Love. On Paper.

This Summer has been pretty exciting work-wise. Some of you know that I still freelance identity, stationery and brochures. This has always been my main line of work whether in an advertising/marketing agency environment, non-profit or freelance. Website Design and Development once belonged on that list, but since Dylan was born I've slowly, but surely phased this out. At home with an infant, now toddler, I sadly haven't been able to crank it out fast enough. It's been bitter sweet. I love web programming and design, but I don't really miss the hours upon hours of programming and the sleepless nights.

But the reason for this post is an additional something - Invitations. I've designed invites, gift tags, thank you notes, food tags and wedding programs for fun off and on for several years. Within the last two it has started to grow into a more frequent thing. Even though ALL of the work I design is considered "fun" I really look to the invitations as my creative outlet. Identity/Stationery/Brochure work is often corporate in style so the invitations give me a chance to let lose and try some of the design styles I've been longing to dabble in. Over the past few months I've had a lot of great design opportunities...Weddings, Wedding Showers, Baby Showers, Baby Announcements, Birthdays....It's been great fun. So I figured I'd post just a few of my recent favorites. I'm going to try and do a better job of showcasing my work from to time. I get so timid, but I'm working on that. Here you go.....

Dylan's 1 Year Birthday Invite

A 3 Year Old's Birthday Invite. The theme was Firetrucks. :)

A Couples Shower Invite

Thank You Notes

A Wedding Invitation

Wedding Program to accompany the Invite

A Couples Shower Invite

A Baby Boy Shower Invite

Birth Announcement. Photographed and Designed.

Back side of Birth Announcement. Photographed.

A Baby Girl Shower Invite

A Sip-n-See Invite

A Baby Girl Shower Invite

A Couples Shower Invite

Gift Tags

Peanut Butter + Chocolate Chip + Oatmeal = Heaven on Earth.

Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookies

College Football/Tailgate season begins this Saturday and with it comes my desire to up the baking in the Lott abode. Sadly we're hanging at home this weekend missing out on our first home game due to the weather, BUT I already had my ingredients on the counter prepared to bake tonight so - I baked. What to bake? For the past few weeks I've been craving my all time favorite - Martha Stewart's Peanut Butter-Chocolate Chip Oatmeal Cookie Recipe. I stumbled across the recipe back in '08 and it quickly became one of my go-to's. I almost want to keep this recipe all to myself and claim it as my own, but it's really too good not to share. You can click on the link to the recipe above, but I'm including the ingredients and directions below. Now that these little puppies are cooked, cooled and in their little tin, it's time to watch some tv with the hubs. Night all.

INGREDIENTS

3 cups old-fashioned rolled oats
1/3 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon coarse salt
1 cup packed light-brown sugar
1 cup granulated sugar
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, softened
1/2 cup natural peanut butter
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups salted whole peanuts
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Stir together oats, flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt in a medium bowl; set aside.
2. Put sugars, butter, and peanut butter in the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment. Mix on medium speed until pale and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Mix in eggs and vanilla.
3. Reduce speed to low. Add oat mixture, and mix until just combined. Mix in peanuts and chocolate chips.
4. Using a 1 1/2-inch ice cream scoop, drop balls of dough 2 inches apart on baking sheets lined with parchment paper.
5. Bake cookies, rotating sheets halfway through, until golden brown and just set, 13 to 15 minutes. Let cool on sheets on wire racks 5 minutes. Transfer cookies to wire racks to cool completely. Cookies can be stored in airtight containers at room temperature up to 2 days.

Time Travel Tuesday

Before they were "Mom" and "Dad" or "Mimi" and "Poppy" they were simply Kenny and Sandra, the couple. I love this picture so much. My mom isn't crazy about it because she's not smiling, but I think she looks peaceful and beautiful. My aunt found the photo several years ago when looking through my grandparents old photo albums. "Young Love" is what comes to mind when I look at it. Sweet. Enjoy.

Kenny and Sandra.

