This. Monday.

it sort of feels like this today.

via Pinterest. Sadly, I couldn't find the original source.

looking for the lemonade

I'm looking for the lemonade in the situation but I had my bag stolen last week from my office

[involved my boss running after the guy and helicopters / police] it was a lot I'm not going to lie

so today I spent 3 hrs at the DMV [the great equalizer / humbler], 2 hours at my bank and another 2 hours at the phone store trying to put my life back together. When it's all done I'll write a post titled "what to do if your purse is stolen" so you can reference it if the situation ever arises for you. {I truly hope it does not} 

meanwhile how lovely is this piece of art? artist Kazuaki Yamauchi

overwhelmed

when life gets overwhelming. I come back to black and white. It's all I want right now. Like a mug of soup on a cold day – It's comforting. Life is overwhelming sometimes don't you think?

managing a business, hiring new people, saying good bye to others as they move on to new things. Taking on projects that are out of your comfort zone. All good things, just a lot.

The good news is that the weather is beautiful here and I walked over to get a Slurpee today after an afternoon meeting. It's the little things.

 Also, I can recommend a house cleaner. She makes life very, very nice!

images from here

that's just SUUUUper

new color way available on this all purpose card: available here

Neon Pink Mother's Day

on press today with a fun little neon mom's day card.

available here.

I would say follow along on Instagram today for more fun, but it seems to have crashed today.

wah wah.

S'Mores

I'm burned out, in need of a business change so I decided I need to hit the refresh button. 

I'm headed to CAMP

I have no idea if this will be the most awful thing ever [I don't do games and karakoe] but I'm so tired that 4 days without my cellphone sounds like a dream.

All I have to say is that there had better be a s'more involved and a stiff drink.

NEW IN THE SHOP: MOM WOW!

mom's are pretty much Superheros without the capes. Who else can do a load of laundry while getting a kid out of a underwear accident and see from the back of her head that the other kid is sneaking a cookie. designed so that you can use it for Mother's Day, birthdays, or just the normal tuesday when your mom is rocking the house down.

available here

SOME THINGS I'VE BEEN DIGGING LATELY

I'm in full color, full production mode with the revamp of my biz identity and the shoots I've been on lately. Lets jazz it up people!

ALL FROM HERE

LEND ME A HAND

I've been on a kids shoot over the past week or so. A few days in-between lifestyle and studio.

It's the most fun, most tiring of jobs. Our biggest shot: 5 kids under the age of 6, with all of the sugar they could shove in their little mouths. We had an hour before it imploded – I can't say who did first the adults or the kids? It was a draw.

Can't wait to show you images. This sad little hand was on the ground outside the house we used. It sort of spoke to what I really need and that's a hand or two to help out. 

a new look

most folks who do this whole blog thing roll it out properly, everything it all tidy and redesigned at once. Yep, not me… it's going to be a slow go over here getting everything changed but ya gotta start somewhere. I'm excited for a new look and feel hope you enjoy it as well.

-the lazy designer

Slim Aarons

shhh… don't tell my husband but I couldn't not buy it. I've been thinking about it for weeks and the sale is almost over.

One Kings Lane

a first kiss

Butterflies - a little shy - a little sexy. What a first kiss feels like.

)

what a fun and amazing video.

YES

VIA SWISSMISS

Angela Adams - new Spike Rug

Chris and I have been redecorating. It's been a bit challenging because I honestly expected him to just say 'go for it' since he likes what I do most of the time. So I was surprised when he had some pretty serious opinions. Like - I don't want that brand new boring sofa, I want our room to be funky and cool. Umm ok, I had only picked out the boring new sofa so he would stop complaining about the the "uncomfortable" stylish one we have now.

He wanted to add the craziest fabric to the new sofa I had picked out. Thank you rational sales guy at Room and Board for helping me talk him out of it. [I would have had a very expensive headache for years to come]. So we still have our old sofa still but got rid of a couple of things, found a few more cool vintage items on Craigslist [how amaze balls is Craigslist for stuff like that?] But now we need a good rug. Something jazzy and not boring as he puts it. Something that ties in all of our colors. We've got a lot of red going on, some lighter greens and neutrals. 

I haven't liked anything till I saw this upcoming rug from Angela Adams.

 Made of Plush, New Zealand Wool I think it might be the one. 

Available May 1st [ahhg I have to waitttt]

PS. I also just discovered this section of her site with floor models of furniture and discounted rugs! 

there is some pretty spiffy things happening there too.

