Ampersand Design Studio

keep it simple: xo love letters

2012-02-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

Sometimes things just need to be kept simple! XO and LOVE by etsy shop Twisted Twig!

One day and counting until Valentine's Day. Le'ts all make a point to show our loved ones, including family and friends, how much we love them this year, deal?

trend watch: agate

2012-02-10T06:00:00.005-06:00

Aren't these beautiful? We just love the idea of incorporating natural elements inspired by or by using actual agate! The brilliant colors and natural patterning are just mesmerizing!

I'm starting to wonder what ever happened to my rock collection I had as a kid!? Hmmm....my mom will most definitely be getting a call later today. I'm positive I had about 10 purple geodes that would make perfect bookends.

-morgan

{Links: 1. Whorled Felt Rug, 2. Blue Agate Shield cuff , 3. Kelly Wearstler 20" Agate fabric by the yard (blue with lavendar) , 4. Agate Bookends, image via )

loving: alice and olivia

2012-02-09T06:00:00.001-06:00

So loving Alice and Olivia right now. Love the clothes, love the photo styling and love the colors. That photo in the upper right seems like a vintage magazine cover. Ahhhh.

on my mind: valentine's day

2012-02-08T06:00:00.003-06:00

So, I have a thing for red and white year-round so for Valentine's Day, red is on my mind, as usual. But this time, I threw in a wee bit of minty blue for good measure.
Let's hope Valentine's Day brings some sun so these Sophia Sunglasses would be appropriate. Then, how about this sweet Cerise Stamped dress?! Could anything be more fitting? And, to get me in the mood, Shakespeare's Love Sonnets which I am totally judging by its cover. This Scout bag would be the ultimate Valentine's gift for me (hint, hint to the hubby—ha!) and these Mint Tea Mini Hearts say love in a subtle way.

handmade: s'mores kit

2012-02-07T06:00:00.001-06:00

How darling is this handmade S'mores Kit idea we found over on Nice Package blog!? We stumbled upon this while looking for handmade Valentine's Day gift ideas...but the real bonus out of this was discovering the Nice Package blog! It's a project from Ez Pudewa (creator and editor of design & inspiration blog Creature Comforts) and Marichelle Burdman (creator and former editor of Heart Handmade, the home of independent design). In their own words: "Our dream for Nice Package was born out of our shared obsession for incorporating creativity in the everyday and the belief that it doesn't have to take a lot (money, time, or effort) to infuse gifts and lifestyle elements with meaninful touches of beauty.". What's not to like about that? Go check them out....and if you need anyone to test this S'mores gfit idea on....we are here for you :)

color crush: fuschia & gold

2012-02-06T06:00:00.001-06:00

We're trying a new thing with our "Color Crush" series where we selectively just pick two colors to pair together each time, joined by an ampersand, of course! So today is Fuschia & Gold! What do you think? We thought it was only appropriate for the upcoming holiday (hint, hint....Valentine's Day is now just 8 days away!)
{Links: darling stationery from 1. Sugar Paper, 2. Savon de Marseille hand soap in Wild Rose, 3. Thonet Chair in hot pink, 4. Striking Gold Dress, 5. DwellStudio gold triangles drinking glasses, 6. "Skirt the Rules" blackberry pouch by Kate Spade

Back to school: AIGA KC Portfolio Workshop

2012-02-03T10:00:00.003-06:00

We are so excited to return to Lawrence, Kansas tomorrow to speak to a group of junior and senior design students at the AIGA KC Portfolio Workshop. We've been asked to talk about blogging and networking and our journey in design thus far. This has, of course, sent us on a trip down memory lane to our early days in design at KU. We can't wait to share some insights with students whose shoes we were in not so long ago. (Ok, so if we're being honest, it was awhile ago now, but you get the idea). Any thoughts on what we should share? What do you wish you'd known when you were in college, or if you're in college now, what do you think would be helpful to learn from someone a few years ahead of you?

photo from flickr (isn't our campus pretty?!)

loving: gretel home

2012-02-03T06:00:00.001-06:00

I just stumbled onto Gretel Home by accident when I spotted this pretty tray on a page in Elle Decor. I went in search of the tray and was delighted to find this online shop brimming with lovely finds, many of which I'd never seen. There is so much more good stuff worth including here, but I forced myself to edit. So, you'd better go check it out for yourself.

on my mind: valentine's day

2012-02-02T06:00:00.001-06:00

I am in serious denial that it is already February, (really...where does the time go?), but I am accepting it and that only means one thing....the countdown to Valentine's Day is on! Whether you love it or hate it, it's just a couple of weeks away, so I'm here to sway you towards the "loving it" side! I gathered just a couple of things that caught my eye...and I might just have to do a follow-up because I have lots more to share...but for now:

1. How great is this Jonathan Adler Charade Heart Vase? love it. no pun intended.

2. This Heart Hook Pillow is not just for the Valentine's Day!

3. I couldn't help but add one of our very own Ampersand Prints in here. Besides shameless self-promo, I truly think it would be such a perfect gift for (or from) your sweetheart (we have other options than neon pink) !

4. And of course, I can hardly picture Valentine's Day without thinking of the adorable Shop Ban.do! Their famous accessories couldn't be more perfect for this holiday. Shown here: heart shoe clips.

bon appétit: red velvet cheesecake brownies

2012-02-01T06:00:00.003-06:00

Can you believe it's February?! It doesn't seem possible, but we figured we'd get in the spirit and start thinking about Valentine's treats. These little cuties from the novice chef seem like a good place to start, don't you think?

print & pattern: Moroccan inspiration

2012-01-31T06:00:00.004-06:00

oh yes, we kind of feel like we NEED both of these little numbers...although, we have to let you know right off the bat, the prices are not the most friendly. So for now, we can dream....we spotted these Sass & Bide shorts on pinterest last night and had already been dreaming of this gorgeous Agadir Twists Rug. We're thinking we might need to be sent to Morocco to get inspired for some future surface patterns, right? These are just perfection!

art & design: danielle kroll

2012-01-30T06:00:00.001-06:00

Danielle Kroll's blog series where she paints what she wore is not exactly a new find (she's been doing it since 2010), but I always love seeing her newest outfits because I think her illustration style is so fun. It makes me want to paint a little something every day.

SURTEX!

2012-01-27T06:00:00.000-06:00

In the spirit of our previous post about sharing and building more of a community here, we're excited (and terrified at the same time) to announce that we've decided to get a booth at Surtex!!! It's been a goal of ours for as long as we can remember to show our work there. For those not familiar, Surtex is a surface pattern design tradeshow where artists (and in some cases, agents) show collections of pattern designs (like ours above) in the hopes that they are selected for use on products like bedding, paper products, tabletop items (and so on). The show is in mid-May in NYC and runs at the same time, and in the same building as, the New York Stationery Show. We'll just come right out and admit that we have a LONG way to go to get ready for the show and, to that end, we are ~~kind of~~ freaking out! The to-do lists are endless and the months are quickly flying by. We don't exactly know how we're going to get it all done along with the blog, the shop, our client work and trying to have some tiny shred of a personal life on the side, but somehow we are just crazy enough to believe we can make it happen!

Unfortunately, we can't really share all of our actual patterns for the show before we present them, but we still thought it would be great to share our experience of getting ready. We also like that creating this post officially holds us accountable to get 'er done (that and the hefty deposit we put down. eeks!)

Have any of you shown at Surtex? Or is anyone else showing there for the first time? We would love to hear about your experience, if so. We'd also glady accept any general tips for staying sane in the midst of a giant project! Or a giant margarita! HA! Thanks for listening and we'll keep you posted on our progress!

on the lookout: laura parke: a girl who makes

2012-01-26T06:00:00.004-06:00

We have been so excited to share "A Girl Who Makes" because that girl just happens to be one of our dearest friends ... who also just happens to be insanely talented! It seems as if Laura has been "making things" since she was born. Or, at least since we've known her! Really! She used to always be making things in the kitchen. Cupcakes were being cranked out by the dozen on a daily basis. But the constant drive to make things extends way beyond the kitchen doors. She's a designer and a DIYer. She has never met a craft project she doesn't like. Give her a pair of scissors and a glue gun and you never know what she is going to come up with. Basically she does it all!

(The images above are the invitations, programs and door decorations from her very own wedding!)

And these are just a few examples of the many projects she's been playing with lately! Check out her new blog for some step-by-step tutorials so that you can follow along with her in making things like the pocketed placemat below!

And, of course, we had to include one of our favorite creations of Laura's: this light-up ampersand! Laura and her husband had this on display at their wedding reception. How perfect, right?

So follow along with Laura on her blog, A Girl Who Makes, or contact her if you're interested in having her make something special just for you. She likes to make neat things for nice people.

Pssst...this is also a little hint of some of the good collaborations to come on Ampersand here in the very near future!!

trend watch: a fresh take on rainbow

2012-01-25T06:00:00.006-06:00

Well, we think we've made it pretty clear that we're not afraid of color around here, so we sure are loving the influx of beautiful and sophisticated rainbows in fashion and home decor lately!

(Links: 1. Jimmy Choo Pearl Striped-Wedge Laced Sandal, 2. Alice + Olivia Shannon Printed Long Skirt, 3. refinished and reupholstered vintage chair: Jerry chair from the Divine Chair, 4. Small Leather Triangle Necklace from Leif Shop)

spotted: quill and fox cards

2012-01-24T06:00:00.000-06:00

We just stumbled onto these pretty cards by Quill and Fox on Etsy. What a sweet illustration style and there are even some Valentines in the mix. We love finding Etsy shops we haven't seen before.

