Brief V-Day Additions

Hey, y'all! Just flying along through my last semester of college here... what a scary thought! It's already pretty much February, which I just can't believe. Between class, graduation plans, and wedding plans, I am a crazy lady these days!

In my spare moments when I am thirsty for a break, though, I am loving some sweet colors and ideas for Valentine's Day cards. You can do them up as girly or as universal as you want, it depends on your particular Valentine's inclinations. :) Mine is already on a crusade against my pink/flowery/sparkly things entering our future home, so let's just say he has boundaries when it comes to frilliness. But, without shame, I will embrace my feminine ways and hang onto my girly stuff as long as humanly possible!

Yes, cute things, you are perfectly fine by me. And these could be so much more offensively pink power. Definitely feeling the bokeh effect on the second one right now. I might just have to make that my personal thank you card or stationery style.

Maybe more lovey dovey cards are in the making, maybe not. It just depends on how crazy things get up in here. But the next time I need a brain break, you know where I'll be!

- Lara

There Were Bells

Well, howdy, y'all! Things have been crazy around here... and gosh, do I have news for you!

I will be needing to print some wedding invites of my own now. :)

That's right, I'm engaged!!! I can still barely believe it, and it's been two weeks! I'm so excited. The funny thing is, what very little wedding planning I have done has been a pain. It's so hard to find somewhere in Orlando that is cheap but pretty to have a wedding or a reception at. I've been slaving over this for hours and hours each day to so little avail. Is it weird that I already kind of wish I was just getting eloped? Haha!

Nah, it will be so much fun once I can get to the thing that I like best: making things that are pretty! I'm much more excited about finding things in the colors Darin and I like, figuring out how to make the whole thing schmancy without spending too much money. (We are two poor college students, after all. Although he just got an awesome full-time job, so he'll be super busy but saving up the dough!)

I just wanted to give you guys a taste of what is to come...

This is rather tentative, I really wanted a lighter peach in there somewhere. And I think it's my computer screen, but that middle yellow keeps looking green when I take a minute away from it. Maybe a 6 color palette isn't too psycho. Well, either way, this is what we're working with for a bright, relaxed July wedding! It's one of the easier things for me to decide on right now. I might go insane with all the other things, haha.

No matter what, though, it's just one day of your life. The days that follow it are SO much more significant and define us, and I'm thrilled to be spending them with a God-desiring man who also cracks me up every day and does what he thinks is right. Love at first sight if I ever saw it!

Anyways, I'll keep doing stuff when I get the chance, but I hope you had a great holiday and are finding refreshment and hope in the Lord!

- Lara

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. :)