This

Just discovered this photographer and fell in love with her work.
Simple photos, filled with depth and emotion.




Good stuff right there.

Watercolors

Just fell in love with these simple and beautiful watercolor illustrations.

Seeing things like this makes me say to computer living self, "Get me off this screen and give me some paper and paints!"

Thanks for the inspiration Jessica!

Today.

Our lives seem to twist and turn without warning- one minute they're going great, and the next
it seems as everything is out of whack. They are so unpredictable and fragile. We don't know what
each day will bring, even thought we pretend we do. When you take the time to think about it,
in the grand scheme of things, we have very little control. But one thing we can do is choose to make the best out of the circumstances we have in front of us. Fight for good or run the other direction.
In the midst of the unpredictability of life, we can choose how to handle it.

I don't always make the best choices when it comes to making the best of things... so it's been
on my mind lately that I can try a little bit harder to have a good attitude and not let the small things
get me down. Today is a new day and I can choose to make it a good one- no matter what the day
may bring.

Today is the first day of the rest of your life- lets make it a good one!

photo source: 1 // 2

Something Different

I'm so excited to begin working on this next logo- why? Because it's for a guy! I've been doing so many girl logos lately (which I love, don't get me wrong) but I'm excited to change it up a bit and think on a slightly different path than I have been.

I'm getting inspired here...



So excited to start this!

source: 1, 2, unknown, 4, 5

Kayak Wrap

I'm loving this project. The Hungry Workshop was commissioned to design a kayak wrap. And in my opinion- it turned out pretty awesome.



How great are these completely modern looking boats? They were created around 1916!
A pretty cool inspiration for this project.



I love the look of these Kayaks. Simple black and white pattern. It's also fun to see where the artists get their inspiration from. I never would of thought I would be admiring the look and feel of a kayak... but it's great to see good design played out on different mediums.

Make Something Cool Everyday.

That's what this guy did. That's right. Every single day of the year, this guy made something cool.
You can look at every single one right here. It's fun to see what someone will come up with when they are forced to come up with something new day after day. That is some goood discipline.

Louis Vuitton

Oh my. These colors, the setting, the clothes and styling are so amazing! This Louis Vutton shoot has got it goin on. Now I want to go to an ice cream parlor in a pretty dress.

H&M

The Hair. Outfit. And that expression. All from // H&M's summer 2012 collection // love!

Today.

My husband and I have started asking each other this in the mornings before the day really gets going. As cheesy at it may sound, it really helps me to envision my day, and find something good out of what might seem to be a normal day. Weather it's "being productive" or "dinner tonight" looking forward to something does something for us. I think it motivates and inspires- even with just the simplest thing.

Today I'm looking forward to getting stuff done and eating a special dinner tonight with my husband. (I'm making crock pot enchiladas and that's a treat for us!) I know it's not much, and it might sound boring to some, but I honestly am looking forward to these things. It's these days that create our lives and who we become in the long run- so you have to look forward to the small stuff- appreciate the everyday. Because this is your life, and it's the only one you have.

I hope that you are looking forward to something today- even if it's as simple as feeling the sun on your face. Happy weekend friends!

photo source

So Dreamy

The colors, shapes, and cleanliness of theses photos put me in a dream state.

weekend.

hey friends!

hope you had a good week- this week was kinda crazy for me- but it was overall a good one.

right now I'm up north staying in my home town for the weekend, and it is so nice up here.
the air is so much more fresh and clean than it is in LA.

the great thing about freelancing is you can work from your laptop, and you can take that thing anywhere! so it gives me freedom to get away from time to time. my husband doesn't have that same luxury, and last night was our first night away from each other since being married! miss him already...
(please excuse the lovey dovey)


here are a few fun links I found this week, thought you might like :)


these girls have such fun, awesome style.

this flickr page has some random stuff, but it is so cool.

a yummy LA breakfast food guide. (whose with me to try them ALL??)

some very cool thanksgiving place cards. (thanksgiving is less than 2 weeks away- holy moly
i need to start making pies)

and las but not least this blog has great interior design inspiration. i've been looking here for
ideas on how to make my new desk look cool.


have a GREAT weekend friends. i'm going to go enjoy the crisp fall air, drink some coffee
and eat a breakfast burrito.

photo source.