New in the shop: Tattoo Mother's Day Card

I'm not sure about where you live, but here in Long Beach [LA for that matter] Ink is big. I can't commit to art that permanent and my mom is so happy to have the ultimate in art damaged kids [that I can't decide]. I thought I would spoof all this fun body art around here this year with a Mother's Day card.

Funny enough, I was at the market the other day and the fella checking me out had a lovely very colorful robot tattoo on the inside of his forearm. He and I were chatting about it and he said, well I never PLANNED to get a tattoo. My best friend is a tattoo artist and we got to drinking one night and I woke up with it. I said well, that's the best dang drunk tattoo I've ever seen! He said his mom was going to be so bummed and I told him about this card. Violá. perfect in every way.

available here

happy birthday oldie

new in the shop today

I had a conversation recently with a 20-something where I had to explain that when I was little there was no Nickelodeon, or cable TV. In fact we had 5 channels on a good day when the rabbit ears worked with a lob of tinfoil.  ahhh the good ol' days.  She was mortified for me, we both giggled at the age difference and I couldn't let the conversation go to waste so I turned it into a greeting.

available in the shop - for that oldie in your life.

Wayne Thiebaud

Ahhh Wayne Thiebaud, my soul brother in art. 

Raised in Long Beach, Ca he later moved to Sacramento where he has lived most of his life. He taught art at Sacramento City College for a bit [can you imagine?] and later at UC Davis. 

Mr. Thiebaud has an exhibit that just opened in Laguna Beach and will run through early June

Though he has lovely figure work and landscape paintings. I'm most in love with his food series. Cakes and Pies and Americana.

Can't wait to see the show!

Aldea Home - San Francisco

Happy to welcome Aldea Home in San Francisco as our newest location to carry Richie Designs greetings.

If you are in the area stop by the store for fantastic home goods, baby and gifts. By far my favorite stop while we were in town in December shopping. Here are a few favorites from their website.

for your favorite photographer
Canon and Nikon camera pillows [ahem, would go nicely with my camera card I might say!]

omgosh. this quilt - I'm madly in love.
San Francisco map quilt 
[kitty not included]

super chic macrame light - that room isn't shabby either!

Aldea Home
890 Valencia Street
San Francisco, Ca
open everyday 11am-7pm

Lou Reed

Dunno, something about Mr. Reed - I've never been a crazed fan but for the past few years he's just the IT for me. Did you read the Rolling Stone letter from his wife? Possibly the best love letter.ever.written.  We should all be so lucky to live like he did.

"As meditators, we had prepared for this – how to move the energy up from the belly and into the heart and out through the head. I have never seen an expression as full of wonder as Lou's as he died. His hands were doing the water-flowing 21-form of tai chi. His eyes were wide open. I was holding in my arms the person I loved the most in the world, and talking to him as he died. His heart stopped. He wasn't afraid. I had gotten to walk with him to the end of the world. Life – so beautiful, painful and dazzling – does not get better than that. And death? I believe that the purpose of death is the release of love.

At the moment, I have only the greatest happiness and I am so proud of the way he lived and died, of his incredible power and grace.

I'm sure he will come to me in my dreams and will seem to be alive again. And I am suddenly standing here by myself stunned and grateful. How strange, exciting and miraculous that we can change each other so much, love each other so much through our words and music and our real lives."

-Laurie Anderson

Read more: http://www.rollingstone.com/music/news/laurie-andersons-farewell-to-lou-reed-a-rolling-stone-exclusive-20131106#ixzz2tAjGRurG

A Valentine for everyone!

We've got a little something for everyone - whatever stage of love or like you may be in the midst of!

available here

Tuesday pretties

images from here [2 and 5 from JCrew]

first concerts

Something I like to do with groups of people [photo shoots are a good example] is ask them what was your first concert. It's a perfect ice breaker and always opens up fun conversation.

Captain and Tennille was mine in elementary school - I think Wham was the first concert I paid for.



Sad to hear yesterday of their splitting - who splits after 38 years? Don't you just stick it out at that point? We always have You Tube to remind us of the awesomeness.

so what was your first concert? The cheesier the better!

autograph me

turn your signature into a necklace or bracelet

I think I like the one hanging by one piece - more graphic!

they also have more masculine versions according to their notes.

available here prices range $195-$295

mamma needs a new bag

I'm dreaming of a new bag. I have expensive taste. These are two things that don't go well together. Here are a few I'm dreaming about.

