Goodbye 2015, Hello 2016

Holy hiatus! I never planned to be away from the blog this long, but life got in the way. Things have been busy with the holidays, of course, and working in retail made my days even busier. And yet I can't believe it is the last day of the year! I still have so much I'd like to share here, and I am committed to doing just that in 2016. A new year means new goals and renewed focus, and I'm excited to welcome new adventures and tackle new challenges as well. For now, I'm sending my love and best wishes to all for a happy and prosperous New Year!

I'll leave you with a peek at this year's Christmas card (from Minted), which featured 12 photo highlights from 2015 on the back. Can't wait to see what 2016 has in store for us!

Hello New Year postcard by Lucille Michieli, 

found via Pinterest

Art Meets Fashion : Paper Crown X Rifle Paper Co.

It's a dream come true: The gorgeous floral illustrations of Anna Bond, the creative director of my favorite stationery company, Rifle Paper Co., gracing the ultra feminine frocks designed by Lauren Conrad for her fashion house Paper Crown's spring collection. I've been looking forward to this collaboration for months now, ever since I saw it announced on Instagram in September. If you were to take a peek into my closet, you would see hangers full of floral printed dresses. A couple, even, from Lauren Conrad's more affordable Kohl's line. But nothing as swoon-worthy as the pieces in this art-meets-fashion mash-up, which is debuting to the general public this weekend, Feb. 13-15, at a Valentine's Day Pop-Up shop at The Grove in Los Angeles. Oh, how I wish I was on the West Coast for this! In addition to flirty, vintage-inspired apparel, the shop will also feature sweet stationery products designed in tandem by Anna and Lauren. (Plus tons of other Rifle goods, floral bouquets, live calligraphy, and limited edition signed prints!) Not that I need any more paper products in my life... but, oh yes, I do. Can't wait until this collab is available to shop online. Until then, if you live in the L.A. area, I beg of you: Go to the pop-up! And report back :)

Until then, I just have to live vicariously through all the beautiful images floating around on social media.

(Images via Rifle Paper Co.'s Instagram, 

Paper Crown's Instagram,  

and the pop-up shop Facebook event)

Wedding Wednesdays : Cobalt & Gold Invitations

Almost nothing makes me happier than happy mail. You know the kind. Not bills. Not fliers. Not even coupons. But handwritten letters, party invitations... Basically love in an envelope. Last week I received the happiest of happy mail I could ever receive: My best friend's wedding invitation!

Marielle's wedding vision includes rich cobalt, golden accents and chevron details, and the invitations she ultimately chose—and trust me, the MOH, there were several in the running!—convey that theme perfectly. Because even though she and her fiancé are getting married at a beach club (their engagement session was nearby in Santa Monica), they are not having the typical seaside, shells-strewn-everywhere wedding. The bride-to-be used Paper Source to custom create her sleek, chic and modern invitations that subtly recall the golden era of the 1920s. Her mother and one of the bridesmaids put their excellent penmanship skills to work and addressed the envelopes, while Marielle used a personalized stamp for the return address. Like G and I, the happy couple used fun, casual language on the RSVP card (guests are encouraged to write a song request on the back!) and to keep costs down they printed their own directions and information card. Smart!

I'm still debating exactly which song I should request but one thing is certain: I'm so excited for this shindig!

P.S. You can see G and I's wedding stationery here.

Wedding Wednesdays : Confetti & Gold Shower Invites

Now that these pretties have made their way into the hands of all invited guests, I can safely share my bestie's bridal shower invitations. As my best friend's maid of honor, I'm spearheading the bridal shower and bachelorette festivities. And, as I've mentioned before, the theme for the shower is top secret so I still don't want to say exactly what I have planned but these invitations give a pretty big hint and offer a peek into the look and feel I'm envisioning (and, hopefully, executing!) for the party.

These invites were a definite labor of love. I searched and searched for the perfect invitation style (browsing collections on Minted, Wedding Paper Divas, Paperless Post and more) that would convey the shower theme and be a beautiful reflection of the bride. My bestie and I couldn't be more different—I'm very much a pastel and florals, boho kind of gal (as seen in my wedding decor) and Marielle is more into bright, bold colors, graphic prints and sparkle. The Shining Shower invitations I ultimately chose, from Wedding Paper Divas, were my favorite early on and nothing else I found or even mocked up could sway me from the fun and modern confetti design. I did, however, have to make a few customizations to get the invites just how I wanted them. At first I requested a turquoise blue background but black ended up being the best choice for clarity; fortunately, it looks chic and really makes the pink and gold accents pop. And since I just can't help myself (and had a sweet discount code), I sprang for the pearlized paper and scalloped edges.