Alt Summit Round-up

2012-01-23T06:00:00.063-06:00

(here we are with our good friends and roomies, Tobe of Because It's Awesome and Laura of A Girl Who Makes)

Hello there, friends! We hope you had a great weekend. We're back from Alt Summit! As you can see, we had tons of fun meeting new friends and putting faces with names for others we'd only connected with virtually before. There were so many inspiring people there and the whole mood was one of sharing ideas and advice! We are just filled to the brim with inspiration for our creative business and many great thoughts for how we can make the blog better for you, our readers! Sooo, we have some exciting new things planned (one in particular that we can't wait to share soon!!! We hope you'll love it.) More than anything, we realized that what's most important to us is building more of a community here and getting to know all of you better (yes, you....and you,....and you, too)!

For both of us, perhaps our favorite part was hearing Ben Silberman, the founder of Pinterest, talk about How Pinterest Became the Next Game Changer. He was so well-spoken and humble and above all, INSPIRING. If you follow us on twitter, you may have seen a few of his quotes that we tweeted last week, but here is a little collection of noteworthy thoughts from Ben that we thought you would enjoy:

"Be close to the people that inspire you." (For him this meant moving to be near Google and Apple and the minds that are making things happen in the technology world)

"If you don't bet on yourself, no one else will."

"Collections say so much about who you are." (one of his motivations for starting Pinterest)

"If it's not beautiful, the rest won't matter." (in discussing the process of designing the look of the Pinterest grid.)

"Move Fast and Break Things *except data *and hearts." (Pinterest Motto)

Another wonderful speaker was Gretchen Rubin, the author of The Happiness Project.

A few of her many words of wisdom:

The circular idea that there are 2 parts to happiness: one is making other people happy and the other is being happy yourself makes other people happy.

"Cram your life with the things you love." (then you don't have room for the things you don't!)

We are SO excited for all the fun things we have planned! We hope you all come along on the ride with us :)

PS--we'll share many more photos with so many friends, new and old, on facebook as we get them all compiled!

(Thanks to Method & Smilebooth and Rue La La for the fun photobooth pics!)

We're headed to Alt!

2012-01-18T09:14:00.000-06:00

Hey everyone! We just wanted to let you know that we are headed out of town to Altitude Design Summit! We're really excited to catch up with friends old and new and have two entire days dedicated to design & lifestyle blog dicussion (yes, we're pretty much going to design blogger camp. ha)! If you're going...come find us, of course!! If not...we'll see you back here on Monday. Cheers!!

(Links: birds flying via weheartit, and great polaroid photography by Grant Hamilton)

house & home: under the stairs ideas

2012-01-17T06:00:00.001-06:00

Aaaand THIS is why we love Pinterest! There are SO many great ideas for any possible project you might be working on....it's just one little search away. We are working on turning the space under our stairs into something a little more special than. well, just that space under the stairs....and with one little search ("under stairs") on Pinterest, all of these great tidbits of inspiration came up! We are turning our space into a reading nook....but I hadn't thought of a bathroom, hidden shelved, or needless to say, a bed!

(Links: reading nook, open shelving, bathroom (original source unknown), desks, firewood storage (original source unknown), hidden storage, family room, bedroom)

Happy Martin Luther King, Jr. Day

2012-01-16T14:04:00.000-06:00

Photo: Source unknown, via

weekend round-up

2012-01-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

We hope you all had a fun weekend! We both spent some quality time with our families and enjoyed some seriously beautiful weather here in KC. What did everyone else do?

art and design: sally benedict

2012-01-13T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are in love with the work of artist, Sally Benedict. Would just love to have one (or many) or her paintings hanging on the wall!

print & pattern: polyhedron angles

2012-01-12T06:00:00.000-06:00

Loving these mutli-faceted angles!! Whether it's a true polehedron shape like this awesome wooden pendant or just a pattern reminiscent of one like this charcoal and cream woven rug, we think they are a cool way to get some structured pattern into your home. What do you think?

wedding bliss: dan & melissa

2012-01-11T06:00:00.001-06:00

Something about this cheerful wedding just puts a smile on our faces in the midst of this cold winter weather! We had the pleasure of working with Dan Padavic of Vahalla Studios fame (a full service design studio and print shop – run by Dan and Tad Carpenter – located in Kansas City) on our most recent addition to our shop, (the screen printed Ampersand Series). That's when we spotted Dan's perfectly designed wedding invitations and a few of the fun collateral pieces – all laid out in neat little stacks in a metal flat file drawer in his studio. The simple design, with a vintage twist, the family illustrations (including the dogs, of course), and the tactile feel of the paper and the imprint – no detail was left untouched! So, needless to say, we were happy to stumble upon these gorgeous images from the big day, taken by none other than Eric & Neal of LemonLime Photography, on the Vahalla Studio blog! These photos just put all the rest of the pieces together in our minds! Such a happy, perfect couple — congrats guys and thanks for sharing the photos!
If you have fallen in love with this wedding as much as we did, don't hesitate to ask Vahalla to design elements of your very own wedding!

baby & kids: plan toys

2012-01-10T06:00:00.000-06:00

As new parents, we both love toys that the kiddos enjoy, of course, but it's a big bonus when we love looking at them, too. Plan Toys are the perfect combination of the two. The toys are at once timeless, fresh and great for learning. They are also really well made and hold up (even when used by active little boys). Equally important is is the way they're made: from sustainable rubberwood, non-toxic materials and green manufacturing. Plan Toys gets an A from us!

on the lookout: throw pillows

2012-01-09T06:00:00.005-06:00

Decorative pillows are a great way to give a burst of energy to a room without spending a lot. I found myself gravitating towards neutrals and saturated warm colors. There are so many fun graphic and global prints out there right now. Decisions...
links (left to right, top to bottom): Gray Suzani with Fuschia Applique Lumbar Pillow, Comalapa Brocade Pillow (the purchase of this pillow, along with many other handmade items from non-profit site, Mercado Global, helps Guatemalan women distribute their goods and provide for their families), Brasilia Diamonds Pillow, Vivacious Embroidered Pillow in pink, Set of Two Decorative Pillow Covers in Yellow Chevron, Chelsea Stripe Major Brown Pillow, Linen Stripe with Red Pillow, Hot Pink Stripe Pillow

trend watch: poms

2012-01-06T06:00:00.031-06:00

We're not sure we could possibly think of a more fun trend to be spotting...POMS! They seem to be popping up everywhere. How could you not have a smile on your face if you were sporting any of the above items or had the plate displayed on your wall?

{Links: 1. Ban.do silk chiffon pom pom duet set of bobbi pins, 2. Takes the Birthday Cake Sweater, 3. Hunter Over-the-Knee pom pom socks, 4. Hand-printed owl plate with neon poms by Artist, Lisa Grue of Underwerket , 5. Hood Loop Pom Pom scarf, 6. Ban.do silk chiffon shoe clips

baby & kids: The GLow : Rebecca Minkoff

2012-01-05T06:00:00.033-06:00

If you haven't taken a peak at The Glow before, it's time to head over – especially if you happen to be a mom or soon-to-be mom yourself! You'll find absolutely beautiful photography of fashionable and inspiring moms – you can literally feel the happiness in these photos! Alongside the photography, each featured mother shares their styling ideas, go-to gear, multitasking secrets, and, of course, you get a sneak peak into their gorgeous homes!

The above photos feature designer, Rebecca Minkoff and her sweet son, Luca! Check out all the galleries here!

loving: the museum of useful things

2012-01-04T06:00:00.002-06:00

So, it's January and time for a fresh start. For us, this means a quest for organization. Who's with us? One of the best things about getting our acts together (in addition to the high that comes from taming clutter) is cool organizational tools! The Museum of Useful Things is a great shop for simple solutions that look good and have a little nostalgic flare. Happy organizing!

color crush: grape

2012-01-03T06:00:00.000-06:00

Gray winter calls for a color infusion. Loving all shades of purple right now!
1. Style Hotline Phone in Violet 2.Designer Series Polish in Temptation 3. Petite Hutton trouser in purple wool flannel 4. Second Strand Watch in Purple 5.Cowlneck Sweater in Purnel Purple 6. Sliced Purple Faux Agate Wire Cuff 7. 8. Glass Jug Pendant

Ampersand Design Studio: Signature Series

2012-01-02T06:00:00.333-06:00

It's no secret that we love the ampersand (eh-hem, our business name). It's just the one simple symbol that can mean as much or as little as you want it to! With one single stroke, the ampersand is the mark that connects two separate elements. We both have a strong love of typography, so, we were excited to discover that the ampersand is also historically the character that a typographer can use to infuse a little more personality and playfulness into a font. Simply put, it's the character that gets to have a little more fun! What's not to love about that?!

Don't worry fellow-lovers-of-the-ampersand, we're not trying to claim ownership of the "and" symbol, by any means. We just love it in all it's different forms, so this is our little tribute to the ampersand!

So, today we are SO EXCITED to announce the official launch of our new Ampersand Signature Series!!

Whether you are a fan of the neon + neutral look, metallics, or the always bold black and white— we've got art prints and melamine platters to suit you! (Yes, we've gone ampersand crazy over here!)