Celine

Chloé

The Row

The Bird Machine

The Bird Machine just found some prints tucked away from previously sold out posters. Don't waste time get on over there and get yourself something fun.

The Bird Machine

New for Valentine's Day

Who's your favorite band? Barry Manilow? Tom Jones? Just kidding. But this

new card I printed this weakend will hopefully get a great giggle from your sweetie

If you were a band, you would be my favorite. 

 Valentine's Day is coming up quick, don't forget to get your order in!

available here

simple. classic. elegant

I was just pulling samples of invites for a bride and came across this piece I did a couple years ago. It's still one of my favorites. All blind emboss invite [this has a touch of transparent white added to it to pop the type] 

simple. classic. elegant.

getting married? email me for details [richele[at]richiedesigns.com]. Spots are filling fast for summer so reserve your spot soon. I only take a handful of clients on for the season.

My favorite piece of cookware: Le Creuset

Had you told me a couple years ago that a piece of cookware would inspire me to cook more I would have laughed. Had you told me my husband would be as eager to use it… well you know.

We received a 5qt Le Creuset french oven for a wedding gift and we love it. I really mean WE, as Chris talks about his love of this thing as much as I do.

The secret must be the cast iron and enamel combo? I'm sure there are heat conductor specialists out there who can tell me the dealio but here it is in simple terms:

It cooks faster and better than anything I've ever used

It cleans up without scrubbing – no matter how burnt on the food is

It's one pot cooking at it's finest

it can go from stove top to oven and back 

my two negatives: it's heavy and hard to handle sometimes [that's where Chris comes in] 

if you're buying your own [ours was a gift] they're pricey. [keep an eye out at Marshalls though I've been seeing more of them lately at discounted prices]

My favorite to cook in it right now is pot roast with mini potatoes and mini carrots but this Coq au Vin recipe looks like it might be happening very soon

P.S We do own a couple other baking dishes from Le Creuset now which are nice but if I had to say pick one...the dutch oven is the way to go hands down.

Skincare for the 40-ish

Not sure I've mentioned it [I'm trying to forget it myself] but I'll be 45 this year. Each January I get a little sad that it's another year down, one more step toward wrinkles and not looking my 30 year old self. This January feels a bit different though. I'm not concentrating on the inevitable but rather just doing the best with what I've got. I've started posting recommends on Instagram when I think about it [It's often Saturday FYI] Here were my last 3.

left to right 

Loréal Colour Riche® Balm Lipstick - great drugstore find. It's sort of like lip conditioner type product with just enough color so that you don't feel like a sloth when you run out of the house on a Saturday am without any make up on. Great over lip liner as well for a deeper color.

Bargain $8 

SKII

I've talked about this product before. I like the plain mask Facial Treatment Mask over the whitening mask BTW. I have both and I see better results with the original. Exfoliate first [the Guinot product] and then apply the mask for 20-40 min while you watch TV. It's kinda freaky looking so wait till the hubby and kids go to bed. Use it 2 days in a row if you're really wanting to shave off 5 years [sadly it only lasts a couple days].

you could do this once a week, I end up doing it about once every few months. They're not cheap, and it takes some time to sit with the crazy thing on.

Not a bargain - set of 6 [individually wrapped] $90

Guinot

Gommage Biologique

The strangest exfoliator you'll ever use. Smear on the cream and let it set for 8-10 min [careful not to leave it on too long it can feel like a sunburn] and it liquefies the dead skin cells on your face. No scrubbing, tearing, causing any damage that you hear about. Quick and easy once or twice a week. 

Decently priced considering it lasts so long. $40 range

Down side you have to buy it from a spa that uses the product. There looks to be a few online retailers as well if you don't live near one.

follow me on Instagram for more ideas.

a winter of chic

 hope you're all staying warm. I normally like to poke when California is warm and there's a snow storm back east but this week's chill is obscene and not in a good way. 

If it makes you feel better we'll be out of water by next summer. We've had no rain and no snow in the mountains. It's kinda bad on the opposite side of the fence

I'm still dreaming of a funky winter here though so here are a few jacket  combos I've been loving.

I seem to want a funky jacket and a chill out tshirt these days

all the photos from here.

New to the shop: You Are My Everything

New to the Shop today

For the guy or girl who makes your heart full. You Are My Everything, is a one color letterpress card hand printed in Long Beach, Ca. It will ship with a kraft envelope. A perfect card for Valentines, Anniversary or an everyday card to tell someone that they're special. Ink is a pretty navy blue with purple overtones.

Available here