Hello Weekend

Hello Weekend post are always my favorite. If for some reason I miss one, or forget, I get weirdly sad. 

Maybe it is because the image is always some idealize vision of my weekend should be, or because I love making the actual graphic, but really I think it is because it means it is the weekend!

As I blog, and spend more time building Harriet Ann Creative, I want to figure out how to make these post fit with the brand. 

This week has been filled with 9to5 stress (thank you quarter end), a lot of dr-stressing runs and wine drinking, and falling back in love with tumblr (more on that later).

This weekend is calling for a lot of cafe sipping, creative development (playing around in photoshop/illustrator/indesign) for Harriet Ann Creative, and catching up on my awfully large stack of to be read books. 

Also, dont forget to check out the give away that I (via HAC) am participating in! We are giving away these monogramed gingham notecards! Find out more here! 

RIP Lilly

I am sure you have heard that the wonderful, colorful, and always stylish Ms Lilly Pulitzer passed away yesterday. If not, where were you yesterday?! 

While the passing of this icon, is very sad, my Instagram, and Twitter feeds (even a bit of facebook) were full of her colorful prints and fun quotes. 

I thought today would be a great day to take some time to honor Ms P for all that she gave this world. Not just her summer inspired prints, but summer all year round. The ability to brighten any day with one of her pieces. And the inspiration to all girls that they are able to make their own dreams come true.

After all...it all started with a juice stand.  

Hello Weekend!

(image via)

I am very convinced that the days go by slower the week after a three-day weekend. Add on an extra day and the week seems like a month! 

Andrew and I have a busy-ish weekend planed, starting off tonight with First Friday Food Trucks with a couple of friends. I have heard good and bad things, the worst being the crowds. I do not like crowds and will do almost anything I can to avoid them! But the promise of good food trucks and fantastic people watch is always good enough to lure me out!

I have spent a lot of time working and blogging over at my new company, Harriet Ann Creative! I launched a couple of products, and even started to post a few post. It will take some time to get it consistant, and make it look as I want, but hey at least I making moves! I am going ugly early! I am so excited about where I want to take the company, and the best is that I am actually excited about something and that is exciting in itself! 

So tell me, what are you excited about this weekend? Or in life! 

Free Spring Download

Today I am sharing my new Spring/April download over at Harriet Ann Creative! It is one of my favorites, so hop on over and take a look!

5 things...

This post/topic has been floating around the Internet for ages now! It is one that I absolutely love because it gives us a bit more of a glismp at the person behind the blog! The five things tend to be things we would never dedicate an entire post about, but are interesting none the less! I was tagged by the lovely Danielle and so here it goes...

Its true, but not in that way! I drink an extreme about of water. At least twice the daily "recommended" amount. And I have fallen in love with the Camelbak Eddy. I get sick when I think about how many plastic bottles I use to got through to support my habit  I switched over to glass Voss bottles around freshmen year because they were more "healthy" to refill than plastic. They got a bit to big to carry around so I tried the aluminum bottles, but hated the taste. Also, I am a huge sucker for eating when I am bored, but I am doing my best to curb those cravings with water and tea. This bottle is helping so much!

Its true, and I have no shame! I love my iPhone, I do, but some days I really miss that red blinking light. I went through so much with my BlackBerry, and had it all through college until I left in in Hawaii senior year. I never thought I would be one to switch over to an iPhone but I am so glad I did. However, I have been thinking about going back for a little. Can you really tell me you dont miss BBM-ing! If they ever get instagram on those things I just may jump ship again!

