April wrap up

This month flew by! I can't believe it's almost May. May is the opening to summer, and I just adore the warm weather, local farmer's market and delicious ice cream waiting for me... Here's this month's highlights:

 5 of my favorite posts here on the blog:
my first dslr.
a dozen trees / outfit post
little things
inspiration: dream spaces
from the weekend

Springtime playlist from Girl & Closet

Solid Perfume from Sincerely Kinsey

Upcycled matchbooks from freely ronnie

Embroidery of the month from studio mme

xoxo, Nat

Want to sponsor Modern Buttercup in May?

Want to sponsor Modern Buttercup in May? (You know you want to! Especially with this adorable kitty photo). Promote your blog, shop, or business to readers who love being inspired, fashion, photography and all things pretty. Give your shop a little limelight next month and reserve your spot on the sidebar in May! I'd love to have you on the team!

See my sponsor page for more info and rates or email me if you have any questions.

xoxo, Nat

From the weekend.

After all these wet, dreary months it's hard to remember what a nice sunny day looks like! I took advantage of the beautiful weather, and went out into town snapping photos, looking at the beautiful flowers growing on the side of the sidewalk, and chowing down the best portobello mushroom burger I think I'll ever have. I also finished my latest book read The Age of Miracles (more on that later) and purchased a few new books at a second-hand book shop.

What's not to like about pretty spring days?

xoxo, Nat

friday favorites: fourteenth

This week has been busy! As in: too wrapped up in life to actually sit down and blog. But I mangaed to find some time to sit down and put together my favorite picks for the week so far :)

Photography

This beautiful photo makes me want to visit a little cabin in the woods.

Love your neighbor

Love.

Necklace

Beautifully simple and honeybee inspired :)

Matching nails

I've wanted to match my nails to my outfit, perhaps this is an idea? Pretty stylish.

xoxo, Nat

inspiration // dream spaces

1 || 2 || 3 || 4 || 5 || 6 || 7 || 8

Beautiful, open workspaces are lovely to look at, and even better to dream of working in! My little workspace right now is pretty plain and cluttered enough as is, so today's inspiration board is pure eye candy. I love the lighting in each space, and I just adore the personal touches (sticky notes, photos). A workspace really reflects someone's personality, and I find that to be true when you really begin to look at each individual space.

What would you have in your dream workspace?

xoxo, Nat

Totally Awesome Blog Hop!

Hello, and welcome to the Totally Awesome Blog Hop.  This will be an ongoing effort brought to you by four really cool ladies, hopefully resulting in the biggest community link-love fest evar!

The hop will be linked between four sites, ensuring everyone's links get seen and clicked.  We want our audiences to get to know each other!  Our goal is community building between like-minded folks, and this is a place for of people to meet, make friends, and expand their following!


Participation is super simple-

#1 Follow your four hostesses- they are the first four links.

Chantilly of ChantillySongs
Regina of Acute Designs
Nat of Modern Buttercup
Tiffany of House of Tong
(We promise you will love these blogs, and they are all totally worth getting to know!!)

#2 Link your blog/ website

#3 Visit other sites, follow, and comment

#4 Grab a button & post it on your blog

#5 Post about it on twitter, facebook, and all your social media sites

We love you, and thank you!

<a href="http://www.chantillysongs.com" target="_blank"><img alt="Chantillysongs Blog hop" src="http://farm9.staticflickr.com/8029/8014378460_14a1e017e5_m.jpg"/></a>

friday favorites: thirteenth

 DIY Photo Garland
I really love this idea! A great way to display a few polaroids I have stored up.

Unicorn i-Phone Case
Always be a unicorn.

Lace Clutch
I'm adoring the whole lace trend right now and drooling over this clutch!

Photograph
This is a beautiful photograph! I love the geometric element.

Memes + Unicorns
I know -- another unicorn? It was too cute not to post -- I promise!

Just Breathe.
Another little reminder for me to "just breathe" (aka my one little word)

xoxo, Nat

Little things.

A few things have been making me smile this week, like seeing my little succulents grow, getting back to crocheting granny squares, and finding a bunny a new home (more on that).

1) A while back, I stuck a few succulent clippings into an old abandoned planter and waited for nothing to happen. But a few weeks later, a few succulents had taken root, and now dominate that little rectangle planter in the corner of my little yard.

