new discoveries

i recently discovered yoga. and what an amazing discovery it has been! i can honestly say that i'm hooked. i look forward to my yoga days each and every week. i guess you can say with the hustle and bustle of life, taking an hour and half out of your day to just let go is absolute bliss for me. i find that i'm more calm and centered after each class and have discovered the most amazing sleep i've had in years!

yesterday night i tried out a new class and the instructor read us a passage from something she came across this week during one of our cool down poses and it absolutely moved me. hope you enjoy these words as much as i do...

a quote from Esther Abraham-Hicks:

“All is well, and you will never get it done. Life is supposed to be fun. No one is taking score of any kind, and if you will stop taking score so much, you will feel a whole lot better - and as you feel a whole lot better, more of the things that you want right now will flow to you. You will never be in a place where all of the things that you are wanting will be satisfied right now, or then you could be complete - and you never can be. This incomplete place that you stand is the best place that you could be. You are right on track, right on schedule. Everything is unfolding perfectly. All is really well. Have fun. Have fun. Have fun!”

*image above was taken by me back in 2005 when i was in costa rica (sunset over the arenal lake). it's one of my favorite captured "right here, right now" moments.

minnie mouse the "in a card" way

a client of mine asked me to create invitations for her daughter's 3rd birthday party using a minnie mouse theme.  i wanted to put my own "in a card" twist to a very classic disney character.  this is what i came up with...

i'm am very happy with the end result because i was able to translate disney's minnie mouse the "in a card" way...  simple, unique and super cute!

new simplewear gift box

don't you just hate when they discontinue your favorite nail polish or lipstick color???

well that is how i felt when my vendor was completely sold out of the boxes i use for my simplewear gift wrap. unfortunately, i haven't been able to find those boxes anywhere! in stores or online! so what happens now? well you roll with the punches and find a new box.

meet the new simplewear gift box...

same cute packaging, a darker more "krafty" color but still holds those adorable simplewear onesies and tees! once again, available for purchase at my etsy shop.

cutest paid invoice EVER!

today i received a paid invoice in the mail.  of course it's always nice when you get paid.  but this client sent me a check in a cute polka dot envelope with stickers spelling out THANK YOU that i just had to share with you all.  it totally made my day knowing that someone took the extra time to make something ordinary into something very special and i truly appreciate it!

Op event table

here's a recent table the girls at Chlo+E did for Op at Star Magazine's "All Hollywood" Party Event.

Op already has their own distinct brand and style, so i used elements from their current ad campaign to create fun and colorful favor bag labels, surfboard shaped buffet tags, candy bag toppers and cute little cupcake toppers.




i love all the little details these girls always include in their table spreads!





*all photos courtesy of Chlo+E

support japan

my best girlfriend and favorite jeweler, april kawaoka, has created these amazing tribute pieces to support the relief efforts in japan from the march 2011 earthquake and tsunami disasters. half of the sales to these pieces will go to the american red cross to help aid japan.  visit her blog post for more information and details.


please visit april's Etsy shop, aprilkawaoka.etsy.com, to make your purchase and help support japan.

like i've said before, i believe that a kind heart will inspire many more.

march madness

it sure has been madness around here!

the month is already half over and this is only my first blog entry for the month. reason being that i've been busy with tons of projects makes it all the better though. it's been the end and start of catalog season for 2 of my clients, my etsy shops (inacard.etsy.com & simplewear.etsy.com) have remained consistent with orders and i've also had several custom requests for both invitations and onesies. before the month slips away, i want to make sure i share a few images from recent projects i've completed.

i had a request for the fun layered cupcake invitations i designed a while back. it was fun creating these special invitations once again.

i turned one of my new little invites into a big 5"x7", which allowed for more information to be included on the invite.

my great aunt theresa recently turned 80 and i helped my cousin nadia create these fun party favors for each guest. theresa is known to be one of "the best" cooks in our family so it was such a clever idea to gift everyone with spices and a recipe of chicken satay, which calls for all 3 spices in the ingredients.
each spice was also marked with an image of theresa during different times of her life.

Chlo+E had a alex & wonderland themed bat mitzvah party, where once again their dessert table was nothing short of fabulous. besides the usual buffet tags and labels i normally design for them, they added some fun character cut-outs as well to the spread.




the girls recently launched their new website, so make sure to check them out!

*all photos of alex & wonderland courtesy of Chlo+E

live your own life

a quote by Steve Jobs:

"Your time is limited, so don't waste it living someone else's life. Don't be trapped by dogma - which is living with the results of other people's thinking. Don't let the noise of other's opinions drown out your own inner voice. And most important, have the courage to follow your heart and intuition. They somehow already know what you truly want to become. Everything else is secondary."

a sweet 18

nickelodeon teen queen, victoria justice, recently turned 18 and the girls from Chlo+E totally out did themselves with a dessert, fruit AND candy table for her big birthday bash at Tru Hollywood.

here are a few pics Chlo+E shared with me and a few close-up shots of the buffet tags i designed for this fab event.



i played off of the fun sexy burlesque theme with a lace and fishnet design.



and here is a pic of the birthday girl herself, victoria justice

*all photos courtesy of Chlo+E

additions to the little invite collection

i've been wanting to add to my little invite collection for a while now and although it's taken a while, i'm happy to introduce a few new little additions...


"little speed racer" by in a card on Etsy


"little honey bee" by in a card on Etsy


"little monster" by in a card on Etsy


"little love nest" by in a card on Etsy


"little sparkle" by in a card on Etsy


"little shower" by in a card on Etsy

like the little size and cute style of these invites, but wanting a more specific theme for your party? no problem! email me and let me know what you'd like.