Ordering the invitations was just half the battle. The easiest part, actually! Originally I planned to only calligraph the guests' names on the outside of the envelope and write the rest of the address in my normal hand. But, alas, my Sharpies weren't looking great on my tester envelope and the Lettermate I ordered to help me write straight was lost in the mail, so I decided to calligraph the entire address. As a calligraphy newbie, it was quite the stressful two days! Mixing up the white ink to the proper consistency so it would flow out of my nib, and then writing as carefully as possible. Luckily there were only 22 invitations to address and I only seriously messed up a handful of times and had plenty of extra envelopes. While the perfectionist in me sees my flaws and areas to improve, I am happy with how they turned out overall.

For an extra special touch (and to save me some time), I ordered a set of return address labels that had a complimentary black-and-gold confetti motif. And because no envelope is complete without a little washi tape, I picked up a black-and-white stripe tape and a turquoise-and-gold polka dot tape from Target to seal them up in style.

I hope my friend, the bride, loves them! Just three weeks until I leave for California for all the wedding festivities, and 24 days until the shower!

P.S. The recipe cards I tucked inside for guests to fill out are from Rifle Paper Co.

Merry Christmas!

[ Our Christmas card this year, created with Minted using our wedding photos. ]

Right now the hubs and I are cozy in our pjs, drinking coffee, munching on muffins and opening gifts. Is there anything better? I hope your day is just as lovely, and from our home to yours, we wish you much joy this Christmas, and all throughout the year to come. xoxo

A Book Signing with Anna Bond of Rifle Paper Co.

On Saturday, I had the pleasure of meeting one of my inspirations, an idol, if I can go that far: Anna Bond, the creative genius behind my favorite stationery (and much more) brand Rifle Paper Co. I'm sure you've heard of it and if you haven't, I am positive you have at the very least seen Anna's beautiful illustrations even if you didn't know it. Rifle Paper Co. is everywhere. Even on classic novels! See, that was the reason behind our meeting. The Oxford Exchange in Tampa hosted a book signing with the celebrity stationer, who illustrated the covers and endpapers for the Puffin in Bloom book collection.

You may recall that I was supposed to attend this signing last month (my first trip to the gorgeous Oxford Exchange) but it was canceled due to a family emergency. So when I found out the event was rescheduled for Nov. 15 you can bet I RSVP'd stat and penned (not penciled) that date into my calendar immediately.

I can't quite remember how or when the love affair began, all I know is I am now obsessed with the brand (exhibit A and B) and just adore everything bearing the Rifle Paper Co. name. (It's a bit of a problem for my bank account.)

The signing was at 3 p.m. but we decided to make a day of it and headed over to Oxford Exchange early (if you count noon on a Saturday as early) for brunch. We already knew OE's restaurant is excellent, and it still delivered. Since it was afternoon, G opted for lunch: a Club piled with roasted turkey, avocado, bacon, tomato, bibb lettuce, Swiss cheese and garlic aioli, with slaw and sweet potato fries on the side. I on the other hand ordered breakfast: Pumpkin Pancakes sitting in a pool of a bacon maple glaze and topped with spicy pumpkin seeds. I never order sweet breakfasts, I always go for something savory (usually a Benedict) but I felt helpless to resist such a perfectly autumnal way to start the day. The cakes were delicious and dense, sweet and a little salty from the bacon, and stacked five to the plate! I couldn't finish but gave it a noble effort. 

We lingered over our meals and morning cocktails yet still had about 30 minutes time to browse the shop. Given the occasion, I conceded to my urge to pick up a few new Rifle pretties: the Birds of a Feather Notebook Set and Rose Botanicals Journal (sold out online at Rifle, but available through OE's online shop). A girl, a writer, can never have too many pads of paper.

