Honeysuckle

On my morning walk the other day, I came around a corner at one part on the trail and this sweet fragrance overwhelmed me and stopped me in my tracks.  Vines and vines of HONEYSUCKLE were everywhere and the fragrance instantly took took me back to my childhood.  As kids we used to spend summer afternoons seeking these delicate flowers so we could enjoy their sweet nectar - such sweet memories of a simpler time!

When I came across these vines the other morning, I was instantly inspired and went on a search to find all the ways that I could enjoy the beauty, fragrance, and sweetness of HONEYSUCKLE all year long!  Here are a few of my favorite finds as well as a couple of ideas for how to use that sweet nectar if you're lucky enough to have a honeysuckle vine or bush in your reach - ENJOY:

Honeysuckle Flour Sack Towel | Barr-Co Apothecary Candle | Barr-Co Bar Soap | Lambert Press Letterpress Card | Honeysuckle Syrup | Honeysuckle Cordial | Honeysuckle Lemonade

LiveBellaVita: A New Season!

Hi friends!  I am refreshing this blog here - LiveBellaVita!  It has been my shop's blog (Bella Vita in Evergreen) since it was created, but since it's a new season, it seemed a good time for a new season of Bella Vita to emerge as well.  In the past year and a half, my husband and I have gone from Colorado to Texas and from brick & mortar shop to blog, but my heart and passion remains the same - to create and share visual stories that inspire others to celebrate the simple beauty of everyday living.  I'll share with you pictures, ideas, stories, and inspiration that's all about Home & Garden, Food & Gatherings, Gift Giving, and the Simply Beautiful moments of an ordinary day.  

If you were a friend and customer of Bella Vita in Evergreen, then you'll be right at home as the look and feel of the shop will be reflected in the stories you read and pictures you see here at LiveBellaVita.  And, although I may not have a bottle of lotion or a tea towel to sell you at the moment, I do have lots of ideas and inspiration that will keep our eyes, hearts, homes and lives always looking for the simple beauty of everyday living.  I'm looking forward to this new season, to renewing the purpose that was behind Bella Vita in Evergreen, and to sharing with you here all those things that inspire me most about everyday living.  And, if you know of others who might enjoy following along, forward this on to them and let's bring them along too!

LiveBellaVita

celebrating the simple beauty of everyday living

For more updates & inspiration, follow along here:

       

Thank You

We have wrapped up our time here in Evergreen as we are making our move to Texas to be closer to family.  It's a big change filled with tons of emotions, but in the core of it all, it feels right.  It's time for Brent & I to spend time with our sweet families and enjoy them while we can.  And, we are pretty excited about the adventure this change is bringing!  The hardest part is saying goodbye to all the wonderful people we have met and to all the close close friendships we have made here. We will miss our friends but we take comfort in the fact that we will see them again and thanks to our world of social media, everyone is just a Facebook, news feed away.  I have to admit it has been bittersweet to close our shop.  All the joy, creativity, hard work, time, and energy that we have put into Bella is coming to an end.  But, again, I take comfort & joy in the fact that it has been a good place to be for the past 5 years, a wonderful experience, a great opportunity to meet some fabulous people, and the best, most-important part of it all for me personally, is that we will revive some version of Bella in Texas once we get settled.  

So, thank you to each and everyone of you for your love, support, encouragement, laughs, smiles, and hugs. Best wishes in your personal journey and we look forward to the opportunity that perhaps our paths will cross again soon!  If you would like to keep updated with what we are doing and all of our adventures in Texas, then follow us here on the blog.  You can subscribe (the box in the upper left corner) to the feed and you will only get an e-mail from us when we post something new.  I will be using it to update all of our explorations and happenings in the land that awaits us. 

Thank you & big hugs to each & everyone of you!!

Michele & Brent 

Happy 4th of July

We will be closing today at 5:00 pm & will be closed tomorrow for the holiday.  

Have a happy & safe 4th of July - we'll see you back here on Friday!

Summer with Sweet Paul

If you haven't had the opportunity to indulge in the beautiful lifestyle magazine Sweet Paul, then summer is the perfect time to do so!  Of all the magazines I enjoy & love, Sweet Paul is by far my favorite.  I look forward to every issue which is always FULL of seasonal inspiration, delicious (and easy!) recipes, crafts, home design ideas, cool places to see, party ideas, and so much more.  I just know you'll love it, so if you haven't checked this beautiful magazine out, then take a little sneak peak below of some of the features of the Summer Issue - it's a perfect summer vacation pick-up!

Herbs, Herbs, Herbs

Over Memorial Day Weekend we brought in a small selection of herbs that we sold in these really sweet pots as a great hostess gift & we sold out before the weekend was over!  So because you love them & we love them oh so much, we have brought in more.  These really do make great hostess gifts, housewarming gifts, or just a gift for your own kitchen window.  We have a small selection and they go fast, so come grab one or two before they are gone.   Current availability includes lavender, rosemary, sage, & thyme.

Father's Day Gifts!

We just stocked our online shop with gifts for dad!  Peruse our collection of gift ideas for dad & we will include a large Atticus Caramel* from Helliemae's Handcrafted Caramels with your purchase of any item from our Father's Day Collection now through June 16!

Father's Day Collection 2013

{* Atticus Caramel ~ handcrafted in small batches in Denver, CO, this Father's Day favorite from Helliemae's Handcrafted Caramels is made with all of the things that most dad's love - Colorado Whiskey, Louisiana Cane syrup, & salt smoked over bourbon barrel staves.}