February 29, 2012
...spring trend // florals
I'm spotting gorgeous, big floral prints everywhere! With a closet full of solid neutrals, I'm going to need to go outside my comfort zone a bit, but I'm excited to try this.
February 28, 2012
...spring trend // pattern!
I love me some neutrals, jeans and a simple top keeps me content, but I think this spring I will be a bit more adventurous!
February 27, 2012
...spring trend // mint
Teal, seafoam, turquoise, mint, I'm not 100% sure what name to give this fresh gorgeous color but I keep seeing it pop up everywhere! Its a color that has taken a back seat for a bit, while hot pink (not that I'm complaining) took over...but now is it's time to shine!
February 24, 2012
...the beach in the winter
I have one. more. week. of my crazy work schedule and am celebrating by spending a long weekend at the beach with my boy. I am so excited to relax and go out for yummy dinners and take walks in the sand and not work at all (not going to happen but I will try...). What are you doing this weekend little readers, anything fun? Any ideas of fun things to do at the beach in the winter? Please share!
PS - next week I'm going to share some spring trends I've spotted!
February 23, 2012
...Meg and Brendan's save the date process
When I get a project my mind immediately starts turning with the possibilities, and this was no exception. My direction was to do a timeline with the long distance relationship theme built in. Meg gave me the storyline and I broke it out and messed with the wording a little bit to get the callouts. I always give the customer either two or three drafts to start and we go from there. Occasionally its close to final, but most often one of the drafts appeals more and we go back and forth a couple times to tweak and make changes until it is perfect!
These are the two versions Meg got to start with:
These are the two versions Meg got to start with:
Meg and Brendan liked the second one best, but wanted more color, so we changed the background to navy and adjusted the details accordingly. However, just to give her all the options I sent a version without a background:
She was happy with the navy, and after a few more tweaks we perfected it and ended up with the final version:
Then I designed the back to compliment it!
...Meg and Brendan's save the date
Another fun client! (I am super lucky) and another reader and friend of the famous Auntie Anne. Meg is getting married this summer and had traditional invitations made but was looking for a fun save the date to send out. A postcard is the cheapest way to go so below is the front and back of what they sent out.
Their wedding colors are navy so we stuck with a pretty neutral color palette and some fun typographic elements. The couple was long distance for much of their relationship so she wanted to play that up and tell their wedding guests a little bit about how they beat the odds and are on their way to a happy life together in the same city!
Come back later today and I will share a little more about the process of this project and all the steps we went through to get to the final postcards!
Their wedding colors are navy so we stuck with a pretty neutral color palette and some fun typographic elements. The couple was long distance for much of their relationship so she wanted to play that up and tell their wedding guests a little bit about how they beat the odds and are on their way to a happy life together in the same city!
Come back later today and I will share a little more about the process of this project and all the steps we went through to get to the final postcards!
February 22, 2012
...Annie's 3rd birthday party invites
Valerie is an adorable reader of mine who had me design her Christmas cards this year, then soon after asked if I would be interested in her daughter's 3rd birthday party invitations. For both projects she had a clear vision of what she wanted, which always helps because I know the client will be 100% happy with the project if I can make it a reality!
...Lizzie and Nate's guest book postcards
Today and tomorrow I'm a little excited to share some recent design projects I've been working on! First up, Lizzie* and Nate's guest book postcards...
Instead of doing the traditional guest book, Lizzie approached me with the idea of postcards that had writing prompts for guests to share their advice for the newlyweds. Lizzie's friend was in charge of mailing all the postcards to them over the course of their first year of marriage. I love this idea, so fun and different and you get to relive the wedding every time you get one in the mail! This was super quick turnaround (I think I got the job and sent it to print in a week or so), so it helped that Lizzie and I have a similar style and she likes simplicity. Below are a couple of the prompts we used (there were 6 overall), and the color scheme. We had 2 navy, 2 gray, and 2 pink cards and the front was the same on all of them.
Instead of doing the traditional guest book, Lizzie approached me with the idea of postcards that had writing prompts for guests to share their advice for the newlyweds. Lizzie's friend was in charge of mailing all the postcards to them over the course of their first year of marriage. I love this idea, so fun and different and you get to relive the wedding every time you get one in the mail! This was super quick turnaround (I think I got the job and sent it to print in a week or so), so it helped that Lizzie and I have a similar style and she likes simplicity. Below are a couple of the prompts we used (there were 6 overall), and the color scheme. We had 2 navy, 2 gray, and 2 pink cards and the front was the same on all of them.
