love ralph waldo emerson.

"Success is liking yourself, liking what you do, and liking how you do it."


{M.Angelou}

Life-Long Learner

yearly updated infographic aligned to the grid via

This morning, I read an awesome post from Typecast about using baselines in web design. I was originally introduced to *THE GRID* within the first few weeks of my college career, but only ever really utilized it from a print perspective. Although I think the word 'utilize' might be a big of an understatement when it comes to the grid. Laying out a baseline grid is the beginning, middle and end of every single project that I do. I check, re-check, align and re-space, to the point that I can admit that I am completely neurotic about it. I'm fairly certain that no design ever suffered by being too careful about this simple layout principle.

Needless to say, I was really excited when I came across this article that highlights four simple steps to designing and coding vertical rhythm for web. Rhythm is something that every artist (poets, musicians and visual artists alike) strive towards, so I look forward to truly understanding a new way to apply it to my work. On top of this article teaching an extremely valuable skill, I was happy to come across it so early in the week, since I have made it a personal goal since last April to try to learn a new design skill every week. (A designer's gotta keep up with the industry!)

So, do you think that using a grid doesn't make that much difference in the layout of a page? Think again:

Before    //    After

Have you learned anything new lately? Do you see value in teaching yourself new skills on a daily/weekly/monthly basis?

Grids and guides,

P.S. Fellow Bloggers: Pugly Pixel's guide to organizing fashion/product collages using grids.

Friday Reflections: The Happiness Project

Last Saturday I met up with one of my best friends from my childhood (and adulthood, for that matter) that recently got married, graduated law school and began living and working in Pittsburgh. Wahoo! Since she's moved back, we haven't seen each other nearly as much as we should, especially considering that we live less than five minutes from each other. A month ago we got together when our other BFF, Karia, was in town from New York City. The three of us were all married within the last year and half, we are all working steady job(s),  and we are all 'type A' women with similar goals and perspectives. Oh yeah, and we talk a lot when we get together. 

Needless to say, a number of various topics come up during our always too short catch-up times. On this particular afternoon, I inquired about a book that would help me with some goals that I have set for myself at my new job, and in life in general. Each of us tossed around a few ideas; books we've heard of, books we've read, books that we want to read. I jotted down a few suggestions in my planner, but never got around to making a purchase. What I did get around to, however, was resolving to spend more time with one of my best buds, and not take for granted that someone that I have been close to forever finally lives nearby. 

Fast forward to following up with that resolution: we're sitting in a new local bakery catching up on work stories and life stories when Liz pulls a brand new book out of her purse. "I got you this!" I gasped. How thoughtful. One of her older sisters had recommended The Happiness Project by Gretchen Rubin a few weeks ago, so Liz bought each of us a copy. I began reading it this week during my lunch breaks at work, and although it took me a few pages to adjust to the format, I realized later that night that I was already remembering things that I had read in the book, and applying them to life.

Here's a brief synopsis from Amazon considering that I probably shouldn't summarize anything when I have only read the first second chapter:

Gretchen Rubin had an epiphany one rainy afternoon in the unlikeliest of places: a city bus. "The days are long, but the years are short," she realized. "Time is passing, and I'm not focusing enough on the things that really matter." In that moment, she decided to dedicate a year to her happiness project... Rubin didn't have the option to uproot herself, nor did she really want to; instead she focused on improving her life as it was. Each month she tackled a new set of resolutions: give proofs of love, ask for help, find more fun, keep a gratitude notebook, forget about results. Her conclusions are sometimes surprising—she finds that money can buy happiness, when spent wisely; that novelty and challenge are powerful sources of happiness; that "treating" yourself can make you feel worse; that venting bad feelings doesn't relieve them; that the very smallest of changes can make the biggest difference—and they range from the practical to the profound.

