Thank You Cards to Get You Writing!

Have you sent out your holiday thank you cards yet? No?!? --neither have we. Which is why we've rounded up a few of our very favorites for you! Grab a few of these and get to writing, to all of those amazing friends and family who thought to bring you gifts. Write them a sweet note on one of these gems:

1. A favorite modern letterpress: Cactus Black Thank You card from Iron Curtain Press.
2. Red Cap Cards sweet Squirrel Thanks illustrated greeting card by Meg Hunt.
3. Little G! Cute Tank-You Little G Thank You card from local artist, Cub Report Card.
4. Simple and sleek: Mr. Boddington's Studio Banner Thank You card.
5. Little hedgehog says Thanks for the Mushy-room! Love this one, by Egg Press.

And a sweet thank you to all of you, plus an oldie but a goodie: writing a handwritten letter. Happy New Year!

Emily's Fashion Tips for the New (and On-the-Go) Mom

Constantly dealing with baby spit up and playing in the wet sandbox with a toddler prevents me from being too creative with my wardrobe. But that doesn't mean moms should be confined to a life of oversized hoodies and leggings. New moms should be able to feel cute enough to go out for coffee without much fuss, and still be comfortable enough to play at the park. So how do we juggle the need to be accessible to our kids and still feel like hip mamas? Here are a few common conundrums and my tips for getting by:

1, 4. Always running around? Ditch the bulky diaper bag. Especially now with two kiddos, I need both hands available and I run in and out of the house several times before getting on the road. Go for versatile slip on sneakers and a cute backpack. I opt for the Foldsack No. 1 and these comfortable Bensimon Tennis Shoes. Hey--check it out! Assemble colors!

2, 6 + 7. No time to shower? Use dry shampoo, a pretty scarf (this one's from the always subtly chic J. Crew), and some NARS lip gloss. I just discovered dry shampoo last year, and it's a miracle! And, the NARS makeup can be used as blush or eye shadow!

3. In-between sizes? Instead of black leggings, which are an easy habit to fall into while losing your baby weight, find high-waisted jeans with a little stretch. These high-risers from Madewell are my go-to pair.

5. I'm late already?! Get a watch - time moves faster with wee ones. Try to find an easily wipe-able band. I like this one from Breo.

8. Breastfeeding. I despise those wrap-style jersey nursing tops. Opt for button-downs (for easy access, yet full coverage) and choose a pattern, like this adorable one from the GAP, since they help hide messes.

Images as linked above.

The Best Gifts to Buy a New Mom, by a Non-Mom

In light of our recent events: brand new George coming into the world, I thought I'd put together my perfect list of gifts to give a new mom. Yes, I know I'm not a mom--however, about 90% of my friends are. I hear their gripes, I hear their wants, I read endless Facebook status updates about onesies and diapers. HOWEVER, I still have an anchor to the "I'm just a lady" side of being a woman. Not the mother side--the woman side. So I take pride in enhancing that in even the most exhausted new mom. Below are my favorite gifts to give a new mom:


1. Lipstick. I may take heat for this, but I stand by my choice. It really doesn't matter how cheap or expensive it is. Lipstick is the fastest way to brighten your face. Add a lip balm like this this Clinique Chubby Stick Lip Colour Balm, and a new mom is set. Feeling more fresh, pretty, and moisturized.

2. Comfy, stylish slippers. Let's be honest: Mom's going to be home a lot. Slippers are nice, especially cute ones. Indulge in cuddlies for your pal. My favorite are these Moccasin Slippers from J. Crew.

3. A coupon for pretty much anything is going to make their day. A coupon for babysitting, cleaning, a free meal, a free massage, a date night with their spouse: whatever. Don't forget to bug them to use it though, because most people feel a bit uncomfortable demanding your time.

4. If you're ready to drop some cash, grab them an iPad Mini. Endless breastfeeding entertainment.

5. Another appearance enhancer: chew beads. We've talked about these before, but they are awesome. I don't even have a baby and I think they're adorable. Non-toxic, baby-safe, cute jewelry from baby mamas.

Got any suggestions?

We're Back: A New Year, A New Pantone Color

We're back on the blog! After a much needed Christmas break, we are back and ready to get back into the crafty spirit. While Emily packs up the former Assemble space, I'm in Durango, Colorado, doing some exploring for new art & design (plus a little family time here and there!)

