DESIGNS MADE EASY

:: new designs before the new year ::

2010-10-21T10:01:00.000-07:00

i decided to make one of my new year's resolutions early... well i figure if i wait for all of them until new years i'll never get them done... so one is revamping my shop... I pasted my one year mark a few months ago (yay me) so it's time for some new designs.... i have been going through each sections changing it one at a time... so far i revamped my wedding invites and baby showers... more to come... take a look and hope you like what's coming up!

:: halloween is fast approaching ::

2010-09-07T14:40:00.000-07:00

so as the last holiday of the summer comes to an end it has me thinking of the holidays coming up... i completely plan on hosting a halloween party this year... every year i wait... and wait for someone to host a party and no one ever does... sooo i guess i will just have to do one myself... photos to be posted!... so in in the spirit of the halloween season i have created some invites for all type of halloween parties... look and enjoy! or visit my shop for the rest... happy haunting!

:: are you recording ::

2010-07-22T16:04:00.000-07:00

hello my few creative followers... i have suddenly become in fascination with this site called hitRECord.org... its a fabulous site that i have been telling everyone i come in contact with... i know i'm only telling 18 of your but then you can tell 18 people and then they can tell 18 people... you get how this goes... anywhoo it was started about 5 years ago... i know i've been in the dark for too long!... anyway it was created by joseph gordon-levitt... you know the actor from 500 days of summer, inception ect... this site is a collaboration of all types of art... photos, web, and mostly video ect... the best part is you upload files and can download others and remix... remake... and re-record back onto the site... now i don't do video... i'm work with more with 2d works... but i am tempted to do some stop animation! also!! if your in NEW YORK... you should check out the summer in the city series in august... i hope they decide to do a traveling theme and come to las vegas... so go check out the link... browse... spread the word... and then start recording...

:: twilight time ::

2010-06-25T14:28:00.000-07:00

so i hate to admit it but i'm a 29 (almost 30 yeesh!) twihard... yes yes i too have fallen into the black hole of the twilight world... fallen fallen and i don't care to find my way out... call it lame call it crazy... i don't care i love the gritty romantics of the vampire world... the enemy alliances and all that comes with it... but you won't see me wearing a twilight t-shirt walking down the street... yes yes i can hear the boo's now... i just feel like it's my guilty pleasure that i shouldn't have to share with the common public... i will leave that to my secret twilight parties with my other 30 year old twihards ;)- instead i am stealth with expressing my love of this vast world of stephani meyer... with the venerable bead etsy shop... i've spoken about this shop before... it's even in my "i like = you like section" -- sporting beautiful glass twilight inspired jewelry... and none is the wiser... and if i pass another 30 year old twihard that so happen to see it we will nod in amusement at our little secret ;)

:: it's sawdust festival time ::

2010-04-30T12:10:00.000-07:00

hello bloggers... i am super excited about the summer... not only because its my favorite time of year... hot sun... flip flops... poka-dot sundress... yes i can pull off poka-dots! but because it is laguna beach, ca SAWDUST FESTIVAL!!!! don't be fooled by the name... this is not just about wood sculpture.... i am going to surprise my best friend for her 30th birthday when she arrives in las vegas to visit me in july.... picture to be posted of the fun weekend!... now if you haven't been to the festival i highly suggest it... the whole city turns into a flood of the arts... every type of artist is there from ceramics to glass to painting.... with live music and great food!... and the location couldn't be beat!... now if you haven't even been to laguna - you don't know what your missing... even though the town is less than 10 miles long it is worth the trip... lots of boutique shops and mom and pop eateries and beautiful "old town" charm with its own trolly!... and of course gorgeous beaches :) check out the link... you won't be disappointed!

