Aunt Sassy Cake

Is this not a gorgeous photograph of a most delicious cake? It was too pretty not to share with all of you. It was created by Karyn Hlad Miller, who can bake and take photographs among other amazing things. I like to keep bits of her stuff around me for inspiration. If you're up for the cake challenge, here is the link to the recipe.

Valentine's Day Ideas for kids on Pinterest

If you are not familiar with Pinterest, you may be especially interested in this link. Pinterest is a digital organizing system for the great ideas where you create "Pinboard" on-line. Each pinned item retains it's internet origin so you can actually go back to get the recipe, DIY instructions, or store where you found the item. So if you visit the pinboard above, you can click on the image you want to learn more about and find yourself on the website where I found it. You can have boards of any topic you decide, and once you get into things, you'll see how addictive and useful it is! Keep in mind that everything you see and pin is public, which means that what you pin can be re-pinned by someone else who likes it too. This is perfect for pictures of cupcakes you want to make, but not so great for the pictures of your kids you'd rather keep private. :o)

You can see more of my Valentine's Day inspiration on my pinboard here. If you'd like to start your own Pinterest account (it's free), let me know and I'll invite you, which is faster than the virtual waiting list.

A Hunger Games invitation

We are officially hooked on Hunger Games! One of the great thing about having kids is that they keep you up to date, whether you like it or not. My 11 year old daughter devoured the Hunger Games books and begged me to read them too. I did, and was very happy I acquiesced to what I thought was only teen-inspired topic. The books are honest, thought-provoking and exciting. We've had many, many discussions on the topic of death, killing, abuse of power, the benefits and pitfalls of organized societies, hunting, being honest to yourself. Even my husband powered through the 3 books and loved them as well.

Needless to say, Julia was overjoyed when she discovered that the movie was going to be debuting on her birthday and was determined to have a Hunger Games party. I thought I'd share the invitation I designed for her. If you are a Hunger Games nerd, you can count the arrows and note that there are 12, for the 12 districts of Panem (and coincidentally, her 12th birthday). The blue one represents the Katniss and how her differing views and bravery made all the difference. The arrows are in a flattened and bold modern style, but the old-school font gives it a little steam punk flair. I love gettin' geeky--even when I design invitations.

Being Brave...

I do not usually go in this direction on my blog, but I think sharing good things is important, especially when those good things are good for your soul. Every week I get a few emails that read a lot like this:

Dear Super Duper Girl,

If you had lived through different experiences, you would not have the same things to say. If you had not done what you have done, endured what you have endured, decided what you have decided, you would not know what you know. If you had not fallen where you fell and got back up where you got back up...you would not be where you are.

You are you because of the sum of every minute you have been alive. You are you because of everything you have learned, no matter what it took to give you the lesson.

Because of all of these things, there is not another soul like you that ever existed and there never will be. Because of this, you have the ability to leave a beautiful mark on this world, and on every person you ever meet and every place you will ever go -- a mark that could NEVER EVER be made by anyone else.

Own it, girl. The beauty is in the real stuff. Be real, flaws and all.
You are so very very very loved.
xoxo

Isn't that awesome?? They are emails are called A Little Bird Told Me Daily Truths and they are generated from the folks at the Brave Girls Club. I'd swear that it was my own guardian angel sending me messages. Every time I read it, I feel like I can sit taller, be braver and look forward to the joys and challenges in store for me that day. I recommend that everyone I know link up and have the emails sent to them too. They also have emails for teenage girls, and offer wonderful classes to take and illuminate the beautiful soul that is you. It doesn't hurt. It always helps. And you deserve it, just like I do!

The White Stuff

I've been chatting up my renewed love for all things white lately with some designer friends. White is a soft clean palette capable of enhancing nearly every piece of art, fabric, and furniture you have in your house. It's a wonderful neutral base that, for those who can never commit to one wonderful color scheme because all colors are so beautiful and worthy of attention, offers the ultimate creative freedom. Mixing creams and whites is beautiful. Whites and pastel colors are beautiful. Whites and sharp intense colors like orange, red and pink are stunning too. When you tire of one color, change it up and voila! A new look without getting the paint brushes out.

With that said, I want to share a beautifully curated collection of white with you. Heather Spriggs of Gathering Spriggs blog has completed a most beautiful magazine called Gatherings which showcases her romantic modern aesthetic with vintage white home accessories, recipes, party styling, crafts and more. Here are a few teaser photos so you can see what I mean. When you have a few minutes at lunch today, refresh your creative soul and soak it all in.  It's inspiring and motivating. Beautiful job Heather!

