Beauty Regimen

Holiday party season is almost here! My first party is on Friday, it's Tony's company Christmas celebration. I just ordered sparkly, glittery shoes (they arrive tomorrow) but I have not picked out an outfit yet. First come the shoes, then the outfit right? I love getting dressed up and ready for a night out.  I never reapply makeup. Whenever I put anything on my face, it is after I've just washed it. I think that is the best way to avoid the occasional pimple. I wash my face twice a day, using just my fingertips in a small circular motion, just like my dermatologist told me when I was 15. 

Here's what I use and love:

1. Benefit Positint- a pop of pink for lips and cheeks

2. Shu Uemura The best eyelash curler

3. Dior black out

4. Dior powder with spf 25

5. Bobbi Brown concealer

6. OPI for sephora sparkly top coat-flurry up. This looks great over almost any color and so is so fun and seasonal!  I also love essie shop till you drop, and OPI's big apple red.

7. Tweezerman mini slant

8. Freeze 24.7 eyecream

9. Benetint face primer, for when I want to glow

10. Kiehl's makeup remover

11. Clean and clear facewash

What do you use when you want to look your best?  Any beauty tips or tricks?

I ♥ ReadyMade

Everytime I have a cold, I feel like I was just sick. I've been feeling stuffed up for about 3 days but today was the worst. I woke up and had a pounding headache and a really sore throat. I've been sneezing and coughing all day, and I look like I was run over. I spent most of the day on the couch and I just came back from CVS with some supplies:

-Mucinex, which I've never taken but have high hopes for

-chapstick, a necessary everyday staple

-and puffs plus lotion- so worth it. The lotion is divine. Though I am feeling down in the dumps, an issue of ReadyMade makes me forget all my problems, and this particular issue does a swell job of lifting my spirits.

Out of 30 products for their holiday gift guide, they picked paper pastries moleskines to be #13! Isn't that amazing? I have loved Readymade ever since I can remember and I am so honored to be in my favorite magazine.

If you're a reader, the gift guide starts on page 67 and I'm on page 69. The guide is filled with wonderful items like a cozy blanket from Pendleton, a party starter pinanta from Confetti Systems, a hand drawn calendar from the Wild Unknown- haven't you heard that you are the company you keep?  ;)

See more and share what you're currently loving at much love anna

SALE!

I just added tons of new products to both my shops! From Saturday November 27th to Monday November 29th, enter sbsaturday to receive 15% off entire shop. Orders that total $50+ will receive free domestic shipping. This sale will only last three days, don't wait! Perfect time to order custom stamps to arrive in time for Christmas.
For etsy shoppers: If you don't see the quantity listed that you'd like, please contact me and I'd be happy to set up a custom listing for you.

shop etsy                 shop big cartel

Fill in the blank shopping

1. Black Friday is a good day to curl up in a blanket and do some online shopping!

2. Christmas shopping this year will include a lot of handmade gifts from craft fairs and etsy.

3. Holiday shopping makes me anxious. But there is such a feeling of accomplishment when it's all done!

4. I have not really thought about my  Christmas wish list. I'd love to go on a trip but I know right now is the worst time to travel- too much to do!

5. Bargain hunter, or full price shopper? I like to shop around but most of the things I like are rare (either art or vintage one of a kinds) so it's hard to come across sales for those types of items.

6. The best about shopping is finding the perfect gift (for someone or yourself) and the worst thing is waiting too long to buy and it selling out!

7. Online shopper or in-person shopper? I love online shopping! You can spend a fortune without ever leaving your house :)

more fill in the blanks at the little things we do.

photos sources: gifts by katie kirk, handmade wrapping paper by what katie does, gift packaging by the packagery

Happy Thanksgiving!

I hope everyone is able to spend time with loved ones today and if you are traveling, be safe! What a great holiday; a chance to say thanks, I love you + let's eat! I'll be at my sisters, working my way in and out of a food coma.

vintage ad

Gocco!

