And a Happy New Year!

Wow we have been pretty M.I.A. over the holidays, hmm?  Not sure about erin, but I've been somewhat lost in all the strange weather Cleveland winters have to offer... that said, Christmas in Ohio treated all of us extremely well - I'll brag more later :)

Best present = spending some QT with the family... including Jane :)

tis the season :)

Who DOESN'T love holiday icons?? And what's more Christmas (especially this year) than White Elephant :)

scenes from the weekend

Lunch at Bolsa.
Stroll through Bishop Arts District.
Windows at Niemans.

wishlist

well... kel, here is what is on my wishlist for this year. That is if I win the lottery.... or the country digs itself out of debt.
Yesterday I had a craft day with Ben and finished my christmas presents for my immediated family. We taught ourselves to screenprint... that's all I am saying (Covering #4 and #11 in one hit)

I would love something handmade myself but here are some other things too:

1: Wearstler: Modern Glamour
2: Tikoli kitchen towel, it is just so cute
3: Jonathan Adler's book
4: American Airlines giftcard... because I hate paying for my own travel but love to do it!
5: Tory Burch flats: because you can wear them everyday, and these are on sale
6: adorable, Amy Butler pincushion, because my tomato pincushion isn't cutting it anymore
7: I LOVE this dress from Lemonstory
8: Moleskin plain sketchbooks in these new very cool colors! I am partial to the lime greens
9: Because Paris is always inspiring. Paris 1962

But at the very top of my list... which I think I am buying for myself when the christmas sales go on.... a cruiser bike.

christmas...already?

Since I'm starting my Thanksgiving today by driving home this afternoon, I figured it was okay to touch-base on Christmas just a bit. I'm curious - what's everyone asking for this year?? I started a list (besides peace on earth and a stable economy)... a few things might a little out-of-reach, but it's worth a shot, right?

1 : the (prior-mentioned) watch to replace the p.o.s. *someone* gave me :)
2 : love - LOVE - this print!
3 : is this ugly? because i kind of love it..
4 : same question - and i kind of love it, too..
5 : the casio elixim... i'm ready for a small, girly camera.
6 : to go next to my red 'keep calm and carry on' poster?
7 : kinda love these scarves a la target
8 : i really want a browns tshirt... especially a throw-back like this one!
9 : i need to get it together and start prepping for the LEED exam... aka, I need this reference guide. not so fun, but... eh..

halloween party... a week late

It feels like a decade since last week, so many things happening! So I almost forgot to post Halloween pictures!!

This is Ben and my halloween costume. Richie and Margot from Royal Tenenbaums.

You can see the rest of the pictures on Flickr here.

Happy Halloween!

Audrey dressed as Madeline at the Arboretum pumpkin fest

Whether you are going as Madeline or Freddy Crugar, have a safe and Happy Halloween... and a fab weekend too!

Keep it Simple...

brown craft paper + twine = this year's strategy.initial idea for a christmas tag... too much?

Last year, I tried to simplify gift-wrap and keep it simple. Of course, that still got out of hand as I started collecting ornaments to attach, and red velvet ribbon, and then "simple" gift-tags that I still ended up buying... it just turned-out to be too much.

This year, I'm serious. After Joslyn's post about some really, really, gorgeous gift-wrap, I've decided not to fall for it and to stick with brown craft paper and twine. I'm making my own gift tags, and refuse to stray from the plan!

...Maybe I should start with the gifts?

for kel...

image via martha stewart

HAPPY BIRTHDAY KELLEY!!!

I hope it is a great day!!

**sorry, i know you wanted to keep it low key. love you!**

surprise!

I am just getting back to Dallas from another jaunt to Atlanta, but it wasn't all work and no play.

Although it was a work trip, we were graciously given 4th of July off (believe me, this is a BIG deal) so I decided I would surprise my family by driving up to our farmhouse where they were having a big bash (found out later this was on sat. not fri.) but still got my immediate fam visit in.

Rental car keys in hand, I do not recommend the Chevy Aveo, I drove to Charlotte that night and then on to the farmhouse for the day on the 4th then back to Atlanta early saturday morn to work.

The only one who was truly surprised (as I had o give up my plan to dad and the brothers in order to see them) was my mom and aunt. It was good. Here are a few pics of the newly and wonderfully renovated farmhouse.

headed north

I'm off to Cleveland (kind of) tomorrow for the 4th with my family- I haven't been 'home' since Christmas time and feel like Jane needs to meet the rest of the fam.

