renee rodriguez designs

{lovely thoughts}

 

 

Because you are!

May your day be filled with only lovely thoughts!

photo links found at: blue magnolia
 
 

 

The Journey Or The Destination?

Someone once said that it is about the journey not the destination! Lately I have been pondering these words of wisdom and have come to realize that the journey is critical in getting to the desired destination. Even though I would like to reach my goals as quickly as possible I know it is important to think about where I want to go and how in the world I am going to get there!

In order to see the dream of my design business come to fruition I needed to create a list of goals and set them with real intention. Six months ago I began this creative expedition and I am now beginning to see the fruits of my labor, one by one my goals are becoming reality. Believe me,  I am honest with my self and realize there is still a great deal of work left to do, but I think it is time for me to put my seat back in the upright position & tray table away because I am about to arrive at my intended destination!

 

In the beginning, I wrote down four major goals that I felt were important to the development of my business. Why four?  For me, any more than four would be too overwhelming and I needed to be clear about my destination. I thought long and hard about what I wanted to accomplish and once the thoughts were out of my head and finally on paper, I knew it was possible to break each one down and see it through to the end. 

What are my goals? 

#1 Turn my artwork into a line of stationery and invitations.

#2 Create a simplified business and marketing plan to assist in launching my business.

#3 Start an online presence with a website and blog.

#4 License my artwork.

 

In the past six months, I have been able to accomplish a great deal of work in a few hours every weekend (and a few nights) without becoming too overwhelmed. Today's post includes an updated version of "A List And A Latte"( Free PDF), I believe this process has been essential in helping me reach my desired goals, and I hope that it will help you as well. 

In addition, I have added a goal setting sheet with a sample of my "Project Categories" Eventually I will include everything from my experience in this little e-book, but in the meantime, I am offering a snapshot of my process, give it a try and let me know if it helps.  If you have questions or feedback, please don't hesitate to drop me a line. 

If you would like the complete set of lists click  Download A List And A Latte

Every Tuesday I will be here with more information until I cross off every item from my list. You can access other posts by going to the archives and clicking on A List And A Latte. If you would like to receive an email with new updates then pop on over to my website and click on "Contact" leave your email and I will add you to my list.

Thank you for stopping by today, I hope this post will help bring you closer to your dreams! I would love to hear from you and what is working as you continue on your creative journey!

A List And A Latte is for personal use only and may not be sold or reproduced.

  
  

{blue magnolia}

I hope that you had a beautiful and restful weekend. My weekend was very jammed, very fun and a bit exhausting. I plan on deliberately slowing down this week - or at least as much as my Type A personality will allow. 

So, now you are probably wondering about my title - Blue Magnolia - well, let me explain. Since I began blogging six months ago, my intention was to include my personal artwork, information about launching a creative business, feature creative bloggers and artists, and include beautiful images that I find around the web. 

 

I recently decided to start a tumblr page to store images and their links, so when I need a particular look for my post, I just hop on over to my page and  flip through my saved images until I find just what I need. To be honest, I don't know all the ins and outs of tumblr - it just seems like a good place to save everything - including time.

 

Now, why Blue Magnolia?  Well, I will tell you...when I was growing up, my grandmother had an enormous magnolia tree in her front yard (she lived in New Orleans) and I just loved to sit under the tree, smell the sweetness of the giant white blossoms and just be plain lazy. My grandmother loved the color blue, so there you have it!  

 

Just having this page is a reminder to me of the old beauty of New Orleans and the wonderful summers spent with her and my grandfather. Thinking about that time makes me wish that I could go back - for just a day.

photos: parisien salon

blue magnolia
    

Inspired by...

As the end of the school year approaches our schedules are filled with so many activities that I'm not sure if I can keep up. But I did manage to slow down a bit today and enjoy the perfect cup of coffee and make my "to do" list. I have this rule that I do not put more than 5 things on my list and the items that are incomplete move to the next day's list.  This way, I don't forget a project, meeting or maybe even a new idea - like the one below!

 

I was so inspired by this beautiful color palette of blues, browns and creams - the vintage book pages and old letters that I think it would make a wonderful invitation or set of stationery. There is something so romantic about old letters, the feel of the paper, ink on the page, and words that tumble from the heart.

