Mandi

spring fashion trends 2013

Having a career in graphic design, I always follow trends. The trends I watch are not only design trends, but also fashion trends. One quick spot to find this is with Pantone Fashion Report – you can read more on my thoughts on that here. I also go to blogs and magazines to see what they say. Below are the trends I have read about and some inexpensive alternatives for you to stay in style!

Below is each trend broken out with inexpensive finds you can buy right now!

1. black lace shirt $29.95 | 2. Lace Dress $59 | 3. Lace Back Cardigan $14

1. cat eye sunglasses $5.80 | 2. mint green sunglasses $5.95 | 3. tropical sunglasses

1. Red Skinny Jeans $34.50 | 2. Coral Blazer $88 | 3. Coral Wrap Dress $49.50

1. Old Navy Take $19.94 | 2. 3/4 sleeve dress $29.94 | 3. Striped Blazer $89.50

And speaking of spring – Don’t forget to enter our giveaway! Click here for more details.

song lyrics in the home

by Mandi | diy, personal

I am sure some of you can relate to me. You go to grade school and high school in the same town and create these wonderful friendships that will last a life time. Then… you go to college and there you meet the most amazing people. They do not have your background, they know nothing about your family or childhood – but somehow these people become friends – amazing friends that fill a new special place in your heart.

The 4 short years are over and you all go your separate ways. These people you just recently met have become your best friends, your everyday companions and now you’re off – back home or to a new place for a job and you say good bye. You see each other at mutual friends weddings and the occasional homecoming football game but the rest is up to you. Will you stay in touch and if so… how?

This particular post is about one of those special friends to me. We have seen each other a few times throughout the 12 (ugh…12) years we have been out of college, but mostly we text. And if I am being honest, we do not text much more than song lyrics back and forth. It may sound strange, but for us… it works. It is a guessing game of sorts – I send a text and see if he can guess the song. I usually send a lyric that makes me think of him and to my surprise, he normally is right. This can happen once every few months or once a day, either way – I know he is there, on the other side of the text still being my amazing friend.

So… this post goes out to him.

I fill my home with things I love and often times have quotes printed out in frames. My next one to frame is below from “our song” – Come on Eileen. Feel free to download it and use it in your home by clicking on the image to get full size – it is sized for an 8 x 10 .

Other printable quotes are below – yep – from past texts with my friend. These are also free for download at 8×10

custom cards for game night

by Mandi | creative tips, diy

I love playing cards.

I am the first to volunteer to play a good game of Rummy, Rook, UNO, Speed, etc. You name it, I’ll play it! On my mom’s side of the family, every Thanksgiving and Christmas get-together ends in a game of Rook and on my dad’s side – you better come ready to play UNO!

When I started dating The Mister I was SO happy to find out that he loves a good game of cards. Many nights we have a card and wine night. The two of us grab some wine and sit around for hours playing cards.

When Valentines Day came around this year I wanted to do something special for The Mister with cards, but I wasn’t sure what to do until I realized that I could go online and make him a custom set of cards…. for around $10 (including shipping). I was SOLD!!! I used printers studio. It was a simple/quick process and the cards showed up about a week later in their own plastic case. I will use this again. You could do this for SO many occasions and there is no minimum order.

For The Mister I did a simple design with his last name. It was so easy that I wanted to create a few free card backgrounds for you to download and use as your own! With the pantone color of the year being Emerald Green, I decided to go that route for my designs!

Here is a look at all of the designs. These are designed for the Poker Size Cards – 2.5″ x 3.5″ design. You can download the full sizes below!

Here are a few that are just for fun! I love all of the random things you say during a normal game of cards! Use one or all four below on your custom deck of cards!