Tuesday Tunes

A few awesome things that need no explanations:

Art via Mingtaphotography on Etsy

Sneaking Back In to the Mix

Did I really fall off the grid for almost a week?  Sadly, our good 'ol Touchscreen HP computer decided to pose as an unreliable punk and crash on us last week, causing chaos in this pad.  With tons of Etsy orders on the line and the daily use of our computer, this was a huge mishap and set back.  I'm still trying to get back up and running again, but it's a slow process.  Mostly the process is time consuming because we transitioned from an HP with Windows Vista........to.............get ready.............


.........an iMac !!!!!  Woooo  Hoooooo!  My husband said a while back that he wanted our next computer to be a Mac.  Granted- and it's pretty dang sweet.  It's a new learning curve altogether, but one we hope to grasp over time.

Photos via Google

Fall is Almost Here

Fall is such an awesome time of year- it's when we break out some different decor in our home, long sleeves can finally be worn (maybe a few times here in San Diego), and I look forward to going to Disneyland with hubs in October when the park is transformed into pumpkin mania (yes, as grown adults with no kids yet, we enjoy the D-land).  It's also the time of year I have to watch the food consumption, as all the baked goodies seem to call my name- more like chant my name.  This year, I'm determined to be good, starting now.

But last weekend was a no-holds-back type of weekend.  D and I went to our fave- Pizza Port, and macked some pizza and beer buddies, with extra ranch of course.  Sometimes there's nothing better than eating the most amazing food off of paper plates!  D allowed me to wear his flannel (by the way, I need to buy my own) so that I could get the full Fall vibe effect going on and didn't care one bit that I hardly put effort into getting ready with a huge lack of makeup or hair styled.  Hey, it happens.

And even though I've now vowed to be good when it comes to sweets, I found this awesome recipe yesterday for cupcakes and these will be made in our home- hands down- for sure!!!

Caramel Pumpkin Pie Cupcakes

via Smells Like Home

Get the recipe here

Tuesday Tunes

On a foggy Tuesday morning, all I'd rather do is lay in bed under fluffy covers and watch our wedding video (also including this song "Everything").  Then maybe pop in a movie, the older version of Pride and Prejudice, with a Starbucks in hand, and perhaps a nap in the afternoon.  Ahhhhhhh..........instead I'm off to work.

Thinking of Our Day

Today I was thinking of our wedding day.  I can remember every detail so vividly- I hope my memories always stay that way.  I found this photo of myself getting ready to walk down the aisle to D, my Dad is standing behind me, and it brought back an amazing memory.

"Today" by Joshua Radin was one of the songs we included in our wedding video.......love.

Happy Friday!

My husband and I were discussing my sister's recent move to Colorado and he kindly reminded me that there's no way we could ever move out of San Diego because I may very well die without authentic Mexican food- especially my bean and cheese burritos and enchiladas rancheras.  Um.............he's right. 

Happy Friday!

Accomplishment Brewing

A special thank you is well overdue to my awesome husband for understanding the dedication and time that goes into creating a successful business.  He has unselfishly in the process reminded me to eat, get plenty of sleep, have some down time (when I can squeeze it in), replenishes my Starbucks cravings, gives hugs and kisses just because, and does not complain a single bit that so much of my time has been drawn toward Etsy (even though I know we both think about it).  I love you D and could not have begun this venture without your support!

Ashley's Beauties

Dear Ash,

I hope your destination wedding rocks!  Thank you for allowing me to design some items for your special day!  And, just because I can't help myself, I'll say it again, I can't wait to see your photos!  xoxoxo

Randomness VII

Photo via Odette New York

1.  Discovering how to whip up the most awesome homemade facial mask is not only a money saver, it's like scoring the lottery for your skin (I'll post the concoction and spill the secret in another post).

2.  Reporting barking dogs as a nuisance is not as easy as one thought, after calls to the Sheriff, City Hall, the Health Dept, and Animal Control, I still have to follow up and continue to report it- possibly providing documents to City Hall- really?  How about sending an officer out to tell the owner that several little yapping dogs who bark at 6 AM, (most likely every hour of the day while I'm at work), 6 PM, 8:30 PM, 10 PM, Midnight, 1:30-2 AM is unacceptable- period!

3.  If I had unlimited funds, I'd honestly consider flying to Hawaii right now just to get a coconut mocha Starbucks frappuccino.

4.  I think I may have to pick up Martha's Halloween mag issue soon, can't get enough decor ideas even though I have yet to ever throw a Halloween party- doesn't matter, I'll keep buying shizzy.

5.  Attention craft stores:  if you're going to run promotional sales, how about keeping a decent stock of items on the shelf, so perhaps your store could actually profit from the sale (rather than being out of stock of the item before the sale even started, and then having none on the shelf for the sale)- hmmmmm, how does that work? 

