Color coordinated

A recent home improvement project renewed my secret love for the hardware store, specifically the paint department. I can spend an unhealthy amount of time pulling out, comparing, and matching paint chips. I also take photos of the paint chip wall because, well, I can't resist. So many colors, so little time!

I've also bookmarked many a crafty project involving paint chips, but never feel comfortable going home with more than just one or two chips at a time. I just can't get past the guilt. I mean, if I removed a handful of paint chips from the store, someone at Benjamin Moore would KNOW...of this, I am convinced.

On the other hand, I have no problem recommending that my clients grab their own paint chips to communicate their wedding colors to other vendors. No guilt by association there...my conscience is clear.

Goodbye Tangerine Tango

With the announcement of Emerald as the Pantone color of the year, "going green" will have a whole new meaning for 2013. In terms of island weddings at least, Emerald has never been a dominant hue in my stationery designs. I'm curious to see how many of my brides will be incorporating this color into their weddings, and even more curious to find out what other colors they'll be pairing it with. I'm favoring the cooler colors like turquoise and mint green, or a crisp, bright white.

Only time will tell if Emerald will be embraced in wedding decor as passionately as Tangerine Tango was in 2012!

Courtesy of Mother Nature

I spent the last day of 2012 flying from Chicago to Denver to Honolulu. I wasn't particularly looking forward to 12+ hours of travel, even with a free upgrade to first class, but somewhere over the Pacific Ocean, I realized that I'd be treated to some amazing inflight entertainment via Mother Nature.

I snapped my first photo shortly after take-off, about 2 seconds after we were allowed to turn on our electronic devices. Then I proceeded to take photos just about every five minutes thereafter because I wanted to capture every moment of the spectacular sunset unfolding outside my window. Yes, I'm sure my dork factor went up a couple of notches but I just couldn't look away (unlike Mr. Seat 2A behind me who pulled his window shade down just as the clouds turned a fiery red-orange).

So, between the color explosion outside and the local celebrity spotting across the aisle from me, it was a pretty enjoyable flight. I will keep said celebrity's identity a secret out of respect for his privacy...and the fact that I have absolutely nothing juicy to reveal (i.e. he requested only one topping for his ice cream sundae, among the dozen or so that were available). Perez Hilton, I am not.

A beautiful send off to 2012.