I decided that not only would I benefit from reading this book, I would also benefit from taking my favorite quote/idea from each of the 12 chapters (and 12 topics) and sharing why I think it's important and how I could apply it to my own habits and routines. If it means something to me, maybe it will mean something to you, too. In the first chapter, Rubin discusses improving your day-to-day energy by sleeping better, exercising better, and organizing your home and life in a more effective manner. The Type-A personality in me says, "yes! yes! and more yes!"

Look forward to posts in the upcoming weeks regarding what I take from The Happiness Project as I reflect on each topic. I am excited to have the opportunity to take a little time to myself to read and reflect on these ideas. It means even more that this process was inspired by a small, meaningful gift from one of my best friends.

Have you read anything similar lately? What was the biggest lesson that you took from it?

"Happiness comes not from whaving more, not from having less, but from wanting what you have." {G.Rubin}


Happy Friday,

You can't ever persuade someone to love you.
You must write the letter knowing that it will change nothing.
Its purpose is just to exist as proof:
"I love you for free."


{via}

it's always ourselves

image via

maggie and milly and molly and may

went down to the beach(to play one day) 

and maggie discovered a shell that sang 

so sweetly she couldn't remember her troubles,

and milly befriended a stranded star 

whose rays five languid fingers were; 

and molly was chased by a horrible thing 

which raced sideways while blowing bubbles:and 

may came home with a smooth round stone 

as small as a world and as large as alone. 

For whatever we lose(like a you or a me) 

it's always ourselves we find in the sea

{ I <3 e.e. cummings for having poetry that is also visual art }

       { and I heart poetry in general, for that matter. more on this soon. }

also.

Happy Valentine's Day!

I can happily admit that Valentine's Day is one of my favorite holidays. No, it's not because I now work in the gift industry. And no, it's not because I'm happily married and will always have a valentine (well, maybe it is). I love this day because it's more than about showering your significant other with kisses and chocolate. For me, Valentine's Day is about reminding everyone that you love- your friends, your family, your pets- that you appreciate them, care for them and love them.

I know for a fact that the man that I married would literally do anything for anyone that would ask. I've seen him completely change his day around, on multiple occasions, just to help out a friend or family member. He makes other people a priority before thinking about himself, and although I always thought I was pretty good at that, I've learned from him that this can be accomplished on an even greater scale. One of my goals for the upcoming year is to focus a little less on what I have to do (freelance projects, housework, laundry) and a little more on what I should do (spend more time with girl friends, relax, call my little sister). 

Ideally, showing appreciation and love for the small victories and blessings in life would be a daily occurrence. We all know that days are busy, hectic and stressful. Often times, I find myself at the end of my day even before I took a second to realize that it had started. So, with this Valentine's day, I vow to take a step back and really think about and appreciate not only my husband, but all of the other people in my life that I love, and would do anything for. 

"The great difference between voyages rests not in ships but in the people you meet on them." [A.Barr]

In honor of this romantic day, let me share with you one of the best and most thoughtful gifts that I have ever received thanks to my wonderful husband: 

If you know me well, you know that I have a pair of earrings and a bracelet to match every outfit. My collection has grown significantly in the past two years thanks to the expanded jewelry section at Target, the existence of Forever 21, and New York and Company's clearance jewelry rack. My organization methods were sad, to say the least. Bracelets crammed into tiny drawers, a pile of necklaces tangled on a command hook. Then, a few weeks ago, a giant box arrived at our door. A few days later, this transformation took place. (THANK YOU JUSTIN!!) 

Jewelry Chaos

Aaaaaamazing jewelry storage mirror!

TA-DA! Perfectly organized earrings, bracelets, rings & necklaces galore!

Thank you, thank you, and thank you again to my wonderful husband for this awesome Christmas gift. Every morning when I open it up to grab a necklace I'm remind of how lucky I am to have such a thoughtful person in my life (for my life!)  Happy Valentines day, friends, I hope that you are able to take time to appreciate the love that you are blessed with, in little ways or big ways, today and every day!

Xs and Ohs, 

Music Monday: Coffeehouse II

image via. loooove anchors.

