Good Online Reads

Getting a magazine in the mail will always be a special thing for me, but I've also been enjoying a lot of online mags these days. I just get reminded that there are SOOOO many creatives in this world, and there is plenty of room for everyone to create. There's also a need for more magazines because all of this talent has to be communicated some how, right? Here are some of my favorites these days...AND they're FREE to read!!!

RUE - I love the combination of decor and fashion inspiration. It's very applicable to every day life, which can be very refreshing in the fashion world.

WE LIKE WE LOVE - A great magazine to see the up and comers in the photography, styling and fashion industry.

MATCHBOOK - This mag has a preppy flair, so it's like it's made just for me.

ATOMICA - This magazine is for the artist in me. The photography and styling that is featured in this magazine is gorgeous!

DUJOUR - Fashion, fashion, fashion! What else can I say?

ANTHOLOGY - Amazing home decor inspiration!!!

BETTY  - It's inspiration for the indie wannabe in me.

empowering read.

LONNY - More awesome home inspiration...Obviously, I can't get enough these days!

Notebook Girl

A little fact about me is that I'm a notebook girl. I started journaling regularly when I was 15, and I found it to be incredibly therapeutic since I'm a verbal processor and I didn't have siblings to mull over ideas and thoughts with. Since then I've always had a pad of paper near me to write down to-do lists, ideas, thoughts and just the random stuff you need paper for.

Picking out a little notebook is something that I always look forward to because I feel like the style or cover that I'm drawn to is a visual representation of the new season I'm about to embark on. Silly, yes, but it's just one of my sweet rare pleasures next to getting manicures or massages.

So, what I am I writing in now? A bright neon green notebook my friend Sarah got me for my birthday that says, "Designers I met and Liked." I'm definitely in that exploratory networking time , so it was perfect! =) There's a whole fun series of notebooks by Archie Grand Design like the one I have such as, "Models I met and liked," "Hipsters I met and liked," "Faux pas I made and liked," etc.

Here are some other ones I found...

I like the one on the left for the little remark about recording only on the sunny days! haha!

This middle notebook is great just because that's the season that I'm longing for most right now. I just feel drained of ideas at the moment.

And the little book on the left is just plain awesome!

Pinterest Finds

I have pretty much taken a break from my latest addiction, Pinterest, for the past month or so. I was spending WAY too much time on it. I'm finally back at it, and have found some fun new things, so I thought I'd share them with you!

How hot are these sunglasses?! I'm always keeping my eyes peeled for new shades.

One thing I'm excited for next summer is pairing neon brights with muted colors! Christian Siriano out did himself with this look.

I mentioned in my last post that Jason Wu really outdid himself. Here's proof!

I found this GORGEously styled picture on Pinterest and then fell in love with Ulyana Sergeenko. This is total inspiration crack for me.

A Conversation with Edith Head

Like many young girls, I gave Academy Award acceptance speeches in the mirror a thousand times over, and I even dreamed of winning in the category of costume design. So, naturally I've looked up to the one of the most notable costume designers that has ever lived, Edith Head, for a long time.

She was a woman that started her career in the fashion and costume industry later in life after pursuing a career in teaching, and is the MOST decorated costume designer AND most decorated WOMAN in the history of the Academy Awards with EIGHT Oscars to her name! Eat your heart out Meryl Streep!

Edith Head started as a fashion illustrator in Hollywood, and was also one of the ONLY working women in the film industry that wasn't an actress. Heck, she started working soon after women were awarded the right to vote! Then she slowly climbed her way to the top, and dressed such memorable women as Elizabeth Taylor, Bette Davis and Grace Kelly.

So, when I was given the opportunity to go see A Conversation with Edith Head produced by Actors Theatre of Phoenix I was SOOO excited! I was able to enjoy the show with my mom and Ryan. We had a spectacular time learning more about this amazing woman's life, as well as seeing the amazing actress Susan Claassen carry an entire 90 minute show herself!

I was thoroughly impressed by Claassen's stamina, energy and transformation into Edith Head. The show was just as interactive with the audience as it was educational.

If you're a woman the loves the theater, fashion and enjoys hearing about women that have gone before you to pay the way to dream big, then you NEED to go see this show! It's playing at the Herberger Theater until October 2, 2011.

Canvas Prints

So, I'm in the process of hanging things on the walls of my house, FINALLY. After several days of painting, I'm tired of staring at blank walls. One of the items that I'm so happy to hang is this 8x10 wrapped canvas that Easy Canvas Prints created for me. I wanted to make something inspiring for my office, so I decided to use a sketch by Sarah Ingham of the "paint dress," which was the project that really reminded me what my true passion has been all along - fashion.

It was working on that project with a group of architects from my old job, and then having our design win an award when I truly realized what I was missing in my life. After that moment the chase to be in the fashion started.

But, of course, I can't forget the One who I believe has given me the opportunity to pursue this passion - God. I often times forget why I'm simply breathing air today, let alone pursuing a career in styling.

So, of course, this canvas print is the perfect reminder to keep my motivated at my desk.

All I had to do was create my design, upload the file, pick what style of canvas I wanted, and then VOILA!...The canvas arrived on my doorstep.

Do you guys keep inspiring words in your work space?