75 | Cinco de Mama

This year, each day has made me oh-so-grateful for my family and friends, and I’ve had my eyes and ears open for ways to show my appreciation and give back. This Sunday, ankle injury permitting, I will be riding in the Napa Valley Tour De Cure, raising money to support diabetes research—and avoiding a Cinco de Mayo bar crawl. I'm riding for each of my friends who live with this disease each day - and especially proud to be on Team Brauer!

Faced with needing to raise a minimum of $500 for the charity ride, Andrew and I decided to combine powers and come up with a line of greeting cards to celebrate some very special people in our lives - our mothers.

Whether you were a

slurpee

slurpee drinker,

laundry

mudslinger,

beaniebaby

beanie baby collector,

bandaid

or klutz...

we hope these cards will remind you (and your mom) of simpler times when a

lunch

note in your lunch box was embarrassing,

gameboy

but having a Game Boy made up for it.

Each card is $10. All proceeds will go towards our Tour de Cure fundraising. For pre-Mother's Day delivery, please place your order by Friday, May 3. E-mail ashling(at)lotusandash.com with: (1) Your desired quantity/design (game boy, slurpee, beanie baby, band-aid, lunch, or laundry) (2) Your delivery address and we can take it from there…

Already got your momma a card? Support the cause with a bespoke card.

bike

Poster prints of the bike design are available upon request. All proceeds will go to Tour de Cure as well!

 thank you and a very happy (early) mother's day.

* if you'd like to donate without purchasing a card, visit the Team Brauer website *

74 | Be Mine - Part II

Valentine's Day is just around the corner and I'm still busy dreaming up new card ideas. A card (any card) is essential, but I've also collected a few other things to make Valentine's Day (or any day) special.

language-of-sleep

Need a last minute gift that's simple and sweet? I received this book 6 years ago from my very own big spoon. No time for the book? There's also an online test so you and your partner can find the perfect sleep position (don't worry - not that kind of  position).

Feeling D-I-Y? I'm a recent subscriber to A Subtle Revelry and I'm inspired by every post delivered to my inbox. I especially love Victoria's collection of handmade Valentines.

darkstormy-collage

For all you San Franciscans, it looks like it's going to rain next Thursday. So, if you're staying in, play this album, make these drinks, eat grilled cheese sandwiches, and watch this video:

73 | Be Mine - Part I

Valentine's Day is my favorite card-giving holiday as noted here, here, here and here. In honor of San Francisco, the city whose streets are notoriously more romantic than its single twenty-somethings, I'm starting off this year with a collection of cards that's suited for those in love, those in hate, and those searching online for their perfect match:

58 | MA! WHAT'S FOR DINNER?!

With Mother's Day fast approaching, it was time to whip up something for Mother's Day 2011. This year's cards do not pit sibling vs. sibling, but instead just let your mom know how you feel...

...in the nerdiest way possible.

OR

...the most personal way possible.

(the sentences are customized to list everything that you now love to hate your mom for)

~

Remember to send your mom some mother's day love!

(fyi - mother's day is this sunday may 8!)

PS:  just in case you're curious... what's for dinner? honey kale and tofu with wild rice, and banana fritters with coconut jam.

PPS: hi mom! i hope you didn't see this before mother's day.

57 | SHOW & (DON'T) TELL

| WORKS IN PROGRESS . 04.2011 |

Relative blog silence is an indication that the L&A studio has been busy, busy, busy. As much as I'd love to share works in progress, or finished products with you all, I'm learning that sometimes there is a level of design discretion that I have to exercise. (Believe me, it's been hard to not post an entry about the newest letterpress creations or lined envelopes!)

So until that wedding has happened, or that company has taken off, I'll give you a sneak peak into the design work of the past month (DON'T TELL)... and satisfy your hunger for L&A knowledge with a few things I can SHOW as well!

DON'T TELL:

| change of address cards . bridal shower invitations . wedding invitation reply envelopes |

& SHOW:

| potential new home page for website www.lotusandash.com |

~

bay area must do: weekend trip to carmel

stay: at the colonial terrace inn (complete with freshly baked cookies upon arrival!)

eat: at bicyclette ... and do not leave without a bite of the butternut squash pizza.

do: hike point lobos by afternoon, bike 17 mile drive by sunset.

~

bay area must do: OFF THE GRID

do: spend a friday evening at the off-the-grid fort mason food truck night. (and don't forget to try some southeast asian delicacies! from azalinas! she's from penang!... like my mom!)

~

anywhere-area must do: reduce some balsamic!

Recently, I wanted to get some of that delicious, syrupy balsamic for my roommate's birthday to accompany her favorite sauvignon blanc. Problem: I had a jug full of balsamic vinegar (and not the delicious thick stuff), and did not have time to walk to a grocer to buy some. So, I made it myself. It's still chilling in the fridge, and is ready to use whenever the occasions strikes -- on eggs, toasted bread, or a hot bowl of quinoa. YUM!

ingredients

• 1 1/2 cups balsamic vinegar
• 3 tablespoons sugar

directions

Boil the balsamic vinegar and 3 tablespoons of sugar in a heavy small saucepan over medium-high heat until reduced to 1/2 cup, stirring occasionally, about 20 minutes.

I got the recipe for my trusted Italian cuisine go-to... Giada De Laurentiis!

Hopefully, I've been able to whet your appetite for delicious food, travel, and most importantly, paper. Stay tuned for more sneak peaks into the goings-ons of the L&A studio.