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Monday, May 28, 2012

Happy Memorial Day!

   Happy Memorial Day! With cookouts, pool dates, and beach trips, we sometimes forget those that have sacrificed so much for so many... We send a huge thank you to all service men and women, past and present, along with their families, for all that they do and for giving us our freedom every day. THANK YOU!!!


Friday, May 4, 2012

12 for Twelve: Leaping into 2012

  Since this year is a leap year, we thought we would do something special and create a list of twelve things we would like to accomplish over the course of the year. Ideally, we would accomplish one each month (hence the number twelve), but things usually aren't that easy. So, without further ado, here is our 12 for Twelve:


    Fear not, we started this at the beginning of the year, so a we can already cross a few of these items off the list and don't have to try and squeeze them all into roughly seven months. We had the awesome opportunity to travel to Hawaii earlier this year for our wedding anniversary which was an amazing adventure as always. It also didn't hurt that our friends made the trip as well so we were able to experience a lot of fun things with them. We also took a common New Years resolution to heart and began to work out more. A lot more. We can both honestly say we are now in the best shape of our lives and loving every minute of it! And although not technically crossed off, we have scheduled a trip to Disney World for Meagan's 30th birthday this year and will be visiting Harry Potter World while we are there. Some of the others are a little more nebulous, such as stress less and relax more, but we'll provide an update on those at the end of the year.

As for the rest, we'll be sure to squeeze them in somewhere :) Life is full of opportunities.



Wednesday, May 2, 2012

{Pugs in Design} Pug Sighting!

   One of our favorite posting topics is our "Pugs in Design" segment, which features adorable puggies that pop up in the design world, whether it be in print ads, magazines, t.v. spots,etc. We found this little one peeking his head over a very purple sofa in an ad for petflow.com


Friday, April 20, 2012

M-I-C-K-E Why?

When I was young my dad used to have a Mickey Mouse phone at his office that he used as his “private unlisted” number alongside his other regular phones. He'd give me the number so I could call if I ever needed to reach him and didn't want to go through everyone else at the company. A few years before he retired he took it home with him and set it up in the house. For some reason that phone was very special to him, but I'll never know why.

So it was with great hilarity on a recent trip to the local antique shop I found the exact same phone!


And then, amazingly I found another...


And then they just kept on coming...


Obviously the Mickey phone is not a rare item. Two of these phones were being sold in booths opposite each other in some sort of “buy me first” contest like they were actually facing off. But I found it hilarious none the less. It brought a smile to my face to remember how much that phone meant to my dad and now if I ever decide I want to own that phone again I'm pretty sure I know where to find one.

-Eric

Monday, April 16, 2012

Keep Calm and {fill in the blank}...

   Ever since we got back from England a couple of years ago, we have been infatuated with the whole “Keep Calm & Carry on” trend.  It wasn’t until recently that we discovered the whole story behind the slogan.  If you’re interested in learning the story as well, take a look at this video from the home of the original Keep Calm & Carry On Poster, Barter Books in the U.K. 



   After learning about the history, we wanted to create a poster that embodied one of our favorite things, Virginia Tech Football!  Our school mascot is the Hokie, which is a whole other story, but for this post, is basically an awesome turkey :)  Check it out!


    We had so much fun making it, we decided to create some printables for the other college football teams in our ACC (Atlantic Coastal Conference) Division.  Feel free to download your team’s “Keep Calm” print!  They make great gifts & fun tailgate accessories!  Don’t see your team?  Let us know & we’ll be glad to customize one for you!
 *Files are for personal, non-commercial use only

****UPDATE 1/16/13 : The free usage period has expired, but these are now available in our Etsy store!  

As you have probably seen, “Keep calm & carry on” can be seen everywhere & we love that!!  Here are some fun finds!

 1.  Hunger Games T-Shirt       2.  Survival Kit         3.  Pug Print             4.  Luggage Tags
 5. Cupcake Book                       6.  Cookies                 7.  iphone Case         8.  Door Mat

Friday, April 13, 2012

Titanic turns 100!

   When we found out Titanic was being re-released in the theater, we were so excited!  I have been in love with that movie and the whole Titanic story since I first saw the film in 1997.  Ever since Jack and Rose, I have immersed myself in the history of Titanic, learning everything I can about the grandiose ship, her passengers & their stories.  I even tracked down & wrote to the then surviving passengers (unfortunately every one of them was returned with could not deliver).  There’s just something that really stuck with me about the tragic event that April night in 1912.  Titanic’s 100th Anniversary is just around the corner & needless to say, this week has been flooded with television programs about Titanic from Jim Cameron’s (the filmmaker) Last Word to the “Guarantee Group” who were the ship’s go-to men in case of problems.  Want to learn more? Check these out...

(Ironically, the History Channel will also air Modern Marvels: Shipyards & Modern Marvels: Ice April 15th)

     I have seen the film about 10 times in the theater, countless times in total, and still need a box of tissues every time.  Titanic is a story of love, ambition, pride, selfishness, selflessness, life, and death.  The stories within the stories are awe-inspiring and are valuable lessons to generations past, present, & future.  Everyone takes something away from this story, which is one of the many reasons I have become so connected with Titanic. 


   At the moment, I am currently reading The Wreck and Sinking of the Titanic by Marshall Everett, which gives an in depth look at survivor accounts and personal narratives.


   Captivating new details arise all the time... One of my favorites is the little known fact about the dogs of Titanic.  Who knew?!  Twelve canines called Titanic home for a short time, three of which survived the sinking!  One woman jumped out of a lifeboat when she was told her dog was too large to board with her.  A few days later, her body was recovered still embracing her loved companion.  No pugs were on board, but to see which breeds were, read all about it here!

Titanic By the Numbers. The History Channel website. 2012. Available at: http://www.history.com/interactives/titanic-by-the-numbers. Accessed Apr 12, 2012.  Infographic by Column Five  
 Here's to making it count!
                     ~Meagan