life as of late No. 4

001. Spring is hiding.
it's really frustrating me. It's the middle of March, and still everything is dead. No blooms or blossoms, not a thing. WHERE IS SPRING? Ahem. If any of you could mail me some spring, it would make me deliriously happy. I loved Kenzie's post today, I could practically smell those bright pink flowers. Drop by and see for yourself how spring has been generous to her :)

002. I am a highschool basketball fanatic.
the highschool basketball season has almost come to a close, I thought it was only appropriate to mention my obsession extreme support for my team. It's not just me, though. Almost the entire school is keeping up with the games and scores. The semifinals of states are in a few days, and I am SO pumped.   So. Pumped. LET'S GOOOOOO!!!! Okay. I'm good.

003. hannah therese
Alright, I might as well get too it: "beautiful" is now "hannah therese". Why? Because "beautiful" is too cliche, and not memorable. And "hannah therese" is the title that defines me best because, well, it's my name. I also cleaned up the design a bit. Okay, a lot. The previous one was too cluttered, and I like the simple, clean lines in this one. I moved the followers gadget to the bottom and condensed the sidebar considerably. I'm still tweaking little things, but it's pretty much done. And I updated the about me page, so feel free to stop by there :)
All in all, it feels nice and fresh for spring. (whenever spring decides to mosy its way around here...)
Thoughts on the new look?

xo,
hannah

recent designs

Hola bloggy friends! I have been working on a few different design jobs the past few days, and I wanted to show you a few of them :)

I just finished installing this one-I really like how clean yet elegant it is.

this design is pre-made and available in my etsy shop in 3 different colors!

You can get your own design at my design shop. Happy Thursday!

xo,
hannah

a little etsy for you

Over the past few months, my design business has really grown, and I'm so privileged to have worked with so many great people. Each new job was and will continue to be an exciting new experience and fun challenge. I've fallen more in love with this form of art, and I already know I want to continue to do this for a long, long time.

So I've added something new to the shop, and it's for all you etsy sellers out there:

It's hard to make your etsy shop look unique and stand out. My goal is to do that! Just like when I see a nice blog design, when I see a nice etsy banner I'm more inclined to check out the shop.

Also, here are a few recent-ish samples of my work:

Happy Friday everyone!

xo,

hannah

so it's back to crazyness and love

So I laugh,
and I joke,
and I learn,
and I sleep.

So I talk,
and I play,
and I listen,
and I smile.

I remember and I forget.
I soak in the words. The sights. The sounds.
I am a freshman.
I am happy.

•••••••••••••••••••••••••••••••

I want to savor every last moment of highschool. I want to tuck away memories into the files in my head and pull them out whenever I need a smile. I want to embrace the busyness that comes with school and forget the tough times.

There are so many things I want to do, so many things that mean so much that I just don't want to forget.

This past week of school has been a whirlwind of faces and classes and bus rides and so so many things to be happy about. My design business has also taken a leap in the past few weeks. Here are some recent designs:

I'm currently in the process of designing three other blogs, and I can't even tell you how in love I am with this form of art. Each and every new design is a new adventure, a new opportunity, a new way to express my creativity and the client's personality.

I'm in love.

If you're interested in getting a design by me, just check out my site Simply You Designs :)

What's one of your favorite forms of art?

xo,

hannah 

just because || a giveaway

Just because...

>>>I love you guys

>>>I'm in a good mood

>>>I feel like creating

>>>and it's almost fall

I've decided to give away a package from my design site, Simply You Designs. Just because :)

This package includes:

Sound good to you? Excellent. Here's how you can win this:

[Leave each entry in a separate comment]

>>Mandatory Entry<<

You must be a follower of beautiful

>>Extra Entries<<

Follow Simply You Designs [+1 entry]

Follow me on twitter [+1 entry]

Follow me on Pinterest [+1 entry]

Blog/tweet about the giveaway and include link [+1 entry for each (separate comments)]

Tell me what color scheme you would like for your blog if you won [+1 entry]

This giveaway closes on Wednesday August 15th.

Good luck!

-hannah

quick rambles

As you guys may notice, a slight change has occurred involving the appearance of the little blog. Not a huge one, because I really enjoyed the colors and fonts of the previous design. But not only has "beautiful" undergone a change, Simply You Designs has experienced a full switcheroo!

I'm so satisfied and happy with my brand now. Because it really is a brand. The sites coordinate nicely (I think) and now I feel "beautiful" is official. Also, it's a nice way to welcome the new month. (School is almost upon us, I start in three weeks!)

