Graduation Announcement, Announcement, Ano-ounnce-ment!

Yes. I did sing that in case you were wondering. It's the beginning to a camp song we used to sing at a little place I like to call girls camp. Can I get an amen on that one? Amen.

This lovely announcement is an exciting one because it marks the milestone of hard work and accomplishment. I'm sure as I'm saying these words, she's working hard right now preparing for finals. Yes, I'm sure you already guessed it... it's a graduation announcement! My lovely friend Taylor that you met previously is graduating next week with her degree in social work. I have no doubt that Taylor will save the world one person at a time. If she were running for president I would vote for her. Not only because she is so smart and charming (not to mention a great public speaker) but I know she would some how manage to make Harry Potter and Water World some sort of national holiday. I'm down with that.

Here are three variations of graduation announcements that yours truly photographed and designed :) Enjoy!

 

P.S. If any you lovelies are in need of any design work... please feel free to contact yours truely.

God Bless America

This 4th of July weekend was a wonderful chance to reflect on the freedoms we have, the friends we share it with and the memories we make. We did all things American by camping Friday night, spending Saturday at the lake followed by hanging out at Wendy's while we waited for our miss placed keys to arrive, played games with friends and ate yummy desserts on Sunday, ate pancakes for breakfast and watched a parade on Monday. Just in case you were wanting a play by play.

Of course I got all decked out for the occasion. Chris said I looked like a 50's sailor girl. Yes! I was right on the mark.

People in the parade were handing out all sorts of goodies. Chris scored with his one handed catch of a Jimmy John's sandwich!

Aside from those cowboys holding the American flag, I can't think of anything more American than Taco Bell and Star Wars. Two American classics.

We had so much fun this weekend with our friends Taylor and Logan! We feel so blessed to live in the country that we do and that we were able to celebrate in our small town. Small town 4th of July is unlike any other. I hope you all had a fun and safe 4th of July weekend!

Nod yes for Nautical

My good friend Noelle contacted me a few weeks back asking if I could design her wedding invitations. Of course I jumped at the opportunity not only because I've known this sweet and spunky girl for over 15 years but because I'm all about paying it forward. So many wonderful people helped me with our wedding, now it's my turn to help out a fellow friend.

Sometimes I think Noelle was born in the wrong state because this chica belongs at the beach! Everything from her long blond hair, spunky attitude and cute Roxy style belongs on a beach. So of course it only made sense when she said the wedding theme is beachy with a nautical twist. Yay! I was ecstatic to design my first ever beach wedding invitations. The other fun twist to the invitations is that she wanted the back designed with their engagement photos. Here are two of my favorite proofs I came up with (front and back):

After a little tweaking with an e-mail trail to prove it, here is the final invitation she's chosen:

With the back to match

Congratulations Noelle! I'm so excited and happy for you!

Just Dance

This post is something that is near and dear to my heart. Last week marked the 2 year anniversary of my friend Brad's death.

Brad and I knew each other briefly in middle school but our friendship bloomed in high school over love of musical theater and choir. He was my escort in the homecoming parade, boomba impersonator, coffee addict and my first school girl kiss. At the age of 21 he was unexpectedly diagnosed with Sarcoma cancer and began treatment. To entertain himself and those who waited at the hospital during treatments, they would make dance videos. Every one in the hospital knew Brad's name because he was such a light to those around. Brad taught us all to just keep dancing even though times are hard. Whatever you may be going through right now, just dance and keep the light of life bright.

Please help us find a cure for sarcoma cancer so that people all over the world can keep on dancing through life. You can donate to the NW Sarcoma Foundation to help find a cure.  

  

22 for 22

Don't be deceived. This is not a 30 for 30 where I pick items from my closet and wear them in different combination for 30 days. Although that is an excellent idea, this 22 for 22 is in honor of my birthday that was (yes that's right!) yesterday! It was a fabulous day filled with friends, loved ones and a decapitated pinata. I think I woke up this morning with a sugar hang over.

 

This 22 for 22 is a list of 22 things I want to do or accomplish in the 22nd year of my birth. I feel as though simplifying lists into smaller categories makes them more achievable. Although I do have a bucket list, I feel that can be more of a daunting idea trying to get all those items accomplished before hitting the bucket. Instead I decided to take it one year at a time. Here is the book which holds the list. Yes, I did make it. Check out that fabulous gold leather! I hope you are loving it as much as I am. It once was a purse. Now it's a book. Boo ya!