Guest Post: Rachel Oberg from DeMaCuisine

Rachel and I met just a few weeks ago- its hard to believe because I feel like I've gotten to know her so well in such a short amount of time. Rachel runs an amazing food blog called De Me Cuisine, where she blogs organic, healthy recipes and offers a menu planning service, perfect for people with allergies, or nutritional specifics. Rachel planned a menu for my husband and I- him being anemic and needing lots of meat and iron, and me not eating red meat. Rachel worked with our needs and wants and now we have a week full of food that we both love! Its pretty awesome.

So here she is! Sharing with us a recipe she made for me when I went over to her cute little house for lunch last week. Trust me, this is a great recipe for any time of the day- it is SO scrumptious... infact I might just make it for lunch today!

This is Rachel, from De Ma Cuisine. Hi! I'm thrilled to be a guest blogger on Waterfall Creative!

Joanna and I are new friends. But let me tell you, in the short time I've known her, I've seen what a wonderful, caring friend, and incredibly creative artist she is! My goodness, she's talented!

My art is a little different than the norm, one might say. I can draw a bit, I can kinda paint, I can even take pretty good photos. But it's really in the sound of a knife slicing through fresh vegetables, the smell of garlic hitting a hot pan, the look of French Bread just out of the oven - crusty, golden, steaming... I love the art of cooking. The presentation on a plate takes thought. The ingredients in a dish need to compliment each other, in flavor and appearance. Even the planning of a menu is like a perfectly arranged symphony of tastes and textures. It's my art, my passion, what I love to do.

Last week Joanna came over for lunch and I made us Stuffed French Toast, in preparation for this post. At that time, I was thinking I'd talk about breakfast. I haven't really talked about it, but now for just a second. I think it's important to eat breakfast. It's your fuel for the day. Same as any other meal. Aside from the fact that I love to eat because I love the taste, I also eat because I know that my body needs nutrients and sustenance to run well. In my experience, when I don't eat breakfast, the morning usually ends up with me feeling weak and shaky and pretty grumpy. I try to avoid this, with something delicious to eat. (I don't always have something as fancy as Stuffed French Toast, sometimes it's just granola, fruit and yogurt, or even cereal.) This recipe is also great for lunch or even dinner.

Serves: 2, Prep: 5 minutes, Cook: 10 minutes

Rachel's Stuffed French Toast

Ingredients

4 slices whole wheat bread

8 slices of peach or apple (or whatever fruit you have that you enjoy), thinly sliced

1/4 C blueberries (thawed, if frozen)

2-3 T peanut butter

2 eggs

2-4 T milk

a good sprinkle of cinnamon

dash nutmeg

drizzle of honey

maple syrup

Greek yogurt

Directions

1. Cook peaches or apples with honey, until softened. 2. Spread peanut butter on 2 slices of bread. Top with fruit and another piece of bread. 3. Whisk eggs, milk, cinnamon and nutmeg together. Dip both sides of the sandwich in the mixture, soaking well. 4. Cook, flipping once, until it's hot, a bit crispy and the egg is fully cooked. 5. Serve topped with maple syrup and yogurt.

I asked Rachel to answer a few questions about her business, and why she does what she does. Heres what she said!

How did DeMaCuisine begin?

De Ma Cuisine (for those of you who aren’t French language inclined, pronounced phonetically: deh maa kwe-zeen, and translates to "From My Kitchen") started, in a sense, when I was talking to my mom one day about what I wanted to do when I "grew up" (oddly enough, 12 years later, I'm just beginning to figure it out). I told her I wanted to help people. At the time, I didn't really know what that meant. In the years following that conversation, I had various jobs where helping people could have been described as part of/all of what I did. But they were never really what I'd meant. I didn't know what I'd meant. It wasn't until about a few months ago, when it clicked that I'm doing what I told Mom all those years ago that I wanted to do.