I crave all things simple and classic. (Maybe that is one of the reasons I was so fond of my BB.) Don't get me wrong, I love trends, styles, and fads as much as the next twenty something, but when it comes to my own life, I like the classics. My closet is filled with pencil skirts, skinny jeans, oxfords, cardigans,  stripes, and mostly in shades of blue. I have 1 purses, 1 tote, and 1 crossbody. I will pick a book over an e-reader any day. I still send snail mail and cookies. I crave early mornings, and nights in. I think a guy should ask a girl out on a proper date. And the guy should act like a gentlemen the entire night. I call my mom at least once a day. I appreciate manners and discretion, and believe that even though we live in a social media dominated world there are somethings (many things) that should be kept to ones self. I believe in courtesy and thoughtfulness. I know homemade is always better. I think 95% of fashion trends are ridiculous  I would rather stay in and read a book than go out to a club. I believe in not airing your dirty laundry. And I believe in office hours and weekends. Even though I realize this blurb is anything but simple, I think they make for a simple/classic life.

Oh, and I believe that my great grandmothers chocolate chip cookie and hot fudge recipes can cure any bad day.

With the above being said, I also believe in to each its own. Dont try to change me and I wont you. And man do I love a good train wreck! Thanks to social media there are so many out there! Andrew asks me why I continue to follow these people who get me so flustered and who I just cant understand, but I thrive on the drama. Well not really. I dont like to be involved in the actual drama, I just like to hear/read about it. I mentioned it here, but it is all driven by curiosity. I am fiercely curious about other people and other ways of life, no matter how much I think its wrong. And because I never want to be directly involved with gossip and drama, online train wrecks, are the best!

I have slight dyslexia. It dosen't effect my everyday life but I do switch up letters and numbers. And I work with numbers! I also read all the time! It doesnt slow me down either, I probably read faster than I should. I pretty much skip over words that I cant pronounce (in my head) when I really should look it up, sound it out, or ask. If it doesn't effect my ability to understand the story line or actions, I just keep going. This did however make reading aloud in school a major fear, and probably attributed to my speaking too fast! My point is that when there are spelling or grammatical errors in post/emails/tweets/etc. it isn't due to carelessness  Its actually the opposite, I spend too much time trying to read it over, but things will slip by because my brain doesn't catch it!

And I am a bit of a grammar brat when it comes to simple things like than/then, to/too/two, those things.

It took me forever to learn how to spell does, I made a trick that it doesn't cant spell sent (dosen't). Tricks help. S and E's are the worse.

Guest Posting

Today I guest posting over at Food, Love, and Life for the lovely Jen!

Jen is living in Spain, teaching English, and will be traveling to Granada for part of her Semana Santa! I lived in Granada for six months and I am oh so jealous of Jen's amazing adventures, but glad I got to virtually relive my time in Granada !

Check it out here!

Hello Weekend

I know I (and many others) say this all the time, but man did this week fly by! How is it possibly Friday?

This week I launched Harriet Ann Creative, got my first custom order, and got so much done, thanks in part to my new planner! It helped my productivity 10 fold. I am not sure how, but it did!

This weekend I have the Barristers Ball, more commonly known as Law School Prom! I ended up getting to first dress I tried on, but now I am questioning it! I have a feeling I will be picking up something at Nordstrom tomorrow morning! And maybe a new pair of heals! 

I did make appointments for all the fun prep activities! I am most excited about getting my hair done at DryBar! I have never been, and I know I am so behind the times, but I have a feeling I will get hooked! 

I have to be honest, I am sort of nervous about going! I am not a dancer, as in I never dance, and I dont really know anyone, or their significant others! I just keep reminding myself, and being thankful, there is an open bar!

So here is to a weekend full of pampering, being fancy, bubbly, and a lot of mascara! 

San Luis Obispo

I am always so envious of people who go on a vacation, and blog about it the next day! I always take so many photos, and want to edit them, but it always takes longer than I think! 

I am starting to think of it as re-living my trip again when I go through the pictures a couple days later.

One of the perks of Andrew being in law school, is he has spring break. Even though I  was very jealous that he was sleeping in, hanging out at the beach, and going on day trips, we had plans to go up to San Luis Obispo for a long weekend!

The last weekend of his spring break happened to coincide with my dads birthday, so we thought we would celebrate together. My dad goes up to San Luis Obispo every chance he can, and I think he would even if my brother wasn't in school there!

