Bright and early tomorrow morning I’ll be off on my way to the Alt Summit in cold and snowy Salt Lake City! Three days of being around fellow design bloggers and trailing after my own design crushes is in store, along with some great panels, networking and (of course) celebrity watching. (Sundance is going on right now, after all…) I swear I feel like I’m gearing up for a trip to sleepaway camp! If you’re headed to SLC as well, you can catch me speaking on the Design vs. Design Blogger panel taking place Friday morning at 9:45. If you’re not, check back here for sporadic updates of all things Alt!
I’ll be there. And on one of the panels. And am I peeing my pants in anticipation of January 21-23? Absolutely.
If you love design and lifestyle and reading or writing a blog about them, then this is the place for you. Finally a chance for our community to get together. To meet in person. To exchange thoughts, ideas and dreams. Bloggers and design experts will be speaking and networking like no other. So what are you waiting for? Run over and register for the Alt Design Summit right this minute!
I’ve been growing my hair for the past three years with an end goal in mind. Making a donation to Locks of Love. I’ve always been that girl who grows it and cuts it, grows it and cuts it. You know her too, I’m sure.
But this time was different and as of Tuesday it became official – I was about to become 10″ shorter. Well, at least my hair was. My incredible hairstylist, Donny (at Bella Strada in Edmond, OK), has been helping me right along for the past year. No highlights or stripping because Locks of Love won’t accept it. (And one of my biggest fears was them sending it back saying “Thanks, but no thanks…”) I was also trying to straighten it less, to minimize daily wear and tear and pulling it back a lot because it was so. freaking. long. And when Donny pulled it back into that final ponytail and snipped away all I felt was relief. No regret, only joy. Joy that I was able to do something that was so easy for me that would ultimately make someone else’s life just a little bit easier. So with that, I gave away 10″ of hair, then snipped off another 1.5″ in the process of getting my hip little lob (a la Gwyneth).
I didn’t know much about Locks of Love or the natural wig industry before my little endeavor. Did you know that children suffering from long-term medical hair loss typically have to replace their wigs twice a year and that each one can cost as much as $1,500? As if having cancer isn’t hard enough. If you’re interested in learning more or making a donation of your own you can check out more here.
Thanks so much to everyone who supported and encouraged me during this process. I love that I was able to do this and can’t help but smile that it’s happening at Christmastime. (I wish the before and after photos were a little better, but you get the idea!)
I’m really excited about this week’s giveaway from Whitney English. First, it’s Design Crush’s very first local company giveaway. Second, because it’s an absolutely amazing product line. And third, because it’s massive! Whitney English is known for their stylish personalized stationery, in both trendy and classic designs, so everyone is covered.
To Enter, Tell Me: • About the best letter you’ve ever received (email doesn’t count!) • Your email, should you win (those who do not will be disqualified) • Do it all before Monday, November 23rd at 9am CST
A roundup of my favorites from the past week, a few printables and a wish for a Happy Weekend! Also, a reminder that you only have until Monday at 9am CST to enter Win It: THe Paper Apartment. So hop to it!
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• in my family wine is a big deal during the holidays so I’m digging this Thanksgiving Wine Guide :: Sippity Sup
• enviable Thanksgiving invitations :: Oh So Beautiful Paper
• make your own coffee stencil! :: How About Orange
• don’t have a clue what to cook up for Thanksgiving? check out 172 recipes from 9 leading food magazines :: The Bitten Word
• check out the new design look on Unruly Things!
• don’t miss a week full of apple recipes :: A Field Journal
• get your mind churning over homemade holiday gifts with these ideas :: Wiley Valentine
• take a trip over to Feather Report to see my week of outfits
• a pale and pretty fall download from Ez :: Creature Comforts
• a sweet CD template and playlist suggestions for wedding or party favors :: Benign Objects
• printable pumpkin goodies :: Love. Obsess. Inspire.
• write a note on this downloadable set of stitchy stationery :: Bread of Many
• download these ABC cards and join in on a birthday tradition :: Design*Sponge
When Caroline and I hit up the Girlie Show last weekend, one of the booths that really stood out to me was Oklahoma’s own amelia mae. Her prints are very graphic-based and I ended up buying the postcard version of this one.
But what really got me was when Caroline told me the tale of the artist’s other shop. Project 8256. All of the profits from Project 8256 go directly towards an adoption fund for her sister and brother-in-law who are in the lengthy process of adopting two children from Ethiopia. And to AHOPE, an orphanage in Addis Ababa that cares for HIV+ children. You can find out more information about both Amy and Project 8256 by visiting the blog.
Pssst… this week you can find me over on Feather Report. I created a few outfits that I’d love to be able to afford and wear, so hurry on over sometime and take a gander. (And if you just happen to fall in love with Melisa’s brilliant idea while you’re visiting, there’s an app for that!)
The past week has been a whirlwind of birthday awesomeness! Between my dad’s surprise visit to the best tres leches cake ever I’ve decided that thirty is pretty great so far. And thank you all once again for your warm birthday wishes – they really mean a lot.
Notes:
Don’t forget, you have until Monday at 9:00 am CST to enter for a chance to win an original painting from Lisa Romero! The odds are looking like they’re in your favor at the moment, too.
And as for all the goodness floating around this past week…
• can’t wait to try this: use a waffle iron to make cookies fast:: The Kitchn
• have you seen Ellie’s amazing Halloween invitations? :: mint
• Karey’s sweet post for my birthday *gush* :: mackin ink
• this dude drew the entire NYC skyline – from memory:: a cup of jo
• great tips on how to take product shots :: poppytalk
• classically chic Halloween themed rehearsal dinner :: Style Me Pretty
And tons of great downloads… for FREE of course!
• print out these holiday mailing labels for packages going to faraway friends :: Make, Do & Send
• everyone is sick right now! choose from two get well cards :: Vale Designs
• sweet packaging labels for bath salts + hot chocolate mix :: Blonde Designs
• the cutest candy bag favors :: Style Me Pretty
• and homemade pie tags, too :: Style Me Pretty
• cup wrappers for your next get together :: Eat Drink Chic
• pretty gift tags for your presents :: Love. Obsess. Inspire.
• not one, not two, but three November calendars for you!
After three months of feline/canine cohabitation, the kids seem to have adjusted fairly well. They still have all of their eyes, noses and tails so I’m going to go ahead and take that as a good sign. (See Piper’s tail in motion? It. never. stops.)