We did have a few of our new items on the shop a couple of weeks ago, so if you visited then, you might've gotten a little sneak peek, but now the full Ampersand Signature Series line is live and here is a little rundown of what you can find! We've poured our hearts into these so we really hope you love them!

Neon or Metallic Limited Edition Ampersand Screenprints:

These limited edition 11" x 14" prints include ampersands in neon pink, neon yellow, gold or silver on chipboard or pale gray heavy weight paper. We are just obsessed with the way the colors pop off the neutral backgrounds! Each print also has an emboss of our logo and will be numbered in pencil at the bottom right hand corner. We teamed up with the brilliant Vahalla Studios for the screen printing and embossing of this series. Total dream team! We absolutely loved partnering with them!

These truly are limited edition, we just have 50 of each colorway—so you better scoop these up fast!

• Ampersand Screen Print – Neon Pink (11" x 14")

• Ampersand Screen Print – Neon Yellow (11" x 14")

• Ampersand Screen Print – Metallic Gold (11" x 14")

• Ampersand Screen Print – Metallic Silver (11" x 14")

Black & White Ampersand Prints:

We love seeing type and letter forms in the classic color palette of black and white—especially when they are over-sized to accentuate the positive and negative shapes! So, we are also offering 8"x 10" and 11" x 14" black and white prints. We have the singular ampersand art print but, being pattern designers at heart, we couldn't go without doing an all over surface pattern, as well! There are just SO many beautiful ampersands from various fonts that we had to give a few more of them a home. Each one in this series is printed on 100% cotton velvet fine art paper in archival pigment inks. They are so beautiful in person!

• Ampersand Art Print — Black & White (11" x 14")

• Ampersand Art Print — Black & White Ampersand Pattern (11" x14")

• Pair of Ampersand Art Prints — Black & White (two 8" x 10"s)

Melamine Ampersand Platters:

Platters — can you ever really have too many?! We think not. We are constantly using platters for entertaining and serving, but we we also can't get enough of them for decorating and displaying! So we decided to design a couple of platters that we just really wanted to own. ha! (They look particularly good together, too). But really, how perfect to serve cheese & crackers! Or to display your favorite collections?

• Ampersand Melamine Platter – Black & White

• Melamine Platter – Ampersand Pattern

We envision the silver ampersand print as a perfect engagement gift...The neon ampersands tacked up in a creative office space... The black & white print as a perfect photo prop for two besties or future husband & wife...the platters holding your collection of photobooth strips of family & friends...!

We'd love to hear how you can imagine using them!

So go check out the full new line and all the other fun goodies in the shop, too!

Cheers to fun new things for 2012! :)

—Morgan & Carrie

happy new year: happy & bright 2012

2012-01-01T12:59:00.000-06:00

happy holidays & see you next year

2011-12-22T06:00:00.000-06:00

Well, the countdown to the holidays is coming to an end and 2011 is winding down!

2011 was a really crazy, fun, and busy year for us! Each day, we have learned a little more about how to balance motherhood, taking care of a home, running a business and at the same time having a life outside of all of that! Looking back over the year though, we are really proud and happy with where we are! We've gotten to work with some absolutely amazing clients (you know who you are) and can't wait to continue those relationships into the coming years! We're SO thankful for everyone that visits our blog and shop each day--we absolutely love our readers and have had the best time getting to know so many of you!!

We've got some fun changes on the blog and new products launching in shop in the new year!!

We're going to take a little time off and hope that you are able to do the same!

We'll see you all back here on January 2nd!

Have a wondeful holiday and cheers to a Happy 2012!

-Morgan & Carrie

{advent calendar image}

holiday gift guide: guy's wishlist by zack kiefer

2011-12-21T06:00:00.079-06:00

Today is our final gift guide coming to you from my husband, Zack. We are definitely running out of time for shopping at this point, but if you are still looking for something for the always-hard-to-buy-for guys on your list, here are a few more ideas to add to the great ideas from Dan. (You'll notice there are some similarities between the two guys' lists in the booze and music departments.) Zack is an amazing gift-giver, but can be a little tougher to shop for so I am certainly happy I had a few insights straight from him to help me with my shopping this year. I'm pretty impressed with what he's rounded up here so I hope it helps you cross those last few dudes off your list.

What Zack had to say:

1. Years ago, he never put all those records of his parents' on tape, then he didn't burn them to a CD... This is a really cool turntable that converts those old albums into digital copies. Maybe this is what he need to do it this time...just maybe. Listen to that old time rock 'n' roll.

2. Typically, a man won't get too excited about a plant. A tiny tree, however, is a different story. With proper attention, this tree will outlive us all. Pretty cool.

3. A good pair of hikers is hard to find. These are waterproof so his feet will stay dry in the woods or when his wife sends him out to get coffees in the rain.

4. This ipod speaker fits in his bike's water bottle holder. This way, when he rides his bike way out there, he'll have music to motivate him to make it back home.

I love to share a little bit of Kansas City with out-of-towners. These are two local gifts that are always popular:

5. Boulevard's Double Wide IPA is corked to contain all that delicious, hoppy flavor.

6. The only problem with giving this sauce is that whomever you give it to will be sure to ask for more in the future.

7. Zombies seem to be everywhere these days. Prepare yourself for "Z" day with Max Brooks' Zombie Survival Guide

8. This whiskey is great for poker nights. It's crazy smooth.

holiday gift guide: bookworm by susan giffen

2011-12-20T06:00:00.018-06:00

I'm so excited to share a gift guide by my mom, Susan Giffen, today. I personally love giving and receiving books as gifts and I knew right off the bat that my mom was the one to go to for a literary gift guide. She is a voracious reader and happens to be a word person by trade (she was an editor for Hallmark for 25 years!) When I ask her: "Have you read_____ (fill in the blank with any book)," she rarely says no. So if you still need something for a reader on your list, here is a sampling for all different interests. Happy reading! Thanks, mom, for being our personal librarian! Love you, Carrie

Some summaries from my mom:

1. The LEGO Ideas Book by Daniel Lipkowitz
This big book of ideas is for kids (no matter the age) who still love their Legos. There are hints from Master Builders, tips on easy modifications and templates to create new and different things. The pictures in this colorful book will inspire anyone to try at least the hot air balloon or the giraffe…maybe even the 3-D mosaics. Fun.

2. What the Dormouse Said: Lessons for Grown-Ups from Children’s Books Compiled by Amy Gash
Filled with charming quotations from familiar children’s books and the not-so familiar children’s books, What the Dormouse Said offers wisdom and advice that is organized into categories such as “Eating Habits” and “Faith and Courage” and “Love and Friendship.” Mostly this book reminds adults to remember what it was like to be kids.

3. The Redbird Christmas by Fannie Flagg
Sometimes we just need a reminder of what the holiday season is supposed to be about. This sweet book, from the author of Fried Green Tomatoes and other heartwarming books, gives us just that. Filled with kind people, redemption and a hint of miracles, it will add a warm glow to your Chistmas

4. The Troubled Man by Henning Mankell
For those of you who were blown away by the Steig Larsson’s “The Girl Who” books, here’s another series from a Swedish author that offers fascinating stories and great character development. It’s best to read them in order (this the last of the ten in the series but I'd start with either The Pyramid or The Dogs of Riga.) The main character, Wallender, shows what it is to be a police inspector and keep his decency and humanity while dealing with the ugliness of life.

5. Social Q’s: How to survive Quirks, Quandaries And Quagmires of Today by Philip Galanes
Offers suggestions for what to do in situations that happen TODAY. Definitely not your grandmother’s Emily Post Etiquette book. From the popular Social Q’s column in the New York Times, Galanes answers questions about in-laws, email, dating and entertaining…and not questions like “Which fork should I use.”

6. Crooked Letter, Crooked Letter by Tom Franklin
The clever title lets the reader know that this mystery is set in Mississippi. Set in 1970, two men who were friends as children confront their pasts and the reasons they’ve been estranged for years. Poverty, racial tension, and suspicion add to the plot but the complexity of the relationship and the possibility of forgiveness and redemption are the real story and make it much more than the average "who done it."

7. When She Woke by Hillary Jordan
This is much more than a futuristic re-telling of Hawthorne’s The Scarlet Letter as it’s sometimes been called in reviews. Yes, the accused is singled out for her “sin” of abortion. But in this futuristic society, Hannah is chemically turned red and shunned like the other Chromes (different colors for different crimes). But, as she grows more confident, she begins to defy the ultra-conservative society she lives in and look realistically at the affair that resulted in her pregnancy. A great read for book clubs.

8. Baseball: An Illustrated History by Ken Burns
Anyone who loves baseball and has enjoyed the historic PBS baseball series can look forward to the upcoming new, two-part Tenth Inning. This is a companion book to all the series and includes information related to the newest Tenth Inning. It includes essays by well-known sports writers and an interview with Buck O’Neil.

holiday gift guide: guy's wishlist by dan georgie

2011-12-19T06:00:00.054-06:00

Today, I'm excited to share my husband, Dan Georgie's, actual gift wish list this year! We all know how hard the dudes can be to shop for, right? So, here are a few ideas from a real guy...I promise, these are not just suggestions from a girl for guys! They are all coming straight from him. The only thing not included on his original wish list is "power tools" because I had no idea where to even begin with finding images and, let's face it, I could've done an entire post on that neverending wishlist...so ladies, if the guy you are shopping for is a handyman, just add power tools to your list also :).