Soon enough a line was forming and we got in it. G was a happy camper when a server came around asking if anyone wanted a cocktail. Considering he doesn't care all that much about stationery, I think that gin and tonic made his day. Perhaps I should have had one, as I became very nervous, as I knew I would. I've never been to a book signing before and I'm not the fan girl type, so it felt a little odd to fawn over this person and get their autograph. And yet, the whole reason I came is because I do admire Anna Bond. I admire her creative talent but also her entrepreneurial spirit. The fact that she followed her passions, worked hard and, over the last five years, has grown a hugely successful business. Something that started in her garage apartment is now an international and beloved brand with a unique and distinct aesthetic. Anna is the epitome of "do what you love." That's why I consider her an inspiration and a creative's idol.

Now, did I tell her all that to her face? Haha, no. We only had a few minutes to talk. The fact that I had all the Puffin in Bloom books gave me a little more time than most. I opened with something like, "I know you get this all the time, but I love your work." Smooth. Anyway, I preceded to tell her how I used her "Will you be my...?" cards to ask my dear friends to be in my bridal party. And how my husband and I used the Botanicals Garland at our wedding reception. Anna asked if I was from "here" and I told her we are actually from California; that we came from San Diego but are originally from Simi Valley. She then told me her brother lives in California and that she would be visiting him for Christmas, to which I replied that I would be visiting next spring. 

Yep, definitely not earth-shattering conversation. But the whole time she was just as sweet as could be. I asked if we could take a photo together, adding as I fanned myself, "even though I'm all red; I'm a little nervous." And she admitted she was nervous, too. See? Sweet as could be.

[ A display of Rifle Paper Co. goodies in the Oxford Exchange shop. ]

[ Stacks of Puffin in Bloom books. ]

[ The view while waiting in line to meet Anna Bond. ]

[ The book signing took place on the mezzanine-level balcony at the Oxford Exchange. ]

[ Anna Bond was all smiles as she met fans and signed books. ]

[ Left: I'm pretty sure this photo was taken as I jokingly said, "I hope there is no limit to the things you can sign..." // Right: A slightly-blurry photo of Anna Bond and I. ] 

[ My signed books, all stacked up. ]

[ The inside of "Heidi," with Anna Bond's signature on the endpapers. ]

[ A cute holiday card Anna Bond created specifically for Oxford Exchange, to sell at the event. Since only 50 were available, I decided I just had to snap one up. I had Anna sign the inside of the card and I plan to frame it as holiday decor. ] 

[ Sweet Rifle Paper Co. notebooks. ]

[ We ended our OE visit with handcrafted lattes-- vanilla for me, mocha for him-- and a teeny-tiny Oreo cupcake. ]

Do you love Rifle Paper Co. as much as I do? Is there anyone you look up to and would be excited-nervous to meet?

Livin' Local in St. Pete

When I found out that Keep St. Petersburg Local, a nonprofit advocate for small, independent businesses, was hosting its first-ever Localicious week dedicated to eating and drinking local, I knew I wanted to participate. From Oct. 12-19, Localicious featured tons of fun events around St. Pete highlighting locally-made food and drink, as well as restaurants, brewers, growers, markets and makers. My hubby and I ended up setting aside Saturday afternoon to explore LOCAL BUDS: An OctoBEER Farmer's Market at Green Bench Brewing Co. in downtown St. Pete. More than 20 local businesses were vending at the farmer's market, and in addition to their standard wares each featured a "beer-centric" collaboration with Green Bench. Think beer-infused soaps, candles, wearables and edibles.

GT and I had a blast wandering through the market, browsing the booths, Green Bench brews in hand (in the cutest commemorative glasses). I loved seeing the work of indie makers, and even mingling for a few minutes with the creatives behind the brands. And we definitely supported small business on Saturday, leaving with several kraft paper shop bags in our hands. After we had our fill of the OctoBEER market, we walked a few blocks to fill up our tummies at another local institution: Engine No. 9. The popular burger joint is cozy (read: small) but we lucked out and scored a table right away-- right before the evening rush. A crowd waited outside while we ate our juicy burgers (the Border Line for me, the XXX Burger for the hubs), considered by many to be the best in Tampa Bay. 

This livin' local thing? Not too bad. Not bad at all.

Check out the local, handmade goodies we found (and bought) at the farmer's market...