Mother of Pearl Color inspiration

Most of you have not had the "pleasure" of seeing my bathroom so I'll describe it to you. It's covered with the mauve tiles original to the house which was built in the 1930s (the color swatch on the far right of this photo). Since I whine ridiculously when I even have to paint, taking on the challenge of an entire bathroom re-do is on the 10 to 20 year plan. Or when we have a spare couple of thousand dollars to pay someone to do it for us. I will continue to hope, but I think I'm going to be stuck with the tile for a long while so I'm trying to get used to it. And in all fairness, it's in perfect condition and appears to be indestructible even for my 3 creative children. I have to love it for that.

My high school art teacher once said that every color will work and look beautiful, if paired with other colors that make it so. This is a challenge and I've been pondering it since I first laid eyes on the mauve "inspiration" in the bathroom.

Alas, I'm happy to say that I think I've discovered a possible solution in this beautiful color palette from Design Seeds. I feel like the veil has been lifted from my eyes and I've been shown the proverbial light to make my mauve tiles look beautiful. I already even have navy towels so I was on the right path. Wish me luck!

Animal Balloons

Aren't these cute little guys? They are called Airheads and designed by Hector Serrano, available online at Z Gallery. I envision them at an animal themed birthday party, all lined up with a party gift attached to the bottom for the party guests to take home. I first saw the link trolling around Apartment Therapy's great blog.

I am now just recovering from my son's 7th birthday party which was at a Laser tag place. As soon as I get that together I will definitely share the details and printables. I just need to get those photos off the camera...

A Pub Themed Party

I'm very happy to say that I've joined creative forces with Sharon Elikan Dizenhuz, a veritable genius of theme ideas and implementation strategies. If you need someone to help you kick-start your event, then give her a call. I add the visual details, and before you know it, a fabulous party is on the way!

This was one of her first ideas Sharon proffered. I think a pub themed party is so great for the difficult category of "manly" events. A pub is the quintessential friendly atmosphere that encourages gathering, singing and general merriment. If your man loves sports, you can easily move the focus to game colors, or even a golf bend with more of a "old boys" club atmosphere.

Having been to a pub or two in England, Ireland and Wales, I felt quite qualified to take this project on. Based on Sharon's first set of lists, I created a concept for an invitation and logo that would get the mood set for the event. The one I show in this collage is great for a couple (did you get Stud and Nag Pub reference?), but I also have another focusing on the man of the hour (the Cocky Lad Pub).

Taking it further: Do you have a wood bar in your house that sets the tone? What about renting out your local pub for the party? How about finding a piano player to get the pub songs going? Or better yet, ask some of your friends who can play instruments to bring them and play. Don't forget to send out a song list and print copies of the words. That will get everyone singing along!

Here is a quick collage of images to get your creative juices flowing. I have more inspirational images on my Pinterest board here. Don't miss the party food menu ideas and a great playlist Sharon pulled together after the photos. You'll have your pub party atmosphere in no time, mate!

FOOD SUGGESTIONS FOR A PUB THEMED PARTY

Main Fare/Pub Grub

Scotch Eggs

Mini Welsh Rarebit Toasts

Traditional English Roast Beef Crostinis

Shepherds Pie in individual ramekins

Bangers and Mash

Sausage rolls with mustard sauce

Fish & Chips, smashed peas, vinegar

Dullhallow Cheese Souffle

Beef Pasties

Desserts

Bread and Butter Pudding with Whiskey Crème Anglaise

Tradional English Bakewell Tart

Chocolate Pudding

Fruit Trifle

Drinks

Harp, Guinness & a good Irish whiskey

Suggested Song List for a Pub Themed Party
 

Try a Little Tenderness, The Commitments

Hard Days Night, The Beatles

Danny Boy, The Irish Tenors Trio

Free Me, Joss Stone

The Auld Triangle, Glen Hansard/Damien Rice

Deep into the Ground, Billy Elliot Soundtrack

The Pub with No Beer, Finbar O’Shay

Everyday I write the book, Elvis Costello

Down by the Water, The Decemberists

The Last English Rose, All the King’s Men

When Irish Eyes are Smiling,  Murdo McRae

Lola, The Kinks

Back on the Chain Gang, The Pretenders

Go with Happiness, The Swell Season

Henry the VIII, I Am, Herman’s Hermits

London Calling, The Clash

Wild Thing, The Troggs

Drowsy Maggie, Pub Crawlers

Come Dancing, The Kinks

Ob-ba-di, Oh-bla-da, The Beatles

Show Me, The Pretenders

Allison, Elvis Costello

Like a Rolling Stone, Bob Dylan

It ain’t me, Babe, Bob Dylan

Cruel to be Kind, Nick Lowe

Blowin in the Wind, Peter, Paul & Mary

Danny Boy, Willie Nelson

Dirty Old Town, The Pogues

Galway Girl, Mundy

Sweet Jane, The Velvet Underground

I Wanna be Sedated, The Ramones

I’m Not your Stepping Stone, The Sex Pistols

Should I Stay or Should I Go, The Clash

Sunday Bloody Sunday, U2

I Confess, The English Beat

Blister in the Sun, The Violent Femmes

Inspiration Monday: Cerise Pink

If I've said it once, I've said it a thousand times. Nama Rococo wallpaper is to die for. Unexpected color, organic shapes, hand drawn elements, nature are all rolled into a beautiful ball of wallpaper. I am lucky enough to have 2 sheets that I've framed and hung at my house. Just look at this photo! It's bright pink wall paper and it looks fabulous! It proves my high school art teacher correct in saying that there are no "wrong" colors. A true artist can make anything work. I'm not there yet, but this inspires me to keep trying...

