Living Life

I feel like I have dropped off the face of the (internet) world! This summer has been a whirlwind and I've been experiencing a little something different - not working! I mean, I am working, but I have been definitely sticking more to the 8-5 work day (ish) and taking the weekends off. I've been focusing on my clients only and leaving little time for those extra to-do's like blogging and social media, and it's been downright wonderful! Facebook emailed me last week about my page and said that 'Zero people are interested in my page'. Ouch!

I saw this quote on Pinterest and it really resonated with me, so I made my own little graphic. I wouldn't say I get burned out on work, but when it comes to designing, I wasn't feeling the most creative. Not only that, but my drive to go above and beyond my current client load (i.e. promoting myself, blogging, new designs, new ideas) has just been lacking. When I saw this quote, I realized that it was okay to take a break and just enjoy life, and the result is that I am feeling refreshed! I wasn't in a rut, I was just living life outside of my business and in turn it has inspired my work and it feels good to be excited about my business again. I have a new invitation collection idea brewing, new photographs of my latest work, and a new inspiring office space - did I mention we moved? Yep, it's been a big few months but it's good to be getting back to normal, whatever that will be.

Minted Design Challenge: Holiday 2013

It's the biggest holiday challenge of the year over at Minted, and my absolute favorite category to design for! I have been designing holiday cards since, well, last Christmas, and always breath a sign of relief when I submit my final design...

The competition is intense - with a record 3, 348 entries! I will be attempting to vote for every. single. one. but just voting on some will help Minted know what they should sell this year so head on over to vote!

A Little R&R

Last week, we took off for the emerald coast of Florida for 7 days of rest and relaxation with our best friends and their baby. Though the weather teased us a bit (it wouldn't be a vacation with Carter and I without a tropical storm lurking) but after one rainy day, it was sunny skies the rest of the time. Carillon Beach is near and dear to my heart (we were married there) but each time I go back I fall more and more in love with it. It's quiet, peaceful and beautiful, with irresistible sunsets and soft white sand. It's close to fun beach towns with great restaurants but far enough away that it seems like it's an amazing secret that no one else knows about. It feels like you have the beach to yourself sometimes. (and sometimes you really do!)

My best friend, Carrie, who lives way-to-far away in Houston, had a baby last year, and I loved getting to spend time with them every day. We even had a grandma on hand to steal a few nights out as adults. It was just the right temperature - warm but comfortable evenings. Good times with really good friends!

My favorite restaurant on 30-A, George's in Alys Beach

I love my iphone and instagram, because it has made me photograph things more, where normally I wouldn't have taken many (or any) pictures. These are a few of my favorite insta-photos from the week.

Top: just arriving in Carillon (we look pretty darn good for spending 12 hours in the car), sunset drinks in Seaside, our view at dinner - Caliza in Alys Beach) Center: Our first sunny-ish day on the beach, the gorgeous Carillon dune walkovers, my cute date Bottom: the cutest little beach bum you ever did see, our spot on the beach, our house 'American Idyll' (all the houses have cute names)

Carter and I have had a crazy May and June, selling our condo, buying a house, doing a little work to the house, packing, and a family wedding thrown in there for just the max amount of busy. Oh, and I run my own business. Stress! This trip, though booked months ago was the perfect time to get us rested up for the big move. Can't wait to share some photos of the new casa!

Featured: Style Me Pretty Photo Shoot

A few weeks ago, a photo shoot that I was a part of was featured on Style Me Pretty! We did the shoot at the Pavilion at the Four Seasons Resort and I loved how it all came together.

I started with my Catalina design and created menus and signs to coordinate.

I think the menu was my favorite.

You can see so much more at Style Me Pretty!

I enjoyed collaborating with these awesome DFW vendors: Hair & Makeup: Lindey Duckworth Linens: La Tavola Planning: Urban Magnolia Florals: Kate Foley Designs Photography: Helmut Walker Photography Cake: Sugar Bee Sweets Rentals: Ducky Bob's

The National Stationery Show 2013

Last week, I jetted off to NYC to attend the National Stationery Show for a few days. You might remember my experience from last year, and while that was a blast, this year was even better (though my gals Lesa and Laura were really missed)!