Monday night was our pen pal meeting, and we printed with a Gocco machine. It was my first time using one. You can read the recap of our meeting over at ReForm School's blog, or see all the pictures in our flickr group. I'll share what I printed soon.

I've been trying to upload photos all day but it keeps saying "server rejected." So instead of that, I want to share some paper related favorites I've recently come across:

* A Hammerpress Christmas-paper crave

*Classic calligraphy invites-better with a parrot

*Crafty book debut-paper + cup

*A handmade holiday card swap organized by Brooklyn Bride

*Monogram notecards- papernstitch

Hope you find something you like!

I ♥ stockpiling!

We had a very productive weekend! With wholesale orders pouring in, I had to call in my team to help me produce and organize. Tony stamps all the hearts (above) which takes a lot of muscle! My arm gets tired after about 10, so he was a big help.

Katie stamped the logo on the back of about 100 moleskine notebooks, and on 200 "i left my heart in" cards.

She also figured out what stock I needed to make to fill wholesale orders and I got to work. My hand is exhausted today! We are still working out of my apartment because I have not found work tables for the studio yet. I hope to be all set up in a week. 

Tonight, at the pen pal meeting, we are printing with a gocco machine. I've never used one before so I am excited to learn. Hope everyone had a great weekend. Whose excited for thanksgiving?

more at much love anna.

Fill in the blank Thanksgiving

1. My Thanksgiving plans this year will include spending the day at my sister's house. Tony will be going to his cousin's house in San Diego. It's the first Thanksgiving in 7 years that we won't be celebrating together at his parent's. I'm staying in town because Nat's mom is coming to visit and she's a ball of fun.

2. My favorite Thanksgiving was the first at Tony's parents house. My parents are not big drinkers but at his house, wine and champagne flows all day long! It turned what could have been nerve wracking into a constant party. I also considered it my first "adult" TG because I was 18.

3. My signature Thanksgiving dish is...taking pictures.

4. My favorite thanksgiving food is yams.

5. Thanksgiving free association! rolls, november, family, traveling, stuffing, football, eating, cranberries, gravy, drinking, food coma, great leftovers!

6. Thanksgiving is a pretty wonderful holiday.

7. I am thankful for a healthy family, a handyman boyfriend (who also gives foot massages), being able to be my own boss, pumpkin, cameras, and followers that care enough to read this ;)

see more at the little things we do

photo from cori kindred

Cooljane

I was looking for some custom notes to send my penpals and to use for postcrossing and came across these fun label cards from Portland. When I contacted her, she was more than happy to make me a custom order for "hello from los angeles." I got these in less than a week! Very speedy service and I'm very pleased with the product.

They came very cutely wrapped- always a plus. I'd like some cards with this greeting on them.

 

This personal touch is why I love buying handmade.

Some other products I like from her shop:

custom save the dates,

placecards,

and tons of cards. Check out her shop.

last 3 photos from cooljane shop. 

My museum of art

Now that I have a studio I am dreaming about the art I want to fill it with. What I put up on my walls is never an easy choice. I want something I admire, that makes me happy everytime I see it and something that you aren't going to find everywhere. These prints are at the top of my list- I saw them and instantly fell in love. Above, 56 Camera Drawings by CB78.

Daily Drawing by Kate Consumption.

 Cassis by levans

Photographer's Dilemma by Tatsuro Kiuchi.

San Francisco by Chelsea Victoria. There's so many amazing prints, photos, posters out there I don't want to miss anything! Know of any online shops with great art?

