‘TIL NEXT YEAR…

Whatever your plans for New Year’s…here’s hoping the festivities are festive, the friends are friendly, and the love is lovely!

SCENES OF THE SEASON

It’s hard to believe 2011 is almost gone! Things have been busybusybusy and the holidays flew past with no time for even the teensiest of posts. However, we have had ample time for coziness, yumminess, love, and family…and I thought it only fair to snag a few snapshots taken over the past few weeks and throw a little Christmas collage up in an homage to the season.

Wishing you the happiest of new years…!

TO TASTE: PUMPKIN GNOCCHI

Last Thursday a serendipitous grocery run found us perched in the Osteria at Whole Foods, grabbing dinner before we could make the mistake of shopping on an empty stomach.

The build-your-own-pasta menu caught my eye, and the minute our server mentioned that the specialty pasta of the day was pumpkin gnocchi, I was sold. I decided to go with the roasted garlic and olive oil to toss it in, then added crispy prosciutto, artichokes, and shaved Parmesan to finish things out.

The result was so phenomenal that I had to see if I could reproduce it at home. Using this recipe as a start for the actual pasta, I added the other ingredients, tossed everything together, and was in full-on belly bliss from that point on…

THURSDAY WISDOM

Read this quote on another blog and was inspired to write it out myself… So apt and so true!

“FALLING”

Fall is without a doubt my favorite time of year…I love the chill in the air, the colors of the leaves, and any excuse to be cozy and drink a snuggly drink with my favorite.

The moody rainy-fall-day picture I snapped last week inspired this little collection, and makes me smile every time I see it. The photo did start out kinda gray and blah, but my Photoshop and Instagram apps were there to help capture how I really feel about this delicious, drearily perfect season.

1.) Alpaca throw, 2.) Leaf sculpture, 3.) Scarf, 4.) Blanket, 5.) Mug, 6.) Cable knit pillow, 7.) Ikat pillows, 8.) Boots

EYE CANDY

As previously discussed, I’m a sucker for a great infographic.

As also previously discussed, I’m a big fan of pretty much anything food-related.

Thus, this shameless re-post is to be expected. Thanks, Fast Company – making me smile, as always.

For the full size image, go here. Via fastcodesign.com

THERE & BACK AGAIN

Good design never fails to amaze me, and when it happens to be design that’s decades or centuries old, it just adds to the amazement. Hence, there was much amazement going on while we were recently exploring some of the gems of Europe.

Case in point: lovely brick building on a little cobblestone street in Brussels (yes, the sign says 1587!), and not-quite-as-old shutters on a house in Nicosia, Cyprus…to list two examples out of a thousand.

But since there’s no place like home, I reminded myself how lucky I am to live in a place where there are always little well-designed treasures to be found…even on my morning commute or sitting outside for lunch!

(Lorain-Carnegie bridge)

(Roof of the Walker Building garage)

ANOTHER ONE BITES THE DUST

I’m sensing more wedding invitation designing in the near future…

Congrats to my little bro and his lovely bride-to-be!

WELL-DESIGNED

Since I make it no secret that some of my favorite people are actually edible items (okay, that’s not quite true, since I really love people – but I really love food, too…alot), it seems fitting that today’s inspiration came from a photo of delicious happiness in the form of tuna tartar (a lovely, well-designed tuna tartar, I might add – as pleasing to the eye as to the palate).

On a side note: do I use too many words? Are my sentences too long? I think so. Sometimes. I do so love parentheses…

Anyways.

The photo in question was snapped on the oh-SO-lovely patio/porch/balcony of Lockkeepers in Valley View.  Aunt Connie and I were meeting up with the hubby later for what would be quite a long night, and sound nourishment was in order.

My lemon fresco (house-made Limoncello, citron vodka, soda, fresh lemon) was ridiculously refreshing, her basil peach margarita (fresh white peach, silver tequila, basil) was ridiculously AMAZING.

And although there were other dishes enjoyed and “oh MY”ed over, the tuna tartaro, lovingly divided for our shared enjoyment, was the most beautiful in all aspects…

The evening’s verdict – from a design standpoint, as well as a foodie’s standpoint – came with a definitive stamp of approval.

WEDDING STATIONERY

A quick peek at some of my most recent endeavors – invitations, reception cards, and programs for my sister’s wedding…

SEATTLE / TAMPA BAY

A little diagram highlighting some of the differences between Seattle and Tampa Bay – two places I recently visited within a span of a week and a half.  A work meeting took me to the west coast, and after squeezing in as much local flavor as possible, I met up with my sweetie in Florida, who was there on military duty for a few weeks.

While Seattle was hands-down my favorite of the two (and frankly at the top of my list of fave US cities), my time in Tampa was quite enjoyable for different reasons…and thus, said diagram:

SEATTLE:

1.  Lole Soul cardigan for 50º evenings and rainy afternoons

2. COFFEE!  Seattle Coffee Works had the best cup of french press (best enjoyed with a mini donut – or ten – from The Daily Dozen at Pike’s Place Market)

3. Softshell crab – local, organic, free-trade, grass-fed, gluten-free, free-range, raised by caring humans who likely petted it and sung You Are My Sunshine to it every day, etc. etc.

TAMPA BAY:

4. Mossimo bathing suit with detachable halter strap – invaluable in helping me obtain the appropriate (i.e., sans tan lines) tan for the strapless bridesmaid’s dress I’d be wearing within the week

5. Fish tacos – lovely, unpretentious, delicious with a cold beer and a squeeze of lime…

6. Frozen banana colada enjoyed poolside with my bestest person

SO PRETTY!

What can I say? My little sister is a movie star.

EVOLUTION OF AN INVITE

I really love designing invites – in fact, I wish I had time to do more of them (my apologies, Yvette!). But one thing I always cringe at is the way a design looks when I’m just beginning. Fonts aren’t quite right, colors haven’t settled in yet, the “placeholder” images just aren’t quite cutting it – and it’s usually at this point that I’m thinking “oh, MAN, if anyone saw this right now…”

BUT! For the sake of “process” – and for the simple reason that these things take time and trial and error, so why make it seem effortless when it’s not? – I give you two examples of recent designs, along with their respective first drafts.

You may not be as repulsed by the firsts (or as happy with the finals) as I, but here they are nonetheless!

BUSY LATELY…

Did I mention my sister’s getting married?  And that I offered to address all the envelopes since she’s so busy with nursing school and work and wedding plans….?  No?  Well, I’m too busy to talk about it…

COLOR COMBO: PINK & GREEN

A little inspiration for myself, my sisters, and the rest of our family and friends who’ve been drawn in to the wedding planning madness…

The brunch shower on Sunday (given by Becca’s soon-to-be-mother-in-law) was quite lovely, and I think it kicked off wedding season nicely by setting the creative standard high…

With that in mind: a little vignette of thoughts and ideas for showers, bachelorette parties, and even the wedding itself…