Hello Friday, we meet again!

So, I’ve been busy, ok? I’ve been to New York, where I avoided being caught up in the Time’s Square bomb scare, and I’ve been working on some other recreational projects — blogs, pinup stuff, crafty things to name a few.

But that doesn’t mean I don’t have some grabs ‘n stabs for you!

GRABBY

• It’s funny ’cause it’s true. How to get The Selby in your place. The Selby is a site that documents weirdos homes, and this creative chart shows you how to get your taste of internet fame.
• Amazing Dior jacket. I need this to add to my Blade Runner wardrobe. For a real laugh, note the price.
• The Satorialist has a great mini-photo essay of a hosiery store that closed years ago. I love the leg check sign. Note what the space has become now.
• A short retro-inspired film about mobile phone manners.
• Via Swing Fashinista, Gentlemen of Leisure from VMAN magazine. I heart sock garters.

STABBY

Planning on hitting the First Friday art walk tonight with David and some partners in crime. Perhaps I will remember to take some damn pictures! Other than that, I’ve got a bunch of things I want to accomplish this weekend, so I am trying to stay motivated — but being so busy at work with travel, I want to lay around when I am home. But I won’t do that this weekend. I WON’T!

Your kitty needs this tank. Or if he’s not really into warfare, perhaps this Canadian Cabin.

Have you seen the Old Spice commercial directed by Tim and Eric of Awesome Show fame? Do it.

An interesting perspective on how improving as a designer makes it difficult to look at past work objectively. I wouldn’t say that in a month my skills have evolved so much, but having some distance from a project usually means I don’t like something as much as I did at the time. Unfortunately by that point I’ve often forgotten the parameters and restraints imposed either by the client or the format.

Love this Wonder Woman Enterprises letterhead!! Kinda wish there was a lasso too though!

Today is the 20th anniversary of Twin Peaks first airing on television. To celebrate, enjoy this montage of all the best Twin Peaks coffee moments.

STABBY

People scheduling things on Sunday night. Maybe it’s just me, but I work a 40 hour week, and usually have the weekend planned too. I am a zombie by Sunday night, and menial tasks like laundry are about all I can handle.

Spirit Airline is starting to charge to use the overhead bins on their flights. We get it, airlines are still bleeding money. But seriously, why would anyone continue to fly this supposed “discount carrier”?

Getting yelled at by people over a GAME. Which just confirms my hatred of games.

David being sick this week. He’s been so congested, and he hates taking medicine and I feel bad for him!

Ok, I think that’s it for the grabs ‘n stabs this week. Honestly I am just glad the sun is out, and I’ve got work to do!

I’m kinda disappointed in myself for not trying harder to get to Austin for SXSW, as it’s my sister’s last Spring Break there before she moves to start her doctorate. It always looks like it would be fun to experience. Anyway…having a good week. Getting LOTS done across the board and it’s really starting to feel like Spring too!

GRABBY

Man Men Barbies. I so want that Joan one to turn into a little secretary Dana doll with the glasses from a different Barbie I have. Yeah…I have some Barbies. WHAT OF IT?

Agency Spy answers back. Why stealing ideas shouldn’t be called creativity in advertising. NB: Read the comments too. There’s a really good one about how Europe does it better.

Thanks to Gala Darling, I’m now obsessed with Girly Girl shoes. Read up!

Pretty Things Peep Show is back at the Granada tonight and I’m super excited!

Happy Gillis is on Twitter! They post their specials everyday!

What a pretty home. WOW.

Yay! Cute redheads!

My friend Joi is the new community manager of Yelp for Kansas City. YAY!

Lunch with my grandma.

Being a makeup model for Vixen Pinup Photography’s “How to be a Pinup” class! It’s gonna be super girly fun and I can’t wait!

Ummm….I feel like I am forgetting something but for now let’s move on to stabby.

STABBY

Gray weather. totally gross.

Writing invoices…I always have to remind myself it’s how I get PAID.

I think that’s it! So, I hope to have some pictures from Pretty Things Peep Show and the weekend, and I will post those soon!

GRABBY

Being a pinup, thanks to Vixen Pinup Photography. All the years of being in projects for photo student friends (and boyfriend) are paying off. If you haven’t ordered Retro Lovely you should. You get to see me in a Monkey Wrench Clothing corset.

