Personal Design: Wastal Family Holiday Card

This year my parents let me design our family holiday card. I originally went with this design:

Then my friend Casey mentioned that it might seem a little too edgy (def my style but maybe not so much for the family holiday card). So then I came up with this:

Here's the back of the card:

And then here's the inside:

What do you think? Suggestions for next year's card?

New Year's Resolutions: 2010 Edition

Last year, I don't think I made a single resolution for NYE. But I do know that throughout the year I have been making plans and promises to myself to better the person I am, get what I want out of life (this is my only chance), and most of all- do things to make myself happier while giving myself permission to have down days, make mistakes, and give myself a break. I have a tendency to beat myself up a bit.

I want to kick off 2010 the right way while wrapping up '09. I've been calling or emailing apologies to people that are past due because I don't want any skeletons in my closet for next year. And in the spirit of getting what I want and going after it, here is my list of 2010 resolutions:

Cheers to having faith in the new year and a new beginning! I hope you're safe and happy celebrating tomorrow night :). Make great plans for the new year.

Once in a Blue Moon: NYE 2009 to 2010

Once every 20 years, the moon appears blue. This NYE not only is it the second full moon in the month of December but that night it will appear blue. I found via msn.com this morning. Pretty cool huh? Here's the original article. Here's another article from LA about it. I think it'll make this NYE special. Maybe this holiday will live up to its crazy hype.

I think I just learned that the phrase "Once in a Blue Moon" means once every 20 years . . . that really is a long time :).

Dear Santa:

I know that I said that all I wanted for Christmas was a nice wine decanter, Volume 1 and 2 of the Glee soundtrack, the 1st half of Glee's Season 1, and a couple of pairs of flat boots, but I think I left one really important thing off the list.

A cute, funny, hot, intelligent, sexy, and smart man. Preferably interested in my same (although not identical) type of music, likes to read, is social, makes me laugh, and we have GREAT FANTASTIC sex and sexual chemistry.

Couldn't you deliver him in my stocking? Like the santa stocking I have in my apartment? That would be great.

It would also be great if he some day wanted to get married and have kids. There are too many men out there in the world that don't want either of those things.

I've been a good girl (most of the time) Santa, pretty please?

xoxo,
Lauren

Little Christmas Treat: Little Ricky Jingle Bells

The family's My mom's chihuahua put on his jingle bells. I thought the internet might really enjoy Little Ricky's Christmas cheer!

I hope you enjoyed your holidays!

Christmas 09 Movie Wish List

I'm really, really excited about some of the movies that are coming out in the next couple of weeks. This is my movie wish list:

Up in the Air (I will always have a soft spot for Mr.Clooney)
Sherlock Holmes (RDJ has recently moved up in my freebie five list to spot #2, Jude Law is looking hot again, and I love me some Rachel McAdams- plus it looks like a kick ass movie. I love the dark gritty version of London Mr.Ritchie )
The Blind Side
The Princess and the Frog (Although I do kind of blame Disney for the fact that most women are waiting and wanting their own prince charming).
It's Complicated (Reminds of how much I loved Something's Gotta Give)

For your pleasure the Sherlock Holmes trailer:

My Favorite Holiday Story: Mystery Pair at Diner's Random Act of Kindness

As first reported by NBC Philadelphia's Danielle Johnson, this past Monday the 14th, a mysterious couple paid for their next table over's meal. This simple act of generosity and kindness (a random act of kindness if you will. I went through a big period of time in high school when I was ALL ABOUT random acts of kindness) inspired other diners to do the same.

Over several hours, customer after customer paid the favor forward.I love waitress Lynn Willard's reaction:

“It was magical. I had tears in my eyes because it never happened before. I’ve been here for 10 years, and I’ve never seen anything like that.” 

I Won Week 13 of My Football Pool!!

I've done pretty shitty so far in my pool- as you can see- but boo yay bitches! I won week 13!!!! I can't believe I actually won a week!!

Woot Woot!