I'm really hoping to get some great photos for work of a few different live-work-play communities in the area that I seem to have been oblivious to until now, and am hoping for some good ol' QT with most of the family- sadly, erin's still in Germany (weird!) showing Deutschland how we celebrate in the US of A.

Have a great fourth, everyone!

back to reality.

After spending the weekend in Hilton Head, including all day Friday, I'm feeling a case of the Mondays. Taking Jane into the ocean was, by far, the highlight of our lives together so far :)



Coming back to work today was cushioned just a little bit by an office-outing for lunch. There's a new restaurant (newER...) called Press- I've steered away from it because their website looks slightly fancier, but inside it's kind of like Dean+Deluca. Yes, that can be fancier, but we're talking GOOD food- great sandwiches, salads, etc... I built my own salad, of course, but I would've eaten any of the sandwiches listed. Check it out if you're in CLT- it's pretty good... and their signage / branding is pretty nice, as well.

cinco de mayo!

not only is today (and will always forever be) cinco de mayo, anniversary of mexico's independence, but it is ALSO the anniversary of katie + eric's wedding! today they're celebrating their one year- can't believe it's already been that long!

so on that note, grab yourself a margarita and toast to mexico, katie + eric!

SEGD 2007 Design Awards

I was looking through the projects that received awards last year from the Society of Environmental Graphic Design (SEGD) and this one really caught my eye. It's a temporary street decoration for the City of Melbourne's 06/07 Holiday Season. Rather than go with the typical nativity scene, they went with a typographic solution using nativity text from the Bible.

I think it turned out really well- looks cool, and indeed, isn't your typical nativity scene.

Emily's Chocolates

the last fortune: "Times of need are not enough to prove your friendship."

I got a Valentine's Day Package from my twin sister two weeks before February 14th. She plans ahead...

Inside there were a bunch of 'goodies' including Emily's Dark Chocolate Covered Fortune Cookies. I tried to pace myself with them, only giving a couple away and saving the rest for bad days, but today I (sadly) HAD to eat the last one. The box alone was adorable, let alone the fortunes and fact that they were all individually packaged inside... and they were SO good.

I think it was one of my favorite Valentine's Day presents ever- sure beats the last couple of years!

St. Patrick's Day Planning!

last year (that's me + erin on the bottom)

two years ago- that's erin + me on the left + center

Tonight we started planning for St. Patrick's Day- I know it's not one of the major holidays, but it is DEFINITELY worth celebrating well :)

Last year we were celebrating Katie's single-status, and the year prior (I think?) we were among the many in Savannah, GA- the second-biggest St. Patty's Day celebration in the USA.

This year fingers are crossed for spending time with old friends + warmer weather!

As much as I don't like this day...

Last night Amanda and I got pretty excited about our brownies! The first batch had two boxes of the mix- dark chocolate + fudge brownie, plus peanut butter chips. THEN... the second batch had the same two boxes of the mix, but we threw in white chocolate chips, butterscotch chips, and chopped walnuts. They are amazing. We both were kind enough to bring all of these to our respective offices today- I'm sure everyone was impressed :)

And they wouldn't be appropriate for today unless we threw a heart in there somewhere, right?

Happy.

goin oldschool... i busted out the construction paper last night to make a few special valentines.

I hope your day is fantastic!!

oh! Today is the 10th anniversary of V-day (Vagina Monologues.) if you ever get a chance to check this out please, PLEASE do!! it is a fantastic show empowering women and standing against women's Domestic Violence. I saw it twice in college and would see it a million times more. For what it stands for I believe every woman should be involved in this movement!!!

"V.. is very very extra-ordinary..."

image from made by girl

loved this poster from Made By Girl. perfect for the upcoming valentine's day... or any day.

Carolina in my mind...

my sister's choco. lab, Lucy, on the 4th of July in Hilton Head :)

I'm sorry, but after receiving my 2008 PTO Schedule in an email this morning, all I can think about is going to the beach. How lucky are we that Memorial Day, Labor Day, the 4th of July, Thanksgiving and Christmas ALL fall on Mondays or Fridays, giving me an unprecedented amount of long-weekends this year?!?!

I've gone through my calendar and planned-out about 4 trips to the beach, and am SO excited because I'll have a new puppy for three of them!