Charlotte’s 1st Birthday!

As promised, here are some of the pics from Charlotte’s Birthday. I was a little overwhelmed the day of her party so my photos are less than spectacular, sorry about that!
Hope you enjoy! I’ll have all the pictures posted to my flickr account very soon!

Charlotte's Web Invite

Charlotte’s Web Invite

Smash Cake

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These are the favors, sippy cup & Annie's Organic Mac-n-cheese w/cutlery set

These are the favors, sippy cup & Annie’s Organic Mac-n-cheese w/cutlery set

"I'm 1"

“I’m 1”

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Chalkboard sign via "I heart paper designs" ahem!

Chalkboard sign via “I heart paper designs” ahem!

The centerpieces that I created

The centerpieces that I created

I also designed the image for the cake

I also designed the image for the cake

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Made a banner in to match everything

Made a banner in to match everything

And we can't forget the goodie bags!

And we can’t forget the goodie bags!

My mind won’t stop – it’s a good thing! (sometimes)

Couldn’t sleep in this morning, as much as I wanted to, I kept going over this never-ending list of things I need/want to get done. Started morning off right by drinking my “Life is Good” coffee, in my “Life is Good” owl mug, listening to Jack Johnson, visiting all the sites that inspire me 🙂

That's right, S'more flavored coffee, & Life is Good brand to boot!

That’s right, S’more flavored coffee, & Life is Good brand to boot!

Well as a follow-up to my previous post, here is one of the invites that I made:

Floral Wreath Invite

Floral Wreath Invite

Here’s the Charlotte’s web invite and very soon I’ll post some of the party photos – I promise!

Charlotte's Web Invite

Charlotte’s Web Invite

What a great day! (for so many reasons)

Valentine's Day Cards - Everywhere!

Valentine’s Day Cards – Everywhere!

Maddie_vday_DSC_6353 My Valentine’s Day Sweetie!

E_DSC_6331 Valentine’s Treat for me!

Sorry this post is a little belated…life got in the way!

I love those days when I wake up amped and ready to take on the world! Admittedly, they are very few and far between these days, but nonetheless, I do experience them every now and again.
So I usually start by making coffee – it’s decaf these days since Maddie and I are still attached to one another (still breast feeding if you didn’t get my hidden innuendo). Then it’s on to the computer, although I did get a bit side-railed today b/c of a special V-day breakfast request from the hubby and cleaning up the destruction that happened upon our kitchen since it had been neglected for a whole 24 hours – yikes. I swear, somehow it always looks like I made breakfast, lunch, and dinner for an entire football team – twice- how does this happen? Anyhow, on to more interesting stuff.
I always like to play Pandora to get my creativity flowing – sometimes I get side-tracked when a new band comes down the pipe (pike) and that’s what brought us to one of my favorite parts of the day. “Minor Alps” is their name. Juliana Hatfield & Matthew Caws (of Nada Surf) make up the band. Whaaaaaaaaaaaaaaat? Are you for real? Two of my favorites have collaborated to bring forth a hauntingly beautiful album, it’s called “Get There“. Oh what a day…See? It really is the little things that make me happy.
Another thing that puts a pep in my step & a smile on my face is crafting – yup – crafting, I’m a huge dork and “I don’t care who knows it!” So, I finally got all of my Valentine’s Cards completed and I have to said I couldn’t be happier with the way they turned out. They better be cute considering all of the scissor wrestling, glue wrangling, and sticker snatching that ensued as I sat on the living room floor with Madeline breathing down my neck. Oh how I cannot wait until the day she can successfully use a pair of scissors……It will come, I just know it. This girl has crafting in her blood.
So on another creative note, I am currently engrossed in a slew of Graphic Design projects. Very exciting – especially because they are mostly comprised of little girls’ birthday parties. Oh what fun!
Here is a list of what I’m working on:
Business set for Instrumentation Company
Charlotte’s Web theme – Invitation, Party Planning, Etc
Garden/Music theme – Invitation, Helping w/Party Planning
English Garden/Ladybird theme – Invitation
Fiesta Baby Shower theme – Invitation, Party Planning, Etc

I will keep you all updated on the progress/outcome.
Look forward to sharing with you!
Make it an awesome day!

Free Magnets – Yay!

