Tag archive for holiday

February Desktop and iPhone Wallpaper Freebie

It’s the first of the month (no, I’m not going to sing Bone Thugs-N-Harmony for you) but I AM going to give you a new desktop and iphone wallpaper! Things are very crazy here in New Orleans right now, I just got back from Alt and now the Superbowl is here AND Mardi Gras! So you’ll have to forgive me for skimming over Valentine’s Day this year! I created a Valentine’s DIY last year so I thought it would be fun to make this month’s wallpaper from some of those photographs!

Just a little reminder before we get to the download! Thank you so much to those of you that have provided me with feedback through the reader survey! If you haven’t taken the reader survey yet, I’d really appreciate it if you did! Plus you’ll get some extra freebies if you do!

Ciera Design February Desktop Wallpaper Freebie

Valentine's Desktop Wallpaper / Valentine's iphone Wallpaper

 

Hope you enjoy! I have mine on my laptop and iphone, I love how bright they are!

 Downloads are for personal use only.

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A Pile of Cards

I did it! I actually designed, printed and mailed out holiday cards this year. Every year I say I’m going to–and then it’s the new year before I know it. This was a goal on my 30 before 30 list so I felt a little more accountable this year and so glad I did it!

Craft Paper Envelopes and Washi Tape

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The Font Feast Presents Mallowmint Cupcakes

Mallowmint Candycane Cupcakes on Cake Pedestal

So, I cheated a little bit this month. I swore to myself when I started this series that I would find the font first, and the recipe second, that I would wait until a beautiful font inspired me to make something tasty, that I’d let it all happen very naturally and organically. And that method has gone swimmingly for me so far, and in fact, a font did inspire this month’s recipe. The problem is that the font that inspired Mallowmint Cupcakes–a gorgeous, fluffy font named “Swirl”–isn’t actually developed yet. I saw a prototype of it on Pinterest and became obsessed with it! And I tried to find something exactly like it for this post, but there just isn’t anything like “Swirl.” Hopefully someday. For today, I found a fat, happy font that looks like marshmallows. It’s called “Cream Puff,” and reminds me of old-fashioned tins full of chocolate-covered Christmas delights–the perfect companion for sweet, peppermint cupcakes topped with gooey, marshmallow frosting, and topped with crushed peppermint and sparkling glitter!

Mallowmint Candycane Cupcakes on Cake Pedestal

 

Mallowmint Cupcakes Inspired by Cream Puff Font (sort of)

for the cupcakes:
2 1/2 cups cake flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups whole milk
4 egg whites
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 stick (8 Tablespoons) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/2 teaspoon peppermint extract

for the mallowmint frosting:
2 7-oz jars marshmallow fluff
2 sticks butter
4 cups powdered sugar
1-2 teaspoons peppermint extract
crushed candy canes
Disco Dust in Rainbow

Preheat the oven to 350°F and line 30 muffin tins with cupcake papers. In a medium bowl, combine cake flour, baking powder, and salt; set aside. In a large measuring cup, add egg whites to whole milk and whisk to combine; set aside. In the bowl of a stand mixer, beat sugar, butter, and peppermint until light and fluffy. Add 1/3 of the flour mixture and beat until combined, then beat in 1/2 of the milk mixture. Repeat until all flour and all milk has been added, then beat 2 minutes on medium speed to mix thoroughly. Divide batter evenly among prepared cups. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center of a cupcake comes out clean, 18-23 minutes. Remove from oven, place on a cooling rack, and allow to cool completely before frosting.

While cupcakes are cooling, make the frosting. In a large bowl or the bowl of a stand mixer (clean, of course!), combine marshmallow fluff and butter. Beat until combined. Add powdered sugar and 1 teaspoon peppermint extract, and beat until frosting is smooth. Taste the frosting, and add up to 1 more teaspoon of peppermint extract if desired. Spoon frosting into a large pastry bag fitted with just the big, round coupler–no tip needed. When the cupcakes are cool, pipe a modest swirl of frosting onto the top of each cupcake. Avoid piping a huge pile of frosting on the cupcakes; it tends to “relax” as it sits, and you don’t want to have to scoop up the droopy bits! Just before serving, sprinkle generously with crush candy cane pieces and a pinch of Disco Dust! You might think the Disco Dust is unnecessary, but it takes these cupcakes from Ah! to AAAHHH!!!

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My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Coffee Lover

Today is going to wrap up this year’s gift guides, I hope they have helped with your shopping! Today’s guide is for the coffee lover in your life!

My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Coffee Lover

1 Espresso Machine / 2 Gloves (invite) / 3 Beignet Mix /4 Sugar Bowl & Spoon / 5 GoCoffeeGo Gift Card / 6 Camano Coffee Mill / 7 Coffee Cup Cozy / 8 French Press / 9 Infinity Scarf / 10 The Independent Coffee Book

 

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My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Photographer

Today’s gift guide is for the photographer in your life! I have my eye on a few of these things for myself, especially an Epiphanie camera bag! We got a GoPro for our road trip from Maine to New Orleans and just love it!

