30 for 30 Day 20 & Cute Holiday Cards

Good Monday morning pretties! I hope you all had a lovely weekend. I know I sound like a broken record, but I'm still sick. Trust me, I'm as tired of it as you are. But I drug myself to a doc yesterday and now have an arsenal of meds to get me better. Here's hoping I'm back to my old self soon- I'm really not loving the red nose and glazed expression in my last several outfit posts.

I generally hate being stuck in bed all weekend long, but I didn't mind so much this time- I actually did a lot of my Christmas shopping online. I also picked out our Christmas cards at Shutterfly. (I have used them for several books I have made for Geoff and really liked the quality.) Being a designer, I generally like to design things myself, but this year its just too busy. Plus, they have such cute designs and the process is so easy so I really couldn't say no. And to top it off, the are offering 50 free cards for bloggers- which is perfect because I was going to use them anyway and now I can get my cards for free!

I love the idea of having a photo card every year- then when we are old and gray we can look back and see how much we changed every year. Plus, this year will be our first card as a married couple, so I am going to use one of our wedding photos. Sweet right?

Check out some of my favorite Shutterfly designs. They have lots of options, from flat cards to folded, with all sorts of different messages. I think we are going to go with the Frosted Glass Monogram Flat card for ours- I think it will look really elegant with a wedding photo, plus I like using my new monogram whenever possible. I'm also thinking of doing some cute photo calendars for family gifts.
Head over to Shutterfly and check them out!

Finally, this is what I put on for lunch with my family on Sunday. It was chilly and I wanted to be comfy and cozy-so I turned to my fave black boyfriend cardi and a warm scarf. When we got home from lunch we did a little backyard photoshoot before I put my sweats back on and headed to the doc. Our little Boo Calvin wanted to be in the pics (but he really doesn't like being held.) Check out pic #2-he's totally sticking his tongue out as he struggled to get put down-I almost dropped him. He's so awkward. I guess he gets that from me...

XO
-L

Font Crushing & Wrapped Up (30 for 30 Day 7)

Happy Monday loves! How are you all? I am so excited about all my new followers and readers- thank you guys so very much for visiting the blog. It truly makes my day to see and hear from you all.

So, I have been so crazy lately! I have been working like mad at my job, redesigning my portfolio (check it out here), doing some freelance design, and blogging my little heart out. But honestly, I can't get enough. Enough blogging, enough designing, enough scoping out great graphic and interior design, enough fonts to fall in love with- My mind is consumed with thinking about these things. And I consider myself truly lucky that I spend my days doing things that I so love. Speaking of love, check out my current shopping addiction: fonts. There are so many I want right now (does my shopping ban extend to fonts? Not sure.) Anyway, take a look at some offerings from one of my favorite type houses, Sudtipos. I am obsessed with Buffet Script, Burgues Script, & Kewl Script. Anyone have $300 laying around to buy me these pretties?

And here's what I wore today for Day 7. LOVE this wrap top from Anthro-its like a blanket you can wear to work. How's the 30 for 30 going ladies? I'm loving it but really hope I don't run out of ideas by week three!

XO
-L

30 for 30 Day 7 by OliveandBleu featuring anthropologie tops

Calendar Girl

Good morning! How is everyone this lovely Tuesday? I am thrilled that it is chilly and rainy in Big D today! Fall is FINALLY here! And I can't believe its November already. Time to start making Holiday plans, sending Chritmas cards soon, and making lists of all the gifts I want to get my peeps. As long as I have been able to write I have loved keeping lists and calendars. Books and notebooks and sketch pads FULL of lists, little sketches, ideas for designs, outfits, new ways to arrange my furniture, meals for the week...you name it, I have a list for it. I alwyas get excited when the end of the year comes because I get to get some new Moleskine Notbooks for my lists and a shiny new calendar. Here are some I'm considering...

How do you stay organized?

XO
-L

1. Cavallini 2011 Daily Planner, Colorful Bonded Leather via Kate's Paperie
2. Romantic Silhouettes Calendar by Le Papier Studio on Etsy
3. Mini Calendar with Easel by Kitty Rogers on Etsy
4. 2011 French Bulldog Calendar via Paper Source
5. 2011 Kate Spade Desk Top Spiral Calendar via Kate's Paperie
6. 2011 Persimmon Date Book via Paper Source

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen

With the wedding projects winding down (only 3 weeks away!) I have to say, my thoughts are turning to my next big project. I think I must get this from my dad- he's not so great at sitting still and is always happiest when he has a project (or 3) in the works. What might this new little undertaking be? Well, 1st comes love, then comes marriage, then comes... house hunting! (Did you think I was going to say "a baby carriage?", um, not so much...) We have been looking casually, chatting about what we have to have and can live without in our new little nest. But after the wedding, we hope to actually buy in the next year or so. And I have to say, the kitchen can really make or break a potential home. I am dreaming of a warm bright kitchen, with dark woods, white walls, gorgeous hardwood floors, lots of chrome and pops of red (like my fave Big Red.) I love the look of a modern cozy vintage farmhouse (I said modern, not a bunch of roosters and hay...)
I am obsessed with these kitchens: 

Images via DecorPad

And here are some pics for my gorgeous new imaginary kitchen...Enjoy!
XO
-L

Modern Farmhouse Kitchen by OliveandBleu featuring an anthropologie

Sliced Persimmon Dinnerware, $12
Harmon Pendant | Pendants | Restoration Hardware, $349
Amazon.com: KitchenAid Artisan 5-Quart Stand Mixers: Kitchen & Dining, $257
Z Gallerie - Aluminum Camera, $50
Printmaker's Sideboard | Shelving & Cabinets | Restoration Hardware, $1,695
Measured Time Scale, $248
Dining Chairs: Dining Room Chairs | Crate&Barrel, $199
Iron Wine Bottle Holder | Wisteria, $69
Wire Basket with Handles | Pottery Barn, $24
Iron Bird Bottle Stopper | Pottery Barn, $9.50

How Inviting

They're done!!! Finally! We finished our wedding invitations this past weekend and popped them into the mail. Poor Geoff looked like I was torturing him as I was making him tie yards and yards of hemp twine. He kept telling me that these were "uselessly complicated." Boys so don't get wedding design.

I am so pleased with the way they came out-It was so much fun to be my own client for once. Its hard to see in photos, but we had the main invitation letterpressed & blind embossed, which gives the paper a paisely pattern texture. I also had a custom rubber stamp made with our monogram, and used it to stamp the muslin bags that hold the Map and RSVP cards and the tags that adorned the hemp twine. To go along with the green theme and venue, all of the pieces are eco-friendly. The envelopes are recycled kraft paper, the main invitations are letterpresssed with soy ink on Crane Lettra recycled stock, the muslin bags are stamped with soy ink, and the twine is recycled hemp. The invites were printed by Kseniya at Thomas Printers- not only are they super affordable for letterpress, but Kseniya was super helpful and they did an amazing job!! 

We are only 2 months away from the wedding and I'm getting more excited every day. We are headed to Austin in the morning for our tasting party at Barr Mansion- I can't wait to sample all of the yummy food and CAKE! Have a lovely weekend all!

XO
-L 

All images & designs are copyright Lauren Price, 2010.
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