Sweet Muse

Over the weekend my husband and I shared a bottle of white wine and I just loved the label. I know they say you shouldn't judge a book by it's cover, but I have to admit, pretty labels are half the reason I choose the brands I do. Red Bicylette was a delicious chardonnay that came home with us due to it's attractive red bicycle and pretty vintage feeling label. Does anyone else choose wine this way?

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Happy Memorial Day Weekend!

Photo from AMC.com

Photo from Vanity Fair

Photo from AMC.com

Happy Friday and an early happy Memorial Day! Do you have any fun plans for the unofficial start of summer? We are planning on staying at home, relaxing, enjoying the sun and warm weather, and maybe brunch and shopping in the city Sunday!

Whatever your plans are I hope you have a wonderful long weekend! And for now, enjoy the glamorous images from the show Mad Men (one of my personal favorites!)

xo

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Illustration by Michelle B. Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Sweet Muse

 

All photos from Elle Decor Magazine

With Memorial Day fast approaching and thoughts of the hot summer months ahead, I can't help but be inspired by the beautiful gardens, patios, and outdoor settings. The image of the hammock is probably my favorite, can't you just feel the salty breeze and warm sun!? It makes me wish I was sitting there right now instead of behind a computer screen, but since I can't, this serene photo will have to do. Happy Thursday Everyone!

A Picture A Day

Design by Michelle B. Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Earlier this week I mentioned creating the design for a wedding shower invitation. The final product arrived and I'm really happy with it! I printed them on Vista Prints recycled paper and ordered matching return labels for them. I'm hoping the bride likes them when she sees them at the shower in July! Thanks to Stephanie Ulrich for giving me the opportunity to work on this! xo

Currently Reading: Dead Reckoning

Image from: /www.barnesandnoble.com

 
I'm currently reading Dead Reckoning, a Sookie Stackhouse novel by Charlaine Harris. It's the11th Sookie Stackhouse novel, and it is the series that HBO based True Blood off of. Each book in the series was a nice, light, and fun read, and so far Dead Reckoning is a great addition. If you like True Blood, you'll like the Sookie Stackhouse novels.

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Sweet Muse

mini how high, knockout pout, lapis of luxury, and  haute as hello all from essie.com

This weekend I was looking through my nail polish trying to pick a color and these four shades ended up next to each other. They seemed to go perfect together. These are the colors I'm craving as spring slowly turns to summer. I'm loving them in my clothing, my makeup, my accessories... I'm not brave enough, or edgy enough to actually pull off the blue nails, but the color is so pretty I love it anyway.

What colors are you craving for summer?

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Hi Everyone,

Happy Monday!  How was your weekend?

I've been working on an invitation design for an upcoming bridal shower and have been sketching lots of ideas. The illustration above came from one of those brainstorming days, and while it won't be used for the actual invitation, I thought you might enjoy it.

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

After a lot of thinking, discussing, voting, and more discussing, we've finally picked the characters names!!! We're very excited to announce the girl will be called Coco, after Chanel, and the pup will be called Louie, like King Louie XIV, because we really thought a little dog with a lot of personality required a big name.

Thank you to everyone who helped to give names to these characters. I hope you have enjoyed the illustrations so far. Many more will be coming soon!

Happy Friday everyone!

Sweet Muse

IVANKA TRUMP "Alluvia" Evening Sandals, kate spade new york "Carolyn" Strappy Sandals, and IVANKA TRUMP "Doublet" Evening Sandals

Chloé Ankle Strap Pumps, STEVE MADDEN "Bevv-B" Platform Pumps, KORS Michael Kors "Odin" Pointy Flat, and Enzo Angiolini "Torrey" Platform Pumps

jcrew.com maryanne suede wedges, Burberry Crisscross Espadrille Sandals, COACH Maleena Wedges, and Tory Burch "Miller" Flat Sandals

A Picture A Day

Designs by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Over the last few weeks I have been working on creating a new logo for myself. I've been using the same logo and website design for years and I could use an update.

It's definitely one of the things I struggle with most, "branding" / marketing myself. You have to ask the question who am I, what do I want to say to the world, and how do I want to say it. I've worked on everything from simple text, imagery, a hand written signature... Literally hundreds of sketches of possible logos. I know I'm over thinking it. I know I need to just take a break and revisit it later, but it's making me crazy that I can't come up with something I love.

Some of the sketches above are close to what I want, some are nowhere near it, and I don't think any of them and exactly right... But I know I'll get there.

What do you think?

Sweet Muse

Looking through images of Jenny Packham's collections and loving every stunning, flowing, elegant gown.

Images from http://www.jennypackham.com

A Picture A Day

 

Images and designs by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

As I have mentioned before, I've been working on marketing and stationery pieces for the Klicious Cupcakes Bakery. Above are a few more examples of pieces I have created; a Klicious Cupcakes notebook, and thank you cards that they will send after each order.

