I want an Alpaca!

Look how ridiculously cute these little critters are! These pics were able to put a smile on my face on this gloomy, rainy day. For that, I'm grateful!

{{via Jessica Claire}}

Card Design

GES Card front, originally uploaded by sfraz71.

I'm quite pleased with the way the Holiday Cards I was commissioned to design turned out.

Thank God for freelance!

Free Agent

I won't go into details, but remember that writing on the wall I spoke of awhile back? It came to a head today. I am now free from the torment and can move forward with my life. It's just unfortunate I had to resign at Christmas time. Worst day of my life, yet a relief to be away from the bullies. The famous Health and Wellness company turned out to be anything but healthy and well for me!

Wish me luck!

Wish List: Beaded Thermal

This fabulous little number by Twelve by Twelve is definitely on my wish list this season!

Robot Ornaments

I'd sure like to buy a set of these for my friend's son, Ashton. Robot Ornaments from Jayson Home & Garden.

J. Crew Jewelry

Wow! I am so impressed with the selection of jewelry at J. Crew!

Amour Pillow

This Life in the 21st Amour Pillow by Sweet & Toxic tickles my fancy with it's black and white modern graphical look, yet still hints at a more romantic period.

Available at Urban Outfitters.

{{via black white bliss}}

Early Birthday Present!

Christmas Pieces, originally uploaded by WishByNight.

My incredibly generous boyfriend, Craig ordered my birthday present today! It's the lens I have been lusting after forever, the Canon EF 85mm f/1.8 USM Telephoto Lens!!! The image above was taken with the same lens. As you can see, it produces incredible background blur (Bokeh), which makes your subject really pop!

I can't wait to get it! Within about a week I will be taking pictures galore!

Thanks baby!

Ethel M's Cactus Garden

Cactus Garden4, originally uploaded by sfraz71.

My mom, Austin and I went to the Festival of Lights that lights up the Cactus Garden at the Ethel M Chocolate Factory tonight. This is becoming a tradition for us! It was even more beautiful this year than it was the previous years!

I only wish I had a new camera lens for this! The lens I use now is the kit lens that came with my Rebel and it really doesn't do a good job of capturing images in low light situations.

Before & After

Nightstand After, originally uploaded by sfraz71.

What a fun project this was! Austin and I sanded and painted these nightstands I found at a consignment shop last weekend. They came out pretty nice!

New Drawers

Drawers, originally uploaded by sfraz71.

A little preview of a project I worked on last weekend. Before and After's coming soon!

Turkey Day Prep

Natural Turkey, originally uploaded by sfraz71.

Wishing you all a very Happy Thanksgiving!

We decided to go with an organic turkey this year. I'll let you know how it turns out.

**Update: Best turkey EVER! Organic turkeys only from here on out!

New Tree Ornament

camera & new tree ornament, originally uploaded by sfraz71.

While shopping at Target the other day my son and I decided to each get a few new ornaments for the tree. I chose this Eiffel Tower ornament and a dainty little ceramic bird to hang near the top of the tree (it symbolizes a year of happiness). Austin's choices suited his sense of humor perfectly. I will show photos of his selections later on.

Muji at MOMA

Fun items at MOMA from Muji, a Japanese company that believes in the simplicity of packaging, no branding, if you will. Nice change of pace! I'm beginning to think white is my favorite color!

Smitten

These Christian Louboutin Satin Peep Toe Pumps are just divine!

Flash Drive

What a geat deal for a 4gb Flash Drive! Best Buy is selling this Memorex - 4GB TravelDrive for $49.99 instead of the usual $73.99. I may have to jump on this one!

What's Your Style

According to HGTV's Style Quiz, my style is hip! I do agree I favor clean lines and a minimilistic palette, but think I am starting to lean towadrs more girly things, but only in the most modern sense of the word.

{{via How About Orange}}

1st Dibs

Looking through the new listings on 1stdibs.com, I came across these sexy, yet simple benches. Aren't the legs wicked, in an elegant way, of course! Pair Sculptural Benches by Alexander Loge.

Santa Monica Stairs

Stairs on Entrada, originally uploaded by gregdale.

There are these stairs in Santa Monica, CA in a residential area, a few blocks from the Pacific ocean that I always wanted to walk, yet never did. The stairs were really popular amongst fitness enthusiasts. I wonder if I could find something similar here in Vegas in a similarly beautiful environment?

I sure do miss the lush greenery and moist, ocean air of CA!

Tell Me You Love Me

Oh boy. Consider me hooked! Are any of you following this new HBO show, Tell Me You Love Me? To be honest, it's a bit depressing, but there is humor in watching these couples deal with very realistic components of couplehood. Lots of intimacy in this too, again, done in a very realistic way. You really feel as though you are a fly on the wall observing the characters lives.