Wedding Wednesdays : The Details : Stationery

Since I recently got hitched, and have all the photos from the big day, I launched a weekly series sharing my favorite images and memories, and a few tips and resources along the way. If you're planning a wedding, make sure to check out "The Credits" at the end. Enjoy!

For better or for worse, I am a highly detail-oriented person. It serves me well in my profession but not always in my personal life. Some may call me “anal.” Not an endearing descriptor, no doubt, but completely accurate if I’m being honest. And that overachieving, Type-A personality side of me definitely made an appearance (reared its ugly head?) during the wedding planning process.

For my big day I was all about the little details. Sometimes to my detriment (and my beloved’s).  (Case in point: I carefully picked out the exact color stain for my father to use on our ceremony arch so that the wood would match our rented chairs. Yep. I’m that girl.)

Looking back I realize that most of our guests probably didn’t notice many of the details I spent hours planning, organizing and, often, over-analyzing. And those details they did notice are likely long forgotten by now. So, do I regret it, executing all those little details?

No. Not one bit.

Forgoing them may have alleviated some stress but, when it was all over, those thoughtfully-considered, deliberately-decided details made me happy. And they made my and GT’s wedding day feel one-of-a-kind—made just for us, by us.

One detail I spent countless hours laboring over was our stationery. As my bestie says, I’m a “paper person.” Unfortunately for my husband, that meant looking at samples and mockups until we went cross-eyed, debating this design versus that, this phrasing versus that… you get the idea. There were several times he unwittingly shot down the design I loved because I innocently asked, “Which do you like?” and his favorites didn’t include my favorite. Oh, the joys of wedding planning.

But in the end I was thrilled with how our stationery pieces turned out, and we received many compliments as well, so I thought I’d share them with you today.

[ Our save the dates, front and back. Though a bit more modern in style, the vibrant colors fit with our engagement photos and the wood grain background was a nod to the rustic wedding we had in mind. ]

While we ordered our save the dates from Wedding Paper Divas, we used Minted to create our wedding invitations suite (and reaped the benefits of free recipient addressing—such a time saver!).

When looking for the perfect invitation, I wanted a design that not only included some if not all of our wedding colors (lavender, sage, peach and blush) but also reflected the casual, organic, slightly boho feel of our wedding. A romantic floral that seemed fresh and fun. Nothing traditional, but I didn’t want to veer too modern either. And our names had to be prominent. These square-shaped Wildflower Crest invitations fit the bill and were a unanimous choice for GT and I. Of our top picks, this design was even my parents’ favorite, which helped seal the deal.

[ I modified the "directions" card to be more of a "details" card, and I changed the RSVP card language to be more youthful and playful. The back of the main invitation card featured a scattered floral print. ]

Since we had a longer ceremony that included readings, handfasting and wine blending ceremonies, and a community vow of support, I decided we needed a program. And since I had a steep discount code (40% off), I ordered paper programs from Wedding Paper Divas.  

After the wedding, we again used WPD to purchase our thank you cards.

[ Our programs were simple, with a soft, sage green watercolor design that didn't look out of place at our outdoor afternoon ceremony. Our thank you cards echoed the colors and floral elements that were part of our big day. ]

Where I cut costs was the menus. With a family-style service, I felt it important that people know what they were eating when the dishes were brought to the table, but I didn’t want to spend money on something that would likely get splattered with food and wine. So I painstakingly stamped and wrote each one by hand. Just days before the wedding. Ha! Trust me, when my hand was cramping I kind of wished I had ordered menus from WPD or Minted. But, in the end, I think my “rustic” handwritten menus were the perfectly imperfect personal touch on our day. Another detail that was worth the effort.

In the coming weeks I’ll share some more wedding day details: décor, signage, florals, favors, desserts… even some awesome Etsy finds! In the meantime, if you missed any previous Wedding Wednesday posts, catch up here:

Getting Ready : The Bride & The Groom 
The First Look | The Ceremony | The Reception

THE CREDITS

Idyllic Inscription Save the Dates (in Coral)

Wildflower Crest Wedding Invitations (in Orchid) | Directions Cards | RSVP Cards

Exquisite Artistry Programs (in Sea Glass)

Delicate Etching Thank You Cards (in Light Gray)

Kraft Paper Cardstock for Menus from Paper Source

PHOTOGRAPHY: heidi-o-photo