I think it hit me the most when Summer entered a contest I held in July for a free menu. To enter, all she had to do was tell me why she deserved a menu. She wrote that she was overwhelmed by new food restrictions in her diet (no dairy, no soy, no corn syrup, and no sugar) and was struggling to come up with things to feed her family that she could eat too (as they didn’t share the restrictions). Insert shout of excitement from me! Someone actually needed my help! She won then and there. And, thus began the journey of realization that I’ve been on about this little business of mine.

What makes you so passionate about menu planning and cooking?

I think the passion for cooking is ingrained in my genes. My mom is a great cook, my Oma is too. My whole family really appreciates good food. But it wasn't until I got married, that I discovered how much I loved it. I love to organize and plan and arrange and those abilities seem to have translated to the kitchen. I started writing down my culinary creations and began regularly planning our menus. Part of the reason for menu planning is that we try very hard to stick to a monthly budget. We have a certain amount of money designated for groceries, and if I plan our menu, I can stay within the budget because I can go to the store and buy what I need. I also like to be a creative with leftovers so we don't waste food. It's important to me to use what we have and use it well, trying not to be wasteful.

What has been the greatest challenge for you in starting and running your own business?

One of the greatest challenges with this new business is wondering if it's as worthwhile to others as it is to me. It's a lot of time and effort if it's not. This was tough in the first few months, but I've felt so supported and encouraged as of late, so it's not such a struggle anymore.

What has been the greatest reward? 

The greatest thing, and what makes any of the struggles worth it, is when the overwhelmed, the stressed, the burdened, the "hungry because you can’t think of anything to make" person who has received a menu says that they're excited to cook for the first time. When someone says that they're no longer overwhelmed. I'm getting a little choked up just writing about it, because it means so much to me to share this love with others... I love when someone realizes that they can. I'm trying to empower people to eat well and it brings me such joy.

How do you stay inspired to cook organically and eat well?

In general, it's just all around something that has become important, so it's more of a way of life. A lot of my inspiration for specific meals comes from my Abundant Harvest Organics box. When I bring it home and see what's inside, I'm get excited and motivated to plan and eat! Another thing that inspires me is the farmers that I know from when we lived in Central California. Because I've sold berries at the markets next to them and have picked the berries to sell at those markets, I understand a tiny, miniscule fraction of what goes into it. I want to support them.

What is one thing we should all know about cooking and eating healthy? 

I have a few things: 1. It's not as difficult as you may think it is. 2. "Health food" doesn't have to taste like cardboard. 3. It's not going to look the same for everyone. 4. Eating in moderation is important. Just because I have a healthy diet, doesn't mean I don't enjoy potato chips (just ask my husband). I also love to eat out occasionally and love things like pizza, french fries and the rare Dr. Pepper. The difference is that they are a treat, not an every day occurrence and often the pizza and fries are homemade, so at least I know what's going into them. 5. If it's not a "diet", but is a way of life, it's much easier. 6. (This is my opinion. Feel free to disagree.) If I'm cooking delicious food, full of things like veggies, grains, legumes and meat it's probably going to be better for me (and likely more cost effective) than a low-fat, low-carb, low-everything pre-packaged low-taste meal.

A HUGE thank you to Rachel for taking the time to make this post- you can check out her website here.  And more about her menu planning service here. Go ahead- check it out and call her up! Getting a custom menu is so easy and awesome- makes cooking and eating well so much easier when you have help :)


Thanks Rachel for inspiring me and others to go for your passion- and do what you love.
You're amazing!

Real Life Inspiration Boards!

So I went on and on yesterday about being who you are and going for it. Staying inspired and
believing in your non-perfect human self.

Another thing that can help spur on that newly inspired self is a real life inspiration board!
We live in a world where inspiration is all over the internet. With sites like Pinterest, Tumblr,
and thousands of inspiration blogs, we are surrounded by digital inspiration boards- so
sometimes its nice to have one in real life. You can touch it, paint it, throw glitter on it, whatever.
Super fun times.