Since James is at work and won’t see this until he gets home, here is a peek at one of the presents we got him for V-day. They’re pretty cute, wish I could’ve spent just a wee bit more time on them but for 5 mins work, I think they came out ok.
I came across this great deal I couldn’t pass up – FREE MAGNETS – I’m in! So exciting, (I know it doesn’t take much to get me jumping for joy) to get something for free. And I thought for sure I was going to get hit up for the shipping, in a way that hurts the wallet and makes you say to yourself “oh, so this is where they get you” but nope, nope, nope – just a mere $3.95 for s&h.
ps – sorry I didn’t post this earlier (while the deal was still going on), but I didn’t want to ruin the surprise…

Magnets
View the entire collection of cards.

Love is in the air, love is everywhere

Happy Valentine's Day

Happy Valentine’s Day


Lovely things for a Lovely Little Girl. Totally LOVE the suspenders!

Lovely things for a Lovely Little Girl. Totally LOVE the suspenders!


Lately I’ve had all things V-day on the brain. Getting crafty things done for a girls night in! We’ll make V-day cards, take silly photos in the “photo booth” and have yummy snacks and drinks. The theme is Circus Love! Can’t wait to share pics.
Also, I’ve been shopping for little things here and there to give the Madeline – everything inspired by love! There are just so many cute things out there, I had to stop myself from buying her everything on the shelves. ps – why couldn’t they make the suspenders in my size? (James, that comment was for you!)
Anyhow, just sharing for some inspirations perhaps?!?

A new year, a new adventure!

New Book!

New Book!

Pipe Cleaners

Pipe Cleaners

Pouring her own water

Pouring her own water

Breakfast!

Breakfast!


As if this parenting business wasn’t hard enough, we’ve decided to start using the Montessori method to educate our little Chookie (aka Maddie). Sounds easy, well at least to me it did. So I had started to pin some stuff here & here, oh, so cute, they put like colors into like containers and what-not, easy peasy. And then Santa delivered a book to me on the subject, “Montessori From the Start”. And then I got scared. I thought, oh boy, I’m 15 months behind. Apparently this process is supposed to start even before birth. So I guess I am even more behind when you take into account her time in my womb. Ok, ok, not to worry, we can do this, we can catch up – I was out of school for like 1 whole week b/c of Chicken Pox, I got this.
So I started with clearing out her play area, limiting the toys with batteries, non-sense toys, etc. Then I set up her weaning table (which I think is a little big for her but we’ll try it for a while and maybe buy a cheapy set from Ikea until she can grow into this one). Now on to her bedroom, this is pretty easy, cleared stuff out of her closet to make room for the toys that I removed (for now), put most of her stuffed animals in the closet as well and transferred the bookcase/bench that was in the play area to her bedroom. Everything has been pretty easy except for the books, oh books how we love you so much. They are by far the greatest thing to Maddie, right now at least. So how to whittle them down? Hmm, I’m not sure what Montessori recommends for books so I guess I need to do some research before I edit these too. And don’t worry, I won’t deprive Maddie of her coveted books, I’ll just switch them out every so often.
Alright, so things are pretty good. Now let’s get started on the first activity – pipe cleaners into a colander. She did it! Awesome, “okay Maddie, do it again” (and again and again and again until you’ve mastered it) Ha! she did it once and then walked away, and then my heart broke. After the next activity, I quickly realized that this child has no concentration what-so-ever. So this is where the real challenge comes in. I know Rome wasn’t built in a day so I have hope that she will eventually build up her concentration but I’m still sad, kinda feel like I’ve failed her already by not starting sooner.
Well I have an update, without any prompt, I found her diligently working on the pipe cleaner activity. My heart sang and everything was right with the world again. This gave me hope – it’s going to be a long road but I have faith in the both of us that we can accomplish this.

Humbled and Thankful

In the history of my life, I can honestly say that I have never had such an eventful and uneventful- all at the same time – Thanksgiving, ever. It seemed like one plan after another had to be changed, modified, or canceled. And, amidst my favorite holiday of the year being less than lackluster, I still feel all warm and fuzzy inside. I’m not sure how many of you know this but I am a pretty lucky girl! I’ve crossed off so many things from my “bucket list” – and many of them fairly recent accomplishments!

My life isn’t lavish to the average person but to me my life is just what I had always dreamed up. I don’t think material things define the riches of someone’s life but rather the amount of things they hold in their heart, the memories they draw upon to comfort them or to reflect upon, the people they love who surround them in times of need. I am so grateful to have an honest, caring and hardworking husband, a (now) healthy baby girl, a wonderful family (whom I wish I could’ve have spent the day with). I am also so blessed to have such great friends, I don’t know where I would be without them ❤

I have a beautiful home, I've started my own business doing what I love, I get to spend all of my time with my daughter and watch her as she grows and learns and discovers.