Currently Reading: Sarah's Key

I'm currently reading Sarah's Key by Tatiana DeRosnay. It tells the parallel story of a Jewish girl, Sarah, in occupied France during the Vel' d'Hiv, 1942 and a journalist, Julia, in Paris writing an article on the sixtieth anniversary of the Vel'd'Hiv in 2002.

The Vel' D'Hiv was a "round-up" of Jewish people in Paris by the French police over a two day period in July of 1942. The majority of the people arrested during the Vel' D'Hiv were sent to Auschwitz and never made it back.

Sarah is ten-years-old when France is invaded by the Nazi's. Suddenly they are forced to wear stars on all of the clothing, they are not allowed in the same places they used to, and her father is forced to leave his job. On the morning of July 16, 1942 French police come to each Jewish home and arrest everyone in the family. When this happens to Sarah's family, Sarah's locks her four-year-old brother in a hidden cupboard so that the police will not know he is there. Sarah is to young to understand exactly what is happening and thinks they will be back. Once Sarah realizes that they will not be allowed to return to their home her thoughts turn to her brother, locked in the cupboard in their apartment with no way out, and she is determined to escape and save him.

The story is an emotional portrayal of the events of  France in1942. You get so wrapped up in the lives of both Sarah and Julia. There is so much hope and fear for Sarah. This has been an incredible read so far.

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

A Picture A Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Klicious Cupcakes Decorating Party!

Hi there and happy Monday!  I hope everyone had a wonderful weekend! My weekend was filled with a delicious Paris Night dinner Friday, a cupcake decorating party and babysitting three of the cutest kids I know on Saturday, and a lazy rainy Sunday hanging out with my husband.

The cupcake decorating party, first mentioned here, thrown by Klicious Cupcakes, was so much fun. It was for a local Daisy and Brownie girl scout troop, and the girls were so cute and excited to get to decorate and learn to frost cupcakes. Klicious Cupcakes also gave each of them a pre-made "minty girl scout" cupcake. The "minty girl scout" cupcake was inspired by the girl scout's thin mint cookies and each of the girls loved them.

The girls were so creative and each had their own style of decorating. Some of them thought long and hard about exactly what they wanted each cupcake to look like and carefully put the decorations into the frosting to make the cupcake look just right. Others just went at it piling on the sprinkles, flowers, candy and any other sugary sweets they could get their hands on. This is such a great idea for a child's birthday party or just a fun event to do with friends.

Klicioius Cupcakes also offers other party options for all ages including a great girl's night package that I might just have to do one night soon.

Kelli of Klicious Cupcakes talking to the girls about decorating

Decorating some cupcakes!

One of the girl's cupcake creations!

Group shot of all of the different creative treats the girls made.

The minty girl scout! Mmmmmm!

This is an incredible company with delicious cupcakes I just can't get enough of!

A Picture A Day

Hello there Sweets!

Over the last few weeks I have been working on branding and marketing pieces for Klicious Cupcakes, first mentioned here. I have helped them create their logo, invoice form, collaborated with them on their website and business cards, we are working on the blog, and have a few other pieces in the works. Tomorrow they will be hosting a Cupcake decorating party for a local Girl Scout troop and they needed a menu and certificates for each of the girls to take home. This is what we came up with.

 

All images are property of Klicious Cupcakes and may not be used or copied without permission from Klicious Cupcakes.

For more information on other party services Klicious Cupcakes offers check out the Party Services page of their website.

To hear more about the Girl Scout's decorating party, check back Monday!

Hope everyone has a great weekend! xo

Girl's Night

Every once in a while the girl's in my family get together for a girl's night. Sometimes we take a cooking class, just hangout at someone's house, go to a nice dinner, or see a movie. No matter what we do it's always girly and fun, and we have a great time together.

Tonight, we are going to see Something Borrowed! I read the book a few years ago, by Emily Giffin, and loved it, and I'm really looking forward to seeing the film.

Has anyone seen it yet? What did you think?

A Picture a Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

A Picture A Day: Week Three

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

A Picture a Day

Illustration by Michelle B. 

Please do not copy or use without linking back to Sweet Musings.

Recipe File

As I have mentioned before I love collecting (and trying) recipes from Gina's Skinny Blog, as well as from the Food Network, especially by Ellie Krieger, and other sites with recipe listings. In addition, over the years, I have collected recipes from family members and friends, and the pieces of paper get shoved into other cookbooks or piled on the shelf and half the time I loose them.

I found this great recipe binder at Williams-Sonoma that solved this problem. It came with recipe cards to write down recipes from family members, clear sheet protectors for recipes I find in magazines, and it's a three holed binder so any recipes I find online, I just punch the paper and put in the binder! It's been a great find that I absolutely love, and no more loosing or ruining recipes that are on pages just lying around.