I'm a Fan: Royalty Free Vector Designs from Vector Jungle

If you're in need of a really fan-freaking-tastic royalty free vector graphics, let me introduce . . .

(Drum roll please)

Vector Jungle!

Enjoy :).

A Girl Can Dream. . .

So there's a boy I met this summer and he's friends with my co-worker.

We could be dating (maybe) but there's one problem- I live in Seattle, he does not.

I know that he'll be out of the country on December 15th and our company holiday party is the 17th. Therefore it is impossible that he could be in Seattle on the 17th. Especially because I'm pretty sure that his out of the country ticket is already bought, sent, and delivered (probably online and figuratively speaking).

But when I got an from my co-worker IM today asking if  he could bring a guest to our company party- I couldn't help to daydream a little. . .

Even if it's not actually possible.

It's F-ing Freezing Outside

It's been gorgeous, gorgeous clear and bright days here in Seattle but it's also been f-ing freezing!!!

21 degrees today, 21.

I think that negative something in celsius. And it's supposed to get down into the teens. . . Oy.

Congratulations Anna and Gianni!!!

I am super, really, very much excited for my roommate because she got engaged!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Gianni proposed to my fabulous roommate over Thanksgiving with all of her family in attendance. He said what every woman hopes to hear, "You are the love of my life, will you marry me?"

Oh, le sigh. So sweet.

I have never seen Anna treated as well as Gianni treats her and I could not be happier for both of them. He makes her so happy and he's very lucky to have her :). Plus, I can't wait to visit her down in SF when she moves there.

Congratulations Anna and Gianni! I am so happy for both of you :).

And Then I Got Set Up

It's no secret that I'm single.

I definitely don't hide it and occassionally advertise it. As in, "Don't you know any cute single guys?"

Since I know most of my friends of friends (I can be quite the social butterfly on occassion) and most of my friends and their friends are in serious relationships or married, I haven't really been able to meet anyone in Seattle. Seriously, it may be some type of disease.

Anyway due to the above mentioned factors, I've extended my asking to my co-workers, hair stylist, etc. I don't think of this as desperation, rather a way to expand my horizons :). So far, there has been nada colada until now (well, kinda. You'll see).

One of my co-workers (she's one of the many that I support) asked me half-jokingly (well all jokes are half truths) on her way out this morning for coffee or maybe it was lunch if I had a date to our company holiday party. I said no and then as the elevator door shut I heard her murmur something like, "Well, there is guy-"

I didn't think much about it until Aimee and I caught up later that day. I asked her about and she explained that she knew someone (through our line of work) who was going to be up here. He's moving back to Seattle and he's visiting the next couple of weeks to look at condos to buy. It turns out he'll be in Seattle and asked Aimee for a drink on the date of our holiday party.

She coyly paused and then mentioned our holiday party, hence the earlier elevator comment. I said sure as long as I'm not expected to entertain him all night (not to sound bitchy but I will be in charge of the event more or less), he could come as my date. No big deal for me.

Then Aimee officially set me up.

She called him and offered me and our party up. He said yes and asked if I was the cute red head who works up front. Turns out he remembers me from when he previously visited our office.

Aimee tells me all of this in front of another co-worker, Kristine, and then Kristine says, "Oh my god what if they get married from this?"

This is what I get for opening my mouth :).

Congrats: Slide Sideways!

A couple of weeks ago, I met with former co-workers and I was really excited and happy to hear that so many of them had gone into business themselves via the fabulous handmade marketplace- Etsy.com.

The next time I was on the internet, I checked all of them out and I was really excited that Jacqui and Scott of Slide Sideways were featured sellers (technically seller because they coproduce, design, and create the fabulous designs of Slide Sideways).

Click here for their profile feature. To read about their inspirations, musings, and what's coming up next run over and check out their blog.

Congrats Jacqui and Scott!

Congrats: Ali and So, There!

I'm really excited to announce that one of my creative, designery friends opened up her first shop on Etsy. It's called  So, There.