Movin' on up

Sorry for the late post today- I've been moving! After months of searching I have finally found a new place for Paper Pastries to call home. The business has been expanding rapidly the past few months and it has outgrown my "home office." Last week I signed a lease for a studio. This place may not look like much, but it's already a vast improvement from when I first saw it. It was divided into three little rooms, the walls were a dingy color and it had stained carpet. First things first, the small rooms were ripped out. I left one to use as a closet. Next, I had the carpet removed and a nice wood floor put in. I think it really brightens up the room, don't you? Finally, the wall was painted "Cool December." Yesterday I packed up most of the product and today we moved a load in. Since I haven't picked out tables or chairs I'm still going to have to work from home this week. Hopefully, this weekend I can find some furniture, I need work tables and good sturdy chairs. Also, I am going to be able to set up a proper consultation area for custom design meetings, no more Coffee Bean or Starbucks!  Plus I am so excited about decorating! My head is spinning with everything my studio needs, I have about 60 lists floating around inside my purse. The location is perfect because it's between my apartment and downtown, only 3 subway stops away. Thanks for being understanding, and sorry for the tardiness ;)

I ♥ Craque

The candy with a sense of humor. It's sold in little bags and leaves white residue everywhere, and you can't stop eating it! I can't and neither can anyone else I know. It is that delicious. Freida makes tons of varieties, stocking stuffer (pictured above), hanukkah gilt, caramel corn, and when I was in NY i got to try her pumpkin flavor. Amazing!

 

She can even customize the sticker, for a special event or favors. She uses this beautiful luxurious striped ribbon to pretty up the package.

Freida sent me home with a huge bounty! Seriously, this is not even half of it. See all the varieties in her shop, and don't say I didn't warn you- it's seriously addictive ;)

see more much love monday

top two photos from Freida's shop.

Busy bees

We're spending the rest of today getting ready for our trunk show. Have a good weekend!

Fill in the blank Friday

1. The most spontaneous thing I've ever done was asking a girl I didn't know if I could ride down to la with her. She mentioned she was leaving after class, I was desperate to see tony. We became instant friends, she's got a lead foot and "the best mix in the world."

2. The best gift I've ever received was...see question 3.

3. A time that I was truly and genuinely surprised was when my parents told me they were sending me on a European Vacation.

4. I can't leave the house without a camera.

5. My favorite day of the week is because Saturday, because tony is off of work, and there's still mail.

6. Someone that can always make me laugh is Allie. She was a great roommate

7. My perfect day would include pastries, taking pictures, and a massage.
see more at the little things we do.

fresh strawberries by dave dunne, this is london, cameras by cassia

Holiday Cards

Did you know that Hanukkah starts on December 1st this year? It's so soon! I just replenished my holiday stock and now I'm up to my neck in cards. All these are available as packs, if you'd like singles of any email me paperpastries@gmail.com.

Take a deep breath

Things are hectic over at PP headquarters, with our holiday prep and all. When your day is this crazy, it's almost essential to take a 30 minute break, and I'm not talking about lunch. Taking a cue from the first issue of Anthology magazine, I slowed down to write a few notes, drink a cup of tea, and flip through a few pages. Now back to work!

Noteworthy

If you were to ask me how many stationery drawers and boxes we have in our apartment, I couldn't tell you. This fact makes me happy, but it upsets Tony. He likes when things are organized, when everything has it's own place, when it's not all over his kitchen table. The solution to this, clearly, is to get a writing desk. But when you have someone with such particular tastes as mine, the task at hand is easier said than done. I have been looking for a secretary/writing desk since I graduated college. Not to age myself, but that was three whole years ago! I look in every flea market, garage sale, thrift store; I have not stopped. Well the gods smiled upon us last weekend, we found a desk on craigslist! Tony went to pick it up after work one day and dropped it off at my parents house. I have not even seen it in person. Of course it needs a new paint job, new knobs, and some fixing up but I have high hopes for this little fixer upper. My dad is currently stripping it and replacing the bottom of the drawers. I'm so excited!

Finally, my stamps won't be floating around.

My stationery sets and thank you cards will be in one place.

Handmade envelopes won't be a messy pile, and I'll be able to find my address labels.

Plus all my writing supplies will be in one place!

 

The desk is quite petite but I really didn't want some hefty beast lurking in the corner. I don't like those big bulky desks, they are such an eye sore. Though no one place will ever be enough to hold my never ending supply of stationery, it will be great to have a quiet place to sit down and write. Hopefully I can share pictures soon.

all photos by margaret haas.