Literature Parties : As a Means of Inspiring Myself

What inspires you?

I've been attempting to think critically about myself recently; what do I want? How does something make me feel and why? What actually makes me successful, and what are worthy goals?

There is a conundrum for me as creative business owner; I salivate over efficiency and affective processes and converting clients. Yet my passions beat to create, to make things into something new, to do quality work.  Can I be "awesome" at business and creative? Quality work is creative work, and it takes time, practice, and inspiration.

Blah, blah, blah. Hence my initial question :  what inspires you? I wonder, because I'm discovering what inspires me. What churns my brain and trains my eyes?

It's literature. It's stories. It's characters. It's heroes.

Over the next year, I am going to throw parties inspired by classical literature, previously unread (by me, of course). The parties will be small and intimate, and therefore purposeful. Imagine formal invitations, costumes, drinks and menus derived entirely from the content of the book.

Want to come to a party? Comment below. Have a book candidate for the list below? Comment below.

A Midsummer Night's Dream by William Shakespeare

Short Stories by Edgar Allen Poe

War of the Worlds by H. G. Wells

Pride and Prejudice by Jane Austen

The Adventures of Robinson Crusoe by Daniel Dufoe

Around the World in 80 Days by Jules Verne

Updates and photos to come soon! 

Playing with Text : Handwritting and Calligraphy

Custom lettering is in the process of rebirth or rejuvenation, but mostly, the process of re-appreciation. With so many diverse and beautiful fonts available for free (and we won't have it any other way!!!), the we acknowledge that there is still something remarkable about "custom".

These are a few of my projects focusing on custom type in the last months. I even jumped into calligraphy! Check it out...

Custom calligraphy for a magic-themed medical software convention...yes you read that correctly. This project was such a treat! Black envelopes with gold liner and gold calligraphy. It took me upwards of 16 hours, but I would do it again.

"Live a Little" created for Dirty Helen Paper Company

Screen print design for a mission trip tee



Check out more designs at lisalangenhop.com

Crayola Color Guides : Melon (A light version of Coral)

People, people. Have you noticed the excessive amounts of coral and mint these days? Every trend-touting female is wearing it; every burgeoning bride is using it. I went into Love Culture last week (please don't judge an almost 30-year old trying to rock her own small business...I need cheap cool clothes!), and coral and mint probably commanded 25% of the store.

I'm jumping back in to blogging with a coral post...or Melon actually. It a light coral. Peaceful but entertaining; expressive but tranquil. How are you rocking the trend this year?

1. Pink Cadillac Cocktail
2. Daytripped Panama Sunglasses from Urban Outfitters
3. Stud Flap-Over Purse 
4. Coral Couch at Decor8
5. Coral Peonies
6. Lux Coral Colourblock Courts
7. Feathers Print at Lotfi

The Real Reasons I Work Out

Have you known me for more than 15 years? If so, you will have known me as a size 12, size 2, and everything in between. I think of myself as open and secure about it, but still don't want to post pictures of me at my heaviest. Hm.

In the most recent four years I've vacillated between a size 4 and 6 and have learned to maintain a healthier weight for my body. For my athletic-shaped frame, the main key to weight stability is regular exercise.

I'd love to claim that I am motivated by supporting my mental health, preserving my reproductive organs, seeing my great-great-grandchildren, and looking awesome at reunions, but when I can choose between an hour of my favorite show or an Insanity session, it's not enough to get me off the couch and into sneakers. Perhaps I am just not long-sighted enough.

But I am imaginative and challenge oriented, so I've found reasons and thought patterns that do motivate me.

1. Fight the bad guys.
We are Americans and live by assuming nothing bad will happen, but bad stuff does happen. Whether is a street mugging or an answer-the-wrong-phone-call-and-get-wrapped-into-an-international-spy situation, I want to be able to out-muscle or out-run 90% of the world's population (I'm excluding professional athletes, green berets, and 007s here, naturally). It's simple survival and preparedness. Let's go, crazy world, I'll be ready for you.

2. Survive an isolation scenario or natural disaster.
Does every individual think that they would be in the small percentage that survives a zombie attack or first pilgrim winter in the new world? That's ridiculous. The smartest and fittest are far more likely to survive in these or other more realistic frights. I want to be in that small group of survivors and to help people be there with me.

3. Be ready for discovery.
Is that right person watching? Will I catch someone's eye across the road? Will they come up to me and say, "I'm making a movie, and I want you to be in it"? Probably not, but if it does happen, I want to be ready. I want to be able to say, "Of course, I can even do my own stunts!" The most interesting things happen to me on accident, and I never want my body to be a reason it doesn't happen or can't participate when it does.

Fundamentally all of these are about having a knowledgeable confidence in my physical abilities and setting myself apart from helplessness. THAT is what motivates me enough to stay active.

I hope every one can find those things that keep them going. Be healthy...maybe use your imagination!

Holiday Cards - For the Orphans!

Orphans totally melt me. (You can read about why here and here.)


If something pulls at your mind and emotions, I think it's a sign that you should do something about it. Here is my holiday equation, therefore :

These green or red cards, each in sets of 4, can be purchased on my Pepper&Glow Paper Etsy store. Every single penny of profit from the sale of these cards will go to support four international orphanages.

The front of this card says "hope" in five different languages, each represented the language of the children at the following orphanages. 

Lighthouse Orphanage in Haiti
Bible Fellowship Orphanage in Papua New Guinea
Rainbow Town Orphanage in Liberia
India Gospel League in India


Check em out!