Ally Walker is my favorite actress on this (she plays a graphic designer!), but they are all incredibly good actors on this fascinating series.

Inspired

I'm so inspired by this holiday collection by Marta, of the Marta Writes blog! Some creative stuff there!

Desk Accessories

My office-mate/manager has this desk set and gets all kinds of compliments on it's bling factor. Might make a cute gift for the girly-girls in your life.
Available at JCPenney.

A little inside joke here

Gotta love Jib Jab! Cover your eyes on the belly button part...uggh...gives me the willies every time I see it!

Tree Ornament

Pretty little holiday tree ornament by speharb at etsy. Nicely priced, too!

Modern Art Everyday

Oh dear, I am seriously coveting almost every single thing for sale at modernarteveryday's Etsy shop!

Holiday Dress

What a beauty this ABS dress is that Amber of Daisy Chain found at Dillards! I have been keeping an eye out for dresses for the annual company Christmas Party and would LOVE to wear this little number, but fear it is just too short. What if it was paired with black tights and black pumps or knee high boots? The Coordinator in my department wears sweater dresses that length to work even though it is against company policies and they seem to overlook it, so maybe it would be alright for me to wear at a party, right?

London?

You Belong in London

A little old fashioned, and a little modern. A little traditional, and a little bit punk rock. A unique soul like you needs a city that offers everything. No wonder you and London will get along so well.

What City Do You Belong In?

I would have thought Paris or maybe a city in Italy. ;)

Style A to Zoe

I know Rachel Zoe gets a bum rap, but I really want her new book, Style A to Zoe: The Art of Fashion, Beauty, & Everything Glamour! Another one I've had my eye on is The Little Black Book of Style by Nina Garcia.

H O M E . O F F I C E

H O M E . O F F I C E
Originally uploaded by Accolady.

I absolutely must have this screensaver (Fliqlo). When I get home tonight I am totally downloading that!

Check out the rest of the photos from Accolady's Home set. She has such streamlined style!

Foto Fabulous

Meghans Doll
Originally uploaded by sfraz71.

Brought the camera in to work again today to take more pictures for the newsletter. Couldn't help but take this shot of Meghan's doll on her computer. Thought it was a fun pic!

Lift Off

Lift Off
Originally uploaded by sfraz71.

My old friend Simon came by my work yesterday. I haven't seen him in forever but have known him for ages. How many friends do you have that have taken you out to eat with the singer from Deep Purple across from one of the members from Guns 'N Roses at the famed Rainbow in Hollywood, to parties with Cory Feldman, to hang out at the Jackson family house, to a Halloween party by the Amazing Jonathon with Penn & Teller and Lance Burton, and sent you to find Mark Walberg (Marky Mark) so you could get into a Planet Hollywood opening party? Those are a few of the things I have experienced with my friend Simon. Oh, and he can make me levitate (see photo above)! You see, Simon is a magician. Good to see you again, old friend!

Moo

I was just checking out the new greeting cards at Moo and happened upon this fun find...MiniCard Holders for their cutre little MiniCards! I ordered the MiniCards some time ago and LOVE them! I also used their MiniCards as gift tags for my friends wedding. Too cute!

three sheets 2 the wind

Lovely wall art over at Design Public by Three Sheets 2 the Wind.

CB2

Cute little ad campaign featuring a twist on some common slogans over at CB2.

Nightstands

I am still in the market for nightstands to place next to my bed. I think these Celerie Bunching Tables from LaneVenture would look fantastic!

Freelance Wish List

1. 17" MacBook Pro
2. Adobe Creative Suite 3
3. Epson Pro 3800 Printer
4. White West Elm Parsons Desk
5. White Office Chair
6. Whimsical Desk Lamp

I'm sure there is much more I am not thinking of at the moment, but this should get me off to a nice start, don't ya think?

Sunday Outting

My mom, my son and I went to the local Bird Preserve today. It's so quiet and pretty out there and so close to my home...only a couple blocks away! I really should go there more often to take pictures and just get out of the house, preferably around sunrise when the birds are out and about!

Las Vegas Sunset

Las Vegas Sunset
Originally uploaded by sfraz71.

What a beautiful sunset this early evening! Wanted to share it with you in case you missed it!

Human species 'may split in two'

Humanity may split into two sub-species in 100,000 years' time as predicted by HG Wells, an expert has said. Evolutionary theorist Oliver Curry of the London School of Economics expects a genetic upper class and a dim-witted underclass to emerge.

Crazy! Read the full story at BBC here.

{{via The Art of the Prank}}