milk tea + polkadots

Thanksgiving Day

2011-11-29T13:02:00.001-06:00

We spent Thanksgiving Day with both of our families. Lunch with my side and dinner with the husband's. We're lucky to have many of our relatives nearby and close to each other too. We only had to drive about 20 minutes from one party to the next!

It was also nice to have the husband home for the long weekend. We spent the rest of the weekend volunteering at a soup kitchen, hanging out with friends, and eating more food. We did stop by the mall later on Black Friday to check out a couple stores, but we weren't really in the mood to shop much. I did score a few cotton shirts and a super soft, plaid scarf from The Gap for 60% off! But that was the extent of our Black Friday shopping excursion. How was your Thanksgiving weekend?

Cousin-in-law, Howie with my cousins, Tiffany & Amy

My sister and cousins posing w/ the turkey.

My sister and me

A family photo with our hunny bunny, Jobie.

Happy birthday to my MIL!

The husband and his cousins playing a drinking game.

Belly Wave + an Update

2011-11-22T19:30:00.001-06:00

Here's a video of my belly that I took a few days ago at 32 weeks. The girls have been super active, so my stomach looks like a wave. It's pretty incredible and freaky!

At my 32 week ultrasound last week, the girls' organs and limbs were looking fabulous. There was some concern raised about the size of Baby B though. She isn't growing as fast as Baby A. They used to be only a few ounces different, but now the gap has grown. Baby A is 3lbs, 8oz and Baby B is only 2lbs, 11oz. So I'm going to have to go in weekly for Doppler scans to check on their fluids, in addition to the weekly Non-Stress Tests.

I had my first Doppler scan this morning. Thankfully, everything looked great. A Doppler scan "examines the blood flowing through the umbilical cord between the placenta and the baby." It also examines amniotic fluid levels.

Baby Bump Progression...I'm SO behind!

2011-11-14T14:15:00.001-06:00

I'm currently 32 weeks and quite a wee bit behind on my "bi-weekly" photos. We've converted our guest bedroom into the nursery. We moved the guest bed to our basement study, painted the walls a lovely, light gray, and added 2 cribs, a shelf, a dresser, and a glider. Now all the walls are taken and there's nowhere for me to take my weekly photos. So here's one from Week 27 in front of a crib (Don't mind my messy hair. I think I just woke up from a nap.) I just entered the 3rd trimester (in that photo.) Yippee!

So I just started Month 8 this week. I can't believe I only have a few weeks to go. I've been seeing my OB every 2 weeks for awhile now. She just told me I also need to start going to the hospital to get a Non-Stress Test every week from now on. Oh dear... I think I may have felt my first Braxton Hick's on Saturday. My stomach got really tight and there was a shooting pain that went down one of my legs. It reminded me of my period cramps back in high school. It happened 3 times within a 15-20 minute span. Is that what Braxton Hick's feels like??

Recent Project: An Art Deco Holiday Party Invitation

2011-11-09T13:34:00.001-06:00

I love working with this client. Carol is a dream to work with. She knows what she wants, so when she sees it, we're done! No wishy washy indecisiveness here. I also designed their last holiday party invitation (click here.) But I love this year's so much more! They decided to go all out on the budget and went with black raised text, gold embossed letters, and a beveled edge. It turned out spectacularly! She asked for an Art Deco feel to go along with their new party venue, The Drake Hotel. So this is what I came up with!

Time flies...

2011-10-29T10:30:00.000-05:00

So sorry for the lack of posts! I've been busy with....

Procrastinating and finally making curtains for the nursery with this fabric:

Source: fabric.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Trying to find a wall decal that will work in the space... Love this but with 2 cribs and a glider, there isn't much wall space that low. Must find something that will go above the cribs. Hmm..must keep searching.

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Finding the perfect crib skirt and then realizing it doesn't fit our cribs (the position of the mattress bars are in the front rather than sides)... Now I have to find fabric and make my own. :( Hopefully, this tutorial by Young House Love will work!

Source: landofnod.com via Cindy on Pinterest

iPhone Photo Wknd Update {week 27}

2011-10-17T11:04:00.001-05:00

We finally bought & built the cribs for the nursery. The husband assembled the bookshelf & dresser a couple weeks ago. Now all we're waiting for is the glider! Well...I still need to make the curtains and decorate the room. The room is definitely coming along!

We had Friday dinner at our friends' house. Don't you just love her ruffly butt?

Our nephew, Isaac, saying "cheeeese!"

Here's the husband practicing wearing the Ergo with our friends' baby, Miles.

On Saturday, we had a baby shower with the husband's family.

iPhone Photo Update

2011-10-05T12:09:00.002-05:00

<< This was taken a couple weeks ago at 24 weeks. I had a doctor's appt

a few days later, and all is well with the babies. I was measuring 27 weeks. :)

Trying to see things below the belly has been increasingly difficult. Hehe. >>

<< Pretty b i r t h d a y flowers from the husband >>

<< Delicious chocolate croissants from Trader Joe's >>

<< Choosing paint colors was harder than I thought it would be.

But we're done now! I'm loving the new paint colors. >>

<< The husband insisted on buying this adorably cute, PINK blanket from Target.

Who would've thought he'd be the one pushing for more pink?! Hehe...so cute. >>

Art Prints for the Nursery

2011-09-24T07:00:00.001-05:00

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Nursery Inspiration

2011-09-23T13:06:00.003-05:00

Since our master bath remodel is finally finished (well, we still need to paint the walls), I can finally start thinking about putting together our nursery!

I love, love, love everything about this part of this nursery. The colors, the Anthropologie coral knobs, the Ikea drawers, the spray painted thrift store frames, and the framed fabric art. I'm definitely taking a bunch of ideas from here!

Source: cape27blog.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Isn't the bold, chevron striped wall just FABULOUS?? I was initially going to go with a yellow, and gray color scheme like this, but when I found out we were having girls, I just had to throw in some pink!

Source: house36.wordpress.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I would like to get this low Ikea shelf to put under our window too. Now I can make the curtains a bit shorter. Shorter = less fabric and less work. I like the sound of that!

Source: ohdeedoh.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I like how perfectly those baskets fit into the Ikea shelf. Should I go w/ baskets or the drawers and knobs in the 1st picture??

Source: blog.holamama.es via Cindy on Pinterest

This was one of the first things I bought for the nursery. They didn't have yellow and gray would've been too drab. So that's how aqua entered into the color scheme! I'm gonna paint the walls a light gray (like in the 1st image) w/ yellow & white patterned curtains, and this aqua chevron rug. Sprinkle in a little pink here and there and that's that!

Source: urbanoutfitters.com via Cindy on Pinterest

And another year goes by...

2011-09-20T12:54:00.002-05:00

Source: fiskars.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Too cute for words!

2011-09-20T12:00:00.002-05:00

I can't wait til my girls are old enough to wear adorable shoes like these!

Source: joyfolie.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: rikshawdesign.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: fleetingthing.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: ohjoy.blogs.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Five and a half months...and counting

2011-09-13T18:28:00.008-05:00

I really like how Sydney from The Daybook documents her current pregnant state. It's a nice way to keep track of how your pregnancy is going. I'm gonna give it a shot. Pregnancy hasn't exactly been what I expected. I guess I was hoping it would be easy breezy like a few of my lucky momma friends. I definitely can't say that it has been. But I'm more than half way there though. Whoo hoo!

