one.

Photo by Polina Tankilevitch on Pexels.com

Have you ever restrung a beaded bracelet or necklace? We have. Many times. We now have a vast collection of different stretchy plastics in various thicknesses and strengths for different types of stones and metals.

This process of restringing one bead at a time can go a number of ways. It can become a type of meditation, where everything slows down, focusing on your breath, steadying your hands and fixating only on getting the string through the tiny opening in the bead. It can also be one of the most frustrating, time-consuming tasks. Shazbot! If you know, you know.

There’s one thing for certain, the process requires a lot of patience! Since patience is a virtue and a skill, we believe it’s worth the time and energy to practice being in the moment, doing one thing at a time. It’s good for the soul.

In the end, we think it’s always pays off PLUS you can pat yourself on the back for doing it yourself! #diy

XO, The Bloom TDL

crochet.

The best beach cover-ups we’ve come across this season accomplish many things at once, which we LOVE! They’re lightweight, stylish, and versatile—looking just as good over your bathing suit by the pool as they do during a hotel lunch! Whether you’re headed on a weeklong vacation to Hawaii or island-hopping around Greece this summer, be sure to pack a few swimsuit cover-ups you can throw on after a dip in the water.

One of our favorite looks is crochet. It’s the perfect cover-up style—breathable, wrinkle-resistant, and just transparent enough to show off a little bit of your swimsuit. Our top picks are those featured here! If you like a little more coverage but still want to look on trend, go for a longer length, in your favorite shade with fun details. Just remember the sunscreen!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

splash.

How has your May started off so far? Ours has been good with a focus on finding this year’s bathing suit, bathing suit cover-up and pool joggers. We’ve been layered with countless sweaters, coats, thermals and wool jackets for far too long now and are ready to get some sun!

With the pool just steps away, we owe it to ourselves to enjoy our famous drink concoction made of sparkling mineral water, puréed fruit with a twist of lime, poolside. It’s absolutely fabulous. Recipe coming soon! 😎

Whether it be a bath, pool, spa, ocean, river or lake, there’s something about being immersed in water that is so relaxing, soothing and enjoyable.

Here’s to diving into your weekend with excitement for this beautiful month of May!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(image via pinterest)

Lucy.

We’re going to let this interview speak for itself other than to say these two women paved the way for so many that came after them.

Thank you ladies!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(video via youtube:jff)

tuesday.

This morning’s coffee was better than usual. It was actually fabulous. So much of it depends on the freshness of the beans, the type of water and the batch of almonds used to make the “milk.” Speaking of almond milk, we made a fresh batch of it the other day, and it knocked our socks off. To begin with, the fresh, organic, raw almonds that we used were incredibly sweet and gave us this creamy, rich, delicious almond milk that turned out better than other times before. It’s a combination of everything lining up perfectly to give you the perfect result! Those are the days for us when the stars are in alignment and all is well in our world.

Ironically, it’s the little things in life that can mean SO much, although we’re always appreciative of the big things too. It’s important to recognize all the things that DO go right in a day, week, month and year. It’s really easy to remember all the things that didn’t go right, so focusing in the GOOD is vital. Absolutely VITAL. When you add up all the positives, you might just surprise yourself.

XO, The Bloom TDL

C❤️C

(image via pinterest)

neat.

How fabulous are these beautifully organized pantries?! We can certainly appreciate all the work it took to make this happen. Finding the right canisters, containers, bottles and jars is no small feat. Then there’s selecting the spot and placement for the most functionality. Placing the ingredients into each vessel is next. Turning all bottles and cans facing forward and spaced an equal distance apart looks aesthetically pleasing too! Then labeling each container helps with the identifying of everything to showcase all your hard work.

The good news is, once it’s done, you’ll have a pantry where everything is visible, making the search for that tucked away bag of all-purpose flour or backwards can of diced tomatoes a thing of the past!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

glow.

Crystals have captivated the imagination for millennia. They remind us of the ageless earth and its inherent wisdom. And they vibrate with a universal energy.

These handmade light fixtures offer up some idea of what can be done with rock crystal points, to create a halo of texture and shadow. To create more of an effect, connect them to a adjustable dimmer setting for a spectacular crystal light show!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

picnic.

With the weather warming up, why not maximize the experience by dining outdoors with a fabulous picnic?! Rattan, wicker, canvas or bamboo, they’ll all do the trick. We love the elevated basket complete with silver wear, plates, cups and wine opener! These featured here are some of the most practical basket sets, ranging slightly in size and price.

Williams Sonoma carries the most complete sets we could find, so as luck would have it, they had the one we wanted, so that’s the one we went with. As far as picnic baskets go, it came with all the “bells and whistles.” What’s also so great is they’re well made and last for years.

Regardless of the way you choose to picnic, the most important thing to keep in mind is to have fun and get outdoors! It’s there waiting for you!

Fun fact: White vinegar is a natural ant repellent. Spray some around your picnic area and those little ants will leave you alone.

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest; williams sonoma)

outré.

Sometimes you come across something so obscure, it can make you wonder, “What in the world inspired this?” With all the incredible artists we’ve spoken to at gallery openings, parties and events, their answers were always insightful and brilliant. One that stands out was from a talented designer, years ago, who painted on canvas and clothing. He told us that he just painted what he loved and felt the most connected to, which happened to be nature; the moon, stars and sky, but with a modern twist. His work was incredible, unique and made you think outside the box! It was so creative, we even contemplated purchasing a piece of his work.

Would you consider a piece of art like any of these?

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)

glazed.

There is something SO special about the century-old tradition of handmade items. They are sustainable, made with high quality materials, can be customized, they’re unique, they tell a story and the movement keeps traditional skills and crafts alive.

We are so in LOVE with the look and feel of handmade tile, like these featured here. A family member of ours recently purchased some exquisite handmade tile for his new home. He fell in love with it after finding it at a store that had walls of it to display their accessories against. When you see what goes into making each piece by hand, the price starts to make sense. Making sure each one matches the other, or is as similar as possible, is a meticulous process.

We have so much appreciation for the artisans who bring us the most incredible handmade items and hope they continue to keep this art alive!

XO, The Bloom TDL

(images via pinterest)