Beyond the Designs

Welcome to Beyond the Designs - a lifestyle blog by CRD&CO. I look to share some moments beyond the projects including lifestyle, fashion, food, and all the things I love! I hope you enjoy this fresh and new content. And, please, reach out with any and all feedback or ideas. I’d love to hear from you! xx

Personal Journal Alison Melnick Personal Journal Alison Melnick

Behind The Name

“Hey Catherine! It’s so nice to meet you.” is the phrase I hear on a daily basis. In the past two-and-a-half years, my name has gone from Alison to Catherine and back to Alison in the matter of minutes of meeting vendors, potential clients, and everyone in between.

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Alison Melnick Alison Melnick

Designing the Perfect Summer Bar Cart

As the summer sun stretches into the evening and entertaining moves outdoors, there’s no better time to refresh your bar cart. Whether you're hosting a backyard soirée or enjoying a quiet cocktail on the patio, a well-styled bar cart adds both function and flair to your summer gatherings.

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Everything I Loved Alison Melnick Everything I Loved Alison Melnick

Everything I Loved: May Edition

Is it me or do the spring months just blend into one big cluster? As a mom, the days are so chaotic and it seems like 2:30 pm appears out of nowhere. May was full of a lot of late night office moments to hit deadlines, play catch up, and check things off my to-do list.

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In The Kitchen Alison Melnick In The Kitchen Alison Melnick

In the Kitchen: My Go To Pasta Salad

As MDW quickly approaches (How is the unofficial start to summer next week?!), I am thinking about the endless possibilities of summer snacks and apps I’ll whip up for a backyard BBQ or to bring along to a friend's pool party. My favorite dish to indulge in over the summer is my “go-to-pasta-salad!”

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Everything I Loved Alison Melnick Everything I Loved Alison Melnick

Everything I Loved: March Edition

March was a crazy busy month but I guess that’s what I get for taking off half of February. I was in full cheer-mom mode and we got hit with a spring sports schedule like never before. Hello, three softball teams, five cheer competitions, the largest PTA fundraiser of the year and of course, client installs, photoshoots, and elevating the business. March was wild but here is a glimpse at the moments that made me the happiest - even if I looked like I was drowning!

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