So, I hope you guys like his ideas (I happen to think he has pretty good taste) and that it helps you think of ideas for any guys you might be shopping for. Time is running out, but, it's not too late for last-minute shopping!

1. Tour of a local brewery, Dan's choice is Boulevard Brewery

2. Oban 14 year old Whiskey (or whatever his drink of choice may be)

3. Sonos Wireless sound system

4. donate or adopt an animal from your local shelter, Dan's choice is Wayside Waifs

5. Panerei watch

6. Baldwin denim

7. tickets to his favorite local team, Dan's pick is Sporting KC soccer tickets

8. The KC wool hat (sorry this is for the Kansas City locals only!)

holiday gift guide: mom's wishlist by barbara shaw

2011-12-16T06:00:00.001-06:00

We've had lots of friends stop by the blog lately for the 2011 Holiday Gift Guides, but today it's about to get even more personal! Today is the start of our gift guides done by our very own moms and husbands. We're really excited to share their fun picks, because, of course, we think they have great taste...and, to be totally transparent, this was the best way to get them to tell us exactly what they really want!! (How genius are we?) We hope it helps you all complete some of your shopping lists as well! So, thanks mom, for taking over our blog today-we sure love having you on here!

Love you,

Morgan

{Links: 1. mini accordian photo album of my grandson, 2. address embosser, 3. cashmere tee, 4. Origins GinZing Eye Cream, 5. Wusthof's Super Slicer from Pryde's Old Westport, 6. colored leather wallet/clutch, 7. tickets to any performance of the Lyric Opera at the new Kauffman Center }

holiday gift guide: home accessories by megan biram

2011-12-15T06:00:00.050-06:00

You know that friend that has ridiculously great taste and you're always asking her where she got (fill in the blank here)? And, you know the friend that always seems to find the perfect gift for you? The thing you didn't even know you wanted but now that you have it, you can't live without it? Well, Megan is both of those friends all wrapped up in one! So, clearly, we couldn't think of anyone better to share some ideas for home accessories gifts. And, yes, of course, she's done it again. We want it all. Check out her Mimi + Meg for more of this fun on a daily basis!

{Links: 1.Victoria Tulipa Candy Pink Pillow, 2. Pony Object , 3. DVF Gold Leaf Wood Square Coaster , 4. Michelle Armas painting , 5. Small Elephant Orange Bowl , 6. Chevron Drawer liners , 7. Pink Feather Pen , 8. Rib Knit Cozy Mug }

Megan's photo by Envision Studio Films

guest post: how to make a house a home

2011-12-14T12:49:00.000-06:00

hey everyone, carrie and i are over at Because It's Awesome guest-posting for Tobe today while she takes some time to get her brand new house unpacked! If you haven't already visited Because It's Awesome, just be prepared to stay a while! It is quite appropriately named as it is constantly filled with awesomeness. For real! On a daily basis, Tobe is inspiring us! Go, now! Check it out!

holiday gift guide: for couples by laura & eric linebarger

2011-12-14T06:00:00.062-06:00

We're really excited to share with you all a great round-up of gifty ideas for couples! We asked one of our favorite couples to share their wish list with us and let's just say you could add every single one of these items to our own list! Laura and Eric are ridiculously talented individuals in their own right, (Eric is a full time architect and in all his spare time, is also one half of LemonLime Photography. Laura is a graphic designer by day and cupcake baker by night), but when you put these two together, you get this super power creative couple who are just endlessly inspiring and at the same time, infinitely generous and fun to be around! We count ourselves lucky to know them!

And...geez these two have good taste, eh?

{Links: 1. 2012 Stendig Wall Calendar by Vignelli, 2. Eames Hang-It-All, 3. Made in America: our best chefs reinvent comfort food, 4. Nespresso machine with frother, 5. address stamp , 6. favorite throw , 7. Lomokino video camera , 8. picnic set }

holiday gift guide: fitness buff by darby brender

2011-12-13T06:00:00.010-06:00

We've been lucky enough to help Fusion Fitness with their design work for years now and have also experienced firsthand how amazing their workouts are (and how well they kick you into shape—in a good way). So, when we decided to include a gift guide especially for the fitness buffs out there we knew Darby would be a perfect resource! Plus, Darby and Fusion Fitness are releasing their brand new workout DVD in time for the holidays so anyone can do an intense and effective Fusion workout at home! If you want to get a head start on your New Year's resolution, head to Fusion or just pick up the DVD...or both!

From Darby:

1.Stella McCartney for Adidas Jacket (similar to the one shown)—Love her mix of materials & color

2. Adidas LA Trainers— these are the lightest shoes. They're the most comfortable and come in rad colors. To share the love, I gave a pair to all the instructors at Fusion.

3. DREAMBODY workout by Fusion Fitness... of course! This workout will change your body and change the way you look at yourself! Feel sexy, strong and confident during and after workouts!

4. lululemon Run: Inspire Crop pants—I wear these every day and love how lightweight they are and how tightly they fit

5. My Baldwin denim—I love the way my ass looks in Baldwin Denim (*when you work it like Darby, the bonus is that you look amazing in your jeans!)

6.Dre Beats headphones—The best sound quality $$ can buy. These pups get me through a workout on my own! got white, but now I am lovin' the pink & orange. Might be time to get a new pair:)

holiday gift guide: kansas city edition by lindsay laricks

2011-12-12T11:53:00.002-06:00

Okay! We are not even sure how to introduce the goodness coming your way today. We asked the crazy-talented Lindsay Laricks to put together ideas for shopping local in Kansas City and we were blown away by what she sent us (including photos snapped by Lindsay herself)! Lindsay is the owner of Fresher than Fresh Snow Cones here in KC where she sells 100% natural snow cones (no artificial colors or flavors in these beauties) in an array of gourmet flavors (blackberry & lavender and lemon prickly pear, to name just a few of our faves). Fresher than Fresh comes to you from a darling mint green and white vintage Shasta trailer with a friendly, light-up snow cone named Snowie on top. She also sells ready-made snow pops in the same great flavors (plus additional exciting combos) at Hammerpress in case you're craving the FTF experience when the trailer isn't out and about. We are getting excited, too, because Lindsay has a new venture in the works and is getting ready to open a brick and mortar location to take her concept to the next level. Stay tuned for more info on this front! SO, on to the gift guide..Lindsay has uncovered treasures of Kansas City that even 2 KC veterans didn't know about and we are thrilled. For everyone in KC, your shopping just got way easier and for those outside of the area, many of these spots do online commerce and/or delivery. Check out these shop details and enjoy:

BON BON ATELIER
314 Westport Road  Kansas City, MO 64111
(816) 756-0855
www.bonbonatelier.com

ODDLY CORRECT COFFEE
3934 Main St. Kansas City, MO 64111
www.oddlycorrect.com

AMBROSI BROTHERS
3023 Main Street  Kansas City, MO 64108-3323
(816) 756-3030

CULINARY CENTER OF KANSAS CITY
7917 Foster Street  Shawnee Mission, KS 66204
(913) 341-4455
www.kcculinary.com

STUDIO DAN MEINERS
2500 West Pennway Kansas City, MO 64108
816-542-2488
www.danmeiners.com

SWEET DREAMS ARTISAN DELIGHTS
828-243-2513

HAMMERPRESS
110 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City MO 64108
816-421-1929
www.hammerpress.net

TUFBOY Pop Up Shop at Hammerpress
Located in the center of Hammerpress:
110 Southwest Boulevard, Kansas City MO 64108

PRYDE’S OF WESTPORT
115 Westport Road  Kansas City, MO 64111-2285
(816) 531-5588
www.prydeskitchen.com

bookshelf: alexander girard

2011-12-12T09:51:00.000-06:00

So, for those of you out there who loved the Charlie Harper retrospective that Todd Oldham put out a few years ago, you will be happy to see that Oldham has just taken on the iconic Alexander Girard in a 15 pound, 672 page stunner! This book covers the prolific and diverse work of Girard in a way no other book has done in the past. If you're looking for a WOW gift for a designer in your life (named Carrie or Morgan) you will get huge brownie points with this one. Also, be sure to check out this video about the book.

print & pattern: angles

2011-12-09T11:04:00.000-06:00

Just in case you are already done with your holiday shopping, we wanted to give you a little break with some print & pattern eye candy. Not that we wouldn't like to have both of these for gifts, as well! Happy Friday everyone!
{Links: Andrew Hamilton Crawford Prism Bangle, Angles Pillow}

holiday gift guide: for the college student by Sara Allison

2011-12-09T06:00:00.079-06:00

We're so excited to have Sara Allison, from Real Life 101, here to give us some gift ideas for the college student! We completely look to Sara for college-kid expertise because she is one half of the power duo that developed a business all about teaching students real world lessons so they don't have to learn the hard way (ummm, wishing Real Life 101 was around when we were in college, that's for sure)! If you want to learn more about their company, check it out here. And enjoy her great round-up of gifts!

