JuBella.com – Get Your Creative Dose

Oh, hello there..remember me? I’m the gal who blogs about pretty things and amazing people on this here blog; and as of lately I seemed to have been sporadically popping in and out in the midst of popping out babies…lol.

So, I cannot believe that it has already been a year since I blogged about having baby girl HERE. One year later and we have a serene baby boy to add to our collection of bundles of joy! As you can see, I decided to take some time off as I try to get acclimated to having 3 little ones to tend to. Thankfully baby girl is sleeping through the night now. That was my biggest fear with having babies one year apart, I pictured myself in distress trying to console two babies at different hours of the night! Our oldest who is six is my amazing assistant! He does everything from changing diapers to taking baby girl to “school”(long story, but to sum it up, he makes her watch sesame street on demand for 30 minutes).

Baby girls birthday was May 17th and I had baby boy on May 14th, so needless to say, I was not prepared nor in the mood to do any sort of birthday celebrating for her 3 days after pushing out a baby. However, I was determined to make her a cake the following weekend! I had it all sketched out in colored pencils weeks before. The picture below is the result. This was my first time making marshmallow fondant. It was so much fun, it was like making and shaping colorful, edible play-dough. It was originally supposed to be a pastel pink and moss green, but I was so tired that I just put a big blob of color onto the fondant, so I ended up with more of a magenta/fuschia and lime green color. The flavor of the cake was chocolate and white chocolate and I had some old jars that I filled with pink lemonade and I used felt rectangles as “placemats”! Considering I was beyond tired when putting this together(esp. the cake) I think it came out pretty good! I’m looking forward to making more fondant covered cakes! Below the photo is the recipe-video that I followed to make my fondant. I did a lot of research and this was the quickest and least messiest; and tasted great (although I prefer not to eat the fondant, too much sugar. I like it solely for decorative purposes)!

So, I say all this to say that I am back and I look forward to sharing more wonderful things with you all! Thank you all so much for your patience with me. You know what they say…life is like a box a chocolates…

Okay, be back with more posts soon!

“Blog Your Passion doesn’t sell you fairy dust on how to quit your day job or how to work from home in your pajamas but it shortens the journey and saves time for the writer/blogger who wants to better understand the ins and outs of successful “stick to it” blogging.” ~Melinda Lewis, Blog Your Passion

Ok, so how many times have we wanted to ask our favorite bloggers and freelance writers for some tips on making our writing and blogging careers fun, profitable, and successful? I know there are many that I would love to sit down and interview to capture some insightful information to make my blogging career better! So, with that said, I wanted to immediately share the latest from Melinda Lewis of the fabulous creative living & culture blog Get Togetha. Melinda has just launched her first e-book (which is uber affordable at just $4.95) which is lovingly called “Blog Your Passion”:

“Have you ever wondered how your favorite bloggers earn a living and become known for what they do? Have you ever considered quitting your day job to blog? Have you started countless blogs only to serially abandon them? First thing’s first: Stop reading outdated conventional wisdom. Blog Your Passion is the difference between owning your blog and renting one. You’ve read the entry-level articles and posts on blogging that take you on a curiously addictive trip around redundancy but in Blog Your Passion the timeless blog secrets, tips, links, and ideas are shared, and the blogger myths are dispelled. Whether you want to start a new career, own your own business, or establishing your own voice after reading Blog Your Passion you will be better equipped in the art of authentic blogging. Don’t wait. The time is now to live your passion.

Click HERE TO ORDER!

I heart these photos taken by Photographer Anna Aden..so sweet…so majestic!

Well hello everyone! Whew! I am finally back and boy does it feel good to not have to carry a jumbo belly around anymore! Don’t get me me wrong, I thoroughly enjoyed nurturing the growth of our baby girl, but there is nothing like being able to bend over and reach your toes..or better yet..to see your toes..lol. Anyhow, we welcomed “Halima Ava Marie Taylor” into this world on the morning of May 17th! I was in labor for only 6 hours and we are enjoying each and every minute of her new baby smell and delicate cries (and the laughter we all share as we compare her to Maggie off the Simpsons, as she simply loves her pacifier) She loves to sleep through the night(at least for now), so outside of nursing around the clock, not that much has changed within my schedule. I guess I was thinking that I was going to be “shell shocked” and would have to re-configure everything that I had originally set in place, but that does not seem to be the case!