22 for 22 idea inspired from Brandilyn

Some of the goals are personal and others are more general such as reading an American classic. As of right now I only have 18 goals. I'm trying hard to save the last few for really good or significant ideas. If you've done anything this year that you highly recommend, please shout it out :) It might just make the cut for the list. 

Featured!

Eek! I'm excited about his one folks!... Our wedding was featured on the LDS Bride! LDS bride is a wonderful website that helps brides plan a wedding on a budget. It was so fun to plan but even more fun to experience it. I can hardly believe that we've been married for almost a year. It has been so wonderful and I've enjoyed every minute of it. I absolutely love our wedding photos and I hope you do too.

Girl I be Trippin!

Slang words. I think they are funny. Most of the time they come out of no where, make absolute no sense, yet they catch on like wildfire. Take Dope for instance. For years and years it was a word used for drugs. But now, thanks to some skater dude it can mean "Cool" "Crazy" Insane" and who knows what else. Trippin is a slang word that has multiple meanings and right now I am feeling all of them. Let me explain:

Guilt Trippin: to go on a guilt trip based off of an action or non action of some sort.
Yes I just made up that definition in case you were wondering. Actually you probably weren't wondering because it doesn't make much sense or define it correctly. Right now I am going on a guild trip for not having posted in well over a month! I guess you can diagnose me as clinically inconsistent. Or you can diagnose me with post graduate depression (more on that issue to come). I guess I haven't changed much from my teenage days when I wouldn't write in my journal for months on end, then begin again with an entry starting with "Dear Journal, Wow it's been a long time since I've written last and SO MUCH has happened. Where do I even begin?" Then to follow with an entry that skims over the big events in my life where later I would wish I had said more.

Trippin: Not able to wrap your mind around a concept to the point of semi-insanity.

 Jacob Spori and I have a special relationship. I spent 94% of my college education in this one building. The art building. That's right. I said the art building... the communication students just get to have the privilege to dwell in our presence and use a few of the class rooms. (Ha ha jk I took some of those classes so no need to get offended)

Right now I am trippin over the fact that I am a college graduate! I can hardly believe it and it honestly feels like I'm on summer break. I know it will come as a shock when Fall rolls around as it always does and I'm not picking up my books or sharpening my pencils with all the other students. It also doesn't feel like I've gradated because we are still living in this blessed small college town. Not much longer though folks! I think I would be more excited if I knew where we were headed after wards. But right now, your guess is as good as mine. Any ideas?

Pretty soon we'll be outta here! Ah I love my hubby so much!

Ha ha my mom is notorious for blinking in photos and my dad has a reputation for an awkward photo smile. Welcome to my family. I sure love them.

Trippin: To travel or relocate yourself preferably to an unknown or unexplored area.
Shortly after graduation, I put myself on a jet plane, not knowing when I'd be back again and headed to Oregon. What brought me to such a trip? Going to one of my best friend's wedding! I'm so happy for Darci and her new hubby Tim! I know they'll be great together and it meant a lot to be there. Oh man she looked so beautiful!

 

The last thing about my trip that I'm trippin about is the fact that I bought my first ever car! That's right folks! I've gone almost 22 years (because my birthday is in 14 days (not that I'm counting)) without ever having purchased a car. In high school I was a late bloomer and didn't get my license till I was a senior. Looser I know. And in college I never had a vehicle. It was a stressful process because Chris wasn't able to come to Oregon with me so I was flying solo on this one. Luckily my dad worked as an auto insurance claims adjuster so he was able to help me understand what salvage titles mean and other terms I'd never heard of, and my mom grew up around cars thanks to all older brothers. I was constantly sending Chris craigslist links 24/7 on cars that I found that we might be interested in. After a week of hunting, calling, and appointments that didn't show up, we got a car! It's a 2001 black Honda Civic and we LOVE it! Our favorite part is the gas mileage! Going from a 1994 Jeep Cherokee that got 14 miles to the gallon to our new lovely, we are in heaven!

There you have it. I am trippin. That is one way to explain this last month and trust me, there is a lot I left out. Only to keep you from information overload. So it's for your good. Trust me.