It's been a long time...

I can't believe it's been a month since the last time I blogged. I have been one busy chicken.
First off, we got a dog. Her name is Kimba and she is adorable. She really is a sweet dog....almost too sweet. She will cry when we close our door at night to go to bed...and she cries when we put her outside. She just wants to be with us ALL the time. Here she is....all 80 lbs of her.




I also threw a baby shower for my friend Amanda. Amanda and I have been friends since we were in 6th grade. We have been close for a long time. She had her baby on July 20th - the original date for the shower. She was 4 weeks late! After some traumatic events, the baby is good and Amanda is healthy. We had the 'redo' shower on September 14th at my house.







For the theme, I kept it simple. Outside in the grass, all white dishes and napkins, with little wooden toys as the favor. I didn't have a table that would seat 10 people - so Jim MADE me a table! How cool is that!? It turned out really cute.
We made onesies as our 'game' - which was a blast. With this group, the onesies came out tame....and I think Amanda will actually use them.

And lastly, I just finished up designing my good friend Bonnie's wedding paper - the programs, menus, table numbers, etc. It was a very fun experience - my first in the wedding world. I did my own paper when I got married, but it was very different designing for someone else! Way more pressure! But I really enjoyed it. I worked with a great printer that made the experience great. But that's where you make the money! Yikes! I need to get me a high-quality printer!
Bonnie is a great friend, and she was so sweet to have me start this new venture with her! Thanks, Bon!

Workin'

So the past two weeks have been really different. I have had my normal (early) schedule, while Jim has been going into the studio to START work at 6pm and working until 2am. We have been ships in the night!
It is finally getting back to normal though. Thank God!

I have my good friend Bonnie coming over today to work on the final changes for her wedding programs, menus and table numbers. It's been a fun project, and I'm excited to show her the final versions.

Once we get it finished, I'll be sure to post.

The Bug Loves...when she gets to be creative....and see her BFF (Jim)

Great Finds in LA

I sometimes stick with the same old furniture stores - because I don't know where else to go.
My main websites and stores are:

Urban Home
Crate and Barrel
West Elm
CB2
Pottery Barn
Just Like the Model in Fountain Valley

I'm breaking out from the pack and I'm going to try these new (and old) stores this week. Get my furniture shopping on!

Chestnuts & Papaya Incorporated at 459 1/2 S La Brea Ave
Bahay Home Furniture at 3825 Main St in Culver City
Mortise & Tenon at 446 S La Brea Ave
Shelter Furniture at 7920 Beverly Blvd
Scavenger's Paradise in North Hollywood
Nick Metropolis at 100 S La Brea Ave.

I'll try and take some pictures are each of them so you can get a good understanding of what each store brings!

My Job

Sometimes I feel like all I do is work. I work from 8:30-6:00pm every day. That isn't all the time!
I think the reason I feel this way is because I think about it all the time. My blackberry is going constantly - vibrating me to sleep at night. I never turn work off.
My mid-year resolution is to create a better balance in my life. I need that. I crave that. My happiness relies on that.
Wish me luck.

Fun Stationery and Calling Card Sites

I have become slightly obessed with stationery and calling cards. I have always loved stationery and all things paper, but this is getting out of control.

I think my quest is driven due to my constant search for inspirations for my own designs. I have been working hard on creating fun and different designs for friends' (and husbands) business cards - and I'm having a great time!

Here are a couple of my favorite stationery and calling card sites.

OiMoi is golden. Fun and unique designs. Some of them are a little too busy, but overall good.



Brooklyn Social Cards is another great site for classic calling cards. They use letterpress as the main design, and it's beautiful. The slimplicity of the design makes it classic and memoriable.



Wedding Paper Divas is a great site for not only wedding invitations, but personal stationery. They are not your traditional wedding invitation site! Fun designs that scream FUN COUPLE! Love it.