My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Photographer

1 Conde Nast Traveler Photographs / 2 Kate Spade Polka Dot Thermos / 3 Epiphanie Bags Belle Camera Bag / 4 Color Lens and Flash Filters / 5 Touchscreen Gloves / 6 GoPro Camera / 7 Wood Camera iPhone Case / 8 Bright Camera Strap / 9 Field Notes

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Merry & Bright – Desktop Wallpaper Freebie

Here today to get your computer into the holiday spirit with December’s free download! I hope you enjoy this one! I have also listed it in my Society6 shop, loving this design for holiday greeting cards! And now through December 9th, I’m offering free shipping* to my readers, just follow the links in this post!

Merry & Bright Desktop // Merry & Bright iPhone

 

 Downloads are for personal use only. *Promotion expires December 9, 2012 at Midnight Pacific Time. Offer excludes Framed Art Prints, Stretched Canvases and Throw Pillows with insert.

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My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Designer

To get into the holiday spirit I decided to create some gift guides for y’all. If you have any designer friends (hint, hint) here are some of my favorite gift ideas for them!

My Favorite Gift Ideas for the Designer

1 My Beautiful Life Drawing Journal / 2 To Go Coffee Mug / 3 Pantone Color Guides / 4 Aqua Lacquer Stapler / 5 Jessica Hische Daily Dropcap iPhone Case / 6 Wacom Intuos Tablet / 7 Bright Ballpoints
8 Big Flip Calendar Clock / 9 Graphic Design Exercise Book

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What I Wore // Sister Style & Thanksgiving

A little behind schedule but here is a recap of my family Thanksgiving! Jasmine and I took advantage of my talented boyfriend and pulled him aside for a few minutes to snap some photos of us together before we pigged out!

Thanksgiving 2012 1

My mom always has the most beautiful table settings!

Thanksgiving 2012 2

Jasmine made an amazing pumpkin risotto.

What I Wore Thanksgiving Sister Style

Jasmine and Ciera In Yard

Funny Faces What I Wore

Being silly.

Mini grater on chopping board

Thanksgiving 2012 7

Thanksgiving Table Setting with satsumas

Clementine place settings.

Jasmine and Ciera On Swing

We are going to print this one of us on the swing to give to my grandmother for Christmas.

necklace details

Bracelet Arm Party

Pointing to the bracelet I made in college!

Ciera Walking Down Street

Thanksgiving 2012 13

My outfit: Blouse – Forever 21 / Jeans – Just USA / Necklace – Moorea Seal / Ring – c/o Dixi / Shoes – Steve Madden
Head over to Jasmine’s blog for more photos and to get the details on her outfit. Thanks to Zander for most of these photos!

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My Wishlist

Today I’m sharing some things I am hoping to get this year for Christmas and my birthday (also in December)! And the rest of the week I’ll be sharing some gift guides!

My Holiday Wishlist

 

1. I have been wanting some jewelry from A Merry Mishap for a while now, if I don’t get this for Christmas, I’m just gonna have to buy it for myself!
2. Hearing so many great things about Blog, Inc. and can’t wait to dive in!
3. Recently obsessed with antlers and cow skulls, weird? I’d like to hang my necklaces from this guy from Sky Parlor.
4. Still love film cameras, especially this white Fuji Instax!
5. Need these J. Crew gloves to add a pop of color if it ever gets cold enough in New Orleans to wear gloves this year!

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Today I Am Thankful

Today is all about remembering what we are thankful for and boy do I have a lot to be thankful for. I wanted to take some time to write down the things I am most thankful for right now in my life.


My Boyfriend, Family and Friends // They are constantly encouraging me and helping me where they can. They are loving and supportive and are so proud of me. My friends make me laugh until my stomach hurts. My sister and I collaborate together. My parents are my role models and I have great respect for everyone in my family.

My Home // I love New Orleans. There’s so much going on and so much opportunity. I love my house and the fact that I have a roof over my head and a space to invite people into at all is something to be thankful for.

A Creative Career // To have the ability to be creative on a daily basis, to be able to make a living doing what I love is really a dream. For the past 2 years I’ve been supporting myself as a freelance graphic designer. I’m my own boss, setting my own hours and choosing the projects I want to work on. I am super thankful for all the opportunities that have come my way so far and I’m really excited for what lies ahead for 2013!

The Blogging Community // I’m grateful for all of my readers. You inspire me to take more photographs, make projects, learn new things and have this creative outlet. I enjoy sharing my passions and obsessions with you and I love connecting with new people all over the world!

What are some things you are thankful for?

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