Vale Design : Freelance Package Design & Branding

Vale Design on Pinterest

You betcha I'm on Pinterest! From the Pinterest website, "Pinterest is a social catalog service. Think of it as a virtual pinboard — a place where you can post collections of things you love, and "follow" collections created by people with great taste." This site is has come in pretty handy for creating design moodboards for clients. I have used it a couple of times already.

You can follow Vale Design by clicking here or the link in the Elsewhere section top right. Some of the boards I have created so far, Color, Pattern, Birds, Ocean, Quotes, and Tasty Tidbits. Pop over and check out the eye candy!

{image credits Pinterest}

Nooka Watches

DID I REALLY SAY I WAS GOING TO GIVE UP MY TIME OBSESSION?!! Can that wait until I purchase one of these bada#@ Nooka watches?! I thought I was a design watch enthusiast, but one of my co-workers in Chicago has that title cornered. He has the coolest watches! I think he has the above version, but bright purple! Love it.

These are some of the coolest watches I have ever seen. I am a huge advocate of wearing neutral clothing and accessorizing with crazy bright primary colored watches, shoes or bags. I am not sure how great these watches are at telling time, but hey, I am supposed to working on not caring about time! I would also recommend checking out the Collaboration section. Some cool shots, much like the Nickelodeon Spongebob and Patrick {a cartoon close to my heart} watches.

Here are some examples of the watch front faces:

{image credits Nooka}

Quote :: Groucho Marx

Blizzard Aftermath

I was going to Photoshop this image, but the plain straight forward iPhone version gets the pain I have been commuting through across so much better. The above picture shows Chicago Union Station in the Aftermath of the blizzard. This is just my line! Commuting has been painful. One day it took me 4 hours to get to work...one way! The return trip was a speedy 3 hours. I spent more time commuting that day then I did working. *Sigh* Fingers crossed that this week will be better... 

{image credits Vale Design}

Mmm Monday :: Granola Bars

INGREDIENTS

3/4 cup of packed brown sugar
1/2 cup of honey
1/4 cup of water
1 teaspoon of salt
1/2 cup or 1 stick of butter
3 cups of rolled oats
1 cup of toasted and sliced almonds
1 cup of wheat germ
1/4 cup of sesame seeds – I substitute and use sunflower seeds
1/2 cup of dried cherries; cut in half
1/2 cup of raisins

DIRECTIONS

In large sauce pan add brown sugar, honey, water, salt, and butter, over medium heat. Mix all ingredients allow to boil. Once it is boiling let it boil for 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat and mix in the rest of the ingredients.

Cover cookie sheet with wax paper and then press mixture in pan, put in freezer to cool. Then cut into bars and individually wrap with saran wrap.

**We have been eating the heck out of these granola bars. The Brother-In-Law's girlfriend found this recipe. My husband made his own version this afternoon. Sounds like he added pretty much everything and the kitchen sink! Of course, he snuck in some chocolate chips. In my opinion, these are better than any store bought granola bar I have had. Plus, you know what every ingredient is! I would recommend that you keep them in the fridge. They hold their shape better.

{image credits Average Jane}

2011 Chicago Blizzard

I am home today, along with pretty much everyone else in the Chicago land and surrounding areas, due to the Chicago BLIZZARD! Yep. I said it. Blizzard. You know you are going to be in trouble when The Weather Channel sends out two of their most popular news personalities, Mike Bettes and Jim Cantore. This is my first blizzard and it lived up to the two days worth of hype! I now understand what "white out" conditions are. Last night and this morning were pretty nasty.

Now that I have some time, I am going to try to catch up with some long overdue posts. Stay tuned and stay warm! ~ erin