[at a wedding this past weekend]

At twenty-two weeks:

- I've experienced my first clogged milk duct. Who knew that could happen when you're pregnant?!
- I've gained 15 lbs so far. So why do I look like I'm 7-8 months pregnant already?
- The girls are still breached, but we still have a few more weeks before they're supposed to turn around. Turn upside down, M and S!
- Sleeping on my sides has gotten uncomfortable the last couple weeks. I've been feeling this sharp pain at the bottom of my ribs. Apparently, my ribs are stretching. What?? I didn't know that could happen.
- My boobies keep growing. No, I don't like them this big. I thought a D was huge.
- My green veins look like a spiderweb all over my body. Especially on my chest, boobs, stomach, and legs. Hmm...that's basically everywhere!
- I don't have to shave my legs as frequently. The hair growth has actually slowed down. Lovin' it!
- Our master bath remodel is finally almost done. Next project, the nursery!

Babymoon Part 2: Old & New Montreal

2011-09-12T13:00:00.000-05:00

Montreal has an amazing bike network system. You can rent a bike from one location and drop it off at another. They're all over the city! So we decided to explore Old Montreal by bike after a hearty breakfast near our hotel downtown. Who would've thought baked beans would go so well with breakfast?! Delicious!

After enjoying a beautiful day outside and a quick nap, we walked over to New Montreal for dinner. A friend had recommended hitting up Schwartz's for some of their famous smoked meat sandwiches. The tiny hole-in-the-wall restaurant was PACKED! The sandwiches and pickles were finger-licking good!

Awesome Maternity Book

2011-09-07T12:00:00.001-05:00

Check out this amazingly cute maternity book by Joanna McShan of Hanna Mac Photography. She's an Austin based photographer that specializes in baby, kids and family photography. I love how whimsical and fun her maternity book is with all the bright colors and little summaries for every week. What an awesome idea!

Babymoon Part 1: Montreal

2011-08-25T17:09:00.007-05:00

The husband and I traveled to Montreal and Toronto last weekend with a couple of friends. Have you ever heard of Porter Airlines? They're a small, new airline with the best service ever! We were given these small snack boxes on our 1.5 hour flight to Toronto. It contained Activia yogurt and a mini packaged banana bread. Yum! Then we had a short layover in which we stayed in their uber nice "lounge" that had free wi-fi and access to Mac computers and FREE snacks, beverages and Starbucks coffee. On our second leg to Montreal, they gave us another snack box w/ tiny lunch sandwiches for the 50 min ride. Aren't they awesome? Hehe...just give me free food and I'm all good!

We spent the rest of the day exploring the city near our hotel downtown and the Old Montreal area. Montreal totally felt like a European city. Most people spoke French and all signs were in French too!

[Old Montreal]

Sugar and Spice and Everything Nice

2011-08-11T09:53:00.004-05:00

Earlier this week, I went in for my monthly check-up. We were so anxious all weekend. Are we having 1 of each? 2 boys?? 2 girls? Ahhh... I just wanted at least one girl. Haha. 1 of each would, of course, be ideal. At first, the ultrasound tech said it was 1 boy and 1 girl (whee!) But then she checked the "boy" again, and said it was actually another GIRL! Hehehe... the husband was a little worried. He was like, I'm gonna have to get a shotgun now! I'm going in for a Level 2 u/s at Week 20, so they can confirm it's 2 girls. So for right now, I can seriously start planning the nursery...for 2 little girls! Don't worry, husband. I won't go crazy w/ the pink! ;)

How to Talk to Little Girls

2011-08-11T07:00:00.001-05:00

I just read an eye-opening article on A Cup of Jo that "encourages adults to ask little girls about ideas and books, instead of complimenting their looks." It's so true. My first instinct is usually to compliment a little girl on how cute they look. I never realized I did that, or thought about what sort of impact it has on them. Check out Jo's post on How to Talk to Little G irls. What are your thoughts?

Summer Recap

2011-08-09T21:40:00.005-05:00

I can't believe it's already August and the summer is almost over. I'm rather enjoying the cooler weather we've been having the past couple days. It sure beats the unbearable heat and humidity we've had ALL last month. Just wanted to do a quick photo recap of my summer with our friends and family. There's been lots of get togethers and meals shared. This is what I love about living in the city. :)

Huge family reunion in Dallas for my cousin, Lani's wedding

Had my girlfriends and their boys over for lunch + play. That night I slept 12 hrs!

Met up with some friends and their kids for brunch at Lula Cafe.

Posed in front of the posh + elegant Elysian Hotel with Sarah
Brunched at Milk + Honey with Charlene, Grace, & Sarah

Dined at Francesca's Forno with W+C+baby

Pinterest Love: Pretty Things

2011-08-04T21:19:00.004-05:00

Colorful DIY bracelets

Source: inhonorofdesign.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

This personalized charm necklace would be perfect for my twins' first initials. <3

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

How sweet and petite. One of my friends has one with her baby's initial.

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I love the layered necklace look. This would be lovely, again, with initials.

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

I *heart* hammered metal!

Source: etsy.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Love the simplicity of these cognac colored sandals. Too bad they're sold out!

Source: us.topshop.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Bi-Weekly Progression: Wk 9-15

2011-07-29T13:15:00.002-05:00

I am showing a definite baby bump now! My neighbors have started to notice and ask if I'm pregnant. Hehe. It's funny when they say, "I've been wanting to ask..." Cuz you know...it's a questionable subject when you ask an acquaintance. They could've just put on some weight!

I just started week 16. We'll be finding out the sex of our little babies in a short couple of weeks. I'm excited and nervous all at the same time. We're crossing our fingers that we're having at least one girl. ;o) Almost all of my friends have boys. It's CRAZY! Anyway, the sun is out and the humidity hasn't returned...yet. Enjoy your weekends!

Week 14: Sweet Little Lemons

2011-07-29T10:00:00.006-05:00

I'm a little behind with taking these weekly photos and posting them... Oops! Anyway, I had an ultrasound a couple weeks ago. The twins are growing fast! According to this chart, they're the size of lemons this week. And they're finally starting to look human! (A few weeks before this, they looked like penguins. Haha.) It's simply amazing that there are these little humans growing inside my belly. It's so unreal. Don't you love how they're positioned like they're sleeping in a bunk bed?

Maternity Wear

2011-07-27T13:08:00.000-05:00

With an ever-changing (growing!) body, it's been a challenge trying to find clothes that fit and will keep me cool in this summer heat. I've definitely gotten to the point where my bump looks like a baby bump and not like I ate a huge lunch. Glad to finally have reached that point!