Today was a really hectic day in the office. A few meetings. A few projects. More than a few landing pages. I always get stressed when the end of the day is near and a task that I have to learn to do comes along. Luckily, today I kept my focus, applied what I knew already, and figured things out quickly. One of my coworkers has a very similar taste in music to me, so I'm happy to report that the web pages that I had to crank out at the end of the day were finished much more easily thanks to the playlist that I could faintly hear from across the cube. I started out my busy day with my trusty 'Coffehouse' playlist that I first posted about here. Below is a list of a few more track suggestions if mellow singer-songwriters are your thing, too.

1. Arms of a Woman - Amos Lee [Amos Lee]
2. Nothing I Do - Jamie Cullum [Catching Tales]
3. Jolene - Ray LaMontagne [Trouble]
4. In Your Atmosphere - John Mayer [Live at the Nokia Theater]*
5. Turn Me On - Norah Jones [Come Away With Me]
6. Bend in the Road - Donovan Frankenreiter [Donovan Frankenreiter]
7. This I Know - Sam & Ruby [The Here and the Now]
8. Always - Forest Sun [For The Story]
9. Electric - Tristan Prettyman [T w e n t y t h r e e]
10. A Beautiful Mess - Jason Mraz [Live On Earth]

Chill tunes and chilly days,

I think that everything in life is art. 

What you do. How you dress. The way you love someone, and how you talk. 

Your smile 

and your personality. 

What you believe in, and all your dreams. The way you drink your tea. 

How you decorate your home. 

Or party. 

Your grocery list. 

The food you make. How your writing looks. 

...And the way you feel.

via

It's a good day to have a good day

via modified by moi

I've been feeling sick for the better part of the week, so this image on Pinterest really struck a chord with me today. Who says that it has to be a bad day even if you aren't feeling 100%. The important thing to remember is to be thankful to be able to take it easy for a few days and recharge your batteries. Usually, when I get sick it's a sign that I've been running on empty for a while and I spend hours catching up on the sleep that I don't get with my 5:40 am wake-up-call. So today, although I do not feel well, I am thankful for having a fluffy purple blanket to keep me warm, a comfortable chair to support my achy body, and a profession that allows me to still have a productive day without over-extending myself physically.

What are you thankful for today?

Tissues and thank-yous, 

Color Love

beautiful contrast of warm and cool colors by the amazingly talented colorist Leonid Afremov

p.s. I want to paint this.

Webby Wednesday

My favorite photo app in the Android Market. Download it, too! (images via Android Market)

Look at me go, a whole week of themed posts! Let's see if I stick to it.

I am really excited about an app specifically for android that I discovered last week while reading an article about the best apps for 2011. As you may know, I love my Google products, but I've been insanely jealous of iPhone users as of late due to Instagram only being available on that platform. Yes, I have a *decent* digital camera (but I still SWOON). Yes, I have Photoshop and I am trained to professionally edit cool vintage effects into photos. Yes, I have downloaded almost every app in the Android market that can mimic the look of Instagram, but I still felt like a mobile photography outsider.

Enter: Lightbox. I have found myself using this app more than any other camera app that I've had in my three years as an Android owner. As a designer, I appreciate the clean, easy-to-navigate UI. As a human, I appreciate that it doesn't take 30 seconds to load the camera. Seriously.

The camera, a separate app called 'QuickSnap Camera,' has nice, intuitive features. The shutter button is large, and the settings button that allows for brightness and focal adjustments is right where your thumb rests on your phone, so it's easy to reach. In addition, the settings are within a single, organized list of radio buttons so they are easy to find on the fly. Yay, you won't miss the photo opp!

Integrated with the camera is the Lightbox Photo app itself. It comes pre-loaded with nearly 20 different photo filters that range from vintage (Lomo, Georgia) to artsy (Fisheye, Dotty) to simple (Instafix, B&W). Scroll through the filters and quickly preview your image, then crop, rotate, upload and share to various social media sites at the push of a (well-designed) button.

