Rock That Chevron

Hot pink. It's a zesty, fun, unabashedly girly color. I used to hate pink pretty passionately but am now a completely different woman. It's very hard to explain. But today, I can appreciate a healthy dose of pink every now and then!

And TRY and tell me chevron isn't the best pattern ever these days! I was actually inspired by a super cute shirt at Old Navy I saw today when I was out Christmas shopping with my mom. It's on sale, by the way, so if you're into this kind of thing, you will only be about $7 poorer. Just sayin'.

In fact, it even looks cute in yellow...

Any who, hope you're getting everything done that you need to this Christmas season and are able to enjoy its true meaning at the same time! Maybe print out some thank you cards for your sweet friends and family for just being who they are. :)

- Lara

Oh You Fancy, Huh?

Some people are fancy people. They are swirly, curly, diamonds & pearls, champagne, and roses... or at least they are on the inside. When it's up to them to throw a big bash, they order swan ice sculptures and set out the silky tablecloths.

Some people, on the other hand, are no-frills. They are straight lines, black & white, martinis, and minimalists. They are likelier to throw a downtown party with a lot less glitz and a lot more fashion in form. Still sophisticated, still modern, but a lot less concerned with being too romantic and flowery.

There are people whose wedding invitations will have silver ribbons and an Edwardian cursive writing, and there are people who aim to impress in a different way.

This design didn't begin today, actually. It is a variation on one that I made a couple of months ago for my boyfriend's birthday. I got a two photo frame and put a pic of us on the top and filled the bottom part with this design. It looks different from the following design in a few ways but that it an original and will not be duplicated. :)

If you know me, you might see a resemblance with these silhouettes... haha!

What a sexy font! To some it might seem plain, but to me, it is fresh. I think the faces and the heart are fun, especially if someone were to have the front of their invitations refer to scripture. It's a balance of a beautiful truth about what love is really founded on with a reminder that the wedding will be anything but grave. I am really liking it! I think I will save a few things for the future... hmmmm. :)

Well, Star Wars IV is beginning to get good again. (Thanks Spike TV!) Back to what I do best -- nerding out a little bit on my Saturday nights! Sweet dreams, friends!

- Lara

Christmas Time Is Here!: Part Trois

Have I really nothing better to do?! Well, without any rambling, let me just get to Suite #2 of my Christmas cards...

The first one looks like an ad almost, which is kind of why I like it so much. Lots of bright red and bold fonts. This is great for people who aren't about the swirly cursive cards, which can sometimes communicate mushiness or femininity I think. Plain and simple, and could even just be "virtual Christmas cards" one can post on a website, blog, or whatever is that one's little heart desires.

You might see me around here again today. But hopefully I will find something more important to do!

- Lara

Christmas Time Is Here!: Part Deux

Good morning friends! I am usually not up this early on Christmas break, but I have a sort of interview with Quicken Loans about interning or working for them next year. The guy sounded really relaxed and friendly so I think it will go pretty well! Then I might just go back to sleep, being the lazy bum that I am.

One of the reasons I sleep in so late is because I stay up so late. One of the reasons I stay up so late is that my body has been trained to do this because of homework and hanging out with my roommates not doing anything (one of our only common times of being home is midnight and beyond). One of the other reasons I don't go to bed so early is because my boyfriend tends to go hang out late and I like to talk to him on the phone while he's driving back home.

Yes, I have no life.

Anyways, in the time last night that I was not sleepy and having nothing important to accomplish, I started fiddling around with Christmas cards. Because I love the idea of sending them! I have never done it -- stamps are for rich people at this time in my life -- but someday, I would like to. And the nice thing is that I can just print them out and hand them to people or attach one to a gift. Either way, well, I just like Christmas and I like making things that look like Christmas.

Ahhh, Christmas ornaments. They're just so bright, shiny, and seem to shout, "I am Christmas in a little ball! Hang me on your tree or it will just not be right!" I played around with the same image in a couple of different ways last night. (It was also an excuse to use some of my favorite fonts ever. Drooly Mcdrools.)

I am seriously considering using the first one to put on things from me that I give out for Christmas... which I would need to buy first. Ugh. I also need to change the name on it. I like making up my fictional families, but someday they have to be from real people! That is my hope!

