We moved!

0600Didn't I tell you, we moved! Okay, so we still live in Austin and we still live in our sweet little house, but we moved the website and the blog! I am so excited I can hardly stand it. All this amazing change has been in the works for a few weeks and I am pleased to announce that we are settling in very nicely. We didn't just move, we redecorated too. The site has a entirely new look and I think you are going to be loving it as much as I am. So head over and check it out and tell us what you think. I would love to hear your feedback. The new blog is right there with shop and can be accessed from our home page.

You can find us at http://www.elledeedesigns.com

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#Craftcation...Getting Ready

 

Via Craftcation



Let the countdown begin, T-minus 6 days and counting. I have to admit that I am super stoked about this trip. Just a couple of reasons why...

1. Leavin' on a jet plane- Austin to So Cali

2. Bestie will be there with me

3. 4 days of awesome classes to grow my business

4. Food and Wine tour- enough said

5. Craft show and shopping

6. The BEACH

7. 3 days away from the office

8. Great networking opportunities

9. Hotel beds - I love these things

10. New clothes

11. Airport Starbucks

I love that we are traveling far enough to fly. The idea of being able to sit back, listen to music, maybe read a book or just talk without the distraction on other cars on the road is a priceless part of this trip for me. Clearly you can tell from the above mentioned list that there will be plenty of fun taking place and not all work. My bags will be packed this weekend, I plan to spend a lazy Sunday, doing taxes laying out all of my outfits and packing. My go bag is almost ready, complete with my travel/conference must haves.

  

Toting it all around in this amazing bag from Eleventy-Five.com



Snacks: Beef Jerky//Red Vines//Nutella to Go!

                   Reading Materials: Be Mine//Cosmo {haven't read it in years}//Flea Market Style

              



One of the things I am most excited about is #5, I love a good craft show. The bestie and I regularly shop around Austin, but we love to look for something different on the occasion that we are out of town. We happened upon this Penelope Lane Boutique blog a while back and became followers. Then with Craftcation tickets purchased and airlines books we noticed that their Spring Boutique Event is the same weekend we are going to be in California! Even better its only an hour or so drive from our hotel. We can't wait to attend on Saturday and plan to shop until we drop. If you're in the area you should really check it out.

My amazing assistant The Fabulous Ashley worked extra hard this week making these adorable business card/gifts! I can't wait to take them to California and spread the love.

Make sure to follow us on Instagram for all of this crazy awesome fun! @lderrick #elledeedesign

or on Twitter at @elledeedesign

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Friday Letters

Dear Friday,
I am so glad that you are here. This has been a really rough week and I can't wait for a few days to reset.

Dear Hubs,
You have spoiled me this week! Pizza dates with walks and ice cream, pedicures and chai tea lattes, and the rodeo on Sunday. Feels nice to be pampered from time to time. Thank you for making me feel so special.

Dear Mom and Dad,
I miss you guys and wish we had more time to hang out together.

Dear Summer,
I am ready, bring it on. I love me some hot Texas summer heat.

Dear Austin Stores,
I get it, I really do. No plastic bags in theory means less liter, better for the environment. But really, I am having a seriously hard time remembering my grocery bags in the car every time!

Dear Cali,
I am counting down the days until I step off that plane and can breath in the smell of the ocean and see the beach. I've missed you. T minus 13 and counting.

Dear Tisa,
We have so much coming up. We are taking big steps this year and growing a lot. So glad that we are doing some of it together.

Dear Aimee,
I L.O.V.E. it all! You are amazing and I can't wait to share our re-branding with everyone.

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Refresh Retreat 2013

snow. mountains.games.prayer. food. shopping. cooking. talking. swag. friends

Those 10 words can sum up the past weekend I spent in Colorado at Refresh Retreat 2013. Eleven women spending the weekend in the snowy mountains of Colorado to fellowship with each other and grow as Christian women, how much better can that get? Here's the catch, most of us had never met each other face to face before Friday. We have been friends for over a year, connecting through our blogs, facebook, and twitter.  What a treat it was to get to meet all of these amazing women face to face.

We stayed at an amazing home that belong to one of the ladies family. It was so fun to have everyone under one roof.