*Fun fact, Lizzie is the older sister of my 9th grade boyfriend...small world!
February 21, 2012
February 20, 2012
...Whitney's Life Changers!
So excited for today's life changers! I met Whitney in college and we've fallen in love again through our shared obsession with Pinterest, so I knew she would have some fun stuff to share!
I’m a make up junkie, and a fan of many different beauty products. When Anne Carlyle asked me to participate in her “Life-Changers” I immediately compiled a list of my favorite products in my head. I hope you love them as much as I do! Of course there are a few other “Life-Changers” outside of make-up, so I’m excited to share them as well!
1. Urban Decay Eyeshadow Primer Potion in Original: If you want a full day and night of creaseless eye make up, Urban Decay’s Eyeshadow Primer is the way to go. I can do my eye make up at 7 a.m. and be creaseless until I take it off at 10 p.m. as a result of this product. I swear by it and will never go without it!
2. Urban Decay Naked & Naked2 Eye Palette: My favorite feature has always been my eyes, and it is in fact my favorite feature on others too! It’s so fun to play up your eyes a different way every day, and I find that the Naked & Naked2 Eye Palette is something that works for every woman! You can go from a great neutral day look, to a shimmering and smoldering night look just by layering colors from these amazing palettes. I fell in love with the original Naked Palette over a year ago, and when they came out with Naked2 this January, I was first in line to have it! I just convinced my mom to buy it, too, and she loves it!
3. MAC Fluidline in Blacktrack: This product is a bit tricky. It’s an amazing pod eyeliner, but the catch is you need to master an eyeliner brush. However, with practice, I think it is a must have for every girl who wants their eyeliner to stay put. I have had countless friends and coworkers ask me how my eyeliner stays put all day. I’ve been using MAC Fluidline for 5 years now and I will never use another eyeliner! It doesn’t smudge or rub off, it does just what you want it to do—it stays in place and makes your eyes pop!
4. Too Faced Primed & Poreless Skin Smoothing Face Primer: I have tried many different primers, but this product is by far my favorite. I put this on after I moisturize and before I put on my foundation and it sets my make up beautifully. If you don’t have the smoothest skin and are looking for a product that will help create that illusion, this certainly fulfills those expectations! It is also great because just a little (maybe the size of a dime) is enough for your whole face, so it goes a long, long way!
5. The Clarisonic MIA: I’m a skin care junkie. From years of having “bad skin,” it is something I’m really serious about. I got this little gem for Christmas this past year and I love it! I only use it once or twice a week to get off some dead sink, or when I have blemish, and it really helps to clear me up and make my skin feel brand new. I would recommend the MIA to any person, with any skin type. It really works wonders!
6. Essie Nail Polish in Turquoise & Caicos: Along with my addiction to make up, my nail polish collection has grown to a staggering 90 bottles (don’t tell my mom). I love all different types of polishes, but I have really grown to love Essie Nail Polish. The size of the brush is fantastic for accuracy and the colors go on smoothly. Since I’m looking forward to the spring, I thought I’d introduce one of my favorite colors, Turquoise & Caicos! It’s fun, fresh and flirty! What could be better?
7. Anthropologie Rain-Dotted Anorak: I have been on a search for an cute rain jacket for months. I wanted something that had a hood and wasn’t super masculine. When I came across this amazing jacket from Anthropologie, I knew I had to have it. It combines two of my favorite things—chic navy blue, and polka dots! It runs a little large so beware of that, but it has an adjustable waistband as well. It’s super feminine and I can wear a sweater underneath it now, and it will be perfect for spring!
8. Marc by Marc Jacobs Classic Q Huge Hillier Hobo in Black: I had been saving to buy this bag for months last spring, when my mom took me to Bloomingdales and told me she was buying it for me! I am embarrassed to say I did indeed cry in the Bloomingdale’s handbag department (I was extremely overwhelmed by her generosity). But did I mention how much I love this bag? I have had this bag for almost a year now and it looks brand new. The quality of the leather is top of the line and it fits everything I could possibly want in it! It also has a classic shape that seems to match every outfit! I am a true believer that every girl should have Marc, no matter how big or small!
