washi tape detailing

Since starting my new job (!), I've noticed that almost everyone in our office has the same Mac products. While this makes for a very aesthetically pleasing workplace, it also means everyone's equipment is almost identical.

So in taking my first steps to set my stuff apart, I added a little washi tape to my laptop charger. What I did was:

1. Cover the apple logo with a piece of washi tape.
2. Lightly trace the apple outline with a pencil.
3. Remove the tape, cut along the lines, and reapply the tape.
4. If your cut isn't perfect, trim the tape as needed.

I'm sure there's a more precise way to do this-- perhaps with a cutting board and an exacto knife-- but I did this during the last half of my lunch break.

And for anyone looking for washi tape, I found mine in San Francisco's Japantown but these guys have a great collection.

last minute wrapping à la fraulein maria

I'd originally written this post for another site, but since it didn't make it up I couldn't bear to wait until next year to share. So, in the off chance you've waited until the very last hour and 15 minutes until Christmas to wrap your presents, here are some quick wrapping ideas inspired by Julie Andrews’ character, Fraulein Maria, in The Sound of Music. These ideas are simple, sustainable and easy to put together with typical household items.



Using old grocery paper bags, gently rip the bag open along the seams to get one flat piece of wrapping paper. Measure the amount of paper you need for your present and cut the appropriate amount.



Presents wrapped? Great! Here’s where Maria comes in. Throughout the movie, Maria made things more beautiful and creative using these three steps:

1. Get back to the basics: When the Von Trapp children told Maria they didn’t know how to sing, she started them off with “Do Re Mi.” If your gift consists of multiple presents, try “1 2 3.” Wrap them individually and number them in the order they should be opened.



2. Sing about it: Write the lyrics to your favorite song on your wrapping paper and use that to wrap your present. “Brown paper packages tied up with strings” have never been more fitting.



3. Use what you have: We kind of already did this using our paper bags, but don’t limit your resourcefulness to that! When Maria wanted the children to have play clothes she used her bedroom drapes. Me? I just snipped off a piece of my sister’s Christmas tree and used baker’s twine.

Happy last minute wrapping! (But really, you could use this "wrapping paper" year round.)

Wishing you the merriest, love-filled holiday season to date.

a birthday project

I just hosted a tea & coffee get together with my high school girlfriends and remembered a little birthday project I did for my friend, Michelle, when we were seniors. It's one present that I've always been proud of and I thought it might be nice to share with blogland.













1. Get strips of butcher paper/ use a chalkboard/ whatever you want.
2. Carry the supplies and writing utensils wherever you go for a day or so.
3. When you see one of the birthday girl's (or boy's) friends, have them write a little message for said birthday person.
4. Print each of the photos out and put them in an album/scrapbook/whatever you'd like.

It's quick, easy, and really funny/endearing to see what people write (see: my Calculus teacher who advised Michelle not to get pregnant).

And you get to see little high school me! (Although I think I look exactly the same. Ha.)

mapping europe (a d.i.y. project)

For David's birthday, I wanted to commemorate the time we spent in Europe last spring and summer. Although I wanted to do something like this, I have limited experience with Adobe Illustrator. Instead, I took a black and white photocopy of an old Europe map, colored it, and added mini photos of each city we were in together. It's really simple, but I love the way it turned out. And to think: this time last year we were just heading to Salzburg!