Have you heard? With the New Year fast approaching, Pantone has released it's brand new color of the year: Emerald! What do you think?


The news got me very excited for fun things in shades of green! Here's a roundup of some of our favorite things with an Emerald inspiration:


1. Chewbeads! These are great for all of your friends that are having babies! If you're anything like me, that's most of your friends. Stylish and chic, plus safe for baby paws and gums.

2. Emerald Pantone iPhone 5 Case: I don't have the new iPhone 5, but definitely would love one after playing with my parents' iPhone 5 Panorama camera! If you're lucky enough to have one, grab one of these super-new Emerald cases, $34.95.

3. On sale! Plus flattering for any shape: love these Hutton Trench Trousers in Festival Green from J. Crew, $89.99.

4. Not quite Emerald, but definitely in the happy green family, this Squatter Nail Polish from Butter would be perfect for New Year's Eve, $14.

5. We love these classic pumps in a fresh color! The Profit and Gloss Heel in green from Modcloth, $42.99

6. Last but not least, another homage to Emerald, the Marimeko Iltavilli Olive Green Bowl. Young calves for a new year, $12 from Crate & Barrel.

Yay for Pantone 17-5641, Emerald!!

What's Brown & Sticky?

...a stick! We're gettin' twiggy wit it. (So sorry, my inner dork really needed that one). We've been noticing a lot of really cool twig & stick couture lately! We thought we'd combine some of our favorites for you guys. Enjoy!


1. We love this collection of painted sticks by Ette. What would you do with them? We don't really know!

2. Thank goodness gold is coming back, we love it! Check out this pretty Tree Twig Necklace from Madewell. Sweet & subtle.

3. Love this watercolor. Another comeback we're excited about! From River Luna on Etsy, $40.

4. These are a shop favorite here at Assemble, and just $5. Only available in-shop! (Give us a call if you're interested in ordering). By Boris & Katusha.

5. Our favorites! We love these little guys so much that they have become a yearly fan favorite. Little, plushy sticks by Finkelsteins, just $12.

Andie & Emily's Assemble Guide to Halloween

Happy Halloween, everyone! We've never been the kind of girls that are into scary type things (I think the closest we come is a classic Hitchcock film or AMC's The Walking Dead). However, we love Halloween in all its wholesome, autumnal splendor. We put together Assemble's Guide to Halloween to help navigate your night. We hope you enjoy!


1. Venison chili. Chili is the perfect, hearty meal for any Halloween treat. I like to make mine with Venison Sausage or Elk, as my dad hunts and brings us clean, unprocessed, happy meat to cook with. Would you like the recipe?
Other suggestions:
• If you're not into red meat, make chili with ground turkey or roasted chicken.
• For veggie chili, make a vegetarian or vegan version using tofu, or hot beans and rice.

2. Paint your nails! Or go just a bit past the usual "making up." I like this FACE Stockholm shade of nail polish, Ruby Slipper.
Other suggestions:
• Sparkly eyeshadow! Try NYX Glitter Cream Palette.
• Hot red lips, like So Chaud from MAC.

3. Watch Hocus Pocus. For Assemble gals, this is a must. Plus, it's always on TV on Halloween night. Don't snub the Family Channel, folks! (Rumor has it--and you heard it here first--they're developing a Hocus Pocus 2!)
Other suggestions:
• For a classy take for those who like to get spooked, enjoy Hitchcock's Psycho or Vertigo.
• For the young at heart, don't forget about It's The Great Pumpkin, Charlie Brown! Usually on tv as well, this is my favorite autumn charmer. Watch for my favorite line delivery when Lucy says "all right, all right, let's BOB for apples."
• Need a reminder of what Johnny Depp was before he grossed us out as Willy Wonka? Watch the darkly, romantic Edward Scissorhands for some much needed young Johnny.

4. Eat some candy, obviously! Try to go easy, but tonight's the night to indulge. My favorite addiction is Tootsie Rolls.
Other suggestions:
• Smarties.
• Mini Snickers.
• Those big orange marshmallows shaped like peanuts (if you're into that sort of thing....).

5. Don't forget to have yourself a hot mug of something. Whether it's our Hot Toddy, a lovely mulled wine or cider, definitely do!
Other suggestions:
• Trader Joe's Pumpkin Spice Rooibos Tea
• Hot Chocolate!

What are you going to do tonight?