This blog has been silent for far too long, and as I look to 2013 I think a recap (and explanation) of 2012 is in order.

JANUARY
I rang in the new year relaxing in Florida with my fam (where my niece saw sand for the first time!) before heading home to start the winter issue of maché.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

We waited as long as we could for snow and ended up doing two snowless photo shoots in one day at a charming cabin in central Pennsylvania.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst, hair and makeup by Melissa Mchugh, food by Kristina Hopkins

It was intense, but I worked with some amazing talent (hello: Krista Leigh Hurst, Kristina Hopkins and Melissa Mchugh!) and came away with one of my favorite maché features to date, Breakfast in Bed. I did some illustrations and styled and shot a story on new uses for old things for Inspired Home Omaha and saw my first styling work (which I worked on in November 2011) published in the January issues of Inspired Home and Wedding Essentials magazines!

illustration by Ananda Spadt

FEBRUARY
The winter issue of maché went live and we got a fabulous response. I headed to NYC with friends and shipped out two sets of invites, including the most amazing Baltimore-themed foil invites with a fold-out map and skyline die cut that I don’t have one good photo of.

photos by Dev Hanumara

MARCH
I was back in photo shoot mode in March. I did a story about terrariums for Inspired Home.

photos by Dev Hanumara, food by Kristina Hopkins

Then I styled a Mexican fiesta and Girl Scout Cookie-inspired cupcakes for the spring issue of maché.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst, hair and makeup by Melissa Mchugh, models Jenna Sheetz and Regina Willis

I styled a fashion piece on color blocking for maché in the freezing cold with two of my fav models ever.

photo by Dev Hanumara

On top of it all, I designed some adorable lady bug-themed invites for my niece’s second birthday party.
photos by Krista Leigh Hurst, event design and styling by Belovely Events, dresses by Priscilla Costa Brazil, headpiece by LeeLeeBridal,  jewelry by Lonely Coyote, hair by Liz Maldonado, makeup by Patricia Solis

APRIL
After several photo shoots in the freeeeezing cold I welcomed the warmth of April with the first ever maché wedding! I worked with an absolutely amazing dream crew to creative direct a stunning fake wedding. Seriously, you have no idea how talented the girls at Belovely are! We got rained out once, but I’m pretty sure it was a blessing because we ended up shooting on the most gorgeously lit day of the year with a miniature horse. Bonus: The wedding also got published on Charm City Wed!

I also started working with the super talented Adam and Jo of Inspired Taste to expand their brand based on their initial logo. Many adorable houseads have been made!  The spring issue of maché also went live in April.

bottom photo by Krista Leigh Hurst

MAY
Annie and her fam came to visit in May and we spent a good amount of time finishing up our first letterpress invites. I hit up Baltimore Print Studios with Kristina of Anitsirk Design & Letterpress, who did the printing, for my first encounter with letterpress–it was the coolest thing ever.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

Afterwards Annie and I headed up to Pennsylvania where we styled a yellow picnic shoot for maché together!

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

We shot with Krista who then took photos of us (I still don’t know how models do it!).

photos by Dev Hanumara

Later that month I wrote, painted and styled a story for Inspired Home about painting anything around the house.

photos by Dev Hanumara

I got crafty and styled a few odds for the summer issue of maché.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

Krista and I also put together a story about making your wedding unique for Wedding Essentials magazine.

To say I was fried by the end of the month is an understatement, so the husb and I hopped a last-minute cruise to Bermuda for Memorial Day. Ahhh, relaxation and no internet connection!

photos by Dev Hanumara, food by Kristina Hopkins

JUNE
June was a whirlwind of summer issue shooting and beaching. We picked what must have been the hottest day of the year to take pics of popsicles for maché.

photos by Dev Hanumara, food by Kristina Hopkins

Let’s just say it was messy….we spent the afternoon shooting (and sipping) refreshing lemonades.

The end of the month landed me, Krista, Kristina and a handful of models at the beach for two summery shoots–a day on the boardwalk and a party on the beach. Meanwhile, for my day job I attended Association Media and Publishings‘s annual conference (where we brought home a few major awards) and art directed and published my first iPad magazine, called Bright Ideas, using Adobe Digital Publishing.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

JULY
My favorite month (and not just because we celebrated one year of maché!). We saw a spectacular fireworks display in DC for the Fourth of July and I celebrated my last 20-something birthday before heading back to the beach to help Krista with a nautical shoot that ended up running on Bayside Bride.

photo by Krista Leigh Hurst

I flew to Chicago for work then styled a piece on curb appeal for Inspired Home before rushing home to hit publish on the summer issue of maché.

Oh, I also designed birth announcements for my new nephew (!!) and birthday invites for my niece’s artsy birthday party.

photo by Dana Jo Photography

AUGUST
I started August finishing up an invite job that Dana Jo Photography captured beautifully before leaving on a trip to paradise.

