Change You Can DEFINITELY Believe In

I finally have something to look forward to in politics. I've been trying to keep my opinions to myself because I'm just not interested in fighting about it. My decision is my own, and I'm actually really excited about it.

It's so strange because the two parties seem more different than ever (read: more polarized). I'm very disappointed in the Republican choices...I have no idea where these people came from. Totally uninspiring. Maybe it's because all the inspiration is on the Democratic side. Between Obama and Hillary, there's enough hope for the entire world. It's coming out of their ears: "change you can believe in," "change you can trust," etc. Even though the decision hasn't been made yet, I think I know who I'm voting for, if given the chance.

Barack Obama.

I want to vote for him because I admire his ability to be 100% politician, but come off as a "change you can believe in." He is good...his people are good. His campaign even went as far as to design a different logotype for each people group he wanted to reach. That's a lot of thought right there. He speaks with such inspiring words...it really is incredible. I just can't figure out how he pulls it off. I'm in awe.

But there is a bigger reason I want to vote for Barack Obama. It's more than the Republican party being completely useless, and it's more than his self-promotion and marketing. I want to vote for him because of January 21, 2009. On that day, Barack Obama will begin to see all the things we normal people never see: the briefings, the warnings, the meetings, the REAL state of the Union. I want to be a fly on the wall that week. How will he distract people from the promises he made? What will his people come up with to remind the voters of how inspiring he was? What will happen when he won't be able to eloquently speak his way out of changing his mind?

Oh yes, there will be a change we can believe in. A big one. So I guess as far as that promise is concerned, he will be able to deliver.


(p.s. I'm not voting for Barack Obama.)

Kiva

I was mesmerized by this site this morning. I love the idea, and I might talk to Dave about getting involved. Check it out: http://www.kiva.org/app.php

THIS JUST IN

I think I finally understand and appreciate Photoshop.

(Please stop reading if you don't care about graphic design. This will bore you to death.)

I've never been a fan, mainly because I think people over-use it and also use it incorrectly. Adobe thought out their product line really well, and some people never make it past Photoshop. It's a tragedy. I mean, I get it. You only have a certain amount of money to spend...fine, get it...but don't spend five years with Photoshop without trying the other applications.

From Adobe:

• Adobe® Illustrator® CS3 software allows you to create sophisticated artwork for virtually any medium. Industry-standard drawing tools, flexible color controls, and professional type controls help you capture your ideas and experiment freely, while timesaving features such as easier-to-access options let you work quickly and intuitively. Improved performance and tight integration with other Adobe applications also help you produce extraordinary graphics for print, web and interactive, and mobile and motion designs.
• Explore more creative possibilities and experience new levels of productivity using Adobe® InDesign® CS3 page layout software. Built for demanding workflows, InDesign integrates smoothly with Adobe Photoshop®, Illustrator®, Acrobat®, InCopy®, and Dreamweaver® software; offers powerful features for creating richer, more complex documents; and reliably outputs pages to multiple media. With its sophisticated design features and enhanced productivity tools for streamlining repetitive tasks, InDesign CS3 lets you work faster and better than ever.
• Adobe® Photoshop® CS3 software sucks.

In a nutshell:

• Illustrator is for...ahem...illustrating (logo creation, drawing, etc).
• InDesign is for page layouts (If you are stuck in the MS Publisher quagmire, this is the app for you. It's very close...but SOOO much better).
• Photoshop is for, well, PHOTOS (if the base of your project relies on a picture, use it, but you would probably do well to use Illustrator in tandem, IMHO).
  

Until yesterday, I only used Photoshop to manipulate photos...and by manipulate, I mean play with the brightness/contrast. For some reason, I decided to embrace it for a huge project I'm working on (17 billboards that i THOUGHT were due today, but they aren't sue until MONDAY, grr). It really worked out well. I love the end results. And...gasp...I love layers.

Will I use Photoshop more? Probably. But, I will always consider it the cheap whore of Adobe's Creative Suite. My stubbornness alone will keep me from fully embracing it. Plus, I'm against prostitution...unless it gets you an iMac.

Sorry!