The first couple of nights Andrew and I stayed in the cutest bed and breakfast. Each room was themed, and of course we picked the Cape Cod room. Unfortunately I didn't take any photos, but we had a large sitting room, bedroom, and a fireplace that divided the two rooms. The last night we stayed at the inn across the street, a favorite of my dad's and step moms. Each had breathtaking views, complimentary wine and cheese hour, and the best breakfast at the Back Bay Cafe.

It rained the first few days that we were up there, which put a damper on our farmers market and hiking plans, but allowed me to wear my favorite pair of Hunters! It also allowed us to explore downtown without almost anyone around! The above photo is of the absolutely disgusting, but weirdly famous Gum Wall. It supposedly started after WWII by the high school class.

 

I truly fell in love with the central coast that weekend. On one side of the freeway it was so green and lush that it looked as if we were driving through Ireland. But, on the other side it was pure coastal towns. There were so many little towns scattered along that we only got to explore a couple. One of my favorites was Morro Bay. That huge rock is called the Morro Bay rock and is surrounded by the craziest winds and surf. We some a couple of kids! getting in wet suits and paddling out!

 

We also drove up the coast to the entrance to Big Sur. It is the craziest road, with little to no guard rails, and plunging cliffs. I had to sit back and close my eyes because I just couldn't watch! We lucked out and the clouds had burned off by the time we stopped and had an almost perfectly clear view all the way up and down the coast!

If you have never been to Central California, I highly recommend it. It is the perfect spot for weekend getaways and filled with bed and breakfasts'!

Or be a tourist in your own backyard. It is so fun to discover places you love, that you can return again and again!

Harriet Ann Creative

I started EITNB because I myself, want to be am an entrepreneur!  

I recently launched my own company, Harriet Ann Creative! It is in the very early stage, but I am so excited about it! I am trying very hard to just go ugly early! Launch with what you have, and then grow/improve from there.

Over the past couple of months my love for stationary, design, and branding have grown! I often find myself working till late, missing meals, and neglecting my phone, all without realizing! HAC is my place to combine these passions, and help celebrate your life!

It is all a work in progress. I have spent so much time worrying about getting things perfect, being at the right place in life, having X number of followers here first, etc etc. I have realized that I will always have an excuse to put it off, I will always want to improve something, and I will never actually get anywhere with it.

So instead, I am starting it now, trying to spread the word, and learn as I go. There will never be a perfect time to go for it, so I am just going now! Going ugly early means things can only improve!

I posted so fun pintables for Easter and spring that I have been attaching to everything recently!

Website // Twitter // Instagram

The Easiest Hair Style You Ever Will Find

I really believe that at my ages, I should have my hair routine down. I should know how to give my hair a good blow out, body, and a style that could last all day. 

But I dont! With moving so much I have had to change stylist so often, that I cant get into a groove. I also had a very bad experience (far too dark color, and an awful awful cut!) and I have been scared to do much. 

I am not sure how I stumbled on this hair trick, it was by total accident, but it works. And I love it.

When I get out of the shower I put in detangler and Paul Mitchell anti frizz, let it air dry for a couple of minuets, and then throw it up into a tight bun, on the top of my head. And thats it. 

I work weird hours, well not too weird, I work New York banking hours, but I am on the west coast. So when I have to leave my house before 6 am, doing my hair is not first thing on my list. By the time I get to the office, I undo my hair, spray a little hairspray, and I'm done!

My hair looks like I spent hours on it, and best of all, there is VOLUME! 

My hair has a very hard time keeping curls. My hair wouldn't take to the curls with the headband no heat curls that was so popular a while back. And I was really not a fan of the mark I had on my forehead.

If I put enough hair spray in, the curls last all day. I have no weird marks. I can go out in public with my hair in a bun, not a weird Princess Lea-do. And best of all, I can put my hair in a bun during the day, and when I take it down, it still looks great!

So toss up your hair in a bun, and in a couple of hours you'll have amazing curls! 

(all images via, please let me know if you are the original source, I would love to credit the correct person)