does anyone else have this problem quirk?

To end this FTF post, I have big, exciting news to share! I have a blog re-design in the works! It is inspired by my passions, including mermaids, jadeite and Raleigh. I wanted to share a sneak peak before the whole new layout goes live, hopefully soon! 

I hope you have a lovely Thursday!

Favorite Thursday Things

I'm switching it up this week and moving my favorite things post to Thursday! I want to try out a new type of weekly post on Fridays so stand by for new content tomorrow!

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Modern Family had one of the best season finales this week.

I recently added this colorful Xhilaration® Juniors Braided Waist High Low Maxi Dress to my closet. It's so comfy and light!

I have been studying this Game of Thrones Families chart like there will be a test. Aaron and I recently started re-watching season 1 with the commentary on and I can't believe how much the characters have changed. Daenerys is still my favorite!

This dreamy iPhone case created by Jillian Audrey Designs makes me want to jump in the car and go explore the beaches on North Carolina with friends! I still have the same one that I bought at 5 Below the same day that I got my iPhone. It has held up surprisingly well, but maybe it is time for an upgrade...

I'm feeling so sleepy today, but it looks like it's going to be another beautiful day so I am going to fuel up on coffee and work it! I hope you have a lovely Thursday!