She has a ton of greeting cards, and a few Holiday gift tags. All of her designs are individually printed on an old letterpress. I use 100% cotton paper which has a great texture and makes the most of the letterpressed designs.You can also watch for new additions on her blog, You're Just Jealous.

I'm particularly a fan of her ! and Merry Ornament cards. Go check her out and support a local artist :).

Happy T(urkey) (hanksgiving) Day

Happy T Day!!!

Whether you're celebrating with family, friends, or just using this national holiday as an excuse to be low key and not do anything (that was a tempting thought I had) I hope you enjoy your day!

I'm at the airport right now and it's nice and quiet. No major lines during security check out, no lines for checking my bag, and plenty of seats at the bar :). I think I want to fly out more often on Thanksgiving, it's a nice change from the hectic chaos that ensues the day before.

I'm on my way to Cabo San Lucas to enjoy the holiday with my family. We are also celebrating my dad's birthday (it was the 18th) and my sister's 30th on the 30th (her golden bday). We are staying at Casa Dorada and it looks stunning. The weather will be in the high 70's, so I am hoping to come back to rainy, cold, and blustery with a tan :).

Hello Cabo, Goodbye Seattle.

Corporate Identity and Personal Design: Thank You Cards

I've designed a couple of thank you cards in the last couple of months. I'll be writing thank you notes after Christmas, so I thought it would be an appropriate time to post them.

This is a corporate design for Mercent. The CEO wanted it be clean and minimal as to match the overall corporate brand. Here's the winner:

I decided for my personal thank you cards I wanted a look that combined modernity with antiquity. Usually, floral patterns and prints don't do it for me but I really loved the finished result:

I'm Extra Special Today

I'm a klutz. Anyone who knows me knows that I am a little accident prone.

Whether I'm sober, sleepy, unfocused or drunk tipsy, I run into things, hit various body parts in awkward places, etc. But today is proving to be extra special. Not only did I take the last bite of my yummy Cherry St. feta sandwich only to have chunks of feta fall out of the pita and land everywhere, but I just spilled Coke all over me.

And I'm wearing a white shirt.

YAY!

Charmed

I haven't had much luck with guys lately.

The only ones I seem to meet and actually like don't live in Seattle. Those that wink/favorite/email me online I don't find them attractive or an actual date never comes to fruition.I was having fun with a couple of guys for a few months but that got old as well. Overall, it's okay with because I have faith that I will meet the right guy. I don't know where or how but I will. I want to get married and have babies and I'll find someone who wants to do all of that with me just as I will with him. But I forget that sometimes it's still nice to be charmed and be paid a little attention.

Last night I saw someone who I've previously had fun with and while having fun wasn't necessarily on my mind, he charmed me right into a little make out sesh. He actually salsa danced with me last night to no music and it was completely disarming and charming.

Above all it was nice.

My Life Would Suck Without Kelly Clarkson

Last night I went to WaMu Theater with Cait to see Kelly Clarkson's All I ever wanted tour. First things first: she totally rocked her show, as per usual. She truly sounds amazing live, way better than on any studio recording. Her range and vocal depth are so much more apparent live.

While I really enjoyed the show, I liked her previous performance for the My December Tour better. She was personal in that performance. Told stories for almost every song she sang, dished on her love life a little, and it felt more intimate. This time around she still talk a bit about the songs but the information she shared was quite as personal as before. She had a bigger band which was cool to see. There was a horn, trumpet, saxophone, dj, the usual guitars, and a couple of back up singers.

Cait and I decided that we would try to avoid WaMu Theater as a venue from here on out. It's a bizarre wannabe stadium/large concert venue. The acoustics weren't great and it lacked personality. My favorite venue is Showbox at the Market because it has character and is fairly intimate without feeling cramped like Nuemo's can.

Playlist (to the best of my memory)

I Do Not Hook Up

Miss Independent

Since U Been Gone

Behind These Hazel Eyes (played acoustically)

Alanis Morisette/Kings of Leon Mash Up

Breakaway

If I Can't Have You

My Life Would Suck Without You