I am still thinking about that pretty vintage puppy party that I featured yesterday... oh that was just so adorable. And now that I'm thinking about dogs, I thought I'd share quickly those bookends that I ordered from Barnes and Noble last year (post here) because I realized this morning that I never showed you how they look in-situ. It took about a month for them to reach me (int'l shipping is always slow), but now that I have them I can't imagine owning any other bookends.

These white dachshund darlings were designed by Jonathan Adler for Barnes & Noble and you can buy them online (they ship to Europe, too). I ordered them in October and they arrived around the holidays but I was so busy that I forgot to tell you how cute they are! I'm not in love with the lumpy bumpy wallpaper in the flat we are renting right now but it's not bad either.... you have to appreciate and work with what you've been given sometimes, right? And so I have learned to live with the lumps. :)

And these are just snapshots from my day today, but above I've shown some loot from my weekly farmers' market visit this morning. Not styled to perfection, just informal snaps -- but this is my life and my typical days are casual and relaxed just like the flowers shown on my coffee table. In addition to tulips I found some yellow flowering branches (though it will be a surprise to see what will blossom as I have no clue what the flower lady called them in German), a little wooden doll for a euro and a pretty bread basket with ceramic blue and white handles for a few euros that I will now use for my mail.

Here are the flowers now that I've arranged them. Again, no frills -- they are wrapped with green floral tape to keep them together as tulips can sag and I've placed them in a white ceramic canister from IKEA. But the over all look is warm and welcoming just how I like it -- I believe that real beauty doesn't need to be put on, are you with me on that? Style should be effortless because that's when you know it's authentic, and uniquely you.

How is your day? Did spring visit your part of the world today as it has for me?

(images: holly becker for decor8)