While Old Navy was having an additional 30% off sale a few weeks ago, I went ahead and ordered a few maternity basics. I bought their regular, fold-over cotton skirt a few years ago, and loved how easy and comfortable it was. My only problem was that it started pilling. I went ahead and got their maternity version anyway since it was super cheap. I figured I wouldn't be wearing it that long anyway. I've worn and washed it a few times already, and it seems to be holding up well. Their Jersey-Stretch cotton tanks are awesome. I love the long length and the higher neckline. I don't have to worry about flashing my increasing chest. Eeks! I was pleasantly surprised by the fit of their Denim Leggings. They fit like a glove! I had tried on a few capris and jeans at the store, but was sorely disappointed by how big they were. But these jean leggings seriously fit well. Gotta love pants with stretch!

ON Maternity Fold-Over Skirts

ON Maternity Jersey-Stretch Tanks
ON Denim Leggings

I've also been shopping at Forever 21, H&M, and Target for cheap tops and dresses. I lucked out at the Old Orchard F21 and found that they had 2 racks of maternity clothes! I picked up a tank for under $5 and a strappy summer dress. I used to steer clear of billowy blouses since I thought they just added more volume. But I found a blouse at H&M last week (non-maternity!) that was super cute. The husband even approved! On my last Target trip, after I picked up the boring stuff (toilet paper, shampoo...), I cruised on over to the clothing section before checking out. I scored a non-maternity dress from the Juniors' section. It feels good to still be able to fit into normal clothes!

Target Xhilaration Juniors Dress
Here are a couple fun, maternity clothes that I found online. I'm all about prints!

Topshop Maternity Floral Maxi
Top from Lilac

Summers = Stovetop Clambake

2011-07-21T15:31:00.004-05:00

Ah...Joanne of Week of Menus must know how to read my mind! I first discovered stovetop clambakes last summer, and have been wanting to try it out ever since. I feel like summer is halfway over, and I've barely done any summer-ish things. I've been avoiding the heat and staying indoors since it triggers my pregnancy-induced migraines. (Sigh...when is the 2nd trimester bliss going to kick in?!) Eating a boiling pot of goodness would sound absolutely DELICIOUS right now if it only wasn't 100+ degrees outside! What's with this nationwide heat wave that's going on?! It's been darn right ridiculous, and the end is nowhere in sight! Anyway, feast your eyes on this pot of loveliness. What's on your list of summer to-do's?

Source: weekofmenus.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Pinterest Love: Creative Party Decor

2011-07-18T20:11:00.005-05:00

Gosh, I love Pinterest! There are so many creative and inspiring parties out there! I love how there are a million and one ways to use paper to decorate a party. You can make pinwheels, garlands, cupcake toppers, tags, pom poms, flags...the list can go on! Using paper is such a simple and affordable way to dress up a party. Using paper plates to decorate a background? Genius! I never would've thought of using them to represent bubbles! Using a shower curtain for a background? Seriously clever. Have some diapers and ribbon on hand? Make a diaper garland! Ah...the ideas are endless.

Source: lisastorms.typepad.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: pinksugarphotography.typepad.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: hostessblog.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: blog.amyatlas.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: hostessblog.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: fiskars.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Source: hostessblog.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Paper Goods from a Paper Doll Birthday

2011-07-15T07:00:00.001-05:00

Here are the rest of the paper decorations that I designed for Charlotte's 1st birthday:

Real Parties: A Paper Doll 1st Birthday

2011-07-14T11:39:00.007-05:00

I first posted about this adorable, shabby-chic birthday invitation I designed here. My client, Pauline, did a fabulous job planning Charlotte's birthday party. She had a professional photographer from Elizabeth + Rich Photography document her baby girl's big day. A cake designer from The Ultimate Cake Off show designed the cake based off of my invitation! Doesn't the cake look awesome?! She also had custom cookies made in the shape of the paper dolls. Here are a few photos from the party:

Summers = Corn on the Cob

2011-07-13T13:50:00.009-05:00

Joanne of Week of Menus just posted a recipe for mouth-watering ELOTES! This reminds me of my trip to Cafe Habana in NYC. Their elotes are to die for! Every recipe I've tried from Joanne has been delicious. I'm going to have to try her elote recipe one of these summer days. Doesn't she make it look SO good?!

Source: weekofmenus.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Oh my...she also has a recipe for Warm Elote Salad.

Source: weekofmenus.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

On being away...

2011-07-07T17:14:00.010-05:00

The husband and I are finally beginning a new chapter in our life. We have been waiting (not always so patiently on my part) to start a family. There was a lot of disappointment and sadness, but now I can gladly put that all behind us. Although we knew there was a good chance, we were shocked to learn we were expecting twins. We are both so happy, but equally worried/scared/freaked out by what's to come. Most of our friends have children so we've been exposed to the many sides of parenthood.

It's been a rough few months with the endless migraines and all-day sickness. I'm hoping that with the end of the 1st trimester, I'll be feeling better soon. I've been trying to take weekly pictures of my baby bump, but it's been hard. I don't know how those fashion bloggers do it...especially with taking self-pictures!

I'm Heading Out to Texas, Ya'll!

2011-05-27T12:12:00.006-05:00

Bye-bye, chilly Chicago! I'm saying "howdy" to the 90 degree weather in Dallas this weekend. My entire extended family is gathering together for my cousin, Lani's wedding. I had the honor of designing her wedding invitations. She chose to use an existing design I had made for Sue + Mike. So I just switched the color palette and swapped out the info. Easy peasy! :) Hope ya'll enjoy your Memorial Day weekend!

The Perfect Summer Hat

2011-05-19T07:00:00.003-05:00

Floppy hats remind me of hot, summer days at the pool with a book in one hand and an ice, cold drink in the other. Isn't this photo gorgeous? I don't know why, but I like the mysterious feel of the way the model has her face shielded.

Source: bhldn.com via Cindy on Pinterest

An Airplane Birthday Party

2011-05-17T15:54:00.003-05:00

How adorable is this airplane-themed birthday party? I found this party via my new favorite site, Pinterest. I've discovered fabulous, new blogs and sites through it. This party is from Polkadot Prints Studio. I pinned it for it's lovely color palette and unique party theme. I love how she carried the theme throughout!

Source: polkadotprintsstudio.blogspot.com via Cindy on Pinterest

Pinterest Fun

2011-05-10T13:47:00.005-05:00

You must've heard of Pinterest by now, right? If not, go here to check it out! So many pretty things all in the same place... I can peruse that site for hours! Rather than copying images I've found online, and putting them into folders on my desktop, I can just click on the "Pin It" button on my toolbar. It's so easy – I love it!

"Pinterest is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post collections of things you love, and “follow” collections created by people with great taste."

Speaking of Payless Shoes & Kendi

2011-05-06T07:00:00.002-05:00

Here are a few ways Kendi of Kendi Everyday has styled her Payless shoes. Her blog is on my list of daily reads. Her husband does a fantastic job of photographing her (great photos are a definite must for a fashion blog in my book!) I love how she doesn't shy away from bright colors or bold jewelry...and I love all the different ways she styles her hair. I wish my hair was that versatile! Oh...I almost forgot to mention. She always wears affordable things! Anyway, go check out her blog here.

Oh...It's Cinco de Mayo!