What do you think? Like? No like?

xo,

hannah

beautiful || a new beginning

Remember a month ago? When I re-launched "my {beautiful} nutty life" as "my {beautiful} nutty life" again? Well,  I have a story about that:

Whenever I create designs for my blog, I always complain inwardly to myself about how long and complicated the title was. I mean, "my {beautiful} nutty life" isn't exactly short and sweet, is it? When I re-launched my blog, I was still thinking about this title problem, but I sort of pushed it aside, thinking "my readers know my blog as m{b}nl, I can't change it this late in the game. Wrong. You know why? Because as a graphic designer and a writer (and a girl) I'm always itching to try new things. To create art from the ideas spinning in my head.
So I did. I took a stab at names and designs. I thought of what described me, and what I loved. And somehow, every title I though of strayed a little too far away from the original name. I had a love/hate relationship with this thing, I was attached to it.
And then I started re-arranging words in the original title. "My Life" was too boring. "My Nutty Life" was too.... immature. "Life" was too dull and plain. Then I landed on the word "beautiful". We use it every day. We compliment with it. We judge with it. We wish for it. And suddenly, fireworks went off in my head. Something clicked, and I liked it.

The word "beautiful" to me is overrated. So many people want desperately to be beautiful. So many things are overlooked because they don't make the level of beauty society says it should. And I thought to myself: Why? Wasn't everything made to be awesome? Wasn't everything made to be a blessing, a gift? Yes. And I knew instantly that I this was the message I wanted to get across.

So I hope you guys won't hate me for my indecisiveness. I just felt like it was time for a real change, and I hope you'll agree with me when I say that I think it was the right decision.

-hannah
p.s. today was my last day of school. I can't believe it's been nine months since I first stepped onto a school bus and faced the biggest change of my life. But I loved every minute of it, and I can't wait to see everybody again in August!

simply you designs || summer sale

When new seasons roll around, it's time to spruce up your blog. I don't know if you guys know, but I have my own blog/web design business, and it's called Simply You Designs. I offer cute, chic designs at affordable prices, and now it's even more affordable!
From today until June 4th I'm offering the Blog Design package (originally $35) for only $20!! And it gets better! If you're an aspiring/professional photographer, the Photographer's Package (originally $45) is now only $30!!


Order your design today!
-hannah
p.s. don't forget to vote on the poll in the sidebar and enter my photo challenge :)

life as of late No. 2

what? no, I wasn't standing on the table to get these photos. Psh, what are you talking about?

this has been my makeup look for the past week. I'm seriously in love, and it only takes about five minutes! (you know I love a makeup look when I where it over three days in a row ;])
maybelline color tattoo in bad to the bronze // Profusion palette: champagne color // wet n wild liquid liner in black // covergirl professional all-in-one mascara

my dad seriously makes the best pancakes ever. Why he doesn't open a diner I'll never know...

It's been rainier around here lately, but I don't really mind, it makes for nice photos :) Oh, and I would like to announce....

My new and improved design business!
I've been working on it for a while, and I'm so excited for it to actually be up now! So if you're ever in need of a blog design for an affordable price, swing by and check it out :)

-hannah

photography=best stress reliever EV-AH!

purchase here

purchase here

purchase here

One thing I love about being on spring break is I can grab my camera whenever I want and go out and take some photos. I never realized how much I missed snapping away, and how much I need it. With my grandfather's condition unchanging in the hospital, photography is sort of my way of coping with stress.
Which photo is your favorite?

-hannah
p.s. Sorry for sudden change in blog design, I'm trying to find one that'll keep me happy until I can take the time to do one more... classy. And Destiny is having a giveaway sponsored by me over at her blog adorkable! Go check it out, and make sure to tell all you friends ;) Oh, and check out Mark's blog, it's totally "awesome" ;)

saturday (and GIVEAWAY WINNER!!)

The winner of the Sand and Starfish giveaway is...

Natalie Ensor!
Congratulations! Please email me within the next 48 hours to claim your prize :)

So far, my somewhat lazy Saturday has consisted of...

1. Luxuriously sleeping in and then browsing blogs on my iPod

2. Chowing down on coffee cake

3. Going to my Grandma's house and shoveling her steps because it snowed an inch last night

4. Wrestling with a bucket of salt (don't ask...)

5. Enjoying an amazing taco and...

6. Stuffing myself with more coffee cake ;)

And now I'm sitting on the couch, wanting to go outside and take some photos of the winter wonderland that is my neighborhood. Oh yeah, and wanting to waste my money on-yep, you guessed it- more makeup ;)
Oh, and I got my first paying blog design last week! Pretty dang exciting :) Check out the blog HERE! Would you like a blog design? Check out my design site :)

-hannah
p.s. this is my 400th post! Yea!

frost

I've missed out on the beginning of winter. School is awesome, but you exactly can't go outside and snap a photo whenever you want to. Therefore, I didn't get to experience the first frost. But I can settle with the sixth ;)

Have you had your first frost yet? Oh, and how do you like the new design? :)

-hannah
p.s. don't forget to enter the giveaway!!