Row 1: a heart made of our polaroids in the Minted booth, entering Paper Party 2013, Kimberly and I brunching in SOHO Row 2: NY art print that I got to take home, Minted T Shirt (designed by Jill Means), Mintie and NSS standout, Meg Gleason of Moglea Row 3: NSS loot, Hope, Jen and Natasha manning the Minted booth, my Twine wedding invitation samples spotted in the booth.

I get asked a lot why I attend. Do I exhibit? Will I in the future? The short answer is no and probably not. I go to meet with Minted and network with fellow designers. It's a pleasurable business trip, if you will. Wholesale isn't part of my current business plan, but growing my work with Minted is, so spending days talking with their CEO, community managers, and merchandising group was invaluable and of course talking paper with all my design friends is icing on the cake. I might have even snuck in a few hours at the show, but I laugh that it certainly wasn't as much of a focus this year.

That's the short summary. Let's get to the details... those not interested in specifics, you are welcome to go on your merry way. I am about to give a play-by-play. You've been warned.

The only way to explain this trip is that it is a complete whirlwind. It flew by. I arrived on Sunday, getting in mid afternoon at exactly the same time (without planning) as my official NSS roomie, Kimberly FitzSimons. We shared a cab to the hotel, freshened up and headed to The Jane for an unofficial Minted happy hour organized by Jackie of Sincerely Jackie. It was the perfect way to start out our trip. New faces, familiar faces. It was so fun. Facebook groups have allowed us to communicate consistently, so it was really like seeing old friends instead of meeting in person for the first time. I can't say enough how nice these women are.

Back:(L-R) Hailey Myziuk of Snow & Ivy,  Anita Brown of That Girl Press, Kristen Smith, Kimberly FitzSimons, Carolyn MacClaren, Melanie Severin, Lori Wemple, Chelsey Brennan of Chelsey Emery Middle:(L-R) Carrie O'Neal, Pasty Henspetter, Jill Means, Me, Amy Ehman of Design Lotus, Nam Bourassa of Gakemi Art & Design, Kristie Kern, Dawn Jasper Front:(L-R) Jen Wick of J.Wick Design, Hannah Graff of HannahCloud Design, Jackie Mangiolino of Sincerely Jackie

Me and my roomie, Kimberly

We ended the night with dinner for 20 at Dos Caminos.  I ate dinner at 10pm almost every night. New York is really the city that never sleeps!

The next day, after some meetings with Minted, we hit the show. We browsed the design booths admiring all the beautiful work. It is truly inspiring, but kind of overwhelming. There is so much! Last year, I tried to see every. single. booth. and ended up exhausted. So this year, we took it easy and headed back to the hotel for a bit to do a little work and rest our feet for the big Minted party that night.

(L to R) Kimberly, Me, Jen Wick, Kristen Smith, and Carrie O'Neal

The Minted party was at KTCHN and it was a great venue. Minted really threw a wonderful event and at the end, I even scored an art print in a drawing! I never win anything - but I guess I can't say that anymore! I chose Emily Potts' Type Study New York (seen in instagram photos above). It was my little souvenir of the week and I can't wait to hang it in my office.

Me and Jill Means at the Minted Party

(L to R) Susan Asbill, Jackie and Me

On Tuesday, we had pretty free morning, so instead of going straight to the show, Kimberly and I slept in and then headed to Soho. We ate a great brunch and shopped a little before heading to the show for the afternoon.

Once at the show, we hit up a lot of the supply side, which includes suppliers for pretty much all things stationery: printers, packaging, binders, paper. Lots of samples to take home - even trying to keep my stash small, I still struggled fitting it all into my suitcase.

Tuesday night was our last event, the Paper Party, hosted by Oh So Beautiful Paper. It was a big event with a ton of amazing sponsors (Minted included).

Back: (L to R) Eric Comstock of ERAY, Yolanda Chendak, Hope from Minted, Cambria Evans of J.Bartyn Design Front: (L to R) Jackie, Me, Kimberly, Jen

On our way to the Paper Party, we passed by a packed restaurant, called Anejo Tequileria, and decided to head back to it for a little late night dinner. It was a beautiful evening and we sat outside and enjoyed an amazing last meal in the city.... and here, I thought I would be suffering from Mexican food withdrawal!

And that's all! What a week. Already looking forward to next year!