Colour Theory #3: The survivor's guide to Mustard Yellow

Mustard yellow (also known as "baby-runny-poos" around here) is not everyone's favourite colour. Especially when it is slightly greenish. We recently bought a $10 tufted sofa in this colour for our new place, and I'm pleased to see how good it can look.

 On the colour wheel, this greenish-yellow is opposite purpley-pinks, which is why fuchsia looks so good with it. Pale pink is a winner too. A more classic combo for yellow is, of course, blue. I just find the white + wood + pinks is funkier and more... fresh.

I didn't always love yellow, especially not the 'baby-runny-poos' kind, but now I can't wait to experiment with it!

Are you a fan??

Picture sources:
1. Design Manifest via Pinterest
2. Isabella and Max Rooms via Pinterest
3. Desire to Inspire via Pinterest
4. Rue Mag via Pinterest

Pepperkakor and Christmas

Christmas for me feels like the arrival of summer, family coming home, strawberries with icing sugar, and a pile of presents under the same plastic Christmas tree we've had since I was born. When I was studying in Sweden it was the total opposite, and I found myself loving Christmas baking and cosy candles... and now those things feel like Christmas, too.

My version of Pepperkakor (the traditional crispy ginger biscuit that Swedes sometimes decorate) is a little more messy (as usual) and a softer recipe, but tastes great. Now I'm wondering:

...What feels like Christmas for you?

A very Allsorts Christmas

Christmas is a little allsorts here in more mays than one...

We have broken tradition this year and gone with a candy coloured setup and I'm loving it. We've spent so long waiting for SUMMER down in this part of the world that decorating in dark green and dark red just doesn't seem right. Anyone else know what I mean????

Also with all the wedding planning going on, I'm not really feeling the Christmas spirit yet, even though I'm usually a Christmas nut! It'll hit me soon... right?

P.S I was going to use this line to make excuses for the scrappy looking gift-wrap... but come on, it's all going to be torn off by a 5 year old kid in a matter or seconds!

P.P.S -----ED NOTE---- "Allsorts" (i.e. Liquorice Allsorts) are a candy here in New Zealand... maybe they aren't such an American thing, I'm not sure. :)

Shared at Michaela Noelle Designs

Pretty little Tuesday # 1 - My ring, and peonies

I don't claim to be a photographer - but some things do get me all snap-happy.
My engagement ring is only a week old and after a small scare where it fell in the rubbish bin (I didn't even feel it slide off) and a trip back to the jeweller for re-re-sizing, I finally have this little pretty on my finger. I can't even put in words how happy I am with it.

Walking back from the jeweller I saw the peonies for sale... the petals are unreal. They are my favourite flower, and my mum's, and my grandma's. (I'm going to pretend I purposely focussed on the petals rather than the actual ring... nothing to do with my camera skills. Nothing at all.)

Between the ring, the peonies, the arrival of summer break, and Christmas coming up, I  feel pretty spoilt!

Are you a peony nut too?? And what style of jewellery/rings are you into? This was a lot more vintage-styled than I ever expected myself to go for... but I love it!

Sunday Sweets #2

In other news...


I have guest posted over at the Revolutionaries blog for the lovely Bonnie's "Share Your Story Sunday" about my faith journey. You can read it here.

AND
I'm going to start a "Pretty Little Tuesday" series, where I post an inspiring picture of something little, and pretty... e.g jewellery, etc. UBER excited about the one I have lined up for tomorrow!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! I'm tempted to show it now.... but I'll wait for Tuesday.

Colour Theory # 2: How to Style a Shelf

There is SO much I could say about every one of these shelving arrangements. But I won't. Because if you are like me, you learn best by LOOKING and recreating.

I haven't mastered shelf-styling yet (have you?? or are you not too bothered with it??), but I DO always notice when someone has an amazing setup. It CAN really lift the room.  Breaking down my favourite visual examples is my way of learning. I hope it helped you too!

Image sources:
1. Everything Fabulous via Pinterest (I think it's originally from Made by Girl)
2. The Glitter Guide
3.  Blushing & Sweet via Pinterest
4. Amber Interiors via Pinterest
5.The Glitter Guide

Maryam Keyhani's Home

Maryam Keyhani has not only a beautiful sounding name, her own line of unique designer jewellery and fascination with history, but also a stunning home. I love seeing how Victorian history inspires her spaces, and the consistent contrast of black and white that seems to be so her.

Check the full home tour out at Coveteur.

Hope you are having an amazing weekend - I gotta say, Wellington New Zealand has really turned on the sunshine for us and I'm suffering my first sunburn of the season.

Take care!

Image sources: The Coveteur

Sunday Sweets # 1 - Pink macarons with rainbow sprinkles

Ok, it's a little nuts and extremely bright; I used the wrong filling and my almonds were apparently too lumpy; BUT my first ever attempt at making macarons was fun. And sickeningly sweet. And fun again. :)
 
If you want to make macarons you can follow a macaron recipe like this easy one here. I'm sure they will turn out more perfect and pretty than mine!

I'm off to clean up the rainbow coloured carnage in the kitchen..

Colour Theory 1: White + Pink

Today I'm diving into our first series....

...the one where we look at pretty pictures and break 'em down. I find I learn the most from pulling a picture apart and scouting out the DETAILS. It's easy to look at eye-candy snaps of interiors and be like "I LOVE!.", but then you try to recreate it yourself and it's not quite how you imagined because you skipped a tonne of the detail? Ya know what I'm sayin? No? It's just me? Hmm ok, just enjoy the eye candy then :)

This week we have gone all girly with white + pale pink.

I've NEVER been a  Girly Girl but pink + white has always made my heart beat a little faster when it comes to interiors.

What I learnt from these pictures:

- grey or slightly-off-white walls (but not with a brownish or tan tint!)
-  use a whole mixture of tones. Several variations of pale pink, + several neutrals
- metallic accessories, with texture. Whether it be a gilt picture frame or hammered-silver ornament.
- create texture with layers of bedding and touchable pieces
- personal touches like books
- go for a soft, warm-toned pink (as in, a teeny bit yellowish, rather than purplish) to ensure it goes well with neutrals, and won't go all Barbie Dreamhouse on you. ;) (also, y'know, it's a bit more palatable for those manly men in our lives).

Shared at Saved by Suzy

Sources:
1. Pic from Erin Ever After
2. Pic from Dreamy Whites
3. Pic from Glitter Guide

Hi, I'm Amy

and this is Five Kinds of Happy's first post. I'm excited to start posting here about interior design, clever crafts,  DIY projects and all kinds of pretty (sometimes edible) little things.

If you love eye candy (and maybe real candy?) then I hope you'll stay a while. I can't wait to connect with you!

I'll be on the prowl for some guest posters, blog-hoppers, and the like sometime really soon. Until then, enjoy the weekend!