2010.

Celebrating a year of fun and family!

Grand.

It's holiday card season, and this year, my hip Grandma wanted a holiday card so that her friends and family "without Facebook" could see her great grand babies! That's one good looking trio, if you ask me!

Fall.

Renna.

My BFF's had a baby! Her name is Renna and she is fabulous...so fabulous, in fact, that there are not one, but two birth announcements going out to her friends and family. So if you got one, make sure you check out the other here on the blog! I haven't seen her since she was a week old, but we get to visit a pumpkin patch this weekend, so I'm super excited!

Reminder.

I needed this. ::via::

HDR.

So as a budding photographer who likes to photograph things and places more than people (although I love photographing my favorite little people)...I'm a bit behind the times on this whole HDR photography thing. I've definitely been studying up, and think I have a place picked out, to try it the "old school" manual way, but I've also downloaded an app on the iPhone just for kicks.

I came across the fabulous HDR picture below dubbed the "Best Picture of the UT Tower Ever" by the Texas Exes, of the best college campus landmark in the world, taken by Randy Drevland, and I'm even more inspired! I'd say it definitely lives up to its billing...

I'm also trying to make a commitment to blog more...just for you small, faithful readership!

Five.

My adorable niece started kindergarten a few weeks ago...when did she get old enough to be going to school and soon celebrating her fifth birthday?

I had fun creating her party invitation once again...even though for the past few years she's been talking about having a princess party and I had an awesome princess invitation all ready to go...and then my sister drops the bomb that it's going to be a luau party in their new backyard. Oh well, I guess I have a princess party invite in the hopper in case I ever need it!

The big block of white space is where the details went...figured that didn't need to be broadcast all over the interwebs!

Lanmou.

A week in Haiti will change your life...

You experience overwhelming love and devastating heart break.

Feelings of both strength and insignificance.

You get slapped in the face by poverty one minute, and have the time of your life swimming with the local children at a beautiful beach, the next.

You move mountains with only shovels and buckets, and you do so much faster working side-by-side with Haitian men, women and children. Men apil chay pa lou.

You fall in love with a boy named Mackenly and a baby named Sammy.

Complete strangers become your best friends.

You are consumed with laughter after a Bonneou kiddo puts you “in the pot” during a game of duck-duck-goose.

“Inspired” takes on a whole new meaning when Haitian teenagers share their passion, dreams and clear vision of a
bright future for their country.

A cold shower quickly becomes heaven on earth.

You discover international languages: bubbles, hugs, laughter, and seeing yourself, perhaps for the first time, on a camera’s small screen.

You make a difference.

A week in Haiti will change your life...

I wrote this for a thank you card that I gave my friends and family who provided financial support for my trip...but I still can't think of any better way to share my experience in Haiti...so here it is for the faithful blog readers too! The only problem is...I definitely feel like I didn't do enough, that my work is unfinished...

Travel.

“Still, despite all this, traveling is the great true love of my life. I have always felt, ever since I was sixteen years old and first went to Russia with my saved-up babysitting money, that to travel is worth any cost or sacrifice. I am loyal and constant in my love for travel, as I have not always been loyal and constant in my other loves. I feel about travel the way a happy new mother feels about her impossible, colicky, restless, newborn baby—I just don’t care what it puts me through. Because I adore it. Because it’s mine. Because it looks exactly like me. It can barf all over me if it wants to—I just don’t care.” -Elizabeth Gilbert

A Home in Haiti

I'm very much delayed in posting pictures, stories and thoughts from my trip to Haiti...but to hold you over, below is a video that was produced while we were there. I went with A Home in Haiti, and they have already done GREAT things in Haiti, including sending $1.5 million in tents to Port Au Prince. Phase 2 of the project is to construct a new home for the children at the Miriam Center at the Northwest Haiti Christian Mission.

We were the first group that went, 60+ strangers who met in Haiti to do big things, love on special kids and make a difference. I've met the kids of the Miriam Center and they are some of the most special souls on this planet...would love it if you could take a look at the video, visit ahomeinhaiti.org and help us finish what we started!

Bonjou!

