candidacy survival

well the time has come for our big candidacy exam here in my graduate program. it's 2 weeks of intense analysis and writing. not a lot of fun if you ask me.

so i'll be gone for two weeks while i focus on this exam.  but i thought i'd leave you with a glimpse inside my candidacy survival kit :)

1. pretty notebook and pen - to jot down notes and random thoughts...and vent my frustration if necessary ;) [since we're not allowed to talk to anyone about the exam]
2. granola bars - to keep my stomach-growling to a minimum when i'm holed up inside the library all day.
3. reading glasses - i've been bad about wearing my glasses lately, but since i'm going to be doing A LOT of reading, i really have to remind myself to wear them. plus, they'll make me feel more studious [whatever works, right?]
4. to-do list - i've got one for every day of my two week exam! [if you know me at all, this is not a surprise]
5. my beloved mac - this is my BFF these next two weeks. i could not survive without it.
6. entertainment - since i'm giving up all social media, blogs, news sites, and any other online distractions...music will be my only online entertainment. i have music playlists all ready to energize me and relax me, both of which i'm sure i'll need.
7. research essentials - post-its & highlighter...two of my favorite things :)
8. hydration - i even bought the fancy water to make it seem more special
9. relief - all this reading and writing...i'm sure excedrin will be in my future.
10. caffeine - extremely critical to my survival.

see you in two weeks!

design time: week #2

this week, my design class [through nicole's classes online] focused on the creation of desk calendars, illustrated cards, and photo cards.

my instructor, alma loveland [don't you love her name] was wonderful again. i learned so many new tricks and techniques. here are some of my projects from this week...

desk calendar - demonstrates grid & alignment

invitation - demonstrates freehand drawing & customized letters

save the date - demonstrates geometric layering & letterpress style

postcard - demonstrates combination of photo and illustration

save the date - demonstrates combination of photo and illustration

baby announcement - demonstrates combination of photo and illustration & customized letters

i'm so sad that the class is over this week, but i'm thinking of taking another one once my work calms down a bit :)

sweet gingham

"give a girl the right shoes, and she can conquer the world."
-marilyn monroe


i found these pretty wedges on super sale at payless.

only $8.00?
blue & white gingham?
sold.

...just a little glimpse inside my shoe obsession...

irish cupcakes

guinness chocolate cake + dark chocolate & baileys ganache + espresso & baileys buttercream icing
=
the most divine, irish inspired cupcake.
ever. :)

 

one of my favorite things to do is cook/bake with my mom [who is so talented and has an amazing ability to make the most delicious food!]. last week we attempted a recipe that i found online that combines some of my favorite things: chocolate + guinness + ganache + buttercream. seriously, how could those ingredients be anything but incredible?

we modified the guinness bailey's irish cream cupcake recipe from the awesome annie's eats blog and these cupcakes are seriously divine. you can really taste the stout in the cake and it's perfectly balanced out by the dark chocolate ganache and the sweet buttercream icing.  we found that they are best served cold and as mini-cupcakes.  mmmm, so good.

...i think i might go have one right now :)