Consumer magazine’s biggest players have banded together for a campaign to promote the print medium.

I NEED this blush. It’s supposed to be better than their Dandelion shade which is too pale, even for my pasty face.

A TON of (free) brush sets for your Photoshopping pleasure.

Retro Barbie and Gene dolls equal girlie retro fun!!

Gorgeous styling in this shoot (NSFW, by the way). I know they are everywhere but I love the tiny top hats. I think it has something to do with my secret wish to be a magician’s assistant. Seems like something a magician’s assistant would wear. I really like the photo in the hotel hallway with the lights.

You MUST watch this Oliver People’s viral video with Elijah Wood and Shirley Manson titled ‘Les enfants sennuient le Dimanche’ (The children are bored on Sundays). I love their promo videos.

Thanks to this Design*Sponge post, I’ve  realized that the film “In the Mood for Love” is exactly the look I am going for in our new place. David calls it “vintage frou frou”.

STABBY

The “Annie Hall” look that the hipster ladies are wearing for Spring, without even knowing the film. Yuck.

People who do not listen when I TELL them to ask me for help before messing with my files.

TAILGATING ON THE HIGHWAY. This is not NASCAR. This is getting from point A to point B, hopefully going the speed limit, with plenty of space between vehicles. If I am in the right lane, you really do not need to be right behind me. There’s no reason for it.

Shopping for home stuff like drapes. There’s some UGLY stuff that people are apparently putting in their homes. Sometimes having taste makes shopping a real drag. And real expensive.

In 2010 I plan to post more about design, advertising and fashion, as well as all my travels for work. If you like what you see, I hope you will leave me a comment! And now, for the first Grabby ‘n Stabby of 2010!

GRABBY

• Who wouldn’t want to display these gorgeous products on either a vanity or bathroom counter? The packaging  reminds me a little of Agent Provocateur’s beauty products, which isn’t surprising since the products are from another lingerie line, La Senza. I LOVE lace patterns, I need to create a project for myself so I can play around with them.

• Awesome poster project on FPO. I love dioramas. I love posters. I love combining offset and letterpress.

• Hella high heels. And boots.

• Have I mentioned that I’m engaged? Well, I am. No, David didn’t propose in a cute way — I’m not too keen on romance stuff or surprises. No, we don’t have a date. We’ve got ideas of what we want to do, but we’re not ready.

• I got to help out a friend last week by doing a logo for a fundraising event she’s volunteering to organize. It was a fun little fast project, and it was nice to do something for a good cause. I’ll post the logo soon!

• Awesome friends like Joi who will bring me things from H&M!!

• Watch this cute interview with members from Pink Martini regarding their new album.

• I like the idea of designing for the Kindle once they have color screens and offer more options! From the looks of it I won’t have to wait long.

• If you’ve had any sort of conversation with me about things that inspire me, then you probably know I LOVE old signage. Smashing Magazine has a round up of some great old signage this week that I bookmarked immediately! Note all the Flickr groups linked at the end for more signage goodness!

• Johnny Cash’s letterhead, circa 1060.

STABBY

• Packing. We’re so excited about moving, but packing, and planning are at the same time awesome and overwhelming.

• Speaking of, apparently H&M and Wal Mart routinely destroy unpurchased clothing and throw it away. This makes me sick for so many reasons.

• When ads drop out.

• Posting stuff to sell on Craigslist. I love selling crap I don’t need, but the whole process of having strangers come to my home is just ick.

I’ve got some fashion posts and some other things coming up, as well as additions to my portfolio so stay tuned!

Happy Thursday all!

Are you finished with your holiday shopping? If you celebrate Hanukkah I would guess so, but Christmas shoppers still have plenty of time to order online and still get their presents in time for the holiday. If you’re like me you already knew that because your email is flooded with discount offers.

I will be very interested to see how this year’s retail numbers compare to last year. If anything it seems like a lot of people have kept things pretty lean, or cut back even more. I definitely spent more this year than last, but I did a really good job using discount offers to my advantage. AND I am making some gifts too, at least that’s the plan. I guess I better do that this weekend.

Anyway, Here’s this weeks Grabby ‘n Stabby for your viewing pleasure.

Grabby:

• Promo shot of Lady Gaga and Cyndi Lauper for MAC Cosmetics, Spring 2010, shot by Ellen von Unwerth. Start hyperventilating….now!