{Beautiful Mountain Hide Away}

Hosted by Sarah & Rebecca of She Shares Ministry the weekend was spent as a time to Refresh, a time to reflect physically, mentally and spiritual. We laughed, cried, hugged, talked business, blogs and life. We played games, cooked and ate and lounged around in our pjs.

Along with She Shares Ministries there was an amazing group of sponsors that made this weekend extra special by providing SWAG for each attendant. We all loved the bags and gushed about all the amazing goodies. Since it was so good, we thought you might like on too! 1 reader will when an amazing SWAG bag from Refresh Retreat 2013.

A peek at our amazing sponsors...

Ashley @ The Gnarly Whale Shop

Sara @ Sarahorn.com

Joy @ Whisker Graphics

Tisa @ Tisa's Creations

Lani @ Elle Dee Designs

Pick Your Plum

Sarah @ Linley House

She Shares Ministries

Stephanie @ RLPco
Cathi @ Bioceutica
Kelli @ Eat Pray Read Love

a Rafflecopter giveaway

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Friday Letters

Dear Friday,
I'm so happy you are finally here! Half day at work and plane ride to see my sis-in-law and bloggy friends!

Dear Pilot,
While you might then "bumps" in the air are normal, they are not, and they make me nervous. So if we could keep that to a minimal this afternoon I will enjoy this flight to the max.

Dear Tisa,
I can not wait for the next few weeks to pass! We are going to have an amazing time in Cali.

Dear Closet,
Can you please magically put together a few amamzing outfits for me that are cute and comfy, oh and go ahead and pack them while you're at it.

Dear Refreash 2013 Sponsors,
Thank you!!! You are going to rock the SWAG bags at this weekends retreat and I can't wait to share everything about it next week!

Dear Aimee,
I LOVE my new logo and can not wait for everything to be done! It is going to be amazing!

Dear Hubs,
I love you love you and wanted to say thanks for the girls weekend.

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Austin Craft Riot- Speed Networking Social

Networking groups

Every small business owner should be part of one. If you aren't, find one and if you can't find one, start one. Austin Craft Riot (formerly Etsy Austin) is a local group of artists, crafters, vintage & supply sellers promoting the handmade revolution in Austin, TX! This year we are boasting 102 members! That is a lot of great opportunities to share, collaborate and learn from other business owners. Aside from the monthly meetings held, that feature panels of speakers on topics from branding to photography tips, there are great opportunities to be social and meet new people!

This month my partner in crime (Tisa of Tisa’s Creations) and I were asked to plan some get to know each other activities. What better way to learn all about someone than a little speed dating, or speed networking in our case.

We wanted to make sure that we add our own special touches to make it fun and personal. The event was hosted at a local restaurant so decorating was limited. Chalkboard is one of our favs along with a great red and teal color scheme.

We used these amazing chalkboard stickers as name tags and the chalkboard tags for our jars on each table! (items available from Tisa’s Creations)

Meet and greet brunch fun! #austincraftriot #austin #speeddating vine.co/v/bgvtu9P5YI6

— Austin Craft Riot (@AustinCraftRiot) February 24, 2013

 

Just a little peek at the fun that was had! We came up with a great list of random and fun questions to place on each table. Every 2 minutes the bell was rung and one side of the table would move down a seat to have a new partner.

Planning your own Speed Networking Social? Here is the fun list of questions we used.

Why are you here today?

Have you been told, you look like someone famous?

If you were to name one piece of clothing that describes you, what would you say?

If you could eliminate one thing from your daily schedule, what would it be and why?

Which body part would you choose to get a tattoo done?

Tea or coffee? Earth or Mars? Crayon or paintbrush? Candy or ice cream?

What's the one thing, you can't live without?

If you could have an endless supply of any food, what would you get?

What’s your favorite thing to do in the summer?

If you could visit any place in the world, where would you choose to go and why

If you had to describe yourself using three words, it would be…

What is your favorite way to waste time at work without getting caught?

If you could eliminate one thing you do each day in the bathroom so that you never had to do it again, what would it be?

What do you keep in the trunk of your car?

If you had one extra hour of free time a day, how would you use it?

If you owned a CB radio what would your "handle" be?

If you were to write a book what would it be about?

How many rings before you answer the phone?

What is the first thing you think of when you wake in the morning?

If you won a million dollars, what would you do with it?

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