Thank you to everyone who has ever believed in me. It means the world to me and I am forever grateful.

ps, the Turkey was amazing, Maddie's rash appeared, I had my pumpkin cheesecake and finished the night with "Planes, Trains, and Automobiles" and that is all that matters in the end.

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Homemade Cranberry Sauce. Thanks to Pioneer Woman!

Homemade Cranberry Sauce. Thanks to Pioneer Woman!

Always a pretty table, even if it's the two of us! (Maddie was napping)

Always a pretty table, even if it’s the two of us! (Maddie was napping)

One of the coolest gifts ever - Thanks Mom!

One of the coolest gifts ever – Thanks Mom!

Credits to my sis Michelle for salvaging our Turkey emergency

Credits to my sis Michelle for salvaging our Turkey emergency

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New dining room - thanks dad!

New dining room – thanks dad!

Selfie!

Selfie!

The aftermath!

The aftermath!

Pumpkin Cheesecake (annual favorite) and Key Lime Pie (unusual for T-day but oh so delish!)

Pumpkin Cheesecake (annual favorite) and Key Lime Pie (unusual for T-day but oh so delish!)

My favorites

This picture invokes so many ideas…I like to imagine she’s writing James and I a letter about how much she loves being our baby, the things she wants for Christmas or maybe what she wants to be when she grows up! One could only hope right?!?

two of my favorite people: my hubby James and daughter Madeline

two of my favorite people: my hubby James and daughter Madeline

Party time!

So excited! I have been diligently working on so many projects lately – probably too many really. Anyhow, it’s been super fun and it just makes me wish that Maddie was a bit older so she could join in and be my little helper. Don’t get me wrong, I’m savoring every single minute of her still being a dependent baby, like when she’s nursing or wants to cuddle. There is something so gratifying that comes with being needed – I can’t explain it but if you’re a parent you probably know what I’m talking about. Or maybe you’ve taken care of an ailing friend or relative. This feeling makes my life complete. Anyhow, I realize that these are fleeting moments and one day I will want her back as a that little baby who still needs her mommy. So for now I will continue to work while she eats the piece of paper I just printed or dump out the basket of supplies I had so neatly organized on the shelf – at the end of the day I can’t help but laugh and make a mental note of these times so I have countless stories to tell her when she gets older.
Some of the things I’ve been working on are custom invitations, photography sessions, getting my website up (and almost running), designing my business card, thank you notes for Maddie’s birthday and finally party hats. I had my first Etsy sale! So exciting! The order was for a set of birthday hats for a very special birthday princess named Adison. Her party is this weekend and I can’t wait to see a picture of her in her special birthday hat.
I also have some Halloween hats listed (hint, hint) if anyone’s interested. Time is running out before Halloween. http://www.etsy.com/shop/iheartpaperdesigns?ref=search_shop_redirect

adison_hats_1

adison_hats_2
Halloween_hats_2

Halloween_hats_4

Halloween_hats_1

Things that make me say yay!

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New photography book and sign language flash cards

New photography book and sign language flash cards

If you’re addicted to craft supplies like I am, I’m warning you, DON’T go to Marshalls! Even though I got a great deal on all my goodies, I know that I really don’t need them. I still can’t believe that everything here cost me about $24.00! I saw the same Martha Stewart paper pad at JoAnn Fabrics for $19.99 – I got it for $3.99 – no joke! I always think that the stuff they offer is from last season but then I go into regular department stores and craft stores and see the same exact thing on their shelves for 75% more. I don’t know how they can sell things for so cheap – don’t get me wrong, I’m not complaining, it’s just they suck me in every time!
Now I just have to figure out what to do with all of it? Maybe a Halloween Craft Party is on the horizon??
Also, super excited to find the book and flash cards that I ordered from Amazon at my doorstep today! The reviews I read on “The Design Aglow Posing Guide for Family Portrait Photography: 100 Modern Ideas for Photographing Newborns, Babies, Children, and Families” were amazing – I couldn’t pass it up. Now that my photography biz is growing, thought this was a great resource.
The flash cards are great too! “Baby Sign Language Flash Cards: A 50-Card Deck” So happy with this purchase. I think Maddie is at a point right now where she can really begin to understand them. Also, her new music teacher uses sign language in her class!