I just got back from spending the week volunteering in Haiti...it was an absolutely amazing, heartbreaking, inspiring and exhausting experience. More about that later...but before I headed out I was able to spend a few days with my adorable niece and nephew and couldn't resist sharing their sweet faces with the world!

Summer.

As I sit here sweltering in the mid-summer heat, here are a few snapshots to remind me that a Colorado summer can actually be quite lovely! Now I must go pray for rain...

Portland.

I went to Portland for work last weekend for a few days. Before the true "work" started I was able to get out and enjoy the city a bit. I hadn't been since I was 13 or so, so it was a lovely surprise to discover that I really, really enjoyed the city and the beautiful surroundings. I made it to the waterfalls, International Rose Test Garden, Japanese Gardens, the Portland Saturday Market (on Sunday, but what a great demonstration of the cities commitment to the creative peeps) and also stumbled upon the naked bike ride, pride parade, great street food and some old friends. Below are a few pics from the weekend...which was a great kick-off to my renewed commitment to photography!

Babies.

One of my BFF's is having a baby in September! I love new little babies...and designing them their very own suite of stationary. First up? The baby shower! The whole JW2/JW3 thing is something you might not get if you don't know the happy parents-to-be, but I'm really happy with how it turned out!

Harper.

I was absolutely delighted to design the birth announcement for my cousin's new baby Harper...I guess that makes the little dude my second cousin? His parents are absolutely delightful and this project was so much fun!

Trippin.

Sorry for the lack of posts lately...man, where does the time go? Turns out, the official kick-off of summer is in just a few days...Memorial Day Weekend!

I've mentioned previously on the blog the sense of wanderlust that I was experiencing...and yep, still experiencing it. I even offered to drive with my BFF from LA to Philly if she moves there this summer...not sure she'll take me up on it, but I can only hope it will be as well documented (infographically speaking) as this find over at Papercut!

Pysanky.

Pysanky is the art of Ukranian egg making. My great grandfather came to Canada from the Ukraine, so someday I'm going to have to try out this awesome tutorial: Ukranian Eggs Made Simple.

I'll be spending Easter weekend with my favorite little people, my niece and nephew, and flying back to Colorado with my niece so she can spend spring break with me and her grandparents.

Happy Easter everyone!

Blossoms.

Happy Spring! Here in the Rockies our spring is usually full of 80 degrees one day, windy and cold the next, with a little bit of thundersnow (Mother Nature's most awesome phenomenon) for show.

Even though I'm hardpressed to find either of these lovely blossoms in my neighborhood, nothing makes me happier than when the cherry blossoms and bluebonnets come out to play!

[via]

[via]

Nothing.

After the earthquakes in Haiti, everyone was compelled to respond. The art and design communities came together for the Haiti Poster Project for which proceeds will be donated to Doctors Without Borders.

And stemming from this project, brilliance from the kids. Students at the Minneapolis College of Art and Design were asked to create posters, only this time, they were given a specific set of instructions: "...if you have no power, no light, no food, no computer, but had to make something that could be reproduced 25 times, what would you make? What if you only had a pencil? Or a pen? One pair of scissors?" Check out their collective works. While the project was eventually opened up to more "tools," the results are definitely inspiring.

Makes you want to step back when you approach any project and get started with as few tools as possible, instead of jumping right in.

Peep.

One of my favorite Easter traditions is the tremendous display of creativity of the Washington Post-sponsored Peeps Show. It could almost also serve as a "year in review" of sorts with the themes covering popular movies, weather events and politics. I might have to mark it on my calendar to enter next year.

Check out the winner!

Vintage.

They have been posting some amazing vintage photos over at The Sartorialist...seriously, check out this Texas grandma!

I thought I'd share some vintage shots that I personally love, from my dad's side of the family. It's so fun to look at these photos, great captures of a moment in time long ago!

I call this one Happy Hour Fabulous, 1946

Fishing, 1962

My Papa's band, the Leon Quintet

My Papa and Grandma, 1947

Branding.

As a communications professional, I'm admittedly passionate about a not-so-little thing called branding. A few years ago I discovered this infographic called "A Model of Brand" detailing all of the elements that go into a brand. The model is exceptional and fascinating.