2011-05-05T11:13:00.007-05:00

Since it's Cinco de Mayo and all, this totally reminded me of this Mexican Fiesta I bookmarked way back last year. It would be the perfect party theme for my friend and me. Since our birthdays are only 2 weeks apart, we always celebrate them together. And since we both love Mexican (or Tex-Mex for her), this would be an awesome idea for our next big milestone birthday (it won't be for a looong while though!) I can't wait until the husband and I move back to the suburbs someday and have a nice backyard. I would love to throw a party like this. So many bright colors, and did you see that taco topping spread? Drool... Happy Cinco de Mayo!

I need a little bit of SUNSHINE!

2011-04-29T08:56:00.007-05:00

Cute, affordable, and COMFY shoes will do it for me! :) We've had a record amount of rainfall this season. It seems like it's been constantly gloomy and rainy here. It's getting kind of OLD! But today is supposed to be a g l o r i o u s l y warm & sunny day. I can't wait to open up my windows and let in some much needed fresh air.

I haven't checked out Payless shoes in years. I decided to pop into a store (last month) after seeing one of their wedges in People StyleWatch magazine. I tried on a bunch of pairs and was pleasantly surprised by how comfy most of them were! I really wanted to get their Clyde Peep Toe Wedge, but they were out of my size. I love the neutral color and the low heel. I ended up leaving with a pair of light gold Ahoy Boat Mocs that were on sale for $16.99! The soles are super cushy, and they lasted me through a day of shopping (a very good sign of comfort!)

Below are a few of my picks. The Bella Flower Peep Toe is a very good imitation of a Report brand shoe I saw at Nordstrom's last year. I didn't try on the striped Kendall Knot Wedge or the gladiator sandal though. But Kendi of Kendi Everyday has raved about those gladiators for their comfort. So check them out!

Bella Flower Peep Toe Flat
Ahoy Boat Moc
Clyde Peep Toe Wedge

Kendall Knot Wedge

Looker Ring Gladiator Sandal

Pattern Inspiration: Chevron Stripes + Scallops

2011-04-28T14:38:00.004-05:00

I've always been drawn to chevron stripes and scallops. I would love to incorporate one of these patterns into an invitation design. I've been scouring the net for inspiration. These are definitely inspiring me! Check out my slowing growing Pinterest boards here. I'm SO loving that swimsuit pattern!

A Birthday, Bubbles, & Easter

2011-04-26T08:49:00.009-05:00

My apologies again for being neglectful of my blog. I spent the last couple weeks going to doctor's appointments and having a couple procedures. Don't worry though...it wasn't anything serious. :)

Anyway, just wanted to share a few photos from the past couple weekends. Last weekend, I celebrated my friend, Jennine's birthday at Seasons 52, where everything on the menu is less than 475 calories. Isn't that a rather cool concept? The restaurant had a rustic, yet sophisticated decor...reminiscent of Wildfire's. Our entrees were definitely...healthy-tasting...with a hefty side of veggies (which I always like.) The mini desserts, on the other hand, were delicious!

This past weekend, the husband and I got to spend time w/ some family and nephews. Here's baby Isaac playing with his new (battery-operated!) bubble machine. He had so much fun...giggling and laughing all the while!

For Easter, we headed over to my husband's aunt's house for lunch. The spread was one of the best ever! Mmm...i loved my MIL's Korean Braised Short Ribs (kalbi jjim.) Iit was extra delicious this time! After filling our tummies, our nephews went on a mini Easter egg hunt in the backyard. It was so cute watching them run around. Isaac didn't quite get the concept yet though. Hehehe. Then we all got to enjoy the Sweet Tart jelly beans, Hershey Kisses, and Rolos (my fav!) that were hidden in the eggs. Hope you all had a blessing & fabulous Easter weekend!

Recent Project: A Paper Doll 1st Birthday

2011-04-14T11:47:00.004-05:00

So sorry for the lack of posts! It's been crazy hectic this week with helping my parents remodel their kitchen to a close friend having their first baby. Congrats, Christine + Will! (Pics of their little man to come.)

Anyway, here's the invitation I created for Pauline and her baby's 1st birthday party. I also designed the menus, favor tags, and raffle tickets, as well as, a few other paper goods for the dohl. She had a professional photographer at the event, so I can't wait to see their photos!

Sheridan French

2011-04-07T07:00:00.002-05:00

I came across fashion designer, Sheridan French's blog and website via my SIL's blog (Out of Thin Aeri.) The vibrant colors and ethnic patterns of her chic line caught my eye. I LOVE c-o-l-o-r! Take a look at some of the pieces in her Spring Collection:

Featured on Swanky Chic Fete

2011-04-01T16:00:00.001-05:00

Thanks to Lili of Swanky Chic Fete for featuring this baby shower
on your blog! I was touched by all your kind words! :)

Christine's Bow-Tie Baby Shower (Part III)

2011-04-01T15:50:00.007-05:00

Here's the last of the photos from Christine's baby shower! I made some goody bags filled with hand-dipped chocolate pretzels and tied it with a coordinated ribbon and tag. In lieu of shower games, we had the guests fill out these cards with sage advice and well wishes. They were then inserted into this Kolo album and given to the guest-of-honor as a keepsake. I hope you enjoyed this series of posts. Have a great weekend!

Christine's Bow-Tie Baby Shower (Part II: The Spread)

2011-03-30T21:10:00.014-05:00

[Decorated the light fixture w/ a mini garland of Japanese washi tape and
covered my existing wall art with color coordinated tissue paper and washi tape]

[Christine, the new mom-to-be]

[I wrapped boxes w/ kraft and tissue paper to add height to the spread.]

[Garlic Ginger Honey Wings–recipe from Week of Menus]

[Bruschetta made easy with Costco's crunchy Panetini]

Christine's Bow-Tie Baby Shower (Part I: Desserts)

2011-03-30T07:00:00.003-05:00

I threw my friend, Christine, a baby shower last weekend. We had an intimate gathering of 13 wonderful ladies. I made all of the paper decorations and most of the food. I wish I could say I also made the desserts, but they were store-bought. :) The mini chocolate and vanilla cupcakes were from Molly's Cupcakes, and the adorable bow-tie sugar cookies were from Sarah's Pastries. The light and airy white chocolate mousse cake was from Whole Foods (mmm...that cake is to die for!) The shower was a success...thanks to Grace H. and Rosa for the desserts and helping me set up!

Recent Project: A Peaceful Dragon Birth Announcement

2011-03-28T12:01:00.008-05:00

Gayle (my favorite client who got me this!) asked me to design a birth announcement for her 2nd son, Jaxson. Baby Jaxon's middle name, Seiryuu, is Japanese for peaceful dragon. Gayle named him that b/c her first son, Peyton, is so noisy! Don't you love names with meanings behind them? (Click here to see Peyton's birthday invitation.)

I had a super busy weekend with planning/hosting my friend's baby shower. I'll be posting pics of the shower soon! Did you do anything fun and exciting this weekend?

**By the way, does anyone know what kind of flowers these are? They're super hardy and long-lasting. My husband got me a bouquet of a variety of flowers for V-day. These white ones lasted over a month!

A Whale of a Birthday

2011-03-23T16:40:00.009-05:00

Here are a few photos of the paper goods I made for a friend's 1st birthday party. Caritas did a phenomenal job of putting the party together. With her great attention to detail, each table was thoughtfully laid out, and everything was perfectly color coordinated. Don't you love the goldfish cracker on each of her homemade cupcakes? Brilliant idea!