:: smitten by smitten kitchen! ::

2010-04-19T15:07:00.000-07:00

Hello my few followers! i come to you this month with a fabulous website for your tasty pallet! it's called Smitten Kitchen and unlike other sites where you would love to cook the food but find it nearly impossible unless your a five star chef... these recipes you can actually do because they are done by a "regular" gal! She's the cook and the photographer... she has recipes for everything... check her out and start saying mmm mmm gooooood :)

:: new month... new DIY designs ::

2010-03-05T10:33:00.000-08:00

well hello everyone.... this is my monthly blog writing... free time is getting scarce! and with the weather warming up soon in lovely las vegas i hope that time doesn't diminish all together... but its not only the nice weather that is keeping me from my blogging... i have been busy streamlining my shop with more items.... i'm trying to get an overall "look" in my shop... more consistent... so i've started with my DIY wedding invites and i'll be doing the rest of my shop shortly... so here ya go! enjoy :)

:: its been awhile... but here is something crafty ::

2010-02-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

hello my small group of followers :)... its been awhile since my last post... if you look up busy in a dictionary you will find my photo... hope everyone's year is coming along better than last.... well i was on one of my favorite design site and i found this blog call Daily Dany... if you ever have one of those... "i wish i had a crafty idea for all this junk"...well this is a the site. Check it out and enjoy... you will learn great craft ideas for you so called "junk" and make you feel like you have helped erase some of your carbon footprint :)

:: new year... vegas style ::

2009-12-31T13:50:00.000-08:00

well... i'm originally from new york... so i give props to time square and the new year's hoopla... but now that i live in las vegas i must give credit to the casino's and their fireworks! twice a year we get to see them... once for 4th of july and another on new years... fireworks from the tops of every casino can be seen throughout the valley.... and if its lucky to be a bit cloudy that night the colors will stay in the clouds... so let new york have its tiny little count down ball... ill take the fireworks of this vast city anytime! wishing everyone a very happy new year -- 2010!

:: gingerbread house time ::

2009-12-10T10:51:00.000-08:00

tis' the season to be baking!... i may not like the mayhem that comes with the holiday season but i do love any opportunity that involves baking and a piping bag!... so it is time for my annual gingerbread house making event... i truly love making these little houses... and the snowmen that go with it... and i believe everyone should try to make one... even if you don't have kids its a fun holiday project for all ages... but you never built a gingerbread house?? well... lover her or hate her... martha stewart know her stuff!... so if you're newbies to the whole gingerbread house thing... i suggest you check this link and start assembling! I will be making my house this weekend... i will post pics when i'm done to show you my newest creation! if you make one... post it up!

:: my blog spotlight ::

2009-12-09T10:40:00.000-08:00

hello my few and loyal followers! i am happy to announce that a blog that i follow myself JUST A GIRL blog has done a spotlight on my shop... very happy indeed... but i was even happier when i read the lovely comments that people have been leaving me... which is nice silver lining to the craziness of the past few weeks... i haven't had time to do anything but work... so a vacation is in order... or at least a road trip... i'll see what i can come up with... maybe i can create some type of mechanism to stretch out the days so i have more time to get things done... you think by now someone would have figured out how... oh well... in the mean time go check out the blog... you should follow Just A Girl... her blog is fun to follow... you'll enjoy all her posts.

:: walls a bit blah???... enter this contest ::

2009-11-29T01:56:00.000-08:00

hello my fellow bloggers... hope you're all recovering from your thanksgiving food commas... i know i am! i would like to put into attention two blogs today... the first is Inspire Your Walls they are a great etsy shop that sells decals for your home at a great price! here are a few of my favorites...

so if you want to add a little "pop' to your blah walls check them out... the second blog is Simply Stacie she does various blogs on product and book reviews...and she is doing a giveaway where a lucky winner will win a Whimsy Birdie decal (pictured below) from Inspire Your Walls... check out the SITE and enter... contest ends December 11... Good Luck!

:: thanksgiving desserts ::

2009-11-24T11:40:00.000-08:00

well... this will probably be my last blog until after the thanksgiving holiday... so i figure i dedicate it to my most favorite holiday besides my birthday ;)... this is actually a shout out to another blog that i have mentioned before... there are a lot of blogs and sites out there that give much attention to the turkey... of course its the main part of the meal... but I belive the desserts should get the same amount of attention! soooo... check out Hostess with the Mostess blog and read up on these delectable thanksgiving treats! I have uploaded some of the pictures below... Enjoy!