• Black and white websites. YEAH!

• A silver screen goddess.

• The website for the movie Daybreakers. Aside from the load time on my machine, very cool site.

• 15 places to get free stock photos online.

• Finally getting my Yelp review written for Debbie Does Doberge in New Orleans. YUM.

• Holiday parties!

• New freelance projects!

• Finding a new, exciting place to live that David and I are totally excited about! I get my own closet, and David gets a gas range in the kitchen. OH, and our OWN washer and dryer.

• This shoe. And…the matching clutch.

• Discussions about the future of print media that really make me think.

• Our friend Phil’s article about good winter beers.

Stabby:

• People drive crazier because it’s the holidays.

• Possible snow. Call me a Grinch.

• Jerks at the gym talking about how women only want their workout shoes to match their outfits as I am lifting weights right next to them.

• Someone hammering something at 7 a.m. into a wall I share with them.

That’s it for now, but I’ll be back tomorrow with a Worn Out for you!

Grabby:

• Sixteen ways to beat designer’s block.

• Facebook’s new privacy changes, and what you need to know.

• Pantone has declared PANTONE 15-5519 Turquoise the color of 2010. I can get on board with that, it’s a versatile color.

• KC Free Press is Kansas City’s newest online spot for local news.

• Also local to KC, Sonic Spectrum’s Best of 2009 music run down. I totally agree with Bat for Lashes.

• This always makes me happy. Scene from Party Girl, starring Parker Posey. I want my awesome moment on the dance floor!

Sonia Rykiel for H&M, images by Sølve Sundsbø

The Andrews Sisters are the bees knees when it comes to Christmas music.

• Sonja Rykiel lingerie at H&M. That vintage looking peachy color is gorgeous. And I have to say, as a budget-minded lady, H&M’s lingerie is not all that bad. Wish I was traveling sooner so I’d have a chance to see this collection in person!

• Scheduling a photo shoot with Vixen Pinup Photography. Yay!

• Holiday parties!

• Getting to volunteer with my co-workers at the Salvation Army’s Christmas Store.

• My sister finishing another semester of grad school. I’m so proud of her!

Stabby

• The aforementioned low temperatures. Too cold, even for me.

• Being sick. My sinuses and throat are killing me!

• Bad Christmas music. If it’s not a member of the Rat Pack, Bing, or the Andrews Sisters, then I’m not interested. (*Editor’s note: Courtney pointed out I should have also included Elvis, and I forgot how much I love my parents’ “Motown Christmas” on vinyl, so I stand corrected!)

That’s it for this week’s G’nS, but I’ve got some great things coming up in the next week, so stay tuned!

Grabby:

• Natalie Portman is on the cover of V magazine, celebrating Chanel. Check out the cute little stop motion movie to promote the new issue.

• The word dilettante. Do you ever just read a word and like the sound of it? That was dilettante this week.

• This awesome little script for Illustrator that is good for anyone that works with vector maps for example, where the text comes in all chopped up. With this script you can combine text into one text box again. IT RULES and you need it.

• Vice reports there’s a new Giant Robot curated show of Post-It art opening in LA this weekend. David and I saw some of these when we were in San Francisco in September. They get some pretty famous artists to participate.

• NOT shopping on Black Friday. Shopping the day after, and supporting local businesses was fabulous though! Heehee!

• Morning work outs. It’s gonna kill me, but I keep telling myself I need my evenings for freelance and blogging!

From the My Parents Were Awesome blog

• I have been looking at old pictures of my family this week, and happened to stumbled upon My Parents Were Awesome, a blog of pictures of people’s parents. I love seeing the old styles of photography, and there are some pretty amazing hairstyles too!

• The Search for the Next Elvira, aka the best reality show ever. It just makes me realize that no one could possibly fill the sexy stilettos or…cups of the original.

• I like the idea of this collapsible water bottle. It would be especially good for traveling.

• Getting awesome vintage dresses from my sister’s friend via Facebook. Yay!

• Last but not least, 2 healthy babies being born to two lovely new mommies in my office.

Stabby:

Actually…I don’t think I have anything to be that stabby about this week…knock on wood.

I’m pretty excited about getting to spend some time with friends this weekend and work on gifts I am making…maybe even shop a little.