February 17, 2012
February 16, 2012
...J.Crew spring 2012
You knew this was coming right? J.Crew and I haven't spent much time together this past year, maybe a reunion is in order, I am loving all these springy clothes!
February 15, 2012
...magnolia bakery's banana pudding
Magnolia Bakery has some of the best cupcakes in NYC, so of course, when I go there I of course enjoy one. BUT tons of people have told me to try their banana pudding. So finally, probably my 10th time there, I finally did. We got cupcakes and pudding to go on our way up to the Met, but couldn't wait, so we broke it out down in the subway while waiting for a train. There I am, inhaling banana pudding, because it is easily one of the best things I've ever eaten. Whipped, light pudding, slices of bananas, and what I assumed to be some homemade bits of cake (they were Nilla wafers...)
The next day, I went back to get more. I was desperately obsessed. Two days later, I made it for myself. Magnolia Bakery published the recipe in their cookbook and I pulled it from this blog. Then I ate the whole batch in a week. With help from a few friends...(or maybe not). This recipe tastes just like what you get at Magnolia and is easy to make! Just make sure you're taking it to a party or have a household of people to share it with. Here's a downloadable copy of the recipe.
The next day, I went back to get more. I was desperately obsessed. Two days later, I made it for myself. Magnolia Bakery published the recipe in their cookbook and I pulled it from this blog. Then I ate the whole batch in a week. With help from a few friends...(or maybe not). This recipe tastes just like what you get at Magnolia and is easy to make! Just make sure you're taking it to a party or have a household of people to share it with. Here's a downloadable copy of the recipe.
February 14, 2012
February 13, 2012
...chocolates
Happy Valentine's Day my loves! I'm going to celebrate by eating lots of choco and drinking wine with my lovely friend Briton!
...downton abbey
I hopped on the Downton train a couple weeks ago. I started watching episode 1 because I thought it might put me to sleep. But quite the opposite happened, I couldn't stop. I watched FIVE episodes that night and was obviously hooked.
February 10, 2012
...being a morning person
I wasn't always one, but when I started working two or so years ago, I started to fall in love with my mornings. I would wake up early on Saturdays and just sit on the couch, surrounded by quiet, reading a book or catching up on blogs, and it became one of my favorite things. I began to switch my work outs to the morning and felt so accomplished that when I got to the office at 8 I had already done my run for the day.
I miss it so much. For the past 5 months, I've had to switch my work schedule from a normal 5 day week, to 10 am to midnight, 3 days a week. Yes, I get a 4 day weekend, but I am constantly at work until 12 am or later and am incredibly beat by Friday night and essentially worthless by Saturday. BUT the good news is, I have 4 more weeks, 3 after this Friday, and I have never been more excited to start getting in bed at 9:30 pm.
So, on that note (THREE MORE WEEKS) happy weekend my lovely readers!!!
I miss it so much. For the past 5 months, I've had to switch my work schedule from a normal 5 day week, to 10 am to midnight, 3 days a week. Yes, I get a 4 day weekend, but I am constantly at work until 12 am or later and am incredibly beat by Friday night and essentially worthless by Saturday. BUT the good news is, I have 4 more weeks, 3 after this Friday, and I have never been more excited to start getting in bed at 9:30 pm.
So, on that note (THREE MORE WEEKS) happy weekend my lovely readers!!!
February 9, 2012
...great excuses not to go to yoga
Everyone has days they know they should work out but just can't seem to muster the willpower. Monday was one of those. Nothing could inspire me to go. So I preregistered for yoga, knowing if I had already paid I wouldn't talk myself out of going. Because the best excuse not to go to yoga is that you just got back!
February 8, 2012
...some sweets for your sweetie
A little roundup of some delicious baked goods to send to your loved ones for Valentine's Day! (or, any day really...)
February 7, 2012
February 3, 2012
...le weekend!
I'm off to another weekend in NYC with my friend Ashley! I'm not sure what's on the agenda, maybe a show, maybe some shopping, and definitely some yummy foods! Hopefully, I don't pack too many bags...
Have a great weekend loveys!
Have a great weekend loveys!
February 2, 2012
...circles
I'm having a major design crush on anything involving circles right now...not entirely sure why. I'll let you know if I figure it out. Meanwhile, I'll keep pinning* things like this:
*Follow me on pinterest!
February 1, 2012
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