Summer Project: Her Studio & His Office

This month I've started creating a summer wish list of odds and ends to take care of around the house. First on the list: Creating a home office for my husband and finishing my studio across the hall.

Once summer arrives, my husband will work from home more, and I will spend many hours locked up in my studio working away on hand illustrated lettering, invitations and blog posts. Knowing that we will be working side by side (literally) from each other (and Gari) during the summer months excites me to pieces!

Here are some images I've been swooning over lately.







1//2//3//4//5//6

Wish List:  Closet Storage, Drapes,  Desk Chair, Lighting, a Rug to sprawl my orders on and a little wall art. The studio needs to be simple enough to think in, but decorated enough to catch inspiration.
Currently, my studio is 75% of the way done. I have a thrifted desk, reading chair, bookshelf, chalk board door and new iMac.

As for his office, I am plan on hanging his college football gear, University of Miami decals and some images of Cuba. Simple yet masculine. A desk, chair and shelves could come in handy too!



1//2//3

If you have any ideas or tips on office/studio decorating, send them my way! Do you have a home office or studio that reflects you? How did you make the space come alive?

Cookies & Cream Cake


This past weekend, we celebrated my sister and brother in law's birthday under an old grape leaf tree overlooking the canal at my in-law's house.  It was a lovely afternoon filled with music, family and sweet conversation.

My contribution to the BBQ was cake. I prefer baking cupcakes over cake simply because the icing can become complicated - but how can you have a birthday party without birthday cake? So cake it was!

I choose a simple Oreo recipe I'd made in the past because 1. it is seriously easy 2. it tastes great on a hot afternoon 3. my b-i-l is a picky dessert eater. Give him anything other than tres leches or chocolate brownie and he wont eat it. So cookies and cream cake it was!


Cookies and Cream Birthday Cake 
Cake:
1 box of white cake mix (made as directed)
16 oreos, crushed

Icing:
16oz powdered sugar
8oz cream cheese
8oz cool whip
1/4 tsp vanilla
16 oreos, crushed

1. Mix ingredients of cake as directed. Add crushed oreos.
2. Bake as directed.
3. While cake it baking, mix all ingredients of oreo icing together.
4. Let cake cool.
5. Frost as desired.

I chose to bake the cake in 2 round 10in pans, but you can bake it anyway you'd like.


Tip: My general rule of thumb when icing a cake is to add a heaping amount of icing on top and it smoothing down with a butter knife in swirl motions. Icing a cake can be overwhelming - take your time- homemade cakes are not meant to look perfect.

Another helpful tip is to use parchment paper under your cake surface before icing. Place strips under so they are easy to slide out when completed. You will instantly be left with a clean surface.

Enjoy!



To see more dessert recipes from my kitchen, visit the recipe page.

Kitchen Door Chalkboard


Yesterday afternoon, I got this crazy urge to rush home and finish our kitchen door chalkboard project. I painted the door on Sunday and had to wait 3 days before touching it again. (3 days people!!) That is an entire century when you are that excited to finish something.

Moving on... after following the same process I followed with our home office chalkboard door, I began sketching out and planning this one. Font research, drawings, measuring, spacing. A lot went into the behind the scenes.

On a side note, this week while doing many hours of modern calligraphy research, I came across Molly and was totally smitten with her art. One thing I took from reading from her was the fact that she measures everything out before beginning. Imagine that concept - Brilliant! Although this is not the time efficient, I did notice better results.

So here's to a little bit of coffee and a whole lot of Jesus today!

Happy Friday!









P.S Not sure what's wrong with him here. Maybe he finds having four chalkboards in one house a bit obnoxious. I will stop soon.


Meet My Godson & Other News

Last week will be one to go down in the books. I finally met my best friend's baby aka my godson!!! Remember the wedding shower I threw over the summer? Well, that was the last time I saw Ali before her big move to PA with her hubby!

Now nearly 9 month later, we were reunited and accompanied by her precious little man, Cruzi.




In other news, Gabriel and I fit in lots of quality time this weekend with the WGC Golf tournament, snuggles with Gari and even extra cuddling with our nephew during Sunday brunch to celebrate our sister in law's big 3-0! We also got some big invitation orders out the door and our prepared for our Aussie vacation which s quickly approaching! Isn't this Spring weather lovely?






Happy Monday!


Celebrating a 70th Under The Stars

Last weekend we celebrated my husband's uncle's 70th birthday! What a wonderful Miami night it was under the stars with a cool 75 degrees! The party was filled with intimate music, close friends and family. We ate traditionally Spaniard paella accompanied with tons of appetizers and dessert.

70 looks good on you Roque! To many more!




(mom and dad in law) 

(mom in law and her brothers)

(brother and sister in law and close friends)


(The Diaz bunch minus baby Lui)



(The birthday boy and his wife)