{Links: For the Guys: 1. Birchbox for Men: a limited edition collection of luxury items for men delivered to your student’s door each month- fun surprise! This one includes Field Notes Mixed 3-Pack and Jack Black double duty face moisturizer 2. Wooden Cell Phone Case 3. BirchBox: 4-5 luxury beauty samples delivered to your student’s door each month. This one includes: kate spade new york Twirl perfume, ban.do mini pom pom set, and Stila Holiday Daydream Palette. 4. Monogrammed Cell Phone cover (choose from several design options, fonts and colors), 5. Pad of Money. What college student doesn’t need money? Give it to them in a unique way! REAL MONEY but turned into a pad- you can ask your local bank to get this for you with fresh money. My dad used to give these to me every year in my stocking, and he just got it at the bank in advance. 6. Restaurant or Gas gift cards: A restaurant is sure to be a treat for your college student after all of that cafeteria and dorm food and with the price of fuel, a gift card is a huge help—and some have been known to use these for a road trip. (Another gift from my parents that I loved). 7. Collegiate Apparel at Old Navy: What college student doesn’t love a great logoed apparel item to show their school spirit?}

holiday gift guide: for the fashion maven by Jessie Artigue

2011-12-08T06:00:00.001-06:00

For all of you out there that need to shop for a girlfriend, sister, daughter, or any other gal in your life that just seems to be her very own trendsetter....we commissioned Jessie Artigue of Style & Pepper to give us her top fashion picks! Besides her blog that started as a street style blog (and turned into much more), Jessie is also a personal stylist. Yes, that's right-you can hire her to come in and do a closet makeover or wardrobe styling! Not to mention she does visual merchandising and even on-air style segments! She does it all and we are lucky to have her share her favorite picks with us today. Is it wrong to want all of them?

{Links to Jessie's Holiday Wishlist: 1.Karen Walker Sunnies in Crystal Orange, 2. Belle Noel Mini Dagger Collar Necklace in Gold, 3. Deborah Lippman Between the Sheets Nail Polish, 4. Stylebop Saloni Dress, 5. Marc by Marc Jacobs Panther Cuff, 6. Asos Faux Fur Coat, 7. MICHAEL Michael Kors Medium Travel Tote in Turquoise, 8. Nathan Heels by L.A.M.B. }

holiday gift guide: gifts for the foodie by christopher elbow

2011-12-07T06:00:00.004-06:00

Let me just introduce our fourth gift guide with a little story of our love for Christopher Elbow Chocolates. When Morgan and I worked at Hallmark, there was a phase (I won't disclose how long this phase lasted) during which we would walk across the street every day to the candy counter at Halls (a department store here in Kansas City) to satisfy our craving for his Fleur de Sel Turtles. We were addicted (and still are, let's be serious). Chris is a true artist (the image of his chocolates above speaks for itself). Last year, he gave us one more reason to love living and eating in Kansas City when he opened his glacé artisan ice cream shops (if you've been following the blog for awhile, you might remember this post about it). Chris is not only the ultimate foodie, he is a genuinely nice guy to boot! And now, on to Chris' great ideas for your own foodie...

From Chris:

Being foodies, we love to send (and receive....hint, hint!) specialty food's from around the country and world to friends and family for holiday gifts. Here are a few that we order from regularly:

Katz's Deli, NY-Pastrami!!!! You can get it whole or sliced (I prefer the whole and steam it for a couple hours, it becomes super tender). It comes with a loaf of rye bread, pickles and mustard. It is the best pastrami ever! www.katzsdelicatessen.com

La Tienda: Spanish Specialites including the famous Iberico Ham, great Chorizo and traditional seafoods packed in olive oil. www.tienda.com

Lou Malnati's Pizza, Chicago: If you are a fan of Chicago style deep dish pizza (and don't live in Chicago), then this will give you your fix. I usually prefer thin, NY style pizza but Lou Malnati's is my favorite Chicago style pizza. You can order all the different combinations and they arrive frozen. They actually bake up very well in your oven. The sausage is my favorite! www.loumalnatis.com

Jack Stack, KC: If you live in KC, what better to send to your friends and family than Kansas City BBQ. I have sent ribs and brisket to people accross the country and it is always a huge hit.

D'Artagnan: If you want to serve something extravagant, or give a gift for the serious foodie, look no further. D'Artagnan carries pates, fois grois and truffles among other things. They have been a long time supplier to 4-star restaurants across the country and now you can get the same products delivered directly to your home! www.dartagnan.com.

Salumi Cured Meats, Seattle: For the best artisan cured salamis and meats, this place is the way to go. The salami's are made by Mario Batali's father, Armando Batali with traditional family recipes. My favorite, the Finocchiona, is spiced with cracked fennel, black pepper, and a touch of curry. Also great is the Mole, uniquely spiced with chocolate, cinnamon, ancho and chipotle peppers. These are great to slice thin and put out before your holiday meal with cheeses and olives. www.salumicuredmeats.com

Of course I can't not include Christopher Elbow Chocolates. A box of our chocolates makes the perfect gift for the person who has everything! We can ship them anywhere in the US. www.elbowchocolates.com.

holiday gift guide: handmade gifts by Jeanee Duval

2011-12-06T06:00:00.000-06:00

We are so happy to bring Jeanee Duval of Dirty Laundry to you for day three of our gift guides. Jeanee writes a super-inspiring blog and is a gifted craft maven with her own shop so we knew she was the one to ask for her take on handmade gifts for the holidays. She has officially made buying handmade easy! {Links: 1. Hazelnut Chocolate Whisky Sandwich Cookies, 2. Golden Grass Wide Bangle, 3. Midnight Black Doily, 4. Cinnamon Sugar Cupcake Bath Fizzie ( these adorable bath fizzies and many other flavors are from Jeanee's own Dirty Laundry Etsy shop & we can personally attest that they all smell amazing), 5. Bamboo Heart Stud Earrings 6. Tonic 02: Tahitian Vanilla Bean & Egyptian Chamomile Blossom Matured Maple Syrup 7. XL Organic Reusable Vegetable Bag in Paisley}

holiday gift guide: for the lettering-lover by Tobe Reed

2011-12-05T06:00:00.001-06:00

On day number two of our Holiday Gift Guide series, we are excited to bring to you Tobe Reed of Because It's Awesome!! Tobe's got insanely great taste all around, but being a lettering designer, she has honed her eye for all things typographic and hand-lettered! So, for all of you out there searching for gifts for the designer-type, Tobe has just saved your day!

{Links: 1. Alphabet Letter paperweights, 2. Alphabet Cookie Cutters Tin, 3. large monogram necklace, 4. Rebecca Minkoff "Drinks on Me" pouch, 5. Diamond in the Rough print (psst...this is from Tobe's very own shop--make sure you check it out!! ), 6. Monogrammed Mugs, 7. Helveticards }

holiday gift guide: for the host by Camille Styles

2011-12-02T06:00:00.038-06:00

Alright, everyone, it's that wonderful time of year! The holidays are fast-approaching and over the next couple of weeks, we are here to help you by providing our awesome readers with some perfectly-picked gift guides put together by people who know what they are talking about (you'll see what we mean).

To kick-start the Holiday-Gift-Guide-A-Palooza that's about to happen on here, we have the fabulous Camille Styles!!!

Camille Styles is the founder and editor of lifestyle blog camillestyles.com, where she shares the creative entertaining ideas that inspire her parties and her life. Camille is also a regular lifestyle contributor to HGTV.com and the host of HGTV’s new mobile party planning app. Her modern aesthetic and eye for detail come together to create parties that are simply chic and all about fun.

We couldn't be more thrilled to be able to share Camille's picks for hostess gifts...or, let's just admit, these are fabulous gifts for any reason!

{Links: 1. Rifle Paper Co. thank-you's, 2. Hobnail Pitcher , 3. Le Creuset Stoneware, 4. Mercury owls, 5. Pink Himalayan Salt, 6. 'lette macarons, 7. Kiva Platters in Rose, 8. Vintage Cocktails book }

loving: 31 bits

2011-12-01T06:00:00.005-06:00

We were so happy to learn of this AMAZING company, 31 Bits. It was started by 5 college students after one of them traveled to Uganda. The concept of their company:

"31 Bits is a business using fashion and design to empower women to rise above poverty. We believe that business is one of the most powerful and sustainable approaches to turning scarcity into abundance, and eventually, alleviating poverty completely.
We are currently working with 63 women in Gulu, Uganda. We’ve combined successful development approaches with current design and fashion to create an innovative program for our women. We purchase jewelry from each woman on a monthly basis, providing them with an immediate, consistent, and fair income. Each piece of jewelry is handmade using 100% recycled paper and other local materials. By selling these products in the international market, we are able to generate a profit that is used to continue purchasing jewelry for our beneficiaries, as well provide them with numerous development programs, equipping them to develop a career and attain social equity on a local level. We are committed to working with each woman until she has graduated from our program and attained a sustainable means of income within her own community."

The program includes all aspects of the women's well-being: health and caring for the needs of the many women in the program who are living with AIDS (today is World AIDS day), English lessons and financial and vocational training and community groups so the women are constantly surrounded by support.