Forget pharmacy! I think you have a big future in event planning/design, Caritas!

Busy, busy bee

2011-03-21T13:58:00.007-05:00

Sorry for the spotty postings! The past few weeks have been super busy. I just finished making all the paper goods for a 1st birthday party that took place last Saturday. (I'll be posting up pics of the goodies soon!) And this coming Saturday, I'm hosting a baby shower at my house. So I'll be busy designing the decorations and whipping up the food this week. So bear with me!

In the meantime, here are some decoration ideas I came upon as I was planning for the shower. Eek...so sorry I didn't jot down where some of these images are from!

circle sticker garlands by bump smitten

Sweet Little Parties

For Japan With Love

2011-03-17T20:15:00.009-05:00

The ladies from Ever Ours and Utterly Engaged created a fundraising page (For Japan With Love) to support the disaster relief in Japan. They've done a phenomenal job of creating awareness and raising money. As of now, they've already exceeded their goal by 400%. How amazing is that?? They've chosen ShelterBox as the organization to donate to.

"ShelterBox provides emergency shelter and lifesaving supplies for families around the world who are affected by disasters at the time when they need it the most. Each large, green ShelterBox is tailored to a disaster but typically contains a disaster relief tent for an extended family, blankets, water storage and purification equipment, cooking utensils, a stove, a basic tool kit, a children’s activity pack and other vital items." Click here to find out more about what's in the Box.

Currently Admiring: Oxfords

2011-03-14T14:26:00.011-05:00

Oxfords have reappeared again, and can be found everywhere. I remember having a pair of black oxfords in junior high or high school. Did you ever have a pair when you were younger? Would you follow this trend now?

Sydney from The Daybook has a super cute cognac pair from ThreadSence.ThreadSence 'Jazz' Oxford Shoes
Steve Madden 'Trouser' Laceless Oxfords

Kimmie from Blue Paper Lanterns is wearing Target Xhilaration Oxfords

Antiquaria: Curated Vintage Housewares

2011-03-08T19:33:00.004-06:00

I've been seeing this new shop circulating around the blogosphere lately. I couldn't resist checking out their website and drooling over their gorgeously stylized photos. Antiquaria is filled with vintage glassware, casual dishes, fine china and kitchenware. They also offer a unique service: a gift registry for their vintage, one-of-a-kind pieces, china sets, and home décor. Hop on over and take a look at their goodies!

Spring at Old Navy!

2011-03-04T12:14:00.006-06:00

I just checked out Old Navy. They always have super cute clothes in the spring! I love those gold boat shoes. Too bad they're all sold out in my size. :( Here are my picks (it looks like I'm drawn to blue at the moment):

A Whale-y Cute 1st Birthday

2011-03-03T09:00:00.004-06:00

A friend asked me to design her son's 1st birthday party invitation. Hello Naomi's super adorable whale cake inspired us to go with a whale theme. I'll be posting more on the other paper goods after the party!

A Beautifully Uncluttered Workspace

2011-03-02T09:00:00.000-06:00

Bethany of b*spoke has an enviable workspace. With a few shelves and organization/storage supplies from Ikea, she turned her studio into an amazing, functional space. I'm particularly liking the Galant Cable Organizer from Ikea. The cords under my desk (and my husband's desk) are a total eyesore. Sadly, I don't think this product will work for my desk though since I have a large drawer spanning the entire underside. But maybe it'll work for my husband's desk. Check out the photos of her studio here and here.

Organic + Modern Jewelry

2011-02-25T09:00:00.000-06:00

I just discovered Christine Mighion's beautiful jewelry via Flights of Fancy. I'm always drawn to hammered metals. It just has a certain unique quality about it. Take a gander at the rest of her collection here.

Recent Project: A Farm Fresh Logo

2011-02-24T09:00:00.001-06:00

I designed this logo for Christine Chitnis; who is a writer, photographer and environmental educator. She recently redesigned her website to coincide with the release of her first book. Since her blog header was going to feature photos from her book, Christine wanted a logo that incorporated farm imagery, as well as, flourishes for a feminine touch. Visit her website here.

Christine's Little Man

2011-02-23T16:00:00.000-06:00

I thought the bow-time/little man theme would be perfect for my friend, Christine's, shower. She's referred to her little bun in the oven as the "little man" before. So here's the invitation that I designed for her shower...

A Bow-Tie Baby Shower

2011-02-23T12:24:00.005-06:00

As I was surfing the web for inspiration for a baby shower I'm hosting, I found this adorable bow-tie baby shower on Hostess with the Mostess. That site is filled with amazing showers and parties...chock full of the cutest details. You should check it out!

V-day: Japanese Food + Karaoke

2011-02-18T10:34:00.007-06:00

The husband I decided to try something new this year. Since we like to belt out songs in the privacy of our house and car, the husband thought that we should try karaoking (just the two of us.) I thought it was a genius idea considering I would never, EVER sing in front of anybody else. (I'm very self-conscious of my voice. I'm not tone deaf, but I'm not good either. I won't even sing "Happy Birthday"!)

So we had dinner at a quaint Japanese restaurant called Manooben. This place has a country feel to it, complete with floral fabrics and cheesy Valentine's Day heart decorations. What I love about Korean-owned restaurants is all the free food they give! I was too excited about the food to take pictures of everything though. :) We had Korean Scallion Pancakes (Pa Jun), miso soup, and a small Japanese salad...all complimentary! And even after our meal, we were given a mini Korean dessert, patbingsoo! Ahh...It was all so good!

After we were happily stuffed, we headed over to the Korean karaoke place. Umm...can I just say, karaoke is definitely NOT our thing! None of the songs sounded even remotely like the original. We had a hard time distinguishing the tune. I don't know how people do it! We tried to make the best of it though!

Temporary Wallpaper...Genius!

2011-02-16T09:00:00.000-06:00

In recent years, wallpaper has made a comeback. But I've always been wary of wallpaper because of its permanence and the complicated application process. Whenever I see makeover shows on HGTV (my fav!) they're always peeling off layers of nasty wallpaper! Who wants to deal with that?!

I discovered Tempaper Designs via At Home with Kim Vallee (that blog has some really cool finds!) Tempaper is a self-adhesive, repositionable, temporary wallpaper. How ingenious is that?? They only have a limited # of colors and designs at this time. But hopefully, as they become more popular, different patterns and colors will be available.

All You Need is Love!

2011-02-14T10:55:00.001-06:00

The husband and I are trying something different this year. I'll let you know what it is later this week! What are (or were) your plans for Valentine's Day?

Sweet & Sour Glazed Chicken

2011-02-11T07:00:00.003-06:00

I discovered this amazing food blog, Week of Menus, via Pearls & Green Tea. Joanne is the incredible chef behind Week of Menus. She gives detailed instructions along with photos of every step of the way. It made cooking a breeze! I just tried one of her recipes for the first time the other night, and it was a smashing success!

I made her Sweet & Sour Glazed Wings (I only had drumsticks on hand.) The soy sauce mix was so delicious. This recipe is definitely going to be a keeper! Check out Joanne's website for her recipes!

