new blog

I've decided to start fresh with a new blog, new look and hopefully a new sense of commitment to actually write in it....

Check it out here.

forgive me?

Busy. It's the only excuse I've got. But who isn't, right? I sincerely doubt anyone is out there checking for my latest post, I'm sure you've given up. But, if you're out there, this is for you.

Hailey:
She walks, talks, giggles, chases dogs, loves cheese and is the best thing that has ever happened to me. She is a wonderful baby, if I could guarantee a few more that would be just like her, I'd do it in a heartbeat. Her first birthday party is next Saturday. It is a Pixie Birthday Party, lots of fairies and pixie dust. We've gone a bit overboard, but hey, it's a celebration of her first year of life.

The biz:
Things are extremely busy. We're working with reps now, which is new, but it's going well and looking forward to growing and getting orders on a more consistent basis throughout the year. I've been printing like crazy and have been wishing my studio had air conditioning. I'm in the process of redesigning my web site and can't for a new look.

I'll do my best at updating more regularly. I understand if you don't believe me. I've got to do a post on the celebs that are driving me crazy. Two words: Britney and Crazy. No, not the song. She's lost it.

blue eyes

Hailey had her six month photos today and I had to share my favorite.

it's been a while

A small part of me is glad to see Christmas behind us. It was a whirlwind of buying, visiting, baking and preparing. I feel a calm now that we're back home. Hailey's first Christmas was wonderful. She loved tissue paper the best. She loved looking at Christmas lights and wrapping paper. She was able to see lots of family and really had a great time being back "home" in Cincinnati.

She is five months old today. It's going by so quickly but I love watching her grow and learn new things. She rolls over one way, almost sits up by herself and smiles at everything her father says. I haven't downloaded photos yet, but I will post one soon.

My New Year's resolution took about two seconds to decide: ORGANIZATION. I don't think I've been 100% organized since I got married. Adding someone into my mix really changed things and of course having a baby has changed it even more. My new moto is going to be "have a place for everything". We moved almost a year ago and there still isn't a designated space for all the junk we own. Getting rid of junk will be another priority. This Christmas we realized, we don't need anything. We couldn't think of what to get eachother because we had all we needed. But, the things we feel the need to keep are going to be labeled, stacked, contained and hopefully start to look like the Container Store catalog.

The business is going well. I printed a lot of Christmas cards and have been working on the baby album to debut in May. I need to spend a lot more time designing in the next month to stay on schedule. I had a dream last night about NSS, which is a sign that I'm beginning to subconciously worry about it. I dreamt that the two booths that were next to me last year decided to join forces and they hung things high in the air so no one could see the other booths. Maybe I'm worried my booth won't be noticed??? I've been thinking of adjustments already this morning.

Well, it's good to be back, I hope to keep this updated more regularly. Hope everyone is enjoying the holidays!

things change in the fall

Fall and Winter seem to always be a time of change. My grandfather passed away today. He was diagnosed with pancreatic cancer a few weeks ago. Although he has had it for a while. When we first begin to realize that he was ill with something serious, we took Hailey to see him. I'm thankful for that. He loved meeting her and we have wonderful pictures for her to remember him by. He was worried that she wouldn't remember him. Faith is a wonderful thing. He's at home with his wife now and is free of pain.

Since I hope to use this blog to remember life's moments, I'll leave my thoughts, for maybe someday Hailey will read and know what a great man he was.

Grandpa, I will always remember you with your hair sticking up in your tan pajamas on Christmas morning. You were the most positive and generous person, you raised my mother to be the same way. I aspire to be the same, you will be greatly missed. Say hi to Grandma, I can't wait to meet her.

hating life...or at least Halloween

Hailey was a sweet pea this year. I'm guessing the last year I'll be able to do this to her. Doesn't she look thrilled? But she sure is cute. We handed out candy in the neighborhood and then went to see a friend in town who goes crazy with decorating her house. She is 14 weeks today and I can't believe how fast it's flying by.

As for paper, good things are happening. We're going to have our cards featured in two different publications. One this month and the next in the spring. I'm working on a baby album and am looking forward to debuting it in May.

pumpkin love

Here's a recent photo of my little pumpkin. She obviously didn't enjoy her first experience, but she will learn to love them when she starts carving them at our Annual Family Pumpkin Carving Party. We've been doing it since I was little, it's a big deal. We carve pumpkins after hours of planning, mom bakes ginger cookies with orange icing and chocolate chips for the pumpkin faces and after we're done we take a photo with our pumpkins. The catch is that you have to make the face of your pumpkin for the photo. This was hard the year I cookie-cuttered stars all over a-la-Martha Stewart.

Yes, hopefully one day she'll enjoy the pumpkins. Don't you just love fall?