We are so happy to help spread the word about a company that is doing so many great things for women, for the world, for the environnment (with the use of sustainable materials) among other things. It is beyond inspiring. Be sure to watch the video to learn more about the program. It made my week when I watched it. AND, on top of being a wonderful cause, the jewelry itself is beautiful, creative, and reasonably priced, to boot. OK, we'll stop gushing now and let you get to shopping!

baby & kids: jonathan adler

2011-11-30T06:00:00.002-06:00

So, it is no secret that we're huge fans of Jonathan Adler (see some evidence of our love here) , so the only question is: Why didn't he team up with Skip Hop back when we were diaper bag shopping? All you ladies who are pregnant right now or have tiny babes, just count yourself as having great timing. The bags hit stores December 5th.

handmade holiday: advent calendar for adults

2011-11-29T06:00:00.010-06:00

Isn't this so sweet? We always think of the kiddos needing a countdown to the holidays, but what about the grown-ups? Who says we don't need a little anticipation leading up to the big day?! We stumbled upon this sweet idea from Jordan Ferney of Oh Happy Day in the Anthology Holiday Guide 2011 and just had to share! (Psssst...head over to Oh Happy Day for some FREE (and really cool-looking) DIY advent calendars--check them out below!! You can thank us later)

spotted: donna wilson, illustrated cards

2011-11-28T06:00:00.002-06:00

Sometimes I'm in the mood to be not so over-the-top Christmas-y and these darling illustrated cards seem like they have just the right amount of holiday cheer! They come in a set of 5 and each pack contains 5 different cards - Oh deer, Use my beard to keep you cozy, Eskimo Girl, Wolfie and Olive Owl. Cute, eh?

Get them here!

black friday

2011-11-25T16:52:00.000-06:00

There was no black shopping for this girl as I am not a big fan of fighting crowds, but I did think it would be fun to round up some black items today.
1. When the Night Comes Dress, 2. Black Love Pillow 3. Black Patent Leather Proudly 4. Ribbed Globe Vase, 5. Paradoxical Sweater 6. Easy Reader Watch

happy thanksgiving!

2011-11-24T06:00:00.003-06:00

Happy Thanksgiving! We have so many reasons to be thankful this year and we thought we'd share just a few of them. We also want to thank YOU for visiting our blog and we hope you have a wonderful holiday if you are celebrating it and wish you safe travels and comfy waistbands.

on the lookout: scarves, scarves & more scarves

2011-11-23T06:00:00.001-06:00

I don't think I can have enough scarves. Seriously! It's that time of year where we live--it's chilly and I just want to be bundled up all of the time--so scarves become my new uniform! Any one of these sure would sure be a nice addition to the wardrobe!

{ Links: 1. Million Stripes loop scarf, 2. Gauze Tie-Dye scarf in blue, 3. Yarnz Nest scarf, 4. DVF Pom-Fringe Rochelle scarf }

on my mind: thanksgiving

2011-11-22T06:00:00.001-06:00

Ok, yes, Thanksgiving is on my mind and although I am not actually hosting this year either, I just had to put together my dream Thanksgiving table, and...to go along with that, a dream ensemble pour moi! Now, who's ready for pie? me, me, me!!
(If you missed it, here is Carrie's Thanksgiving "on my mind")
Links:
Dressing the Table: salt & pepper cellars (Shop Terrain), David Stark wood slices dinnerware (West Elm), mini creamers (Leif), fruit pinch bowl (Shop Terrain), thrown stoneware tray (Shop Terrain), Peace & Love needlepoint coaster set (Jonathan Adler), pig butter dish (Jonathan Adler).
Dressing Myself: Coat with Fold Over Collar (Asos), Tom Ford nail lacquer in Coral Blame, yellow enamel stud earrings (Asos), Tourmaline necklace (Leif), Striped Scarf (Michael Kors), Greer suede wedge ankle boots (J.Crew).

spotted: notebook paper quilt

2011-11-21T06:00:00.003-06:00

OK, so this custom quilt from Cornflower Blue on etsy is so darling that I seriously struggled with whether to post it. On the one hand, it's too cute not to share, but on the other, I didn't know if I should really give this idea out knowing that I would like to use it as a gift idea myself. Well, internal struggle resolved. The only thing: if you have a baby and get a notebook paper quilt from me, just act surprised, ok? (It would be pretty great as a wedding gift as well!)

on my mind: thanksgiving

2011-11-18T06:00:00.004-06:00

Thanksgiving is most definitely on my mind. It's my favorite holiday and I can't wait! The stuffing, the pie, the football, the Macy's day parade. Yes, yes, yes and yes. I've been daydreaming about comfy but fun outfits & although we're not hosting it this year, it's fun to design a festive table in my head anyway.
dressing myself: Cropped jacket, Mona Leather pumps in dusty clay, Wishbone Necklace
dressing the table: Chilewich Rectangular Faux Bois Placemats, Bronze Age Flatware, Thanksgiving Napkin Rings, Lettered Wine Carafe/ White, Lettered Wine Carafe/ Red

In Honor of Design's Holiday Gift Guide 2011

2011-11-17T09:02:00.004-06:00

We are super honored to be featured in another gift guide! In Honor of Design's, Anna has put together a wonderful collection of unique, affordable and really thoughtful gift ideas for everyone you need to shop for in her Holiday Gift Guide 2011! Seriously, she is making the holidays a lot easier for all of us! She's got amazing taste which makes us all the more flattered to be featured in her "Little Finds" section--see our Animal Print in the upper left hand corner? We're among some great company and couldn't be happier to be a part of it! Thanks for the feature, Anna, and thanks for doing so much great shopping for all us!!

Go check it out right here!

spotted: inspiration boards

2011-11-17T06:00:00.000-06:00

We could look at other people's inspiration boards all day long! Both of us keep big pin boards up right by our desks that have been collecting all sorts of inspiration over time....but it's also just the perfect way to get your mind around decorating a new room or any project, including planning your future travels--love that one! Do you guys do this? We'd love to see some of your boards and hear about what's on your mind!

{Links: 1: via songofstyle, (original source unknown), 2. rue magazine, 3. Vahalla Studios via Lemon Lime Photography, 4. Leslie Shewring of A Creative Mind via Herman Miller, 5. via becoming lola 6. via decor8 7. clipboards as wall art, 8. via desire to inspire }

art & design: hand lettering by sarah watson

2011-11-16T06:00:00.000-06:00

Now, who wouldn't LOVE to get something that looked like this in the mail!!! This hand-lettering is just gorgeous and simply fun! Sarah Watson is one talented girl! Check out her site and order yourself some custom hand-lettering!

pretty package: anthropologie holiday

2011-11-15T06:00:00.005-06:00

Apologies right off the bat for the crummy editing job here; there was just too much good stuff that was hard to omit. I am so excited to see Anthropologie's gift wrap for the holidays! Every year I promise myself that I will get my shopping done reasonably early to leave myself time to enjoy wrapping my gifts. Instead, I always find myself stuffing them in gift bags on Christmas Eve. This is especially ridiculous because Morgan and I both designed gift wrap for almost 10 years and genuinely love wrapping gifts and making them pretty. These gorgeous wraps and fun trims might be enough to make me actually stick to my yearly promise for once. (Please, check out the stitched wrap and notebook paper stitched tags! Oh, and the jute wrap and vintage stamps....?!?! Seriously...!) Happy wrapping.

picture perfect: autumn

2011-11-14T06:00:00.004-06:00

These photos depicting little bits of autumn just feel moody and fitting for a monday morning. Enjoy!
from: tumblr, tiny white daisies tumblr, brown dress with white dots tumblr, seasonal-love tumblr, pinterest, tulips and flight suits, image spark

on the lookout: pendants with personality

2011-11-11T06:00:00.002-06:00

In our dream world, we would have a place for multiple pendant lights in every single room and these are the ones we'd like to start with! Fun, eh? :)

{Links: 1. Reeves Large Polished Nickel Glass Pendant, 2. Currey and Company Parker Pendant, 3. utility chartreuse pendant lamp, 4. PXL Pendant Light, 5. Coral Lightshade 400 Pendant Lamp, 6. Nelson Saucer Pendant Lamp, 7. Jamie Young Lighting Pendant Large Cone, 8. E27 Pendant Light, 9. Currey and Company Lowell Pendant, 10. Satellite Chandelier, 11. Iacoli and McAllister Frame Pendant Lamp , 12. Pharos Modern Pendant Light, 13. Oilo Striped Taupe Cylinder, 14. Osgood Iron Pendant, 15. Ivanhoe Sinclair Industrial Porcelain Pendant, 16. Produzione Privata Acquatinta Pendant Lamp-Silver }

print & pattern: overlapping organic shapes

2011-11-10T06:00:00.001-06:00

we heart this little pairing. aren't these overlapping organic shapes just nice to look at? pretty sure every day would be happy if we had either of these in our home!
{Links: Chromata print by Laura Berman (of Kansas City-our hometown!!), dipped set of plates from sydneys}

wedding bliss: vera wang

2011-11-09T09:07:00.001-06:00

So, a black wedding dress is untraditional for sure, but Vera Wang is going there in her 2012 bridal collection. The shapes and textures are amazing and they are pure beauty, but the big question is...would you wear a black wedding gown? How about nude (another big color in the group)? We're curious to hear. Images via InStyle

on the lookout: boots

2011-11-08T06:00:00.002-06:00

One thing to look forward to with the cooler weather: BOOTS! There are a ton of cute ones to choose from this season in all different heights. Some of our faves: 1. Intyce Boot in Wine Leather, 2. Madras Boot in Cobblestone Suede 3. Radar Boot in Anthracite Suede 4. Mavenue Boot 5. Wish High Boot in Forest 6. Foxglove Boots 7. Pilar Bootie in Taupe

trend watch: glitter

2011-11-07T06:00:00.027-06:00

Glitter!!! gold, silver, even rainbow flecks of sparkly, shiny glitter are showing up everywhere! It's almost like the six-year-old-version-of-myself has just been waiting for this level of pure sparkly fun to be acceptable for the adult-me!! Fashion, home decor, and beauty are all jumping on the glitter train! So, let's all come aboard, and don't save the glitz for something fancy! Wear a sparkly bag with rolled up jeans. Wear glittery nails (or nail) during the day, and use the sparkly measuring spoons for breakfast!

