52 weeks of hand lettering
I’m beginning a new project for 2015. If you know me for longer than five minutes, you know I love to doodle. Actually, I can’t help but doodle. I do it without knowing. It helps me focus. It helps me problem-solve. It generally helps be productive. The total opposite of how society views doodling. 🙂
This year, I want to document some of my doodles that usually end up in the trash or in forgotten notebooks. I’ll begin “52 weeks of hand lettering” today and continue through 2015. I hope you come on along this fun journey with me!
Happy 2015.
“May your coming year be filled with magic and dreams and good madness. I hope you read some fine books and kiss someone who thinks you’re wonderful, and don’t forget to make some art — write or draw or build or sing or live as only you can. And I hope, somewhere in the next year, you surprise yourself.” – Neil Gaiman
Happy (Cheez-it) New Year from me to you!
Dear Summer,
Dear Summer, thank you for showing up a bit early. It’s been a long, cold winter! I’m sure you will tease us for a few weeks before you are here for good, but it was a nice surprise to have you show yourself on Memorial Day weekend!
I spent some of my Memorial Day weekend at my sister’s pool soaking up the sun (maybe a bit too much) and generally not having a care in the world. It was so precious to watch my cousin’s kids learn how to swim and become more comfortable with the water. They came a long way even in the four hours we were swimming. What tenacious little dudes! The youngest is still a bit wary of the water and spent most of the the time chasing a toy around the perimeter of the pool. Yet, fun was had by all!
How did you spend your extra day off?
So it begins.
Weddings are the ultimate celebrations. You’re celebrating everything: love, family, friends. And you celebrate with almost everything: big dresses, food, drinks, and dancing. Last weekend, I was honored to attend a wedding. Isn’t it such an honor to be invited to someone’s wedding? To be there when they make one of the largest – if not THE largest – promises of their life? It’s also thrilling that you witness the beginning of something BIG. Like, they will look back at pictures of that day for the rest of their lives. It’s a beautiful starting point!
I was able to spend the weekend with lifelong friends since we were all in the area for the wedding. What a treat. I think I needed a reminder of what amazing friends I have. Here’s to continuing to keep in touch with friends near and far. Thank God for the iPhone and group chats!
Creating.
The Creative Process
Happy New Year
Happy New Year’s Eve! I hope you all had an amazing 2013, and you look into 2014 with bright eyes and open hearts.
Cheers to 2013, hello 2014!
Unplug
Every few months I have a realization of how addicted I am to my phone. Not even my laptop, just my phone. I only notice this because of how dirty my iPhone case becomes. Isn’t that gross?
I am making a huge effort to put my phone away more often. In hope to be less stressed, less caught-up-in-everything, and more relaxed and open to inspiration. I often feel like my brain is a giant soaked sponge when it has consumed so much information that does nothing for it. Like Facebook. And maybe even information that does matter like text messages and phones from far-away-friends.
It’s proving to be a bit difficult! Because of my profession and passion for communications, social media, new media and so on, being on my phone kept me up-to-date. I am playing around with the idea of allotting myself “screen time” like I am a type-A mom.Â
How do you remind yourself to unplug?
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Snow Day
Today I had a honest-to-goodness Adult Snow Day. It was splendid. A very sneaky blizzard found its way up the coast of Lake Michigan and literally dumped 16 inches on us overnight.
Snow Days are what dreams are made of. (Anyone remember that movie “Snow Day” from the 90’s?) For me, I didn’t do much. I slept in, made some blueberry muffins, and assessed the damage outside. It’s amazing how fast the day went and I really wish I could have gotten a lot more done — but it was nice to take it easy and take a college-style nap, ya know, at 4 p.m.
Granted the weather kind of halts people from actually getting to fully enjoy their Snow Day, but if I had another day to do it over, this is how it would play out.
Obviously, I would spend the morning sleeping in. What a luxury it is to not set an alarm! A bagel and some coffee would serve as my late morning meal as I watched the snow fall. Another luxury — a bath — would be in order, followed by meticulously choosing a perfect Snow Day outfit. (Think chunky cable, boots, etc…) A lunch date would be a must, preferably at a tiny low-key place that served delicious soup and crusty bread. The rest of the day would be spent reading or with my good friend Netflix.
What does your perfect Snow Day include?
BY THE BAY 