6.  I'm not quite sold on peep-toe boots exploding everywhere for this Fall, what do you think?  Cute, or defeats the purpose of boots?

7.  Still haven't touched either of those 2 projects- chair frame nor jewelry stand.  Faith- I know I better get on it before you stick it to me!

Crazy (Gnarls Barkley Cover) - Ray Lamontagne

What??!!? The Weekend is Over?

Not ready yet for a new week, can we go back to the weekend and pretend I have nothing to do so that some relaxing time could be snuck in?  This cozy lounger looks just right- get me my hubs, some pillows, a Martha mag, and a Starbucks CF and I'd be set :

Photo via Garnet Hill

Happy Friday

Happy end of the week and yay for the weekend. 

Here's my version of fab beach pics to cap off the week- many have not seen the full photo version of my profile pic, the suspense is released!

All photos of me by Hazelnut Photography

Lots going on over the weekend- Etsy order overload as usge and my sis is officially moving tomorrow to Colorado (time to help her and her family load the truck and move, so sad).  This weekend will not go down without fighting back a few tears.  I was on the phone with sis last night when Zach (big boy nephew, now 3 years old, decides to say hi):

Me:  Hi Zach!
Zach:  Hi Shellwee (Shelly)
Me:  How are you?
Zach:  I'm good Shellwee, I'm good!
Me:  Oh that's cool!  I'll see on you Saturday when we come over (insert my sis telling him we're coming over to help them move to Colorado).
Zach:  OOOoooooooooo.
Zach:  Momma, can I have some snacks.
End of convo.
So cute.
I will miss them so much.

You know you're a designer when

You know you're a designer when you glace at the most fabulous photo with a killer gorgeous model with out of this world shoes (which should be the focal point of the photograph), but all you can focus on are the amazing drapes framing the window in the background.  Dang!

Photo credit Bruno Dayan, via Absolutely Unique

Being a designer is not all it's cracked up to be.  The knowledge and education alone is enough to drive you mad for the rest of your life.  You'll never view colors in the same light, you'll constantly analyze fonts on signage everywhere you go, you'll touch every single blanket and pillow in every retail store you visit to feel the hand of the fabric (guilty), you'll focus on the layouts and space planning of every restaurant you visit- even training your husband to where he can now officially point out when a space has "bad design"(OMGosh, have I really done this to him)!!!?!  I need a vacation from "designer brain".

Coastal Fab

It's definitely a week of a wandering mind- coastal locations, water, waves, shells, and fabulous frocks.  Daniella of Dress Design Decor says it best that "A girl should be two things:  Classy and Fabulous"!  Heck yeah!

All photos found via Dress Design Decor

On a sluggish morning of wanting anything other than having to get in my car and drive to work, more thoughts and dreaming of beach photographs to deter my list of to dos:

Photo via Emma Tempest

Photo via Honeytree

Photo via Yourfairytalewedding

Fred Egan's seaside shoot for Southern Mag really has me in the mood of wanting to do a photo shoot with hubs- Maui here we come in 6 months!  And I may even make myself a hippie headband- because I'm finding them rather bad A!

Photos via Fred Egan

Absolute Radness

Ok, so is this not a rad piece- or what?!!:

Etsy via NativeVermont

This Etsy seller makes custom canvas works of art just how you request them, with your specified locations!!!  How totally awesome would this be in a family room- a total conversation piece.  I know right now that if hubs and I had one made, it would undoubtedly have to include Makena (or Maui) and Pizza Port (our fave pizza joint).  I just think it's freakin awesome! 

A Yipee Treat

Two amazing purchases were made yesterday, I just had to share!  Hubs is making me feel amazing lately (well let's face it, he has a way of making me feel awesome daily), although he commends my restraint of shopping within the past few years.  I think this habit started when we got our place together and before our wedding.  Shopping was no longer an option, because we knew that money had to be saved for (A.) Items for our home or (B.) The wedding.  I've been on super good behavior about not shopping for clothes and usually when I did, hubs was with me and he purchased them- um....yay!   So he bought me an effing rad brown "leather inspired" jacket from Target, which I LOVE, and an awesome long black top that could be worn with leggings (if we weren't having summer weather still, I'd break them out in a hot minute).  So those lovelies are patiently waiting in my closet, and soon........................so will these:

Kate Spade Beauties:

And these ivory ballet flats:

Don't be fooled by the awesomeness of these thinking I broke the bank- I paid $99 total for both pairs with the good 'ol help of our discounted buddy, AMAZON!  Heck yeah!  I should receive them promptly in time next week to show off my oh-so-needed pedicure happening this weekend- another special treat!  Excitement all over, hands in the air, shouting "wooo hoooo".  Okay, yeah, done.