{Links: 1. Ritchie Embellished Dress by Alice and Olivia , 2. Kate Spade New York Charm Heel, 3. J.Crew skinny glitter belt, 4. Deborah Lippmann "Happy Birthday" Glitter Nail Polish , 5. Deborah Lippman "Boom Boom Pow" Gold Glitter Nail Polish, 6. Glitter teaspoon set from Leif, 7. Glitter Platform from Elle.com via pinterest, 8. Kate Spade New York Sparkly Missy bag }

Emily Henderson's holiday guide 2011

2011-11-04T06:00:00.089-05:00

Ok, so we all know about Emily Henderson, right? The über-talented stylist that won HGTV's Design Star, season 5, and now hosts her very own (awesome) show called Secrets From A Stylist?! We hope you are nodding yes. If you haven't been following her yet...it's time to start! Check out her blog and her show--besides being a really inspring stylist with a keen sense of individual style, she just kinda seems like a funny, sweet girl that we just want to go grab a drink with!

SO...what we have to share with you today is her oh-so-perfect 2011 Holiday Guide! It is 238 pages of holiday ideas! We're mostly excited about the over 400 hand-picked gift ideas for her, him, dad, mom, boss, tween, kid, pet, etc!!!! And, get this, every single gift idea is hyper-linked so you can just click on it and be taken directly to the site to purchase! (we love anything that makes holiday shopping easier)! PLUS there's tons of non-gift related "original content from a bunch of extremely smart, witty, talented, funny, creative and diverse bloggers". Check out the impressive list of contributors here, on the opening pages, and below!

So, needless to say, we were SO THRILLED and FLATTERED to find one of our very own prints from our etsy shop featured in the "Kids' Decor" section!!!!!! Seriously, we are on the same pages as some of our biggest idols and favorite shops (Dwell Studio, West Elm, Terrain, Design Public, 20x200...and so many more), hand-picked by some of our all time favorite bloggers and taste-makers!! I won't go into the details of the squealing that was happening over the phone, but, let's just say we were pretty excited!

So, if you are starting to think about the holidays...it's time to check out the Holiday Guide!! Seriously, it's going to be our one stop shop this holiday season--we love that it even covers the hard-to-shop-for categories (ahem, teens & dads)!

So, here's BIG THANK YOU to Emily Henderson and all of her awesome contributors listed here:

bon appétit: reese's martini

2011-11-03T06:00:00.004-05:00

this is not to say that we aren't perfectly happy eating candy the old fashioned way, but this little recipe involves Reese's peanut butter cup-infused vodka. Intriguing!

bookshelf: handmade holiday crafts

2011-11-02T06:00:00.003-05:00

We are feeling like Martha's new book, Handmade Holiday Crafts, is a must for the bookshelf! There are so many projects in here and great illustrated how-to's. There is even a buying guide for everything you need to get crafty. This seems like the perfect book for when you have some time on your hands and some spare coffee filters you need to use... Martha to the rescue. (side note: we aren't getting paid a penny by Martha. :) )

we heart kansas city: kate spade store grand opening

2011-11-01T06:00:00.060-05:00

(pssst....those our our feet!!)

This past weekend Carrie and I attended the grand opening of our very own Kate Spade store right here in Kansas City on the Country Club Plaza!! As many of you know, Kate is actually from KC, so, needless to say, this has been a long awaited opening! Our dear friend Megan Biram of Mimi + Meg co-hosted this little shin-dig and really helped make it a truly Kansas City event! The insanely gorgeous photos above were taken by another dear friend, Eric, of the awesome duo Lemon Lime Photography! Seriously, these guys are insanely talented! Yet another bestie, Tobe Reed (of Because it's Awesome), and Melanie Bridges, both lettering designers from Hallmark Cards, were on hand to customize Kate Spade totes with a hand-lettered rendition of your name (wishing we had photos of those-but we will share when we find some)! And, last but definitely not least--those beautifully bright French macarons in the photo above? Those are from my very own mom, Barbara Shaw! If you want some of your very own macarons and you live in KC, you contact her at bonmacaronkc@gmail.com. (her website is not quite up yet)

Now, of course, we couldn't help but do a little bit of shopping while we were there...so here is a special little playing favorites! Lots of the things we really loved were only in store and not online yet, so we couldn't get images to share, so definitely go to the store to find even more goodies (321 Nichols Road, Kansas City, MO)!

And, of course, really the best part is getting to hang out with friends-old and new! Here we are hanging out with two ridiculously stylish KC girls: Jessie Artigue of Style & Pepper and Melanie Knopke of The Shopping Scout (thanks to Melanie for this photo)! Carrie and I both forgot our cameras that night (I know, shame on us), but we will share more pics as we can get our hands on them!)

(Links: everyting in "playing favorites" available on katespade.com, and if you haven't already visited, you should probably check out the kate spade tumblr)

happy halloween 2011

2011-10-31T06:00:00.008-05:00

Of course we couldn't resist sharing these pattern-covered pumpkins for Halloween! If only we would've been so creative with our own this year! Hope you all have a great Halloween!

These awesome pumpkins are from Alisa Burke's blog.

spotted: tom's holiday 2011

2011-10-28T06:00:00.010-05:00

Tom's is one of our favorite companies and their mission is so inspiring to us. Not to mention, the style of their shoes just keeps getting better and better. The holiday 2011 collection is no exception (we selected our fave picks above). We are just debating which ones we want first. No matter which pair you choose, a pair is donated to a child in need. That gets us in the holiday spirit!

halloween: sweet treats

2011-10-27T09:17:00.000-05:00

We think the best part of Halloween is all the sugar so we're dreaming of all these sweet treats. Which ones to make over the next few days...?
Witch Legs Cupcake, Easy Pumpkin Cupcakes, Poison Apple, Orange Jack-o'-Lanterns with Sorbet, Halloween Spider Cupcake, Owl Cupcakes, Candy Corn Cheesecake Mousse, Candy Corn Cupcakes

trend watch: dipped

2011-10-26T06:00:00.000-05:00

We can't get enough of the the color-dipping trend!! Wooden stools dipped in brights? Woven baskets dipped in crisp white? Silver serving pieces taking on a new life in matte color? We want it all!

Links: 1. chain dipped in pink, 2. retro mix set of 4 servers, 3. color dipped mug , 4. white-dipped square baskets, 5. canvas overnight bag , 6. milking stool, 7. dip dyed business cards (originally from ohhappyday)

house & home: our picks from west elm

2011-10-25T06:00:00.000-05:00

Yes, we love ourselves some West Elm! We can't help it. They continue to reinvent themselves and we are always wanting more of what they have to offer...and no, we do not get paid for posting about our obsession...we're just speaking from the heart! Although, if there were a such thing as "west elm dollars", we would accept that as payment from here on out :)

But really, I do happen to have a West Elm store credit burning a hole in my pocket right now, so I have been cruising around on their site and just wanted to share some favorites. Hope you enjoy, too!

-Morgan

Links: 1. perch glass table lamp, 2. gem mirror, 3. marquis rug, 4. Offset bench, 5. tripod wood floor lamp, 6. favorite throw, 7. chevron shower curtain, 8. ryder rocking chair

weekend round-up

2011-10-24T06:00:00.000-05:00

Happy Monday! Where the heck did the weekend go? It just flew by. Anyway, here are a few snapshots of how we spent our precious Saturday & Sunday. Hope you all had time for some fun, too!

art & design: scott albrecht

2011-10-21T06:00:00.001-05:00

We discovered artist, Scott Albrecht, on Little Paper Planes and were drawn to his work because it is just happy and he has some mad type skills!

baby & kids: Shaw's 1st Birthday party

2011-10-20T06:00:00.000-05:00

Since we decided to share a little more of what's going on in our personal lives on the blog, I just couldn't help but share some photos of my son, Shaw's, 1st birthday celebration from a couple of weeks ago! Our "little monster" probably had no idea that the entire day was centered around him, but it seemed like he had a great time....other than the cake part, that is. Apparently, he was not a fan of everyone standing around singing to him and then being coerced into tasting cake. We hadn't really given him any sugar until this point, so I envisioned him falling in instant love with cake (he is my son after all), but that was not the case at all! In fact, he looked sort of terrified of it. So, we quickly moved him away from the monster cake and back to playing with his buddies and all was good again. Whew!