:: etsy find... just in time for the holidays ::

2009-11-19T09:26:00.000-08:00

well hello blog.... its been awhile... busy bee i have been... we're opening up a new casino tower at work and its been taken most of my time up... that and i'm in full swing for the holidays... why do the holidays have to come so close together?? anyway i found a new etsy shop... well new to me... since its been around for a while... it called Linda Trent Jewelry ... she has great jewelry and the best part is she as a less than $25 section... here are a few items from there... go check her out and enjoy!

:: looks good enough to eat... and you can! ::

2009-11-09T15:03:00.000-08:00

i just found out about this blog... and i am in love with it... not in a romantic sense of course but in that "how did i not know about this blog before" kind of way... as avid baker myself.. half the fun is in the presentation of my desserts... that is why i love love love Bake It Pretty! this blog has great ideas on how to dress up those desserts... just looking through the post have made me itching to bake! Take a look and enjoy

:: thank you my dirty dozen ::

2009-11-05T16:31:00.000-08:00

... well maybe that is not what I should call my only 12 followers!... but its the only slogan i could think of with the number 12 in it... maybe that's it... we are a secret society... other bloggers are maybe intimidated by my small numbers... you know like a very exclusive club... yes... that is what i will keep telling myself :)... so thank you my loyal 12 followers you may not be many but you will always be my first dirty dozen... and thank those of you who leave comments... the handful that i've gotten... it brightens my day :) hopefully i will keep you entertained so i don't go down to the awful number of eleven! :)

:: Travelers Wish ::

2009-11-03T12:15:00.000-08:00

i was reading a karen's world blog which you should read by the way ;) -and it got me thinking about traveling... the places where i've been and where i want to go... not much of a traveler myself... money and work constraints have forbidden me from going anywhere outside the united states... i've been to italy to visit family... but they were small towns and farms... i didn't get to see rome, or florence or venice...which i would love too.. maybe take a train to spain or france?? but the next top of my list would be greece... the food... the culture... the ocean!! its beautiful... or at least the photos i've seen are! has anyone been to greece??? if so please tell about your trip! and secondly i would like to visit australia or new zealand... the outback... or see a couple of kiwi's? i'm not much of a lord of the rings fan but the scenery was breath taking in that movie... and shot in new zealand... they see like such wild places.... so where have you traveled lately???

:: i swear i'm not wedding obsessed ::

2009-10-30T10:52:00.000-07:00

i love love love weddings... but i'm not obsessed... really... i'm not... i swear.... i have always been drawn to fabulous decor and table settings... of any kind... cocktail parties... dinner parties... holidays ect... but especially weddings... its the most common... its usually the only time most people really think about how they want everything to look... tables... flowers... and are willing to spend the extra cash and time to really make it those extra touches.... really i'm not obsessed its just sooo.... pretty. that's it... that is the only word i can come up with... weddings are just visually pleasing to the eye... so here are some pictures from another favorite site of mine... no i'm not getting married... but these pictures can inspire anyone who is having a party with some great ideas... so check out Style Me Pretty and enjoy!

:: great Etsy find ::

2009-10-29T14:34:00.000-07:00

i recently came across this etsy shop as i was looking for something for my friend engagement party. you should all take a look at WISE IMPRESSIONS it has great gift ideas of the ceramic nature... from bowls to keychains... and best of all they are all custom colored and engraved.

check it out and enjoy!

:: tis' the season ::

2009-10-22T14:53:00.000-07:00

i can't believe its christmas season already and we haven't celebrated halloween yet! every store is coated with fake snow and dancing elves... can't we enjoy halloween and thanksgiving before we get bombarded with jingle bells and deck the halls?? anyway.... i guess i caved to the christmas decor because i have started to design my own line of holiday cards... enjoy!

:: feeling old at 29???? ::

2009-10-21T10:49:00.000-07:00

i received this email at work this morning.. and although i'm only 29... it made me feel a bit old! soooo... Enjoy - :)

The people who are starting college this fall were born in 1992.

They are too young to remember the space shuttle blowing up.
The CD was introduced two years before they were born.
They have always had an answering machine.
They have always had cable.
Jay Leno has always been on the Tonight Show.
Popcorn has always been microwaved.