One of the key elements of a successful brand are brand ambassadors, individuals who have interacted with the brand and liked that experience, who then become a steward of your brand. They are invaluable. Here in Denver, one of the strongest, most recognized brands is "hometown airline" Frontier. Every time I fly with them (which is quite frequently) you'll always find a kid, nose flat against the window, checking to see what "animal" is flying on the tail.

Frontier Airlines was purchased by Republic Airlines last year while in bankruptcy and they have recently mentioned they might get rid of their trademark animals. What they don't appear to realize is that getting rid of the animals is all but eliminating the brand, especially when other "experiences" that reflect upon the brand have been called into question as well, including reliability and customer service. Close to 5,000 of these brand stewards have joined a Facebook campaign to keep the animals and brand in tact.

While changes are inevitable in business, it's important to remember all of the various elements that make up the "Model of Brand." Here's to hoping that the folks at Republic/Frontier realize those animals are and can be more than that, they are key brand elements...symbols, perceptions, name, stewards, promises. Just furry ones!

Image courtesy of Frontier Airlines.

Snowpocalypse.

Springtime in the Rockies, or so the story goes...looks like here in Denver we’re going to get some serious snow tonight/tomorrow. I think I left work in the NW suburbs just in time...and am now dealing with a satellite dish that is malfunctioning due to the heavy, wet snow (and no ladder or cute handyman in sight) and flickering power...Snowpocalypse? I’ll take it if I can be this freaking fabulous (via The Sartorialist).

Wanderlust.

If you ask me my constant “feeling” companion over the past few months, it’s definitely been a sense of wanderlust. So much so, that I googled it. And what did I find but a combination of many of my favorite things where Good Magazine traces history’s greatest journeys from Magellan to Kerovac.

I’ve already shared my love of maps, add in a dose of Good, infographics and a sense of wanderlust, and you’ve got something that can keep me interested, and educated, for hours!

Sugarland.

My BFF looks like Jennifer Nettles and thus, I hate (i mean) love her. It surely isn’t a coincidence that she turned me onto one of my favorite bands in Sugarland...and this Web site is a way I’m currently trying to deal the fact that my life motto lately has been one of their lyrics: “There’s gotta be something more, gotta be more than this.!”

That being said, I was perusing their Web site and noticed these fantastic concert posters from their shows. One of my favorite genres of art is surely the concert poster...does this mean they are “coming back?” And bonus, the posters are on sale AND autographed. I attended their show in Denver last summer and don’t remember seeing any posters, but I’m thinking of getting one...which city poster inspires you to buy, even if you missed the show? I’m partial to the fireflies of Bloomsburg, PA...

Green with envy.

Or as my friend Carrie Bradshaw once said...Hello Luvah.

This week I watched the Bachelor Wedding featuring Jason and Molly. Yes, I watch the Bachelor...and love it. I loved the green shoes that both Molly wore with her white wedding gown. Perfect for that wedding and perfect for St. Patty.

During my daily visit to ModCloth.com I saw these shoes. A little out of my self-imposed spending limit on shoes, I will be wearing these in my dreams tonight. Amazing.

If you haven’t visited ModCloth, bookmark it. And trust me, you need to visit every day and if you see something you like, snatch it up. There are two dresses I still get sad over because I “slept on it.” Luckily this visit after fawning over these shoes, I walked away with these ones. You can take the girl out of Texas...

Get Lost.

I’ve always been fascinated by maps. I can literally get “lost” in them and stare at them for hours. This past summer, I went to a family reunion in Canada (where I hadn’t been since 1986!) and while scouring the map, discovered a place called Ebb and Flow, Canada...and much to the dismay of some of my family members, we adventured a different way to our final destination just to say “I’ve been to Ebb and Flow, Canada!”

Last year I started my worldly travels and I’ve long admired those ultra-fancy travel maps that mark where you’ve been and where you are going...but the versions I’ve spotted on my friends’ walls and in Skymall haven’t quite fit the bill.

So imagine my utter delight when I discovered this delightful, just my style, map from These are Things! A favorite amongst numerous blogs, they’ve already sold out of their first edition and are working on the 2nd. I wonder if it is too early to ask for an early birthday present? PS - I’m a Taures!

Photo Courtesy of These are Things.