HAPPY MARDI GRAS!

link here for photo credit 

Mr. Squareview and I have a deep affection for New Orleans.  The sights, the sounds, the music, the food, the drinks.... I could go on forever.  It's a town full of charm and tradition.

The one an only time I've spent time in New Orleans for Mardi Gras was because I happened to be there to attend a conference.   It also happened to be 2010 and that conference was book-ended by the Saints Super Bowl win & Mardi Gras.  Wow! It was an experience I wouldn't trade for the world but it was crazy.

We've been down several times before and since, and while there is always a crowd (Halloween is particularly interesting!), the time spent in NOLA between those two joyful events was inexplicable.

I think that Mardi Gras was both my first and last in NOLA, but that doesn't make it less fun to celebrate from afar.  Grab some great food & equally wonderful drink and start your own parade!

Happy Mardi Gras, Y'all!

MUSIC MONDAY vol 38

Happy Lundi Gras, Y'all (or Shrove Monday for you traditionalists out there)!  I wanted to share one of my favorite brass bands playing a song that you'll hear in your head for at least a week following a trip to the Big Easy. It's a very amateur video, but worth it.

I give you Rebirth Brass Band with Do Watcha Wanna. Enjoy!  

If the video isn't working, click here for the link.

Fun Fact: The Fleur-di-lis Cafe shown at the beginning of the video is open early for breakfast and a must after a late night out. Mr. Squareview was devastated when he ordered the muffaletta omelet only to learn it was no longer on the menu. He must of looked a little worst for the wear though as the kind folks behind the counter had a heart and made it for him anyway.

FREEBIE FRIDAY: VALENTINE DAY TAGS

Love is definitely in the air this season! With Valentine's Day right around the corner, I wanted to share another set of gift tags with you.  These combine two of my favorite color combinations for Valentine's day - red and teal.  

These could also be used as classroom Valentine wishes if you were looking for something last minute.  Or if you were looking for something more customized, check out my design for sale at Minted and using the badge to the  right and get 10% off your order!

NEW TYPEFACE LOVE

I know that typically font love is saved for Font Friday, but I just couldn't resist... The wonderful Foundry of Hoefler & Frere-Jones has produced some of my absolute favorite typefaces (Cyclone, Archer, Gotham, oh my!) and they've done it again with their most recent release, Landmark.

The signature alphabet of Lever House, one of New York's most significant architectural milestones, becomes a family of clear and colorful display fonts. It comes in 4 different weights, Regular, Inline, Shadow and Dimensional.  Head over to the H&FJ site (here) and scoop it up!

via H&FJ

ANIMATED SHORT GREATLY IMPROVES MY MORNING

I had a miserable commute this morning.  The "el" train was packed, slow, smelly (more than usual), and every single person around me was sneezing, coughing, or a combination of both.  Yuck.

But a fun find in my inbox has lightened my mood and I wanted to share.  This animated short from Disney called Paperman is a simple story gorgeously drawn and is the perfect cure to the morning commute blues. I  can only hope this good feeling lasts until my commute home. Enjoy!

MUSIC MONDAY vol 37

I caught a little bit of the movie Away We Go this weekend and was reminded how much I liked this song.  I give you All My Days by Alexi Murdoch.  Enjoy.

ETSY LOVE: SWEET WHIMSY SHOP

Happy Friday!  My original plan for today's post was to talk mainly about the coming weekend, specifically Groundhog Day and the Superbowl.  Everything changed after I stumbled upon a new Etsy shop find.  The shop is called the Sweet Whimsy Shop and they sell cake pops.

I know what you're thinking, cake pops - snooze.  I they have been around forever, but I still get a kick out of them when they are done super well and I think this shop's ones are darling.  Look at the cuties I could have offered (if I would have been way more prepared) this weekend!

SUPER BOWL CUTIES via SWEET WHIMSY SHOP

GROUNDHOG POPS via SWEET WHIMSY SHOP

The rest of these are just the cutest too.  The Harry Potter and One Direction ones are my favs!  If you're looking for cake pops, head on over to the shop found here.  All the below images were taken directly from the shop.

ONE DIRECTION - TOO CUTE

HARRY POTTER PARTY!

COWBOY CAKEPOPS

BABY'S FIRST CAKE POP

HOT COCOA CAKE POP 

MMM - now I'm hungry!  Have a great weekend!