Design Sponge before and after

Pretty ugly and rusty here, but then...

Awesome and red and beautiful;  so lovely and bright.  I think I just might add this to my list of to-do's!

Happy Earth Day!

Today I wish I was still in elementary school.  Or that I could take off of work and go hang out with my niece and nephew who are in elementary school, so that I can make earth day crafts and participate in cool earth day projects.  I want to plant a tree today.  I went to spend the day outside, soaking up all this beautiful earth has to offer.  But alas, I shall be inside these fuzzy gray walls until 5 p.m.  (plus it's super chilly for a late April day, so this is all just really a pipe dream).  Anyway, do something good for the earth today everyone!

* Photos via Preservation in Pink and Area Kids

Yellow Owl Workshop Part II

You may remember my post from early on this year about Y.O.W. and how excited I was to receive my stamps and postcards!  Well I'm still excited about them and tend to get them out to play whenever I'm bored.  I'm still trying to find a good use for them though, so if you have suggestions, please let me know!

Anyway, the workshop has come out with new stuff and it is awesome!

So many new stamps to play with, I want them all.

They even have cute cards.

And wrapping paper...

And notepad sets!

Go check out their website, blog and custom work.  So awesome!

Agualluvia Natural Soaps

I bought these when I went shopping with friends in KC over the weekend.  I am in love.  The packaging! The scents!  Handmade with rainwater and goats milk in Chile!  What's not to love?

Ace Hotel - Portland

Someday soon, B and I are going to Portland and scoping it out.  Whether we decide it's right for us or not, we need to visit.  I hear it's bad ass.  And I can't see why anyone wouldn't agree.  Anyway, when we finally journey out there, I'm going to insist on us staying at the Ace Hotel because, well frankly, Ace Hotels are awesome.  Have a look for yourself!

See?  It's like having your own awesome apartment in the city even though you're a visitor from a faraway land!

Apparently even the dining in the Ace Hotel is the cream of the Portland crop.  Clyde Common, Stumptown Coffee, Kenny & Zuke's.  Is this true, Portlanders or those who have dined here?  I want to know, so badly! 

Free rental bikes!  Black & white analog photobooths! The Cleaners where you can see bands or have a wedding reception or a party!

I kind of want to make it a point in the next few years to stay at all of the Ace Hotel locations.  I've read so many blogs that feature them (especially the Palm Springs one) that I just HAVE to go to ALL of them and see just how great they are MYSELF!

Random objects to make you laugh

Check out these stamps - you can sketch anything you want on that beard, stache or fro!

These pillow wigs will help you sleep anywhere, comfortably as well as entertaining for others....

These scarves are designed for those "very important text messages"

"The energy saving fundamentalist".  They sure are cute!

So many bizarre but great ideas out there....

Nan Lawson

Maybe some of you have seen Nan's work posted around the blogosphere.  If you haven't, get ready for a HUGE dose of cuteness! 

About a month and a half ago, I requested a custom portrait of my little family as a wedding present for my husband-to-be.  Since her work is so incredibly amazing, she's super busy and I was put on a 4-week waiting list after we hashed out the details.  I sent her some pictures of us and our cat and she NAILED it:

Badger happened to be out of town on Thursday night so I went shopping for a frame and mat, bought an adorable card to go with it, wrapped it up and left it as a surprise for him to come home to the next night (especially since I was out of town).  It was too cute to resist - I couldn't wait to give it to him in August!  Sure I'm a little shorter and he's a little taller in real life, but it's still incredibly perfectly us.  I am in love!

Here's some more eye candy for you:

Ode to my Christmas Kitten

18 years, 30 lbs, 1 incident with Mom's minivan and several bouts with a giant holly tree later, you've gone to see the great kitteh in the sky.

You are loved and will be missed Cali Cat.

J.Crew suits

Apparently, Badger's suit is on its way.....eeeeeeeeep it makes me so excited!

He's going to look incredibly handsome in a suit that is going to do him justice.  I can't wait to see him when I walk down the aisle...

And the vest!  What more could a girl ask for?

It's actually this suit, but in light gray.  Swoooooooooooooooon!  Come on August, I'm so ready for you to get here!