Customized Wine Labels

2011-02-09T15:30:00.002-06:00

I found these fun, customized wine labels on At Home With Kim Vallée. They were designed by Alicia Potter for a wedding. The illustrations of the couple and the Chicago landmarks are so cute! What a fabulous way of tying in the location of your wedding!

Pretty Design

2011-02-04T10:06:00.006-06:00

One of my dear girlfriends got me this fabulous screen-printed tea towel from an Etsy shop called The Near Future. This was one of the 30 gifts she got me for my big birthday last year. I was blown away when I opened her package! The tea towel is so pretty; I can't bear to actually use it. I'm thinking about framing it and hanging it up on my wall. Haha.

I received this Starbucks giftcard as a prize for baby shower game. Hehe. I love the simplicity of the design and the gold added just the perfect, festive touch.

Happy Friday, everybody! My street FINALLY got plowed late last night. Whoo hoo! Now I just have to dig my car out of the snow.

PaperFashion

2011-02-03T08:50:00.004-06:00

I just discovered the fantastically talented Kathryn Elyse Rodgers of PaperFashion. She's an apparel designer by day and a fashion illustrator on the side. She mainly works with watercolors and ink pens for her illustrations. Click here to see a video demo of her in action. It's amazing!

Linen Board Tutorial by b*spoke

2011-02-01T09:00:00.001-06:00

I found an awesome tutorial on how to make an easy linen board by b*spoke. All you need is an inexpensive bulletin board (like this one from Target), a staple gun and staples, and 1.5yds of linen fabric. I was lucky enough to find the perfect linen fabric from a fabric warehouse outlet my friend discovered. I got enough fabric for a small table for only $3! I can't wait to try it out. I'll let you know how it turns out when I get around to that project!

Below is a linen pinboard from Pottery Barn. It's a few inches bigger than the Target board, but it's ridiculously overpriced at $99!

Small Linen Pinboard by Pottery Barn

Zoe Chicco: Contemporary Jewelry

2011-01-27T09:00:00.002-06:00

I stumbled upon the Zoe Chicco website after seeing it on A Little Sussy. I love dainty jewelry! Perfect for everyday wear. :) Have you recently discovered any new jewelry lines that you love?

Hello Naomi

2011-01-26T12:31:00.008-06:00

I've been scouring the web for inspiration for a couple parties I'm designing for. I came upon Hello Naomi, a blog filled to the brim with the cutest parties and the most beautiful baked goods. Naomi was a computer engineer turned baker, cake decorator and party stylist extraordinaire. Hop on over to her lovely blog here and her website here where you can see more of amazing work.

Black Swan

2011-01-25T10:18:00.005-06:00

I saw Black Swan with my girlfriends yesterday. I'm usually a romantic-comedy, happy-happy movie type of girl, but I went along to see this dark thriller because of the rave reviews. I've been wanting to see a ballet (like The Nutcracker) for the last few years. After seeing this movie, I really want to see one now! The dancing and costumes were amazing. I never knew Natalie Portman was a dancer. She was so graceful and natural-looking as she danced. But the movie had me on edge the whole 2 hours. I left with sweaty palms and knots in my stomach. :( Intense is an understatement.

Currently Admiring: West Elm's Fresh Style

2011-01-24T07:00:00.004-06:00

[botanical dessert plates]

[safari rug]

[Glass carafe/cup combo – perfect for keeping water on your nightstand dust-free]

[bazaar duvet cover]

[gold porcelain trays]

[modern strip tumbler]

[porcelain soap dishes & trays]

A Day at the Beach...Instagram Style!

2011-01-21T16:50:00.007-06:00

After hanging out at the hotel pool, we decided to check out their Ocean Club. Upon arriving at the entrance, you could see straight through to the ocean. With the sun beaming down in the late afternoon, the ocean looked beautiful! I had been reading my Jodi Picoult book and was getting kind of restless. So I decided to play around with the Instagram app on my iPhone. I love silhouette pictures. They're so fun!

[the husband + me]
[will + christine]
[the husband]
[beautiful lanterns outside the entrance of the hotel]

Back to Reality

2011-01-20T13:18:00.007-06:00

I'm missing the sun, beautiful scenery and good food. Unfortunately for us, it was winter in Puerto Vallarta. I still didn't expect it to be so chilly though. :( It didn't get warm until maybe 10:00-11:00 in the morning. And it started to get chilly again as the sun set around 4:00pm. Not that I like to tan much (don't want wrinkles!) but I was hoping to get a little bit of color. I barely succeeded. Oh well...good for my skin!

This was taken on my iPhone with the Instagram app. I'm really liking this app! It turns ordinary pictures into extraordinary pictures! Hehe. (Ok, maybe not extraordinary.) Anyway, you just have to snap a photo & choose a filter to transform the look and feel of the shot. Good thing is, it's free! I'll be posting more pictures from my trip soon!

Adios, Amigos!

2011-01-13T22:02:00.004-06:00

I'm signing off for the weekend! By tomorrow afternoon, I will (hopefully) be out by the pool, soaking in some rays. Have a great long weekend!

Goodbye, Snow! Hello, Sandy Beaches!

2011-01-11T15:34:00.007-06:00

I finally started packing for our annual winter trip away from the cold, blustery snow. The husband & I are going to sunny Puerto Vallarta, Mexico this upcoming weekend. We're going with 4 other couples for a long weekend of sunbathing, whale watching, and relaxing. I'm excited to be leaving the snow behind (it's been snowing ALL day today) and to traipsing in the sand.

I'd like to pack one of each of these please!
JCrew Ruched Betty French Top Hudson Jeans White Skinny Cargo Pants LA Made St. Tropez Dress
Bandolino Noticeme Wedges
Postella Daryn Dress

Cynthia Vincent Leavitt Wedges

Feast your eyes on this: Teri Lyn Fisher Photography

2011-01-05T21:24:00.007-06:00

I just discovered Teri Lyn Fisher's photography site via Sally of Shim+Sons. Her photography is absolutely gorgeous! Oh how I would love to be able to photograph like this! I wish I knew how to style photos too. Check out her photography in all its full size glory here and her blog here.

New Year's Eve + a Rainbow Cake

2011-01-04T13:39:00.010-06:00

We celebrated a low key New Year's Eve with friends, a potluck, and an always-entertaining White Elephant gift exchange. I made Cranberry (and raspberry) Brie Bites and helped my friend, Christine, make a fabulous Rainbow Cake. The lemon meringue buttercream frosting was light and delicious, and the inside was vibrantly bright. I don't think either of us will be making this cake again anytime soon...especially with all 6 layers...because it was quite labor intensive. We only had 2 baking pans, so we had to bake the layers in 3 shifts. Yikes. But the end result was a pretty fun cake.

[Getting the eggs ready for the batter. There were LOTS of egg whites.]

[colored cake batter waiting to be put in cake pans]
[baked and ready to be assembled and frosted – love the vibrant colors!][the husbands tried their hand at frosting the cake][We're almost done! Christine's just trimming the parchment paper.][TA-DA!!! A plain-looking white cake reveals a color explosion inside.]
[raspberry + brie bites: not the prettiest, but they were tasty!]

