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. :)

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

Save the Date #2: A Little Bit of Curl

I lied. I flagrantly lied. I'm just on a roll, and there's no stopping me! Thank you, professors, for giving me a week of from some paper being due. :) I appreciate it! It lets me get my juices flowing and play with some colors!

When you find a gorgeous font, you look for ways to use it and make it work. It is just too pretty to leave lying on an invisible shelf inside of your computer. What, you didn't know that's how computers are organized beneath all that plastic??

This is one such case. It was too swirly and perfect. It needed some air. It needed life, people. I admire typeface artists so much for somehow creating these masterpieces that we take for granted, as if there was a "big bang" creation of all the fonts in the world. Someone designed that Verdana you use all the time, or cute little Trebuchet. Even Arial! (That guy must have made BANK.) Next time you are like, "Wow, those letters look cool," when you're looking at a magazine or an invitation, appreciate the person who made it! They do good work!

Anyways, that was kind of irrelevant.

See what I mean?! You know exactly which line of text I am talking about. Mmmm. So delightfully full of swoops and curves. Yes, my beauty, you had to come out and strut your stuff somewhere. Even if it is an imaginary Save the Date card. Maybe someday, I will have the chance to print you on paper -- what a glorious day that will be!

Keep it classy, friends!

- Lara