Thanks to everyone who kept visiting my little creative abode here at JuBella, and many thanks to all of you who sent an e-mail over checking in on me…I feel so special! Ok, so I am stoked to be back and you all can look forward to some creative and inspiring posts and some fun giveaways!

I love all things inspirational and pretty so it was hard not to fall head over heels with the Live Inspired line of inspirational stationary, books, gift wrap, and cards! They carry some of the most unique items…such as the mom and dad interview journal, where it has questions already typed out for you to ask your mom and one to ask your dad…what a keepsake! I also love their “Where Will You Be 5 Years From Today” workbook, which includes productive life questions and quotes and a road-map! So, have fun browsing this inspiring and colorful site..you are sure to want to buy lots of goodies!

Hi everybody! First I want to thank you all who have sent comments and e-mails asking how I am doing! I feel so special! Well, to answer your question, I am doing good. My actual due date is Sunday and boy am I hoping that she comes on her own by then. If not I will have to schedule a time to be induced next week..so wish me luck! Nevertheless, to keep my mind off of being super uncomfortable and extremely anxious I have been doing lots of things around the house to prepare physically and mentally, as well as some new projects/ideas.

New Blogs: In case you have not noticed I have started a few more blogs..why you ask? Because my mind wanders from subject to subject and I must say that I carry quite an eclectic basket of styles, so having multiple blogs actually helps me organize my thoughts. So when I am not here you can find me at the following blogs as well:

Crafty Hues, Inspiring Mama, and Style Gypsy. I am excited about the Crafty Hues blog because it has given me that boost of extra energy that I will need if I want to gain talent in my textile design & start selling small yardage and gifts using my designs. So feel free to check me out from time to time as I will be posting textile designer interviews in the near future! Inspiring mama will be highlighting more moms and I will continue posting my 14 day menus as much as I can and Style Gypsy will be that blog of inspiration for getting back into shape after baby is out and about:)

So, that’s a bit of an update for you. I do have some posts that will pop up from time to time and again, once baby comes, I am sure I will be able to focus more than worrying. Ok, coming up is a little post I did on Creating the ambiance for your overnight guests! Enjoy!

Lately I have had pink cotton candy on my mind. I have no earthly idea as of why, but every time I see the color pink lately, I think of sweetness, which leads me to cotton candy. Maybe it’s the thought of having a little girl growing in the womb, but whatever it is, it has inspired me to put together this post. Here are just a few things that are both lovely and reminds me of my continuous thoughts of this sweet concoction! Enjoy!

Featured Images: Room photographed by Hans Zeegers, cupcakes by Coco Cake, ‘Cotton Candy” photography by Moonflower Photography, butterfly necklace by Yura Pockylover, Blackberry Cotton Candy Perfume by Wyld Eivy.

Featured Images: Cotton Candy Photo by Stoopid Gerl, Cotton Candy Sky photo by Ara 133 Photography,

Happy Monday Everybody! I sure do hope that everyone had a wonderful valentines, love, friendship day weekend? My weekend went pretty well, and I think I got a lot of goals accomplished…aaw goal accomplishments..makes ya feel good! Nevertheless, I wanted to address a topic that I have been thinking about as each one of my favorite magazines fold under. One magazine that I really do miss is Adorn. Do you guys remember that mag. I loved it because it was filled with creative people and photography and the small size made it easy to carry around. Nevertheless I was heartbroken to see it go so early, then came Blueprint, and now Domino! Ugh!