I got inspired to do my own inspiration board after seeing this post on The Glitter Guide about
the Ban.do offices. You have to check out their beautiful space! Pretty awesome, right?
After seeing that amazing wall they have, I went crazy through a ton of magazines I've
collected over time, and tore out anything that stood out to me. Images, textures, patterns,
type, you name it. I took some tape, a few bulletin boards, and covered the wall.
Here's a view of my table in the middle of mad tearing...




Staying inspired isn't easy, but it helps to be in an inspiring work place. I'm still in the process of
making mine work, but even with just a few magazine clippings on the wall, my work
space is so much more fun to be in!

Oh oh totally almost forgot that I have something reeeally exciting to share with you...
Next week will be the launch of the official Waterfall Creative! Woot woot! But thats not the exciting
part. The exciting part is we have some awesome giveaways lined up to celebrate! There is going
to be one here, on this blog tomorrow. Same time. Same place.

Tomorrow the wonderful ladies Courtney and Angela are giving away a piece of jewelry from their
jewelry shop, Angel Court Jewels! This isn't something you want to miss out on :) You can check out their site today, and come back tomorrow to win yourself some beautiful bling! Oh and did I mention that celebs like Ashley Olsen, Lauren Conrad, even the guys from the band Hinder are wearin this stuff? Cause they totally are!
So check back here tomorrow for a chance to win a piece from their collection!

Happy Thursday friends!

Inspiration Bored.

Ever get into that funk where you don't feel inspired to do anything?

That thing that you've always been good at, the thing that you have always loved- you just don't feel like doing it anymore? And then once you don't feel like doing it, you get even more discouraged because you're wondering what's wrong with you?

We have all been there. Especially me. Just a few months ago I was the queen of this.

But things have finally turned around for me. I am feeling so passionate, so fired up right now- ready to take on the next challenge- and it feels really good.

So what changed? A lot. So much changed in my life. I moved and got married, two major steps. But those are not the sole reasons for my newly found passion.

I think the most important factor in getting me inspired once again was learning to let go of my fear and just trust God. I have always cared A LOT about what other people think- so much so that I have let it control me- I have let it stop me from doing many things, especially what I love. Not that I still don't care, because I do. I think I'm just in the process of learning to let it go.

It's so hard to take risks with things that you are passionate about, the things you really want. Because if you try and fail, it hurts that much worse. It's like when you don't try on a test and fail, its not a big deal. You obviously didn't care that much in the first place. But if you studied for weeks, did endless research, went to every study group offered, then fail? That hurts.

I think that's a fear we all have instilled deep inside of us. What if I try- and fail?

Well, the truth of the matter is- you will fail. And you have to be ok with that. Just DO something. Take action- with whatever it is you love. And know that you're going to fail! You're gonna get lazy, you're gonna make mistakes and you're NOT going to please everyone. And it's totally ok.

You're human- not super perfect alien.

When you get so down on yourself for not being perfect, when we get discouraged, it sets in deeper every time you aren't able to move forward and let it go. And all of a sudden- it sneaks up on you. That rut of the boring mundane. You are uninspired and unmotivated to do anything. You have gotten so down- that there is no use in trying anymore. That was me just a few months ago. I tried something, and didn't succeed the way I wanted to. I got mad at myself, stopped caring and stopped trying. I was scared of that horrible feeling of being inadequate.

I think that today we should all take a step in the right direction by rekindling the memories of our failures. Think back to that time you tried- you really put your heart into something, and you did not succeed. Maybe you let someone down, or maybe you disappointed no one but yourself. None the less, whatever happened did not feel good. Once you have that memory, embrace it. You can be sad, feel the hurt once again, maybe even cry, then... let it go. Because its ok. I promise. Move on! Move forward! Maybe even laugh at yourself! Stay positive, and give your human self a break. You're far from perfect!

Don't let those fears of your imperfections stop you from reaping the rewards of risk.

I think I wanted to share this with you all because of how I feel in life right now. This has really been something I've been focusing on and thinking about a lot these days. I didn't realize how numb I was until I got inspired once again. And now it feels sooo goood!

So please, my dear friends, excuse the abnormally long winded blog post today. I just know that everyone out there has an inspired, awesome self waiting to emerge. Waiting to fail. And then continuing.