Saint Lucia was just what I needed. The husband and I ate mangos right off the tree, went diving (real for him, discovery for me) and climbed the Gros Piton, which was the most rigorous thing I’ve ever done. So much for relaxation!

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

I came back to holiday madness (yes, in August). First up was a story for Inspired Home: 50 holiday decorating ideas under $50. Luckily I only crafted and had Krista shoot 14 of them! Krista’s bro made a setup with walls and a wood floor and we actually shot the piece on my deck.

SEPTEMBER
My parents came to town so we headed down to the OBX before getting back to work.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

Krista and I did a quick bike picnic photo shoot that had us taming both a puppy and bees for maché.

Then I set off driving to Chicago with Kristina for a girls weekend. I met up with Annie and visited my 40th state (Michigan!) on the way home.

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

OCTOBER
We decided not to do a holiday issue for maché so I styled a rustic/glam shoot (can you say pink and gold!) for the holiday issue of A Subtle Revelry.

photos by Dev Hanumara

Then Dev and I had a day of shooting for maché. First a fun kid’s table.

photos by Dev Hanumara

Then back to the holidays!

photo by Krista Leigh Hurst

My heart-in-hand gloves also got featured on DailyCandy Philadelphia!

photos by Krista Leigh Hurst

NOVEMBER
It was back to Chicago for work in November before photo shooting in a coffee shop with Krista and her girls and hustling to finish the fall issue of maché before flying to Colorado to spend Thanksgiving with my fam.

photo by Brittani Sigle

In Colorado we celebrated five years of marriage (wow!), met my nephew for the first time and said goodbye to the house I grew up in.

left photo by Dev Hanumara, right photo by Krista Leigh Hurst

DECEMBER
I put together some cute polka dot napkins and a hot chocolate bar for Inspired Home and the husband and I spent most of December doing a facelift on our kitchen. I actually got holiday cards out early, but a new magazine and the second issue of Bright Ideas on the real job front made December one of the busiest months yet!

It’s truly been a mind-blowingly crazy year. To my partners in awesomeness, thank you for making this one of the most fun and rewarding years ever. To my supportive husband, thank you for understanding me…I love you. Watch out, 2013!

Have you seen this proposal? It’s a MUST watch!

The spring issue of maché magazine came out two weeks ago (sorry for the late notice!). This has to be one of my favorite covers to date, and I’m head over heels for this amazing shoot. I want to have this party.
There’s way more where this came from. Go check the new issue!

Styling by Ananda Spadt
Photos by Megan Christine Photography
Flowers by The Paisley Poppy

If your girl is anything like me she’ll want one of these polish eggs in her Easter basket.

How adorable are Essie’s color names? My fav is turquoise & caicos (because I got married in Turks & Caicos!).

to buy or not to buy // peach daiquiri // orange, it’s obvious!

Spring is one of the best times for a bridal shower. And we’re gearing up for spring!
I’ve been doing a few things for Wedding Essentials Magazine and these free fill-in-yourself bridal shower invites are one of them. Three invites for three adorable spring themes: tea party, yarn and silhouette.
Download all three invites over on the WE blog!

We’ll be doing copious amounts of creating, styling and shooting for the spring (!!!) issue of maché this weekend. It will be awesome.

How awesome will your weekend be?

{print by Super Swoon, available here}

This is the cutest idea I’ve ever seen.
The groom hired a photographer to capture the moment he proposed and kept it a secret. He then gave the bride the framed photo on their wedding day. Now that’s planning ahead.

Check out their gorgeous wedding here.

{photos by Alyse French Photography}

After I saw this post I decided to make birthday cakes from cans for Josh’s birthday.

I went with white cake and used raspberry whipped cream (delish!). Here’s how I did it.

1. Get your cans ready by removing the label, washing them out and buttering and flouring the inside.
2. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and make cake according to recipe on box, put cans on cookie sheet and bake. I baked mine for 35 minutes.
3. Let cakes cool and remove them from the cans. Mine slipped right out.
4. Cut off the ugly top (and eat!). Then slice the good part into 1/2-inch slices.
5. Make your frosting. I used heavy 1 1/2 cup whipping cream , 2 teaspoons vanilla and 1 tablespoon sugar, whipped it together and folded in real crushed raspberries.
6. Make two cakes by layering cake, then whip, then, cake, then whip. Top with more whip and raspberries.

I love the versatility of these little cakes. I might try chocolate cake next time!

I’ve been on Instagram duty for both Quite Like It and maché this week…

1. pure thai cookhouse in nyc // pa-yao beef noodles soup
2. succulent shopping for an upcoming shoot // brainstorming DIY appetizer sticks
3. sneak peek of Baltimore-inspired wedding invites // coolest 90th birthday invites ever went out

Follow Quite Like It AND maché on Instagram for twice the fun!

I fell in love with Jane Mount’s Ideal Bookshelf Shop the moment I saw it.

What a perfect gift for…anyone, really. A fashionista, a foodie, a new mom. You can even get a custom bookshelf made with all of your personal favs.