2) Getting back to crocheting was definitely one of the highlights of my week so far! I was starting to forget how to start a granny square, so that was definitely a cue that I needed to get back to it. I am so glad I did, colorful little squares make my heart sing!

3) A beautiful little bunny found a home this week. Someone mentioned that they had found a bunny and needed to find a home for it, if not they'd have to give it to the Humane Society, who said if they didn't have enough room for it, they'd have to put it down. That sounded so sad for a bunny so beautiful. So I jumped in and said that perhaps a family member of mine would be interested. She'd lost a bunny of hers to old age a year ago and mourned greatly for it, so I thought it would be a perfect match. Long story short, she agreed to take it in, and that beautiful little bunny found a home! I still grin thinking about it all :)

xoxo, Nat

A Dozen Trees / outfit post

what I'm wearing: button-up shirt - forever 21 // ruffle tank - Papaya // silver bracelet - gifted // denim jeans - Old Navy // oxford shoes - c/o Blowfish shoes

I am looking forward to a fresh new week and with all of the spring blooms coming up out of the ground, it's hard to not feel inspired! This is my first outfit post I've taken photos for with my new camera, and I'm just loving the beautiful pictures it takes. Taking photos for outfit posts is definitely a new concept for me, a totally different field from what I'm used to. Usually I'm the one snapping photos -- but this time, I'm the one in front of the lens! 

In 2013, I promised myself to become a better photographer, and every day I strive to strengthen my skills and capture images of the everyday with as much beauty as I can. To go outside my "comfort zone" and try to get new angles and try new perspectives. So far, I think I'm doing well, and hope I can keep up the pace throughout the year and beyond... And when I feel frustrated and burnt out (like any avid photographer does from time to time) I simply remember:

“You don't make a photograph just with a camera. You bring to the act of photography all the pictures you have seen, the books you have read, the music you have heard, the people you have loved.” 

- Ansel Adams

xoxo, Nat

An April desktop

Lovely desktops are one of my favorite things to find on the Web, and today I have a pretty April themed one to share with you all today! I made it myself (insert happy dance here). I really enjoyed creating this for you all, and hoping to offer more of these as the year goes on.

I hope you all like it! You can download it in a 1240x1000 size.

This artwork is for personal desktop use only and cannot be used for any other purposes or uploaded to any other sites claimed as your own. You can re-blog it, tweet, etc. but you must credit properly if doing so.

xoxo, Nat

friday favorites: twelfth

Pompom banner

What's better than a few pompoms? Not much.

Crochet Pattern

I haven't crocheted anything in a while (the granny square quilt project in still in progress) and this looks like a fun quick project to try! Get the pattern here.

Quotes

I don't know what I'm supposed to say about this too-true quote. Truth rings here.

Beautiful

This gorgeous photo reminds me of when I went camping and the morning I left, there was a beautiful view like the one shown above. Breathtaking and giving you a sense of new-ness and new beginnings.

DIY Flower Garland

I love this beautiful flower garland, and I really can't wait to create this beautiful room decor. This weekend's project?

xoxo, Nat

my first DSLR.

I finally took the plunge and bought myself a DSLR camera! I purchased the Canon Rebel t3i from the lovely Rebecca, and couldn't be happier with it. It's amazing how a new camera and lens can give you such a rush of inspiration! This camera is definitely a step up from the iPhone camera I'd been using. Interchangeable lens are so thrilling, and seeing all of the ones out there gets you motivated to capture moments of everyday.

camera + life

xoxo, Nat

March wrap up

March passed me by with flying colors, and it's hard to believe that we're nearly one quarter through the year already! Only 3/4 to go... The month of March has treated me well, and I'm already looking forward to April, which I hope to fill with DIY, photography, and nail art.

 5 of my favorite posts published here on the blog:

Shop on the side of the road.

Bits.

Inspiration: colored hair

My weekend in 3 words

Nails: silver and orange

4 of my favorite posts elsewhere:

Raspberry Coconut Tarts 

Mixed Berry Green Tea Smoothie 

Braidspiration

Make your own soap

One thing I loved this month:

Donuts! A soft, sweet donut is on the top of my wishlist right now, and this month I've craved some like crazy! I really need to try my hand at making donuts sometime...

A new blog I found and loved:

Ahoy Native

I've been looking for a new blog read this month, and when I ran across Ahoy Native, I was definitely not disappointed! Meghan's blog is absolutely lovely and features cute outfits, home decor, crafts, and recipes. Go check it out!

xoxo, Nat