First of all Happy New Year! It’s the 3rd, so I’m guessing you’ve given up on your resolutions already and are aimlessly wandering the internet for something to make you feel less guilty. I hope this post helps. And at least you made a resolution—I gave up promising myself things years ago, after a particularly traumatizing juice cleanse.
Author: brittany
Operation Dope Elope
Wanna know a secret?
Matt and I planned to elope.
About 7 or 8 months ago, we booked plane tickets to Europe super late at night. It was a spontaneous decision and one that I will never forget. I think it was a Tuesday night. I was falling asleep and Matt was on his phone. All of the sudden, he shook me awake and said Britt, there’s a really good deal on flights to Paris-I think we should go.
I was half asleep, but sat up and said yea, let’s do it.
Branding Design Squeeze is a B!#$%
Oh hey y’all. (If I knew how to read my analytics report, I could probably refer to all 12 of you by name)
If you follow me on Instagram — and I’m guessing you do because how on earth would you ever find this site otherwise! I’m illiterate in SEO — you’ve probably heard that I’m trying to rebrand Design Squeeze. Or just brand, because let’s face it, I never really got around to that in the first place.
Life Lessons from an Orchid
So, my friend Chelsea got me this orchid as a housewarming gift when we became homeowners in August. It “died” shortly after but I kept adding ice cubes to it every Saturday at 9am like my life depended on it. Thanks, iPhone alarm.
It sat naked and bare for months. MONTHS! I seriously thought I killed it. I kill a lot of plants so I wasn’t surprised. I’m like a plant serial killer. I took out a whole garden once.
The Magical, Future Predicting Egg Crate
So, before I tell you about this crazy future revealing egg crate, let me give you some background information and set the scene a bit.
I came in to work today to find myself with NOTHING to do. It is the week before Christmas, after all and my boss doesn’t seem to understand that no one needs a graphic designer this week. No one. And even if they do, I have NO motivation to be one this close to the holidays. It is painfully quiet. I had to put on my headphones just to drown out my stomach growling. Well fine, I would prefer to be off but you can pay me to browse Pinterest and plan my future remodel until 5pm if you insist.
As some of you may know, Matt and I became homeowners this past August and we haven’t shut up about remodeling since. It’s all we talk we about. So, any down time I have at work gets spent looking at inspiration and catching up on my favorite blogs.
Anyway, as I was doing just that, I found myself reading Last Minute Gift Ideas from The Fresh Exchange and there it was—the magical, future telling egg crate. Behold!
Holiday Gift Guide for the Girls | Design Squeeze
1. | 2. | 3. | 4. | 5. | 6. | 7. | 8.
It’s that time of the year! We get to buy stuff for ourselves others! I decided to pretend I was only buying for myself and make a holiday gift guide that doubles as my personal wish list. If you are shopping for anyone remotely like me, you’ll be good to go. So basically, anyone who enjoys pretty things.
And the best part of all is that I’m a pretty cheap date. The items range from $29-$250. Of course, the highest price is for that gorgeous Juniper Briggs framed print. Worth it. It’s art, you guys, get some culture.
The second most expensive is the Gaia Roundie purse, also worth the pennies. My best friend bought me one last year for my birthday and I still love it. I’m ready to swap it out for a different pattern, though and there are so many to choose from. And its for a good cause blah blah blah. Just do it.
The rest are pretty self explanatory. I literally have NO use for the serving spoons but I have to have them. That’s a good gift. And I would LIVE in that peach hat from Friday at 5pm til Monday morning. Those teeny tiny ring holders make me wanna scream! They’re so damn cute I can’t even stand it. Also, I am officially taking up ceramics.
Happy gifting!
Updated ABC Watercolor Calligraphy Printable in the Shop!
UPDATED PRINTABLE!
I’ve had these ABC Watercolor Calligraphy Printables in my shop for some time and I realized today that I really wasn’t happy with them. At all. So why would I expect any of you to buy them?
I spent all morning re-doing them, which was really fun & I like them so much better now!
What do you think? Not the craziest change but I think it’s a vast improvement.
I also lowered all my prices of Instant Printables to $5 each. That goes for all designs, all colors, so happy downloading!
Skin Care Routine: Natural
So you may remember a post I did a while back about a skin care regimen. Yes? Great.
Well guess what? It’s been over a year and I am over paying a small fortune for these face goodies. I thought, there has to be another way. I used up what I had left of my fancy, chemical laden concoctions and decided to try something new.
I’ve been watching what I put in my body lately, eating up a ton of veggies and washing them down with this stuff called H2O. It’s so crazy, you can get it anywhere! I’ve also been EXCERCISING. You read that correctly. I have been moving my body.
Best Looking Cookbooks
Oh hello!
It’s only been about 4 months, so I thought it was time to write my quarterly blog post. Seriously, though, I may be the laziest blogger of all time. I have all these post ideas-some of them even written but I never sit down and actually put together the posts. And I’m so sorry about that, as I know you all are on the edge of your seat everyday awaiting my next life changing post.
Wait no more. It has arrived. And it’s all about cook books!
Colorful Bohemian Wedding in the Desert
OMG you guys!
My best friend JUST got married in a beautiful bohemian wedding. Gosh it was like only yesterday. I mean, March 19th is pretty much April, which really just flew into May and then did June even happen this year? And July barely started, so I’m right on track to post about her wedding. I’m surprised it didn’t take me longer, actually.
I’m like such a good friend.
But let’s stop gushing about me. This post is all about Ali’s BOHO BASH of a wedding. It was obviously the most beautiful wedding I’ve ever been to. Not just because she’s my bestie. The girl has great taste.
She also has great connections. Amongst her talented group of gal pals is a graphic designer & calligrapher extraordinaire (ME! Haha I come first because this is MY blog), an insanely talented interior designer PLUS another soon-to-be-interior-designer, an aspiring wedding planner & cake boss, AND one of the bridesmaids hooked us all up with a professional stylist!
It was on point. Have a peek:










The wedding took place at the Phoenix Zoo, which was such a fun venue. The reception area overlooked the giant giraffe exhibit, so the view was incredible, we could pretend we were all on safari and it felt super VIP to be drinking at the zoo after hours.
Now whenever I return to the giraffes, I get flashbacks of drunken dancing with some of the best people I know. That’s what everyone should leave a wedding with. Forget favors. I want memories!
Just kidding. Her favors were actually really awesome. And I love presents. I don’t have a picture of them but she chose mexican tiles with beautiful patterns and we tied hand painted place cards to each.
The decor was primarily DIY-which was awesome. We went thrifting starting the year before and found all kinds of gem colored glasses & vases and vintage books with beautiful covers. There was lots of lace detail as well and baby’s breath-which is one of my all-time favorite flowers.
It really was such a beautiful, bohemian wedding. It all just came together perfectly.
Ok now I’m back in full wedding fever mode…eeeeek!
Vendor Info:
Photographer: Katie Rounds of Round Lens Photography -All photos were taken by Round Lens with the exception of the invitations.
Stylist: Risa Kostis of Ristyle Consulting – seriously the sweetest person you will ever meet. Call her.
Invitations/Paper goods/Calligraphy: Design Squeeze
Wedding Planner/Cake Boss: Brittney Robertson @brittneymarie910
Wedding Video: Katy Caringer
With tons of help from Katie Stoeller, Jenna Baksa, Marlo White, Lauren Chalk and Maddie Thomas