They never took a swim and thought about Jaws.

They don't know who Mork was or where he was from.

They never heard: 'Where's the Beef?', 'I'd walk a mile for a Camel ' or 'de plane, Boss, de plane'.
McDonald's never came in Styrofoam containers.
They don't have a clue how to use a typewriter.

--- Anyone else feeling a bit old???

:: busy busy busy ::

2009-10-14T20:39:00.000-07:00

well... sorry i haven't been on this past week... between work, my etsy shop and me moving into my new home... i have no free time... then there is my sis starting up her new business so i'm designing her website and other advertising material... i'll post up the link once its get done... and then there is my cousin in new york that wants me to design a "one of a kind" butterfly invitation for her daughter first birthday... among all this i'm still planning to have my halloween/housewarming party... where i'm going to find the time to do everything... i have no idea... but as luck would have it i came across this post at one of my favorite sites... if your having a halloween bash check it out... its great halloween party ideas with DIY tips... from kiddy to Chic!
Enjoy - Halloween Party Decor!

:: Have Creative Party Block?? ::

2009-10-09T14:37:00.000-07:00

soooo... you planning a party... birthday... bridal... whatever and you want to make it stand out.... make it really look and feel like a party... not just something you put together with some paper plates and colorful balloons.... but a party... the one were you enter the home and you are transported into another world... problem... you don't even know where to begin!... have no Fear... LolliPop Event s are here! - I just found out about his site today... Click on the link and go to their "sweet tips" section... they give great ideas on decorating for any occasion with DIY tips. Enjoy!

:: Roasted Apple and Crumb... Yum! ::

2009-10-06T22:03:00.000-07:00

again... another recipe from one of my most favorite food site blogs! This is just in time for fall Apple picking season... Click on the link and enjoy! Cannelle Vanille Roasted Apple and Cumb

:: finally back ::

2009-10-06T21:00:00.000-07:00

my my... i'm off the computer for a week and i missed so much! well i'm back in town from my wedding getaway... not mine... my friends... of course the weekend i'm there the california weather decides to get 10 degrees colder than usual!... go figure... so now i'm home and back to the age of technology... since i've just got an iphone.. which i realized i needed badly when i couldn't get a hold of a computer or email while i was on my trip... but since i've been back i have started to create al line a print your own wedding invites and response cards on my site... here is a few i've started with... let me know what you think

:: polaroid pictures ::

2009-09-28T20:44:00.000-07:00

i know this like my third post of the night but i was actually on Olive Rue blog (which by the way is a great blog to follow) and this was a great post she put up... its beautifully taken polaroids... i can't believe they are discontinuing polaroids... i know they are outdated and behind the times... but there is something about polaroid photos that don't look like anything you can take with a digital camera click here

:: the few followers ::

2009-09-28T20:10:00.000-07:00

hello the few followers of this blog... i would like for you to check out this blog Dawn Correspondence she has a great Etsy shop and she is doing a giveaway! -- tonight is the last night so go check it out

:: tasty treats ::

2009-09-28T19:50:00.000-07:00

well... here is another post from one of my favorite websites! Its for a puff pastry with poached pears but you really can put anything on these miniature pastry puffs! -- They are great finger food as appetizers or even as a secondary dish to your main one... go ahead and have fun with it... try whatever you like.. if you do let me know of your creations... i did this pear fruit pastry puff but i made it into a dessert by adding some drizzled chocolate on top and also stuffing the pear with homemade whip cream... they were surprising and delicious...

:: simple & sweet ::

2009-09-28T19:43:00.000-07:00

so... i have decided to do a few invitation that are simple with no theme... for people who are having dinner parties or even baby/bridal parties that aren't "themed" but still want a nice invitation to go out... i have had customers ask that they are looking for just a simple customized invitation... so i have incorporated the "victorian" look... which is always elegant... and i also decided to do one with blue and gray dots for more of masculine feel for birthday/dinner parties for men... Here are a few... let me know what you think..