I hear a lot of people asking and saying…”well, what will we read now?”. I think as a design blogger myself that blogs and the web in general is going to be the next form of our beloved “magazines”. With the economy dropping beneath the waistline and the advertisers following closely behind them, I think that it is important for traditional news and media genres to rethink their strategy and to look towards the web for growth. Yet, I do feel at a loss with being able to flip through creative pages. I always think that maybe it would be more feasible for mags to just done some sort of annual/collectors issue. Wouldn’t that be great to have a mega Domino collectors edition that’s only printed once a year!

Anyhow, I myself am looking forward to the transitions that will be made within the design media, as I know it will happen & to all my fellow design blogger, I think you are all wonderful. The beauty of blogging is that we all have our own voice and style, even when we post about the same topic. Kudos to all of us!

What magazines have folded that you were heartbroken over?

ok, so I know that it is about one in the afternoon here on the east coast, but i wanted to take a moment to wish everybody a happy Monday! I cannot remember if I shared the news with you guys here, but we found out that we will be having a little girl! YAY! We are way too excited! Nevertheless things are going well as i try to organize my time and energy. I went to the thrift store briefly yesterday and picked up some fantastic CorningWaretea cups for only 50 cents and the cutest bundt cake pan for 1.10! Score! I fell in love with the color of the cake pan and just had to have it! I want to say that the bundt cake pan is of Nordic Ware Festival Cone pan, but it very well could be a knock off..can anyone tell? Nevertheless I am pleased with my purchase and can’t wait to bake a cake in it..I think I will go for chocolate dusted with powdered sugar! I am all into bundt cake shapes now and I have my eyes set on this one

Ok, that’s all for now, I just wanted to check in to see how you all were doing and to share my new found treasures!

The lovely and creative Jennifer Ramos of Made by Girl asked me to share seven things that I loved this month, so click on over and check out my post on Made By Girl! Thanks again Jen for the invite!

Hi Creative People! Ok, first let me apologize for being m.i.a. for the past week…sorry. I have been SO VERY tired and sluggish because I’m Pregnant with a second bundle of joy! YAY!  11 weeks to be exact, and my expected due date is May 17th, 2009. I have been wanting to post , but everytime I think I am going to post, all I ended up doing was falling asleep:) Nevertheless, I am thinking that my energy level is coming back, because I have been sleeping a lot less, and feel a bit less nauseaus in the morning. So, that’s where I have been in a nutshell, and I should be back to posting regularly either tonight or tomorrow, so see you soon & feel free to visualize a little girl for us!

Hi everybody. I just wanted to pop in to let you all know that I am still here. I decided to take this week off to catch up on some serious organizing and scheduling. With so many things on my wish list of things to do, it is a necessity that I have as much order possible around me so that I can achieve them with a clear mind. So I have devoted this week to making our little ablode feel fresh, clean, and pretty as well as to finalize a decent daily schedule for myself, our home, and our little ones homeschooling adventures!

So I will be back here Monday with some lovely posts, a few interviews, and hopefully a post all about organizing. YAY! Okay, I am signing off now and I hope you all have a wonderful week and upcoming weekend. Wish me luck with organizing…it’s a never ending task!

Oooh…my first tag! Trudi from Deco Detective has tagged me along with some other fellow bloggers, so here are my answers! How fun!

Ten years ago: Oh geez, must I answer? Ok… I was just graduating High School and I worked at a home decor fabric store called “Frugal Fabrics” & alsonin the mall at a furniture company called “This End Up Furniture”(the best part of that job was setting up little vignettes in the store), & getting ready to go off to study Interior Design at the Savannah College of Art & Design!

Five things in today’s “To Do” list: Only 5 you say…1) Purchase a cute phone book that will be dedicated to friends only 2) Continue developing our sons homeschooling blog 3) Order Lena Corwins new book(actually I just ordered it…yay!) 4) Reply to e-mails 5) Finish sketching out ideas for the little ones room! 6.) Send Out Interviews, 7.) Dust 8.) Simplify my life..LOL…and the list goes on and on (hey I tried to do just 5)

Snacks I enjoy: homemade chocolate chip cookies with almond milk, mangoes, homemade tea & iced honey water, homemade chai, sun chips, chocolate soy pudding, red apples, loose granola.

