I love, love, love Bath and Body Works. I have embarrassing amounts of their product taking up an entire shelf in my bedroom, and I'd stopped going to their store for a long time while I tried to use up some of my scented stash. Alas, last weekend I found myself once again walking through their doors while I was running a quick errand at Bridge Street (really, my feet were on autopilot and just went there of their own volition). I managed to escape with only a few bottles of some of their fall scented hand soap and a sample of their newest fragrance, Secret Wonderland, but their new packaging is so beautiful that it's still haunting me.

They've dressed up several of their fragrances for Christmas, and the snowflake motif and gently sparking colors are just gorgeous.

They remind me a bit of the Flickr collage I put together last year when Shimelle challenged us to document our idea of the perfect Christmas as part of her Journal Your Christmas class.

1. Pompom Parcels, 2. its christmas time in the city, 3. christmas globes, 4. I'll be fine and dandy., 5. Merry Christmas, 6. Christmas light, 7. I'm Dreaming of a White Christmas, 8. Zimtsterne (2/4), 9. Christmas cookies, 10. Christmas Snowflake Cookies, 11. Christmas? Did somebody say Christmas?, 12. Denver City and County Building 2008, 13. Snowflake Curtain, 14. KEVIN+BECKY-530, 15. wrapping lights, 16. - Helpful Gingerbread Guys -, 17. Lights, 18. it's beginning..., 19. Can You Guys Tell I'm Ready For the Holidays???, 20. Christmas wrapping, 21. Christmas bento, 22. simplified, 23. IRONY MAN - THE IRON MANGER, 24. Vintage Stamps + Brown Paper =, 25. Untitled, 26. tis the season, 27. Christmas 2007, 28. Christmas Baubles Stored in Vintage Hat Box, 29. “Snowflakes are one of nature's most fragile things, but just look at what they can do when they stick together.”, 30. “Nature is full of genius, full of the divinity; so that not a snowflake escapes its fashioning hand.”, 31. Vintage Christmas Activity Books, 32. Pink Heaven, 33. Old Balls - our vintage Christmas Baubles, 34. pink to drink, 35. I see stars, 36. O tannen bonbon

Of course, my obsession with sparkly lights probably has a little to do with my new love, too. :)

Bath and Body Works' packaging gorgeousness doesn't stop with Christmas items, though- they've refreshed many of their older fragrances, too. Take just a peek of some of these beauties:

And we can't forget the one that got me hooked all over again in the first place:

Yeah, I'm going to have to go back and get more of that. :)

Inspiration From Wedding, Party, And Food Blogs

Photo Credit: Amy Atlas

Mmmmm, isn't that a delicious photo to wake you up on a Monday morning? Don't those colors, textures, and designs just scream wonderful things at you? I know they do for me- totally makes me want to go make something in my craft room!

 If you're in need of some inspiration to start your week, or if you just want places beyond scrapbooking blogs to look to for inspiration, why not try out a few party planning or wedding blogs? They're full of all kinds of lovely photos, guaranteed to make your creative mind go haywire with possibilities.

Here are a few of my favorites:

• Style Me Pretty- a simply gorgeous (and very prolific) wedding blog that includes photos of everything from the stationery suite to little details like placecards. 
• The Inspired Bride- photos of weddings, DIY projects, and a selection of color palettes that's not to be missed.
• 100 Layer Cake- inspiration boards, wedding and engagement photo shoots, and DIY projects are the hallmark of this lovely blog.
• The Sweetest Occasion- a more general event planning blog, ranging from birthdays to showers to weddings.
• Birthday Girl- Inspiration boards for parties of all kinds, photo shoots of real parties, and links to all kinds of other goodies.
• Tomkat Studio- Gorgeous blog of a small business that creates both custom and pre-designed printable party decoration packages.
• Hostess With the Mostess- another beautiful party-planning blog full of inspiration boards and real party photos.
• Amy Atlas- blog of the dessert-buffet designer extraordinaire herself- not to be missed!
• The Party Dress- party and holiday decorating ideas, including tons of inspiration boards.

Yum!! Now I need to make cupcakes after work today. :)