In addition to social media sharing, the Lightbox app also automatically uploads your photos, either privately or publicly, to the cloud. You can manage the captions and sharing for all of your photos in an easy-to-use and well-designed online web gallery. Much like Instagram, you're able to find and follow friends from other social media sites like Facebook and Twitter. I am currently only following big names in the field, however, I would definitely add friends to my stream if the app gets more popular within my personal social network.

The Moral of the Story: Look forward to more fun (and beautiful) pictures of everyday things on The Art of Life now that I don't haaaate my phone's camera app. Win-win!

Pictures and pretty things,

P.S. Looking for an even more advanced way to edit photos on your Android phone? Try this or this.

Music Monday

well-designed indie music posters via

Are you on Spotify? I'll be honest, I don't think I've opened iTunes once since July when Spotify announced that accounts were going to be available in the US. J and I immediately purchased a premium account which enables us to listen to playlists and full albums through the speakers in my car via Ford's SYNC technology. Having access to, quite literally, a world of music at your fingertips through your smartphone has one of the best things that could have happened to road trips.

A playlist that I am currently really enjoying is a 163 track compilation of some of my favorite contemporary artists entitled "Coffeehouse." The sultry vocals of Norah Jones and Ingrid Michaelson mix perfectly with bold, jazzy songs by Michael Buble and Jamie Cullum. This mix is one that is constantly on repeat when I'm trying to  concentrate at work, as well as when I'm at home, baking cookies and singing along with some of today's best singer-songwriters.

Here are my top 10 recommendations if you'd like to create your own "Coffeehouse"-style playlist:

1. Wonderwall - Ryan Adams {Love Is Hell}
2. Here We Go Again - Ray Charles and Norah Jones {...Featuring}
3. Shelter - Ray LaMontagne {Trouble}
4. Into the Mystic - Van Morrison {Moondance}
5. Me and Mrs. Jones - Michael Buble {Call Me Irresponsible}
6. Lover, You Should Have Come Over - Jamie Cullum {Twenty Something}
7. Warning Sign - Coldplay {A Rush of Blood to the Head}
8. Kathleen - David Grey {Draw the Line}
9. The Way I Am - Ingrid Michaelson {Girls and Boys}
10. Little Bit of Rain - Amos Lee {The Villiage}

Bonus: These Arms of Mine - Otis Redding {Pure Southern Soul}

Do you have a work day or chill time go-to playlist of your own? What songs are on it? Do we have any of the same picks?

Melodies and Monday mornings,

Lovin' on Blogs

Follow me. I know you're on it, too. 

It seems as though everyone cannot get enough of Pinterest these days. New posts from friends far and near pop up on my pin board, what seems like, every second. Those people that I am near and dear to, I understand and appreciate the things they are pinning, and usually, I like them too. For those who are only acquaintances, I learn things about their interests, style and eating habits that I otherwise might have never known. Perhaps because of general disinterest, or perhaps because of distance.

Over the past few weeks, I have not only grown to appreciate what I learn about my friends through Pinterest, but also what I learn about strangers. "Pinners you Follow" keeps me in the safe realm of people that I know and subjects that I'm familiar with. However, just one more click away is "Everything." Wouldn't you know, that 'everything' really means anything AND everything. Books, jokes, random sculptures, exotic locations, hairstyles of people that I will never meet. The list goes on... and on... and on.

One thing that the "Everything" category has been really great for is discovering new blogs. I used to have a folder of inspirational images that I found on some of my favorite blogs for reference. I used to have an endless list of bookmarks saved in Chrome that I would page through to try to find that one idea for a project that I found 6 months ago. Now I have Pinterest. It's all in one place, organized, categorized and pretty. Woo.  That being said, I wanted to share links to some of my most favorite newly Pinterest-found blogs so that they can be your favorites, too.

Simply Kelly | Design inspirations, lots of interior decorating inspiration, and really fantastic DIY projects.