Recent Project: Holiday Party Invitations

2010-12-30T14:30:00.005-06:00

Here are some of the other designs I created for the Jump Trading holiday party invitations. You can see the design the client chose here.

I'm signing off for the weekend. Have a safe and happy new year! I can't believe it's going to be 2011. Yikes! The husband and I are just going to our friends' house for a low-key shindig. :) Any big (or small) plans for the holiday?

Happy Holidays!

2010-12-28T22:33:00.009-06:00

Sorry for being MIA the past couple weeks! I got bogged down with last minute Christmas shopping, holiday prepping, and keeping my SIL company while she's in town. Here are a few photos from our annual Christmas Eve gathering at my husband's aunt's house. We always get together for dinner and then open presents around midnight. Never before have I ever seen so many presents under a tree (except for on tv) until I joined the husband's family. A-mazing. Every Christmas, we stuff our bellies full until we can eat no more. Then we get together and open all of the presents. Afterwards, all the "adults" play poker while the "kids" play board games, doze on the couch, or watch movies. By 4am, we are all ready to pass out. So we call it a night and head home or crash on one of their couches.

[I post processed the Christmas tree photo using Sydney's awesome tutorial
here. I love love LOVE how all of her photos look...so soft and warm.]

What is a holiday tradition that your family has?

New-to-Me Blogs: Paper • Crafts • Food

2010-12-16T07:00:00.002-06:00

Here are a few of the blogs that I have recently discovered. They are filled with beautiful photos, great design, crafty projects and delicious recipes. [Click on their logo to go to their site.] What are your recent blog discoveries?

A Sweet & Thoughtful Client

2010-12-15T10:26:00.005-06:00

Gayle is the sweetest and most thoughtful client EVER! I designed this dinosaur party invitation for her son's 1st birthday. Since she was thrilled with the invitations, she asked me to design a few more paper goods for her. I'll be showing those in the near future. As a thank you, she sent me this care package all the way from Hawaii! Isn't she so sweet?? She sent me her favorite honey glazed macadamia nuts along with some chocolate covered ones and 2 bags of Hawaiian coffee!. Mmm...I can't wait to try everything! You're too kind, Gayle!

Shabby Chic

2010-12-13T11:00:00.001-06:00

I'm in the process of designing a shabby chic-inspired invitation for a 1st birthday party. As I was perusing the internet for inpiration, I came upon this fresh & beautiful Shabby Chic Bridal Button Shower on Wedding Chicks. The rest of the photos can be seen here. I love, love, love the gorgeous cake and the color palette.

To all of my girlfriends turning the BIG 3-0...

2010-12-10T17:24:00.003-06:00

Just a little birthday card I made for a couple of my lovely, sweet-toothed girlfriends
for their big, BIG birthdays. Happy birthday!! Hope it was a sweet one!

Real Parties: A Very Hungry Caterpillar

2010-12-08T20:38:00.004-06:00

I love seeing how my designs look at a real party! Thanks for sending me these photos, Sunny! I designed various signage, tags and raffle tickets for Owen's 1st birthday party. Don't you just love the Hungry Caterpillar theme Sunny chose for the party?

(Photos c/o Frenzi Visuals)

DIY: Holiday Garlands

2010-12-07T09:00:00.004-06:00

I found this fantastically colorful & festive felt garland tutorial on Momtastic (I came upon the link via another blog, but I forgot which...sorry!) It sounds super easy to make. It is very similar to the paper garlands I made for my nephew's birthday last year. You just have to cut out a bunch of circles and slowly feed them through the sewing machine. Easy peasy! I really like how they coordinated the garland to the stockings.

Here are some more fabulous felt and dot garlands I found around the blogosphere:
A Curious George Inspired Birthday Party - My Bride Story
Twisted Felt Garland - Purl Bee
Felt Pom Pom Garland - Truly Smitten
Felt Garland - Style & Sensibility
Sticker Dot Garland - Martha Stewart

Paperless Post

2010-12-01T10:00:00.000-06:00

I just discovered Paperless Post. They provide electronic invitations and other stationery...similar in concept as to Evites. But you don't have to forgo style and elegance when going the paperless route. I really like these contemporary invitations by the Brooklyn design studio, Linda & Harriet.

[found via Simple + Pretty]

A Weekend of Eating in NYC: Part 2

2010-11-30T09:00:00.005-06:00

Continuing on with my food adventures in NYC...

I'd heard so many things about the burgers at Shake Shack and the long lines. So it was definitely on our list of restaurants to try. Since we had a very late dinner reservation, we decided to stop by Shake Shack to share a couple burgers as a pre-dinner snack. Luckily, we only had to wait in line for about 10 minutes. I must say, the burgers were pretty tasty. I really liked their buns. But I wouldn't be willing to wait in line for 1-2 hours for them!

Then we had dinner at the Momofuku: Ssam Bar. We ordered the Bo Ssam dinner (since we had a party of 6-10.) It consists of pork butt, a dozen oysters, kimchi, rice, & bibb lettuce. The pork butt was quite tasty. It just came right off the bone. But overall, I thought the Bo Ssam was just ok. I really wished we had tried the pork belly buns. :(

The next day, we had sullongtang at Gahm Mi Oak for brunch. Mmm... Hot soup, perfect for a chilly day.

Then the husband and I walked through Times Square to get to The New World Stages to watch Avenue Q, the musical. I was pleasantly surprised by the puppets. It was pretty entertaining and funny.

We went to Brooklyn to visit the husband's cousins. They took us to DUMBO (Down Under the Manhattan Overpass.) They have a lovely, new park there. Afterwards, we had Grimaldi's pizza to go. It's another NY restaurant where there are long lines. (What's with NY and long food lines?? You don't see that too much here in Chicago.) I really liked the thick slices of pepperoni. It would've been even better fresh!

A Kid-Friendly Project: Making Autumn Leaves

2010-11-29T11:00:00.001-06:00

How great is this kid-friendly craft project by Sharilyn of Lovely Design? Her little girl did an amazing job sponge painting the leaves. The end result looked store-bought!

Sharilyn always comes up with the cutest projects for her daughter. Take a look at how you can paint bugs with potatoes and how to use your child's artwork in a card.

She also has an awesome shop with handmade paper goods.

Ālee & Press

2010-11-24T09:00:00.008-06:00

I recently discovered Ālee & Press. They have a gorgeous collection of letterpressed wedding invitations, baby announcements, and stationery. Don't you just love the Grandma Latte stationery? What an awesome grandma!

I'll be back after the holiday weekend. I'll be making pumpkin spice cupcakes again from this recipe from Make Me Hungry. I've made them a couple times already (see here), and they're always perfectly moist. Mmm... I'm making 2 batches this time: one for my family and another for my in-law's family. I'm also baking a lasagna using this recipe from allrecipes.com. It's gonna be a busy day today!

Safe travels to everyone and fill your bellies with fantastic food! Have a happy Thanksgiving with your loved ones!

What are you making for Thanksgiving?