Well, here's hoping you get lots of rest this holiday season! I am about to...

- Lara

A Winter's Tale

Well, yesterday, I was feeling very springy and sunshine-y. Like a bright bouncy daffodil. I was envisioning grass, flowers... in particular the smell of jasmine, which is my favorite thing about Florida springtime. It is just intoxicating!

But today, I am feeling much more wintry. On the real, I am tired of this weather. I would love to wear a jacket outside instead of shorts in December. Is that so much to ask, oh tropical peninsula? When will we have the slightest chance of lighting a fire in the fireplace without our faces melting off?!

Sometimes, when you can't get what you want, you have to pretend! (Within healthy reason, anyways. I am not saying you should forsake reality for delusional fantasy worlds.) Especially by making things that remind you that it's supposed to be winter.

Red, white, and black. It doesn't get much more classic than that. I really like white space when communicating winter and modernness. This is what I feel like Little Red Riding Hood would use on her stationery -- a little mysterious and dark but with a pretty, sexy pop of color. See, now who doesn't like fairy tales? Even if real winter isn't always that picturesque and lovely, it has its moments. Which I eagerly anticipate.

Stay dreamy!

- Lara

P.S. Many thanks to the efforts of the Graphics Fairy! She is responsible for this beautiful winter tree. I wish I could design things of that caliber. But for now, I appreciate what others provide for use. :)

A Peep of Springtime

Hello! I am betting some people in this country are already counting down the days till spring. The weather is all over the board, some people snowed in every day, while we here in the Sunshine State are looking at high 70's every day. Maybe that's why I am still thinking in pretty, happy, bright colors. Yes, I love my burgundy nail polish and black scarves -- which a futile attempt at making it feel just a little more like Christmas-time to me -- but for some reason, today, I was thinking a lot about a very pretty bright fern color.

Very clean, modern, but definitely a little taste of springtime. :) The flourishes are a little less swirly and fancy, but fresh. Not 100% in love with the sans serif font and size yet... this is probably more of a prototype. See a trend with my love of ovals? (Observe the logo.)

Anyways, I hope your weather is treating you right and that you can love on whatever colors you want no matter the season!

- Lara

Christmas Time Is Here!

Howdy, y'all! It is that time of year again... cold fronts, so that we Floridians are forced to get out our sweaters for once. Decorations hanging all over our apartment. Exams hanging over my head for me to ignore, thereby enabling me to keep procrastinating. Yes, it is all of those things. Must mean Christmas is on its way!

I really can't even believe it's already December 7th. A whole week of December? Gone? What on earth is going on around here! 2011 flew by so fast that it's just silly. So many things have happened. A year ago, I never imagined that I would be spending my next Christmas in a place that is a bit much colder than it is here.

That cold place being Detroit.

With a boy. (Nah... man.)

Who I am in a relationship with.

And am spending the holidays with.

Along with 1273981723 other members of his family.

SO EXCITED!

I am too much in the Christmas spirit for studying for tests. I am beyond tempted to put A Christmas Story in the DVD player versus writing notes for all the essay questions that can appear on my final exam tomorrow. My final final exam. Praise the Lord.

No, really, praise Him for all He has done!

This truth is so very easy to forget. He came and was born among humans to suffer every day of His life as we do, in order to be crucified for our sins, and then come back to life, trumping death and revealing to us our glorious future in Him! How incredible that really is! I am not sure what this graphic is intended for, but I was inspired by the gravity of this verse along with it being Christmas-y indeed. Perhaps to frame on the wall in December as a reminder of why we celebrate this holiday in the first place.

I think red, gold, and silver are my favorite Christmas colors. One day, my house will have to be color coordinated to all fit into the same scheme... the idea of everything looking random and different will drive me crazy! It could last until I have some little kid handmade decorations to put up. Hmm, let's hope that is far away because the thought of that is kind of scary. Haha!

Anyways, meditate on the beauty of Christ's birth and life this holiday season! Oh, and study for your exams. They will be over so very soon. Have fun drinking hot chocolate and singing some carols!

- Lara