I found so many fun ideas for his little party on pinterest, so I just wanted to share some of my inspiration! So fun to see everyone else's brilliant ideas and then put your own spin on it! So, how do you like my first birthday cake for my son? I was a little scared to tackle it. I had lots of help from my mom who is a master-baker! I found the cake idea here and instead of cake balls for the eyes (which I attempted and it was a total disaster), I used marshmallows! I had seen the idea for the high chair decoration years ago and just thought it was so amazing and fun! I've pinned it here on pinterest for you all to see, too! And...thankfully, there are some other crazy parents out there throwing monster parties, and I found this game idea!

on my mind: going apple-picking

2011-10-19T06:00:00.001-05:00

I love fall and all the activities that go along with it and this year I have been obsessed with finding a great apple orchard! I have such fun memories of picking apples with my parents when I was a kid, so it's nothing but smiles when I daydream about returning. So, here's my perfect fall saturday; outfit, snacks and all :)

{ emerald AG jeans, the collector's charm: vintage ladder, picnic illustration by Ben Javens, cece suede ballet flats in retro lemon, structured stem willow bag by orla kiely, yellow ocean jasper cuff, selvedge chambray shirt, apple cider served in an apple, strongbow cider beer }

bookshelf: the exquisite book

2011-10-18T06:00:00.001-05:00

This book is a new must for the bookshelf. It is a play on the Surrealist game, the exquisite corpse. One hundred artists, illustrators and designers participated in making of the book. According to the website, "Each artist contributed one page to the book. The first artist was given a few words to inspire their drawing. Each of the following artists only saw the page that immediately preceded their own. Each artist used images (and optionally, words) to create the continuation to the story, and the inspiration for the next artist in line.

Besides continuing the story of the last artist, there is another, more visual, connection between the pages. Each artist had a horizon line in their image that starts on the left side of the page and ends on the right. Where the horizon line of the first artist’s page ends, is where it begins for the next artist.

Each artist was given two weeks to complete their page. The process took approximately five months.

Several of the pages are also available as prints here.

handmade: boo and boo factory

2011-10-17T06:00:00.001-05:00

There are so many pieces to love at Boo and Boo Factory on Etsy that it was hard to edit. The cool fringed leather and geometric shapes are so unique and then there's the color...Ahh!

etsy shop giveaway WINNER!

2011-10-14T11:07:00.000-05:00

art & design: fonts by PintassilgoPrints

2011-10-14T06:00:00.036-05:00

ok, graphic designers...have you been looking for some casual fonts with handmade feel? Well we were too, so it's your lucky day, we want to share what we found! We stumbled about a bunch of fonts by PintassilgoPrints at Myfonts.com! Aren't they fun? We're picturing food packaging, café and bakery identities, even some beauty products!

Here's a little blurb about the type foundry:

"PintassilgoPrints is a digital type foundry based in Vitória, Brazil, run by Ricardo Marcin and Erica Jung. With a strong background in handprinting techniques and a long time love of typography and lettering, they have been developing a consistent and original font library, with typefaces that mostly reflects a vigorous handmade feel."

{The fonts shown above are: Populaire, Berimbau, and Amarelinha)

trend watch: surprise stitching

2011-10-13T06:00:00.026-05:00

We've noticed a subtle little trend popping up: stitching or embroidery popping up in surprising places! And it's not in excess,in fact, just the opposite...it's just a tiny little hint paired with materials that aren't usually mixed with textiles at al! It's so fun and whimsical, and a cool way to add a little warmth and texture to an otherwise flat or hard surface! It's kind of making us want to go around the house adding some stitching to things, but we have a feeling that it won't quite look as cool as the images above :)

{Links: 1. wedding programs, 2. threaded pendant light , 3. mirror with textile wrapped edge, 4. paper embroidery via alittlehut}

on my mind: fall fun

2011-10-12T06:00:00.003-05:00

We've decided to mix things up a bit here on the ol' blog with some new types of posts. One thing we thought would be fun is to each create a little round-up of things we're each searching for, liking and just daydreaming about once in a while. For my first "on my mind," it was easy to decide on a theme: fall. It's my favorite season by far and I love everything that comes with it. Soon, holiday season will be upon us and I would love to bring a covered dish to a fall party in this little beauty (spoon's included...love it). Next up: time to step up my game and ditch the flip-flops of summer for something a little more sophisticated (that's where these come in, and they're on sale: bonus). Nothing says fall like tea on a chilly morning. So, I'm just obsessed with this sequined scarf. It could transform even the most casual outfit (i.e. my usual mom uniform). The color of this (very affordable) dress gets me every time. If I'm being honest, most of my shopping these days is centered around my little guy and I'm thinking I need to get a brown onesie and get to work making this for him for football season. Speaking of the baby, wouldn't notes to the sitter look cuter on this notepad? (It would also be good for jotting gift ideas for the quickly-approaching holidays). Love the idea of a colored pair of jeans and these seem like something I'd wear all the time. I'm ready to get on the crock pot bandwagon and love the idea of that little appliance making dinner prep easy. Last but not least, I've decided that a backpack would be a great way to carry all of the things from my purse and my diaper bag stuff because it's roomy and the straps won't constantly fall off my shoulders when I'm carrying my little man and getting him in and out of the car. Not to mention, I just love this one. So, those are my faves for fall. What are you guys loving this season?

loving: marimekko

2011-10-11T06:00:00.001-05:00

As pattern designers, we can't overstate our love for marimekko. it simultaneously reminds me of childhood (the cars and trucks pattern was in my little brother's room) and feels so fresh and current. so, the new flagship store in new york city along with their new online shop is heaven on earth for these two pattern-obsessed girls!

weekend round-up

2011-10-10T08:12:00.002-05:00

Hi everyone and happy Monday! We hope you all had great weekends!

We've decided to bring back a past feature that we loved: a little summary of our weekend! Instead of doing it beforehand, we're going to do it on Mondays here and there and call it weekend round-up! We just wanted to share a little bit about what each of us is up to during our non-blogging lives :) We hope you enjoy!

100th esty shop sale + thank you + giveaway

2011-10-07T06:00:00.001-05:00

You read it correctly--a free gift for one lucky Ampersand fan! We're really excited to celebrate our 100th sale in our etsy shop, so, for the winner of this little contest, any single item from our shop is all yours (a print, a platter-you pick)! Really, all we want to do here is let you know that we appreciate you coming by our blog and visiting our shop now and then!

So, what do you have to do to enter to win the giveaway?

It's super easy! for real.

Just leave a comment on this post letting us know what two things you love to put together...with an ampersand, of course!

EXAMPLES: "peanut butter & jelly" or "Laverne & Shirley" or "gin & tonic" or "happy & hour". You get the picture. Don't think too hard though, it doesn't even matter what your favorite combo is, we are going to randomly draw one name from all the people who comment! The deadline is Thursday, October 13th. We'll announce the winner on Friday the 14th!

THANKS AGAIN TO OUR READERS AND SHOP FANS!!!
(now, go on, start shopping right here)

cheers,

Morgan & Carrie

art & design: yangyang pan

2011-10-06T06:00:00.000-05:00

We just discovered (and fell in love with) the work of Yangyang Pan, particularly the color. There is even more good stuff on her flickr page.

spotted: rex ray for blik

2011-10-05T06:00:00.001-05:00

We are completely obsessed with Rex Ray so discovering that Blik has teamed up with him to create wall decals made our day! How fun is it that you can take Rex Ray's artwork and play with it and arrange it however you want to make it fit your home!?

house & home: dwell studio furniture

2011-10-04T06:00:00.001-05:00

yep, you're seeing this correctly! Dwell Studio is introducing a brand new line of furniture and it is A-MAZING!!! You know how obsessed we are with Dwell (I personally own two of their rugs, one in the nursery shown here, and we have no shortage of posts about Dwell, like on our holiday gift guide for kids here, and for our bookshelf here) ....soooo, needless to say when the email titled "Introducing DwellStudio furniture" landed in our inbox today we just about fell out of our chairs! And, of course, it's perfect! The whole line feels, "grown-up", but not too overdone. It feels so new, yet, it has clear inspiration from the past. The finishes seem to be in just the exact colors, textures and materials we look for but can't always find. And, of course, the upholstered furniture can be done in all sorts of Dwell signature patterns. Are we wanting to redo our entire house since the moment this email was received? YES, yes, and YES! (run, don't walk, go there now)

spotted: orla kiely new books for kids

2011-10-03T09:55:00.000-05:00

We've been long obsessed with designer, Orla Kiely, so who better to teach our kiddos about colors and numbers using her awesome shapes and patterns!? We love the new addition of Colours Book for Babies and Numbers Book for Babies to the Orla Kiely collection. Definitely wouldn't mind having these laying around the coffee table!

art & design: anna hurley

2011-09-30T10:28:00.000-05:00

We just stumbled onto the fun work of Anna Hurley. Her illustrations are so retro and playful. Her wedding invitations would be a fun way to personalize things right off the bat. I would love to get one of those in the mail, knowing that the wedding would be a blast.

happy birthday to carrie!!

2011-09-29T11:10:00.002-05:00

HAPPIEST BIRTHDAY TO CARRIE TODAY!!!!
Carrie, I hope you have a fabulous day today and that today is just a kick start to a fabulous year filled with lots of good times!
I know we say this all the time, but I have to say it again, I'm SO lucky to work with one of my best friends every day! Thanks for making "work" so fun and being a constant inspiration!
Love you,
Morgs
(Link: Celebrate card from San Dubeau )

handmade: zipper 8 lighting

2011-09-29T10:39:00.000-05:00

Aren't these lamps and hanging lights from Zipper 8 Lighting so fun and whimsical. They're made from unusual/ recycled materials (plastic bags, comic books, straws). They would definitely make a statement in your home.

baby & kids: love mae wall stickers

2011-09-28T06:00:00.002-05:00

Not gonna lie, these kinda make us want to start completely over on the baby rooms!! Aren't these just adorable! So much character! And yes, you read that correctly, they are reusable! And they are fabric! So basically, they are perfection! Check out the entire range by Love Mae right here...we seriously had a hard time editing and there are SO many more options!