Today, I was freaking about all the awesome things I want to blog about and I got totally paralyzed. Do you ever get that way?? There are so many ways I want to go with my day and I can't choose, so I sit at the computer and surround myself with spastic lists and pictures and links and my stomach is all in knots about what I should do. What should I do? Where do I start? Then I take a long drag off my Diet Coke can and realize that I'm not doing everything. I'm going to do a small thing and go from there.

This is my small thing, but "small" isn't the best description of it. It's beautiful and it has me thinking about designing parties and invitations with cerise pink as the theme. Then I can get to designing some invitations and cards that have nothing to do with pink, but that need to be loved on a little bit too.

Party Ideas from Pottery Barn Kids

I often think about how retail stores are coping with the adjusted way Americans shop now that the internet is so integrated into our lives. The retail location used to be where shop owners and their associates interacted with shoppers by making suggestions and inspiring them with carefully curated vignettes of products. Then creative bloggers started doing amazing things and sharing their ideas on parties, decorating and entertaining. The world has responded so strongly to this more personalized and grass roots style of inspiration. I've noticed that some forward-thinking retailers have opted to not fight the tide, but to combine both of these resources by using the bloggers to style events with their products. *Brilliant*

Today I saw that Pottery Barn Kids has also combined these two great worlds on their website in a section called "Parties and Celebrations". One of my favorite style bloggers Kim Stoegbauer from the TomKat Studio was a featured stylist for a "Sunshine Baby Shower", which is of course gorgeous. The wonderful part for Kim was having access to the resources for photographers, videographers, Pottery Barn props which are, let's face it, a bonus to working with the Big Corporate Companies. The bonus for web shoppers is that they feel like there is a real live person styling these events and sharing ideas. You can even download print files and watch DIY videos from the site. It's pretty cool. I should also put "out there" that if they need another blogging stylist, I'll be happy to throw my hat into that ring. :o)

Cheers and have a great weekend!

How to write time correctly on your invitation

I was wondering about this the other day while preparing a proof and I thought I'd look it up to be sure. I'm really glad that I did look it up, because I was hyphenating when I shouldn't have been. *sigh* It seems I'm always over-punctuating...

Here are some helpful rules on how to write time from this website (which, incidentally has lots of other handy grammatical rules).

Rule 12

Normally, spell out the time of day in text even with half and quarter hours. With o'clock, the number is always spelled out.
Examples:
She gets up at four thirty before the baby wakes up.
The baby wakes up at five o'clock in the morning.

Rule 13

Use numerals with the time of day when exact times are being emphasized or when using A.M. or P.M.
Examples:
Monib's flight leaves at 6:22 A.M.
Please arrive by 12:30 sharp.
She had a 7:00 P.M. deadline. 

Rule 14

Use noon and midnight rather than 12:00 P.M. and 12:00 A.M.

Rule 15

Hyphenate all compound numbers from twenty-one through ninety-nine.
Examples:
Forty-three persons were injured in the train wreck.
Twenty-three of them were hospitalized.

Happy New Year!

Can I give a little "woohoo" for the new year? I don't know why, but I feel like this one is going to be really, really good. I'm refreshing my invitation designs, simplifying my pricing format and getting ready to blog it up big time. My main external hard drive died, which could have been a complete disaster but I decided it was a way to start everything fresh and new. I'm excited for some *other* opportunities I have in design and writing as well. Those are kinda secret at the moment right now, though, so more on that later in the year.

In addition to all that good invitation stuff, a continued effort from last year is to practice my photography. I took an excellent workshop in Cincinnati called DSLR Workshops by Okello Dunkley, which definitely gave me the confidence to put my camera into the "M" for manual mode and start shooting. I'm looking at my composition, my lighting, my custom focus and more. I've downloaded Aperture, which allows me to do way more adjustments than Photoshop does. I basically have scratched the surface, but hey, you have to start somewhere, right? At least I'm not cursing the "effing f-stop" anymore. That's gotta be a good thing. This photo is one I took yesterday as we were cleaning up the Christmas stuff. These were some of my favorite ornaments and they looked so darn pretty together I just had to dive into an impromptu photo shoot. My husband is so tolerant of the artistic whims and diversions of his wife...