:: what happens in vegas... stays in vegas... ::

2009-09-26T13:41:00.000-07:00

so... me living in las vegas and all i've heard this statement more than a few hundred times from passing tourists but i was wondering if there was another reason for it... yes we all know the saying was for people acting out of character and doing it because well... it vegas and that is what your "suppose" to do... but there is another reason for this saying and only the locals like myself know it! i work downtown right on fremont street... and once you're down there it's a whole different vegas than the one they show you in commercials... only on fremont will you find a teenager standing on the back pegs of a wheelchair... while the man in the wheelchair is holding onto another old mans shoulders and that old man is riding a motorize schooter/chair... all three of them flying down the street in a makeshift wheelchair car... yep... thats fremont. .. and this is also the same place where you find some young girl all red faced and out of breath skipping and dancing like crazy like she's on too much speed in broad daylight in the middle of fremont... and the same place where you find little old men that have apparently forgot where their waist is ... because they have their pants so far down that their little old man butt is showing and i don't mean just the crack of it... oh i can go on and on about what i've seen... and this is during the day! at night is when the real loo loos come out.... now don't get me wrong... i love living in vegas... the suburb part of it... and you can't beat the weather... but for some reason that section of fremont you need your passport because you enter a whole different world... so be glad that what happens here... actually stays here.

:: a DMV detour to the beach ::

2009-09-23T20:58:00.000-07:00

so i am super excited about attending my friends wedding next weekend... not only because it will be a fun weekend with my california buds but its also my birthday weekend (yes happy birthday to me) AND its on the beach :: MAJOR PLUS:: since in vegas we don't really get to see anything that resembles water... let alone sand and seashells... but me thinking about the wedding... has me thinking about my birthday... which has me thinking of my license expiring = which has me coming to the realization that i cannot procrastinate going to the DMV anymore = me not too happy...

sooo... i found this photo just googling... i'm no surfer by any means... but there is just something about pictures of surfers that remind me of summer fun... so i will be thinking of this photo and my upcoming weekend while in line at the dreaded DMV...

:: tsk tsk for not loving cupcakes ::

2009-09-20T22:07:00.000-07:00

i came across this blog the other day about cupcakes... apparently this male blogger... and yes i had to mention male because only a male wouldn't understand why woman love cupcakes (it goes right up there with shoes, hand bags and those towels we put up for decoration) well i have always been a fan of those miniature cakes even before the whole hollywood craze came along... maybe its because i love desserts... or maybe it because i'm a designer and i love the "pretty" aspect of them... or it could be because i'm a fabulous baker... either way i felt compelled to share this cupcake recipe... hell i might even do some cupcake type invitations... so thank you David for making me love cupcakes even more... didn't you know the more you protest something... the more it comes at you...

Enjoy this recipe from one of my favorite foodie website!
Raspberry Cupcakes

:: dull drums ::

2009-09-18T16:12:00.000-07:00

well the good thing is that its Friday... and tomorrow i will be attending the killers concert... so i plan on not having a voice come sunday morning... the bad thing is i'm going to have to go to the center table at work now and sort tickets... yes even designer have to do boring ticket sorting every now and then... maybe i'll get inspired... if i can keep myself from not getting a paper cut...

:: new save the date listings ::

2009-09-17T21:18:00.000-07:00

my friends are getting married in a few weeks... sooo ... these are my latest save the dates!

Calendar Days

Kiss and Tell

:: football sunday dish ::

2009-09-17T20:39:00.000-07:00

well... i'm not a huge fan of football (yeah yeah i know) but my friends are... so i usually end up playing hostess... i came across this great recipe from Party Blue prints... for taco soup... move over salsa!

TACO SOUP RECIPE

:: photo of the week ::

2009-09-17T13:11:00.000-07:00

... i love old black & white photos... especially of people and cityscapes... like this one by Thomas Robinson from the 40's... what's your favorite??

Thursday is a good day to start...

2009-09-17T12:46:00.000-07:00

I was inspired the other day as i was sitting outside enjoying the las vegas night air as a bat... yes a bat... flew above my head... well i didn't think a bat would be very "baby friendly" so an owl will just have to do...