Its oober cheesy to say that "attitude is everything" but it really is.

So thanks for reading friends- I hope this encourages someone out there today :) Its just stuff that's been on my mind :)

Now go out into that world and be your awesome self- become inspired once again! Yeeeah!


This poster is from Positive-Posters.com

oh so blissful

 Just loving these photos by Max Wanger.

Lovelyness.

My Grandpa the Awesome Guy

Good mooorning and happy Wednesday to you all! (I feel like saying that in a Santa voice would be
pretty sweet)

I want to take this time to tell you a little bit about my Grandpa Steve.

When I grow up, I want to be like him. The guy is approaching is 80s, has had a major heart attack where he literally died and was brought back by the grace of God (that's a whole other story) lived half of his life
with a severe addiction to alcohol, and has had other various health problems.

But it doesn't stop him. Just last weekend he finished a bike ride to raise money for the disease MS.
He volunteers at his local hospital 4x a week, and received his black belt in Tai Kwon Do just a few
years ago.  I mean really, the guy is nothing short of awesome.

He is constantly taking pictures with his Fujifilm disposable camera of everything and anything going on. He'll stop traffic just to get that perfect shot. And after he gets them developed, he sends the best photos in the mail to everyone who is in them. So we can all share in the disposable camera bliss.

So just yesterday I got my letter in the mail filled with Fujifilm shots. I had to share this one with you.

Taken around 6am when my grandpa dropped Nolan and I off at the airport on our way to Seattle.




So his shot might be just a little off sometimes, but its the thought that counts, right??

I love my grandpa so much and now that Nolan and I live in Burbank, we are only a few miles from
my grandparents house, which I am so thankful for. We get to spend much more time with them, and we get tons more pictures, so thats pretty cool also.

All this being said, I just really love him. When I get letters in the mail with disposable camera shots
I always get a good laugh, and remember how much my grandpa means to me.

Here's another shot from the bunch of us at the bike ride this past weekend.
Isn't he handsome??

 

I love you grandpa! Thanks for being an inspiration and always making me smile!

A Big Decision and A Re-Brand

So I was watching "The September Issue" with Nolan the other day, (great documentary if
you haven't seen it) and one thing that Anna Wintour (the Editor-in-chief of US Vouge) said
was her greatest strength was decisiveness. This hit me hard because I am the least decisive person
on the plantet. I get so overwhelmed with how many cool things you can do that I tend not
to do them! This is a no-no and now its time for a change.

That being said- I have made the decision to go full time freelance.
Yup- I am now a full time freelance graphic designer! Ah! With the events that have
recently happened in my life, and the circumstances I have been given, I know and feel totally
(almost!) confident that this is the perfect next step for me as a graphic designer.
Just saying that and blogging that is a really big step for me. But I want to be honest
and open with you guys and think you should be in on what I'm up to :) Its kinda scary,
and its not easy at all, but I'm ready for the challenge and can't wait to see what comes of it.

So now here's for the fun part: my re-branding inspiration!

With this new decision I have decided to do a re-brand of myself and start fresh- (one of those
reasons being I have a sweet new last name I want to show off :)

So I've been experimenting with a new color palette, and again, ms. indecisive over here can't
seem to make a decision. I need something that is fun and reflects the kind of designer I am.


Here's some of my inspiration so far:



So tough. What do you guys think? Any freelancers out there have some suggestions for a
newbie like me??

Anyways today is national coffee day so I'm going to pour myself another cup and get going on
my workload for the day.

Have a great Thursday everyone!!

Sources: 1/2/3/4/5

Today.

Treat today as if it is yours to conquer!

Despite your circumstances, choose to have a good attitude and see what happens :)

Happy Wednesday!

1 | 2

Being out in nature this weekend was soo nice and needed! Got to hang out with awesome people and refresh my mind.

Being in nature this weekend made me inspired artistically by nature and these amazing leaf cut outs! How amazing are these...

More here.

Lines and Shapes

Just getting a bit of inspiration from these lovely lines.

Gotta love those patterns.

1, 2, 3