Something for Everyone

I love love. Who doesn't? Well I know there are some people who don't but I LOVE it! I love telling the people that matter to me that I truly love them. I also like the idea of doing/giving something more personal than just your standard dozen red roses. I don't think Valentine's day gifts shouldn't break the bank, rather they should be thoughtful gestures that show someone you think they are really special and your life wouldn't be the same with out them. So here's a little roundup for everyone on your love list this year. 

For the woman in your life - Jewelry from her favorite store. Because every girl loves a little trinket or two from her favorite store and if it is jewelry chances are she will wear it several days a week and remember how thoughtful you were every time she does. 

For that special someone you've been loving from a distance - Receiving flowers is really nice, but receiving gourmet ice-cream?! Even better! Pick out your loved one's favorite flavors or just go crazy and try something new. Send an assortment of ice-cream to that special someone and have it delivered right on Valentine's day to their front door. I had a client send me this ice-cream while we were still living in Hawaii and it arrived packed in dry ice still frozen solid! I was blown away and still rave to anyone who will listen about how great the ice cream was!

For your boyfriend or girlfriend - Sign your other half up for a year long subscription to their favorite magazine. Not sure what they'd like? Bon Appetit never fails to amaze me. The design is impeccable, the photography is amazing and the recipes are always inventive and delicious. Every month when they receive their magazine in the mail they will remember that you love them! 

For your sister or best friend - Give her a book. A good book goes a long way! For book club this month (yeah I'm in a book club and I LOVE it!) we read The Language of Flowers by Vanessa Diffenbough. It was a quick easy read about a girl who learns to communicate using the Victorian language of flowers. She also learns how to love and be loved which is always a happy ending. Give the accompanying flower dictionary so your friend or sister can be an expert in the language of flowers as well.

For your kids - You can't forget those crazy rug rats that make you want to claw your eyeballs out with a garden rake when they start squawking at 5:30 in the morning now can you!? Yes, I'm still a little sleep deprived... but that Henry of mine - oh boy! He makes my world go round. He is my reason for breathing - I've just got to tell him how I feel on Valentine's day and I plan on decorating his room and giving him a few sweet treats. I'm pretty sure the room decor will go mostly unnoticed but the sweet treat will get the message across loud and clear! That boy will do just about anything for a donut or a cookie!

For your sweet mom! - She gave you life and then she loved you every day since. You've got to send her a little something to tell her she is special! Why not some letterpress coasters from Fox and Anchor Paper? (Shameless plug?) But seriously, a little something with a note that says, "I love ya Ma!" is all it takes to make her feel like all your shenanigans were worth it!

For your lover - Heart theme breakfast in bed? Yes! Do I need to say more about this? 

Modern Thanksgiving

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This last week Dwell Studio put together a little contest. The challenge was to create a pin board on Pinterest that captured your ideal modern Thanksgiving scene. I thought it would be fun to put one together - you can see mine here. 

What are your Thanksgiving plans? We are staying home and spending the day as a little family of three in this big new city. Today, we gathered some fun ingrediants to use on some new recipes (including the butternut squash tart above). We are going to buck the traditional turkey and sweet potatoes this year and make some new creations. I really hope everything turns out alright. Hope everyone has a happy Thanksgiving with loved ones and eats all their favorite foods! 

Thanksgiving of my dreams

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I keep thinking back to last year at this time. I was so unaware of what lay ahead of me - the good and the bad. What a difference a year can make huh? It's been a whirl wind for sure. And even with everything I have to be thankful for this year (and I really am thankful, I swear) I just can't help but want to go back. So, while this above little round-up is definitly a dream, my real dream is that I am back in Hawaii with my dear friends. My friend Caitlin, my other friend Paige and myself were all pregnant that year. We were on the brink of the greatest adventures of our lives (parenthood) and everything was exciting and new, and we knew nothing of loss. So this year a new dining room table would be nice, and that dress would be a lot of fun to wear but I'm really just thinking of friendship and the experiences that connect us forever. And I am thankful for that.   

Online Publications

Wayfare / Rue / Fete Press

I have a little secret. I have been working on a new online magazine project for the past couple of months and we are about to debut the first issue in a few weeks! I am really excited to get it out there! I have been so inspired by a lot of beautifully designed online magazines out there and thought I would share a few of my favorites with the readers of Dotcoms for Moms. If you are interested in seeing my other favs click here.

Also, I was excited to see some business cards I designed for Chelsey of Type A Press featured on For Print Only by the creative geniuses behind UnderConsideration. Wahoo! Thanks guys! 

Graduation Gift Guide

Once again I have another round up over on Dotcoms for Moms. This time I put together a little gift guide for the grads in your life. Check out where all of the items are from here. 

It's Wedding Season!

You can find my guest post on what to wear and what to give this wedding season over at Dotcoms For Moms.

I know it is wedding season when I start getting an absurd amount of requests for wedding invitation designs. The other day I caught myself complaining to my mom about how many wedding invitations I had on my Teux Deux list and she laughed and said, "but you LOOOOVE doing that!" and I just simply had to agree! I do love doing it. I love weddings and I love LOVE! I also started a wedding inspiration pin board on Pinterest for all my friends out there about to tie the knot. Follow along if you like! 

PS - I wish I could announce to everyone that I found a cure for Henry's non sleeping schedule, but unfortunately I can't. I think we have made progress and then the next night/day are just as terrible as before. I am so glad I have a mother who lovingly listens to my problems, commiserates with me and then reassures me that things will get better. I don't know that there really is "an answer" to Henry's sleeping problem but rather we will find out what works for Henry and what doesn't. All kids are different and I am learning that so well right now. Thank you to everyone who left kind and helpful comments on my last post. It really means a lot to me to know that people care and know what I am going through. 

Mother's Day Gift Roundup

Seeing as Mother's Day is coming up soon I thought I would center my most recent guest post on Dotcoms for Moms around the blessed day. Since becoming a new mom myself I have a new found appreciation for motherhood and the sacrifices my own mother made for me. I know that in these short four months with Henry I have only seen the tip of the ice burg (Titanic 3D?). I'm sure there is so much more in store for me as a mom - the good as well as the bad. I know I gave my mom a real run for her money but I also consider her one of my closest, dearest friends.  Anyway, this Mother's Day she totally deserves to know how special she is. Here are just a few items I thought would be appropriate for Mother's Day gifts. To see where all of them are from click here.