Happy Birthday to this Girl!

Tiffany Long
(if you haven't already
noticed - Wilson Long is her clone)

As a child, she didn't wear many clothes. Times were tough. Money was tight. But in all seriousness, if you see Tiffany this week wish her a Happy 29th Birthday! The last of her 20s. I'm so lucky to have this girl as a sister and best friend. She has always been so good to me. Stood up for me in my moments of pansy-ness. And she makes me laugh pretty much every day. I love her.

As Julie sings it best.

I love reading the "favorite things" segment of other individuals' blogs. I feel like it often inspires me and, from time to time, I discover something new. So even though it's kinda unoriginal of me, when the mood strikes, I'd like to share a few of my favorite things. So this will be the first of my "As Julie sings it best" posts. And if you have a hard time with the Julie Andrews reference - go get your google on. ;)

Stella & Dot Rebel Pendant Necklace. 
What can I say? I'm very happy with my purchase. (Thank you Kasey!) I always love a long necklace with a beautiful unique pendant. And this one kinda makes me feel like I'm wearing Joan's sophisticated pen necklace in Mad Men. If you love Stella & Dot as much as I do, but don't have a rep to order from my friend's sister is a sales rep. Click here to visit her site.

The Lacoste Classic Small Shopping Bag. 
This bag is the perfect sized tote! This was my mother's day present from a few months back. Ordered through Zappos. It's useful for so many errands/travels/etc.

Breaking Bad!

Yep, we're digging into Season 1 as I type. The future of this show is looking pretty bright. 

And last, but definitely not least....

Catching Fire. 

I was a little late at jumping on the Hunger Games band wagon, but I'm here now. Round 2. I just can't quit you Hunger Games. :)

A one year old's birthday. We love you Dylan.

As most of you know, this year has been a new experience for the Lotts. On July 22, 2011 our lives were changed in the most blessed way when Dylan James Lott finally arrived. The first child is a definite adjustment - loss of sleep, many dirty diapers, temper tantrums, spit up, you know - the icky stuff, but it's also the coolest sweetest most indescribable thing. We've had so much fun watching this little guy grow month by month. Watching his cool little personality form and witnessing his firsts - giggling, sitting, crawling, talking and finally walking! I can go on and on, but what this post is really about - is the celebration of the one year mark. We had such a great time gathering with close friends and family. It was truly an amazing day.

Being a graphic designer - I really looked forward to planning and decorating the shin-dig. I didn't want it to be over the top or to lose meaning of what the day was all about, BUT I also wanted to put some of my design and craft skills to good use.

Here I wanted to post a few of the items I designed for the big day including the birthday invite, thank you cards, framed art, banners, hats and some additional decor. They really were all pretty simple and fun to make. The theme was Dr. Seuss. I didn't want to go with the classic over done Dr. Seuss using the red blue and black. Don't get me wrong - I love me some Cat and the Hat and Thing One and Thing Two (if you knew me in high school you'll remember my T1&T2 t-shirt. Big Dork.), but I really wanted to go for the Lorax meets "Oh the Places You'll Go" when it came to illustration and color scheme. So this is what I came up with.....

The invitation.
The illustration was created to represent the hills in
Dr. Seuss' "Oh the Places You'll Go"

Front Door Decor.
Printed/Sewn Paper Flags, Framed Art, Etc.

Birthday Hat and High Chair Banner.
I had so much fun with the hat since it was foreign to me.
I'll try and post a better picture later.

This was the front entrance display including a suitcase of
treats for the guests, a billy ball bouquet in ode of the
truffula trees, Dylan's monthly pictures from his first
year on display and Dr. Seuss' "Happy Birthday To You"
for all the guests to sign.

Smash cake by AlliCakes. 

Cake by AlliCakes.

Easy Peezy Candy Coated Pretzel and
Marshmallow Sticks. Kinda like truffula trees!

And now for some additional photos of the birthday boy! 

Dylan, sweet boy, we love you so much!