Things I would Do If I Were a Millionaire: Purchase a home in India or Morocco where I would have my own textile line & also host craft retreats. Finally create my own clothing and decor line, Start a foundation that bonds the youth with creativity, buy my dream bungalow home outfitted with the loveliest of Moroccan, shabby chic, and culturally inspired decor and invite all of my friends over for cupcakes, champagne, and arts & crafts, and have them stay in their very own getaway suite, publish the many childrens books that I have written and have stashed away (ok, I might need a tad bit more than a million:)

Places I Have Lived: Mobile, Alabama, & Duluth, Norcross, Savannah(I do miss it so), Macon, & Augusta, Georgia(I’m a southern gal).

There are so many creative and exciting things happening around the web, so I figured what better time to get the Creative News up and going! So, let’s begin shall we:

Made by Girl: I am in love with this post and this post over at Made By Girl!

Free People: Click the image below to read up on the Free People Bag Design Contest…Ooooh! Thanks Andrea for the heads up!

Creature Comforts: In It to Win It: The fabulous Ez is celebrating the one year anniversary of Creature Comforts & to make it extra special she along with some fantastic creative people such as Holly Becker of Decor8, Lush Bella, Lab Partners, Freshly Blended, and many more, are hosting a wonderful giveaway of some amazing products that one lucky person will win.

To be entered to win, all you have to do is leave her a comment here with your favorite quote and your first name and last initial (don’t forget to leave your email address in the appropriate field as well, or she won’t be able to contact you if you win). One winner will be selected at random on June 28th and will be notified by email and on Creature Comforts, Monday, June 30th! Good Luck!

Decor8: Next up is the fabulous Holly Becker of Decor8! Holly has teamed up once again with Amy Butler to host their annual Mood Board Contest. All you have to do is design a mood board around one or more of Amys Midwest Modern Collection. I actually participated in this and I must say that it is loads of fun to play around with the color and furniture, and can really get your creative juices flowing! The first prize winner receives an amazing package from Amy Butler worth $300, which includes: a signed copy of Amy’s book Midwest Modern, 1 Birdie Sling in her Midwest Modern Fabric, 1 Sew It Kit, 2 Card Kits, and 10 of her most recent patterns. 5 Runner Ups will receive one of 5 bags created by Amy’s studio! Click Here for the complete Entry Rules. Mood Boards must be entered by midnight, June 23rd. You can check out Hollys flickr set to view all of the entries.

Spoonflower: Holly also posted up some great info on Spoonflower, where you can get your own designs printed up on 100% cotton OMG!, I am so going to try this! Click Here to read more.

Rosy Little Things: Be inspired by all things lovely with Alicia of Rosy Little Things! She never ceases to amaze me with her blog enriched with beautiful colors, scrumptious recipes, and beautiful words about life! & aren’t these Country Girl Doll Kits adorable! Keep a lookout for Alicias interview with Jubella coming up soon! Yay! Psst…You can pre-order Alicias book “Stitched In Time”, due to be released November 2008!

Cicada Daydream: Head on over to Cicada Daydream to check out some fresh new fabric from Michelle!

Ok, I suppose that’s all for now. Happy Friday & I hope everyone has a wonderful, and of course a super creative weekend! Take care and keep living creatively!

Hi everybody! I just wanted to say how ecstatic I am about finally getting JuBella up. It has been a long time coming, as I just didn’t feel creatively compelled to launch it when we originally planned. Nevertheless, I wanted to let you all know that I have lots & lots of fabulous interviews to post soon so keep a lookout for that. I will also be posting my first DIY project soon. Yay! So, here I am, finally apart of the creative blogosphere. My style is eclectic, so please bare with me:). Well, I suppose that’s all for now. I just wanted to peek around the corner to let you know that I am here. I hope every little visit or click that you may stumble upon here in my little online abode brings you lots of joy, comfort, and creative inspiration! I will be right back with a fresh new post!