I've really been neglecting my blog lately. I haven't had time for much. Things were starting to slow down until the beginning of this week. Blah blah.

Anyway...I just wanted to let people know that this awesomeness exists (and that I want 100):

Friday Photo & Valentine

DSCN1949, originally uploaded by DanielleSuzanne.

Just because I think she is so cute and funny.

She really is.

I love my nieces.

Also, I got this laptop cozy for Valentine's Day (the brown one). I LOVE it!

DIY Key Holder

I am definitely making one of these key holders for our kitchen. I absolutely love it, and I have the perfect paper for it.

In other news, the above is also my idea of a perfect vase of flowers. What is it about peonies and ranunculus? Absolutely gorgeous.

(via design sponge)


Also, I have a new obsession and I haven't even told my husband.
They are called "mini goldendoodles."
I need one:

i'm saving up thoughts for a good post

i think.

danielle.ttf

I just turned my handwriting into a font! You should, too. I mean...if you're into that kind of thing.

(via swissmiss)

Rotting My Brain

I don't know why I watch this, but I'm beyond apologizing for it. To be honest, I really got bored quickly with the auditions this time around. I am excited for Hollywood Week, though...that's when I really get invested.

Dave is in LOVE with The Golden Girls. We usually watch an episode at night. It's sick, twisted, and totally raunchy. But, that's Dave for ya.

When I was sick, Little House was a comfort to me. I watch it whenever I can (usually the weekends when Dave is far, far away...sleeping).

Jamie at Home. I want more shows like this. Love him. The end.

I used to HATE the Barefoot Contessa and everything she stood for (brioche, fennel, roast chickens, Jeffrey) . Now, I'm in love. I never realized this before, but she tries to make complicated recipes simple. I love that! I watch one of her episodes every day. She's so cute. I'm even making one of her cupcake recipes for my mom's birthday (out of the box for the birthday, and from scratch the next week to compare).


Every once and a while, you find that special show. :::sigh::: I am completely obsessed with Project Runway. I can't get enough of it. There is something really intriguing to me about people being creative in a high-pressure situation. I love watching them develop their ideas and execute them. I want to rent the previous seasons.

MMM

Grizzly catching salmon, originally uploaded by Wiggum03.

Wow. So, it's official: I like salmon. I wanted to wait to blog about this because it's a pretty significant thing for me. But the verdict is in: I've had it twice, and it was great both times. Now, I'm going to try making it myself.

The thing about me is, I live on one of the Great Lakes, and I HATE fish. I think it might have something to do with my dad fishing and making us eat walleye constantly. I hated the breaded with ketchup dipping sauce version the most. Blech.

This is kind of crazy. But, I'm going to embrace it. Maybe I'll even try other kinds of fish (probably not). I don't like red meat. I hardly ever choose it. Chicken is beginning to make me vomit because I hate thinking about all the growth hormones. It's DISGUSTING that a chicken can be grown in 9 DAYS (you changed my life, Cordell). I'm puking my pants right now just thinking about it. All that to say: I have a good meat to eat now.

Also, I loved the Superbowl. Great game.

Favorite Commercials: E-Trade (talking baby investor).

New Obsession: Project Runway. Why have I never watched this before?! FOr this reason, I am glad to have been sick.

HAPPY BIRTHDAY, DAVE!

Holy Cow

IMG_0396, originally uploaded by DanielleSuzanne.

You guys...I have been sooooo sick. I was kind of nervous I had mono, but I don't think that's the case. I woke up at 6am this morning feeling fully rested for the first time since last Monday. I think the worst is behind me. I won't bore you with the details. It was horrible. The end.

I feel so behind! Not even at work so much, more with blogs! I have no idea what's going on with people in my life right now. Hate it.

I am getting ready to mail out a beautiful invitation. As soon as they're mailed out by the bride to her guests, I'll be sure to post them. If I ever sell my invitations as pre-made designs*, I'll call it "Blythe." I also have a really cool one coming up soon that I love (yay Cara!).

Well, have great weekends, all!

*If I ever do this, please kill me because I am totally against it. I think every bride should have their own custom made invite. I mean, it's practically the same price, why wouldn't you?!?!