A Weekend of Eating in NYC: Part I

2010-11-19T09:00:00.004-06:00

The husband & I have been talking about visiting NYC again for months. We finally made our way there last weekend, and we ate our way around Manhattan. Gosh, there are still so many other places I want to try. I guess that means I'll have to go back!

Mad for Chicken had the most delicious, double-fried Korean chicken wings. They were tasty and crispy...even the next day!

We had breakfast at Penelope's, a quaint, little restaurant near my SIL's apartment. Our dishes were yummy! Then off to Soho we went for some shopping.

We took a shopping break and got a snack (or two...or three.) We were SO looking forward to eating the elotes at Cafe Habana again. We went there before a few years ago on our first visit to NYC, and have been dreaming about the corn ever since then!

Mmm...rice pudding at Rice to Riches. We had the vanilla pudding. Absolutely heavenly. Pricey though.

Since our stomachs weren't stuffed to the max yet, we stopped by my SIL's favorite taco place, La Esquina, for some scrumptious tacos. The steak taco was my favorite.

As you can see, we seriously ate all weekend long. The day wasn't over yet either! I still have dinner#1 and dinner #2 to show you from that same day! I'll continue with more pics from our trip soon.

Flying Over Lake Michigan

2010-11-18T13:37:00.003-06:00

I snapped a photo of this beautiful sight as the husband and I were flying back to O'Hare from New York. We were slowly making our descent over Lake Michigan and the sun was peeking through the clouds and making this really amazing display. I've never seen anything like that before! Photos from NYC to come soon! It sure takes awhile to upload onto blogger.. Grr...

GLEE - "Forget You" Full Performance feat. Gwyneth Paltrow!

2010-11-17T11:56:00.004-06:00

Even though Glee's storyline has been struggling this season, they still have some great performances by celebrities! I love this peppy Cee Lo song, "Forget You." Gwyneth also sang a mash up of "Umbrella" & "Singing in the Rain" last night. So fun!

Santana: "What would you know about Cee Lo? Cuz you're like 40."
Gwyneth: "Top 40, sweet cheeks." Hehe...

Vintage TV Costume Party

2010-11-16T18:38:00.003-06:00

I know it's a little late to be thinking about Halloween, but I just saw this on the Blonde Designs blog. I think this is a seriously clever theme party! I'm gonna have to keep this in mind for future Halloweens. My friends don't really dress up, but if I have a party theme, they're gonna have to! Hehe. How fun!

[Gilligan's Island cast]

If you've been to a theme party, what was it and what was your favorite?

Recent Project: a Holiday Party Invitation Set

2010-11-15T11:20:00.006-06:00

Here are photos of the actual invitations for Jump Trading's annual holiday party. They were printed on shimmery white cardstock.

The husband & I just returned from a long weekend in NYC. We got to spend some quality time with family & friends, and ate lots & lots of delicious food. I'll post more about our weekend soon!

Currently Searching For: Fingerless Gloves & Convertible Mittens

2010-11-10T07:00:00.002-06:00

My search for the perfect gloves continues. I totally should've gotten the ingenious Target gloves I saw last year! The pointer finger and thumbs folded back so you can use your smart phone w/o freezing your hands! I haven't been able to find any like that yet. :( Nordstrom Rack did have fleece gloves that had a mesh fabric on the fingertips of the pointer finger and thumb though. But they weren't so cute.

[image via Purl Bee]

Do you know where I can find some cute gloves that will enable me to use my phone while keeping my fingers warm?

Recent Project: a Holiday Party Invitation Set

2010-11-09T13:05:00.004-06:00

I designed this holiday party invitation for Jump Trading's annual holiday party. The client, Carol, was a dream to work with. She was flexible, but at the same time, knew what she wanted. She saw some of my work and chose a few designs that she liked. From there, she suggested some color choices and provided some direction. This particular design stemmed from the Save the Dates I designed for Sue & Mike. Rather than paper cranes, Carol suggested using bird silhouettes. I added a few branches and red berries for a wintery, holiday touch. I love the way the set turned out!

I'll take some photos of the actual invitation soon!

I-L-L! I-N-I!

2010-11-05T12:13:00.006-05:00

The husband & I went down to visit our alma mater, the University of Illinois, with a few friends last weekend. We visited restaurants and shops we used to frequent as undergrads and went to a football game. I tailgated for the first time! The husband was the grill master. He cooked up some delicious chicken legs and hamburgers. :) Gosh, I wish it just wasn't windy that day. We were so darn COLD!

I'm getting together with some of my lovely girlfriends tomorrow for Ladies' Night #343809809. We've done it so many times, we've lost count! :) I'm planning on making these prosciutto wrapped figs that Sarah made for me before. I really hope I can find some fresh figs! Otherwise, I need to come up w/ another appetizer. Eek...

What are your plans for the weekend?

Recent Project: A Dinosaur Party!

2010-11-03T14:00:00.001-05:00

My client, Gayle, saw my dinosaur invitation design here and wanted to use it for her son's 1st birthday bash. It's certainly going to be quite the party with 200+ guests invited. I can't wait to hear how it turns out! Thanks, Gayle!

Glee's Emma Pillsbury

2010-11-03T11:00:00.002-05:00

Oh my...there's a blog all about Glee's Emma Pillsbury's wardrobe! I must say, she does wear some cute outfits. Some of her accessories are a little too out there for me, but overall, I think her wardrobe is really cute!

The husband and I were huuge fans of Glee the first half of the last season. Then, after winter break, the storyline just kind of fell apart. It seems like they're just going episode by episode now without a plot. I'm really sad about it. The writers better do something about it or else they're going to be losing some fans. :(

Do you have a favorite Gleek?

Recent Project: A Whimsical Logo - Final Choice

2010-10-25T10:18:00.006-05:00

The client chose this design as her final logo. [Click here to see the other drafts and here for her blog.] She just emailed me saying, "I have been getting tons of compliments on the logo saying that it suits my personality very well!!" Hearing that made me feel all warm & fuzzy inside! Hehe. Here is the design for her business card. I love the simple pinwheel outline and the bold fuchsia on the back. :)

I'm going to take a little break from blogging this week. I have a couple projects in the works that need to be finished. So I'll be back next week!

Happy Friday!

2010-10-22T13:20:00.005-05:00

I'm going to our friends' wedding tomorrow and their rehearsal dinner tonight. Can't wait to see all the paper goods I designed for them all printed and set up! I can't believe they're getting married TOMORROW! Congrats, Sue + Mike!

(I changed their wedding information a little. So if you've been
invited to the wedding, don't follow this info!)

Meet Sydney

2010-10-21T15:00:00.003-05:00

I just came upon another fashion-related blog, The Daybook, that's full of warm, sun-filled photos of the charismatic Sydney. I like how she looks really comfortable in her photos, and she's having a lot of fun.

Recent Project: A Whimsical Logo

2010-10-20T13:53:00.009-05:00

Amy was in need of a logo for her photography hobby. She mainly photographs babies & children. So she wanted a fun and whimsical logo that would appeal to mothers. Here are a few of the logos I designed that weren't chosen. (I'll post about her final logo soon.) I decided to use a pinwheel as the main design element because of its likeness to a camera shutter. I thought it was the perfect way to incorporate the playfulness of children and photography.