// A Tennessee Hike: Horsepound Falls//

// Around the House//

On a scale of 1-10 this week started as a 1 and has ended on a 9.5.  I certainly feel lucky to have a job where I can be creative on a daily basis but sometimes creating for a living can cause lots of emotional ups and downs.  Sometimes what I create from my mind doesn’t translate in the client world and no matter how hard one tries to have thicker skin, it still stings a bit when someone doesn’t like your work…thus starting the week off on a 1.  This isn’t really a real world problem so I will leave you with these images from around the house this week and say that I feel very thankful for life.

And the McClain’s came into town!!  Meet baby Sienna. 

I did learn about this organization and it makes me so happy!  Check it out!

// Wes Anderson and His Colors//

The anticipation of the newest Wes Anderson film, “Moonrise Kingdom”, has made me even crazier for any design with badges, nature elements, and warm colors.  I’ve been involved in a lot of branding talks lately with co-workers and friends.  You no longer have to be just a business to have a brand.  With the right tools and a creative eye one can brand their own personal work, music, or even their own life.  The possibility of creating a brand for yourself is a reality and that is exactly what film maker Wes Anderson has done all these years.  One can immediately recognize a Wes Anderson film through the film color treatment, fonts and actors.  I hope you enjoy these color palettes I pulled from six of his past films and see how true to his brand he is in every film.

// The Thrill of the Thrift: Goodbye Salvation Army//

It’s a sad day in the thrifting world for me.  My beloved local ‘Salvation Army’ store is shutting its doors on the 31st.  I walked into the store yesterday and the store employees stopped me as I entered the store to personally tell me they were shutting their doors.   I’ll miss the seeing the employee that always gave me a 50% discount, the 1/2 priced clothing Wednesdays and the eclectic racks of vintage clothing mixed with clothes with suspicious stains.  Where will I get my one of kind polyester polka dotted 1970’s shirts now!?  This is getting too dramatic…if I could put a powerpoint slide with cheesy Michael McDonald music in the background I would.  Instead, this photo collection of my favorite Salvation Army finds goes out to you Nolensville Rd. Salvation Army.

// 1958 New Orleans//

Today’s theme is brought to you by the city of New Orleans.  It all started when I woke up this morning with the song “(I Don’t Know Why) But I Do” in my head by New Orleans native Clarence Henry. Somewhere deep in my mind I must have been walking the streets of New Orleans in a 1960’s dress with a beehive hairdo.

Inventor, computer expert and philosopher Nick DeWolf spent nearly his entire life carrying around a camera and documenting the places he went and the things he saw.  These are his photos of New Orleans in September of 1958.

// Spring Palette//

Nature wins…I could never create these color palettes on my own.  Thank you spring for your beautiful colors and the food you bring to life!

// Free Font Friday!//

Finding new free fonts make me feel like I hit the jackpot.  It’s like getting new school supplies for designers.  Here are a few new fonts that I’m enjoying.  Click the image to download… Happy Friday!

// Baking Soda: The Miracle Worker//

It’s an odd thing to be excited about a household staple like baking soda.  We all have it in our pantry to whip out during those dire times of needing a chocolate chip cookie right.. this.. minute.  I never thought that my .86 cent box of baking soda could make my skin so soft or clean my dishes so well…until now!

Thanks to pinterest, I saw the best face exfoliant recipe and tried it last night.  Look how simple this is!

It took me a long time to actually understand why eco-friendly cleaning products were important.  I viewed natural cleaning products as non-effective and didn’t think about the consequences of bleach going down my drain into the sewer and adding more toxins to our water supply.  This is coming from a girl who always recycled and grew up with a family who owned a natural food store!  Now this germaphobe is 100% sold on natural cleaning supplies.  The power of natural products such as vinegar and baking soda can do wonders.  A vinegar and baking soda cleaning solution can kill 99% of bacteria, 82% of mold and 80% of germs in your home.  What’s not to love about these extremely affordable and natural products.  Here are few more reasons to love baking soda!

// Alabama Shakes and Badass Beth//

It could be the excitement of summer nearing has turned this folk and soul music lover into a obsessive rock n’ roll listener or that I smoked a cigarette 2 weeks and still feel really cocky about it…but my ear buds can’t stop listening to rock n’ roll.  This found love was amplified last night at The Ryman when I saw Jack White play and didn’t stop moving to the beat for 2 hours straight.  

The opener of the night was a band called ‘Alabama Shakes’.  This Alabama group is full of soul and classic rock.  The lead singer, Ms. Brittany Howard, shook her tail feather like she was a reincarnate of James Brown and has an incredible gritty and soulful voice.  Take a listen to their single “Hold On”! 

Here are a few other albums that I’ve been listening to!

ALSO, get ready for a new Daniel Ellsworth & The Great Lakes video soon!

// Weekend Recap and a Sunny Sangria Recipe//

Happy Monday!  This past weekend I went home to Southern Illinois to celebrate my mom and also had the fun opportunity to catch up with old friends (and their new babies!) at a local winery.  It was my first time at Blue Sky Vineyards and I kept saying “where am I? Napa?!”  It was awesome.  By the end of my time home I found myself belting Diamond Rio duets in the car by myself…I’m not saying I hated it.

I thought I’d post a few photos of my time at home and the Blue Sky sangria recipe…which tasted amazing!