Joy Ever After |  The typography initially drew me in, but the beautiful images and fun projects keep me coming back.

Where My Heart Resides | Fantastic blog for new moms (for which I am not), beautiful photography and really witty blogging.  I appreciate well-written posts, baby bump or not :)

Chic to Be | Fashion. Makeup. Advertising. Lots of design-related inspiration. Love her style.


Blogs and beautiful things,

Scenes from Christmas

/ choco chips / new tree skirt / lights / present time / sammy claus / downtown / fave new ornament /
 / she&him / granny's tree / front door /

Fallingwater

Two weekends ago, J and I took a trip with my dad and little sister to Frank Lloyd Wright's masterpiece: Fallingwater. This gorgeous home is located about an hour and a half from Pittsburgh, and is well worth the drive. I had been there once before, but this was J's first trip. Neither of us are huge architecture buffs (unlike my dad) but it does not take a well-trained eye to understand how amazing this home is, from the details of the architecture to the natural beauty of the chosen location.

The modern mountain dwelling served as a weekend home for the Kaufmann family for approximately 25 years. Each room in the house was restored to the way it looked when the Kaufmanns lived there, down to the very last detail. In the living room, a metallic serving tray holding vintage liquor bottles rests on a tree stump 'coffee table' that echos the almost 360 degree view of the surrounding forest. The family member's favorite flower freshly cut and arranged in each of their respective bedrooms. Lacquered stone floors that reflect the natural light in the very same way that the river rushing through the foundation of the structure does. Inspiration in, literally, every corner.

As a designer, I could not help but to feel an overwhelming sense of harmony as I passed from room to room. My eyes darted from one corner to the next. The feeling of contraction in the narrow, dark hallways leading to rooms that seem to expand immediately and explode with natural light. Matching colors used on the textiles to those framing the panes of glass. Counting and counting again the way items in the rooms were visually balanced in the most perfect way. Three shelves spanned the entire parameter of the living room. A perfect semi-circle arched around a hundred year old tree in the entry way. The rule of thirds reflected in every aspect of the design. I left the home feeling so exhausted from all of the measuring and balancing that my eyes did during the hour-long tour. While at the same time, feeling stimulated and inspired.

I enjoyed the car ride home, discussing design concepts with my dad- and asking questions that the tour guide forgot to cover. I am so thankful that such a modern and enchanting piece of history is sitting in Pittsburgh's backyard. I look forward to learning more about Frank Lloyd Wright's genius designs, and visiting the home again someday with an even better understanding of his intentions.

Take a look for yourself, and to schedule a visit click here.

Picture Pile: Thanksgiving Weekend

turkey / table / sunset / new light / drum bar / rat pack band @ casino

"Today was my day off so I headed to Hobby Lobby to stock up on some crafting supplies for a DIY date with Jenna. One of the employees, i.e. the same one I frequently ask for opinions, bless her heart, told me “You really are here all the time aren’t you?” and I then proceeded to zig zag up and down every single and incredibly too narrow aisle probably eight or more times. When I got home with close to seven bags bursting at the seams with enough sparkle and glitter to make any child squeal with delight, Apb looked over and I noticed that look coming across his face; the whole how-much-did-you-really-spend-on-tissue-paper-babe look. And instead of feeling guilty, I smiled. Because this is just what I do. And I wouldn’t want it any other way."

This is so inspiring to/comforting of my current lifestyle. If you don't already love this blog, work on it. She's awesome. 

via

I think that I shall. {Today's mine.}

When Preparation Meets Opportunity

via

Yesterday was a big day. A big, important day. As much as I have been enjoying the time to work on things at my own pace and really focus on personal efforts, I also know that I am ready to take the next step. I have the motivation, determination and the talent. I've worked hard every.single.day for the past seven months to hone my skills and focus on growth in the areas that can take me to the level that I want to be at- personally and professionally. Let's do this. Fingers and toes crossed.