It’s so hard to make time for reconnecting with friends when you have your kids’ tournaments or recitals every weekend. Then there’s the house projects, the school volunteering, the job, the hubby, the extended family, and Effin’ Dog to take...
We do a lot of design for kids products, which we absolutely love. Some days I love designing for kids more than I love kids. But most days I think kids are completely awesome, they are entertaining, sweet and honest (until they become teens and then they are psycho,...
So I LOVE to read. I mean, it’s my passion and my pastime. I always have a good book going, whether it’s an actual real-live book, or a digital version. There are magazines everywhere at my house and thousands of books that I just can’t part with....
Today we are not going to talk about how you can relieve your PMS by taking a walk in field of daisies. Or which PMS relief drugs will make you feel as though you are a daisy, swaying in the mid-day breeze (if anyone finds that one, let me know). Instead we bring you...
So if you told me twenty years ago that I’d be getting a matching tattoo with my daughter someday, I’d have thought you were a Crackhead (or whatever we called people back then). If you had told me this five years ago when she was 14 and already planning...
Being a graphic designer, I still believe that with all of the new technology out there nothing compares to an old fashioned notebook and pencil for when inspiration strikes. But realistically, you can’t ignore the things that make life a bit easier. And I am...
Who says you have to do without cuteness while on a budget. Here is an easy window dress up project that even I can do. These windows in our office were originally covered in skinny white plastic horizontal blinds. (Cue the theme for the movie “Psycho”) I...
The Academy Awards are coming up this Sunday. To honor this event I have collected some of my favorite movie posters that feature great typography. As you can see, I always like to attach my type addiction to any event, and this is a great one to do so. Movie posters...
I have kind of an unhealthy addiction to type. Typefaces are like crack to me (without all the obvious wrong). I love the shapes, curves, and corners. I love the negative space around letters and numbers. I think there are some of you typophiles out there that agree...
Being a semi-shy person growing up, I always tried to avoid making dramatic entrances and would rather scope out the situation first and kinda sneak in. Much to my dismay, as an adult I have not been so successful. My dramatic entrances involve these situtations:...
Part of my feels like Valentine’s Day (hereafter referred to as VD, cuz I just can’t help myself) is an engineered holiday invented by florists and stationery companies to beef up business. And the less cranky part of me loves to do something fun for my...
I usually look at Valentines Day in this way: Besides it being a slightly cringe-worthy holiday, you know that each one of your kids have at least 30 classmates that they need to honor in the form of a small folded Valentine and how the heck am I going to fit this in...
I decided to do a post on how to add personal touches to your kids room decor. It was not easy because they are slobs, so I had to photograph very creatively. I also had fun using some cool apps on my iphone to enhance the photos. There was not a magic app to clean...
Let me just tell you right away that this is not about sex. Sorry. Get your mind out of the gutter. I got an email from a friend this week that said “Help! I’m having book club tonight and I have to serve dinner and I’m sick of the stuff I usually...
Who says your workspace has to be full of drab gray cubicles? Our all-girl design studio is set up for hard work in a creative environment. We have the top half of a big historic Crafstman house on a tree lined street, next door to the local library and around the...
My seven year old daughter (budding designer) was sketching ideas for her “Big Bedroom Re-Do 2011”. Nevermind that it has only been a year that we last decorated it. She drew a puffy chair hanging from the ceiling and told me it was a swing and pretty...
Remember when you were little and you made cards for you mom and grammy? It was so fun and satisfying, and even though moms are obligated to gush over so-called art projects, she loved that card. I still have the ones my kids made for me back when they were cute....
The middle of winter is when some of us start wishing for spring. Gray skies are not usually associated with warm bright feelings. I know, being a California girl means I can’t complain about my 50 degree day when some people in the country are experiencing a...
Let’s face it, the kids and the effin’ dog own the house. We pay the bills, but they run the place. Evidence of their existence follows them from room to room. It’s time for moms who appreciate a well-appointed room (free of toys, stale snacks and...
Ahhh, Starbucks. My friend. I always look for you, practically every day. You are easy to find while driving in an unfamiliar strip mall parking lot. You are easy to spot in a busy shopping mall. You are a street corner beacon of hope for the afternoon yawns. Your...
So I look forward to the holidays for months. I obsess over what the wrapping theme will be, whether I’ll make beef or chicken tamales for 30 on Christmas day, how many more lights can I put up this year… you get the picture. And then December 26th comes...
December is the time of year when you and the little ones in your life can get reacquainted with holiday traditions, or maybe start a new one. It is fun to get kids into making a project that they can look forward to each year. Especially when the weather is freezing...
Don’t you just love that color? Pomegranate makes me think of festive holiday parties where the hostess finally gets a chance to put her feet up and enjoy the wonder that is a pomegranate martini. (Maybe it is because the hostess-me-is still recovering from the...
Well, almost. It is not officially winter, Santa is still on vacation and the Thanksgiving turkeys are still out there strutting their stuff. We, however, are getting in the spirit over here. We’ll leave the turkeys to their business but we have something to...
So I was lucky enough to take my first trip to Chicago where I knew I would find great food and entertainment and get to leave my California flip flops at home and upgrade to some sassy new boots for a weekend. What I didn’t realize is what a visually...