I am adding this idea to my list - if anything comes of it, I will be sure to share. I have a sneaky suspicion that it might!

 

 

 

photos: blue magnolia

friday blogs to visit: dipity road
 

 
 
 

 

Sweets For The Soul

I noticed that my Wednesday posts have evolved into a day where I feature a positive word, quote or phrase. I believe this little ritual started because every Wednesday it seems to rain - my backyard looks like the set for Jurassic Park, my hair frizzes and I usually feel rather uninspired. 

So, my intention is to reverse this feeling with beautiful words and photography that I send out into the world. Maybe by committing to this little practice,  I will be doing my part to help bring more love, happiness and positive energy into our world. Are you on board?

In my new Wednesday ritual I discovered the sweet, soulful art and prose of the truffle girls. I became enchanted with the beautiful glimpses into their memories, thoughts and life. Visit their blog here and visit their lovely Etsy shop here for a sweet and soulful treat for this wonderful Wednesday!

Now I am off to the store in search of Frizz-ease, it is my only hope!

 

The truffle girls on Etsy

truffles blog: the sweeterie
  

 

My Brochure Design

I have been slaving over my company brochure for weeks! The plan is to create an "invitation" style brochure that will represent my stationery & invitations. My intention is to make it very visual and light on content with the hopes that people will then visit my website to find out more about pricing, the design process and all the service that I offer. I will also add this to my website as a digital brochure which can be downloaded as well.

I believe by having this "mini" portfolio to represent my design work will give potential clients a glimpse of who I am as a designer.

 

 

I still have a bit more tweaking to do and I want to include a few more services, in the meantime, I will print this and put it on my bulletin board along with paper and envelope samples, my business card and other branded materials. I usually like to keep it up for about a week, make notes and then move into the phase of design.

Once all of my branded materials are complete I promise to photograph and post them here. I think I am very close!

      

Hello Monday!

Hello and welcome to Monday - I really don't know where my weekend went, but all the projects that I planned on accomplishing - well let's say they didn't get marked off my list. But that is okay with me because there was a lot of family time this weekend, which rules out house work & pulling weeds any day!

Sunday was spent working on an exciting project; my new couture wedding invitations - which I promise to reveal soon. The invitations  will be part of a photo & film shoot in Detroit on Sunday and the theme is Breakfast At Tiffany's - doesn't it sound too fabulous? I promise give you more details as I get closer to the event. In the meantime, enjoy your Monday!

photo: Sarah Kaye Represents

 

Have A Lovely Weekend

At last, the weekend is about to begin - many projects are on my list as usual. Ice Cream Social, a party for a friend, gardening and working on a couple of fun new design projects.

 

I plan on taking a bit of time to rest and relax - maybe take a nap!

 

 

 

I hope you have a beautiful and restful weekend!

photos: blue magnolia, this is glamorous

blogs to visit today: the inspired room, dipity road, 
 
 
 

 

Cake With A Few More Candles

Today is my birthday! Another year older - sigh....  Oh well, that is why there is Oil of Olay Regenerist - right?

Anyway, once I move past getting a bit older and hopefully wiser, I like to count my blessings and reminisce on some of my happiest memories.

 

Things I remember...

Visiting my grandparents every summer.

Playing outside until dark.

Birthday cake - the icing actually.

Drinking coffee with my grandfather (yes I began my addiction at a very early age)

The sound of my grandmother's knitting needles.

The smells in her kitchen

My little brother always trying to get me to "pull his finger"

Playing Barbies with my sister

My first pair of high heels - they were red patent leather and I am sure that explains my current footwear obsession. 

My mom teaching me how to put on makeup

Marc asking me to marry him.

My wedding

My beautiful family

The list goes on, and I feel very blessed that I have such beautiful memories and such a beautiful life.

To celebrate my day I have included a mini gift wrap download for you - just click on Download June 3 b for your personal use :)

 

Enjoy!
 

Today!

Do something fun!!!
 

 

Wear your favorite shoes!

 

 

Enjoy today to the fullest!

photos: tinywhitedaisies