Pretty Blog Titles

Just a quick hello! For months I have been wanting to make the font of my blog posts a pretty/custom font & I have never been able to find a good tutorial (or one that actually works for that matter) until tonight! Kevin & Amanda have lots of awesome tips for bloggers like me and this tutorial was really easy to follow! You have to set up a Webs account, but I already had one so it made the process really simple! & I think it makes my blog look awesome! Yay! I know I might seem overly excited for such a small finding, but I a serious when I tell you I've been trying for months to do this! I am a happy girl!

Anyway, Happy Hump Day Y'all!

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happy birthday nathan paul.

It's hard to believe this tiny, precious thing is now 1 year old. He sure has come a long way! He wasn't supposed to be here until June of last year, but he just couldn't wait to meet us I guess! It was really scary because we were worried about the health of my sister Jana as well as this little guy! But luckily, they both came out fine & 1 year later are doing great! He's brought so much joy to our whole family & I count down the days until I get to see him next! It's so fun to watch his growth & see all the different changes he's making! Yesterday was his birthday party & it was so much fun! My favorite part was when it was time for cake! Nathan is still having trouble eating solid foods (he just doesn't like them for some reason!) so he didn't eat much of the cake, but boy did he play in it! He had it all over him! It was so cute! He did start to eat the icing and cake that was on his hands & I'm not sure if he ever made up his mind whether or not he liked it! Either way, it was so fun to watch! I just love that little boy so much! Being an aunt is just so much fun!

Here is one of his Easter/1 year pictures!

{How cute is this, I mean really?}

Hope y'all had a great weekend!

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Birthday Shopping!

My birthday money & gift cards stayed with me a whopping 24 hrs. I can never hold on to things like that! It's so much fun buying new things! One of my purchases was this adorable canister set and paper towel holder from Target. I can't wait until I move into my new place that is my very own! These will look great in my kitchen! (That I of course haven't seen yet, but its oh so fun to decorate it in my mind-- as well as all the other rooms!) I also bought this dinnerware set! It was exactly what I'll need to get me started! I already have some dishes, but they are mostly plastic so it will be nice to have a nice set of matching dishes! I can't wait to have dinner parties! Which of course, I will have plenty of-- right? haha

Well, Just thought I would share my most recent purchases! Once I finally get to use these wonderful items I will share photos! :)

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24.

24 years ago today, the world got a little bit more fun! How? I was born of course! Man, I cannot believe I am now 24! That's almost a quarter of a century! Crazy!

{March 26, 1986}

And the really crazy thing is that when I woke up there was snow, SNOW on the ground! It's the end of March! I don't think it has ever snowed on my birthday (which I happen to like that fact). Is this some sick joke? haha On a good note, the sun is out so hopefully all that yucky stuff will disappear!

Today I've got to babysit Peter Anthony! He's 2 years old & such a cutie! Then tonight I'm going out with some friends to celebrate! & of course, I gotta watch OSU in the NCAA tournament! They're playing Tennessee (which of course I would be rooting for if they weren't playing the Buckeyes!). Obviously if the Volunteers pull it off I will be rooting for them, but I sure do hope the Bucks can come out with the W! Well, I need to get ready to go, just thought I'd stop in & give myself some birthday love! Soooo Happy Birthday Me! :)

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My best days are ahead of me :)

Welp, tomorrow I turn the big 2-4 (gasp!).. I can't believe I'm this old! haha Anyway, I don't have much to say, but I did want to share lyrics from Danny Gokey's new song "My Best Days". It seemed fitting considering tomorrow is my BIRTHDAY! :)

{Photo by Jessica Diamond}

My Best Days

Blowing out the candles
on another birthday cake
Old enough to look back and laugh at my mistakes
Young enough to look at the future and like what I see
My best days are ahead of me

Life hasn’t always been a party
but mostly it’s been good
There’s only one or two things that I’d change if I could
I don't get lost in the past or get stuck in some sad memory yah
My best days are ahead of me

Age is nothing but a number
Sometimes I have to wonder
What does it really mean
But heeeey I'm still putting it together
I keep getting better
if I keep getting better
I can be whatever I want to be
My best days are ahead of me

Age is nothing but a number
Sometimes I have to wonder
What does it really mean
But heeeey I'm still putting it together
I keep getting better
if I keep getting better
I can be whatever I want to be
My best days are ahead of me

I’ve got sunsets to witness
dreams to dance with
beaches to walk on
and lovers to kiss
there’s a whole lot of world out there
that I can’t wait to see
My best days are ahead of me
My best days are ahead of me

ps-- next time i post i'll be another year older! :)

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love it | hate it

jesus. family. friends. music. football. the ohio state buckeyes. cleveland browns. sunset. sunrise. best friends. making out. being in love. pearls. sincerity. ruffels. books. sweet tea. coffee. pictures. road trips. songs. reading. country music. sex & the city. pda. my iphone. hugs. men. reality tv. driving. writing. milk. cocktails. fruit. music. art. freshley cut grass. concerts. crazy nights. romantic comedies. oliver. learning. photobooth. music. nsquared. scary movies. broccoli. my mustang. singing. fall. summer. big sunglasses. sugar free popsicles. music. kissing & telling. long islands. late/random nights. laying out. stilettos. traveling. girls nights out. being spontaneous. music. wine. going out/staying in. summer nights. running. fireworks. my mac book pro. creative suite 4. thunderstorms. fishing. marilyn monroe. music. the kind of friends you don't see all the time, but when you do it's as if nothing has changed. inside jokes. bonfires. all shades of blue. italian. did i mention music? laughing until i cry. life.

liars. cheaters. spiders. ex-boyfriends. incompetence. ignorance. mirror defaults. tests. wood paneling. brats. sleeping. going to bed. waking up. singing in public. break-ups. university of michigan. michigan fans. judgmental people. flavor flav. pittsburgh steelers. math. speeding tickets. losing people. early mornings. snow after christmas. being alone. school. winter. having everything planned out. being responsible. lifting weights. going to the doctor. closed minds. being organized. death.



(This is something I used to have on MySpace! Just another thing to help those of you who don't know me very well, get to know me better! Enjoy! I guess its a good thing my "love it" list is longer than my "hate it" list!)


One more thing before I go! Today is my friend Brockley James' birthday! He's 25 today and living in Jacksonville (he is playing for the Jaguars) with my best friend Haley! I miss them both so much! Hope you had a great day Brock! :)

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Bye Bye Bye

My friend Jenny & her husband Matt left today for Okinawa Japan. Matt is in the United States Airforce and that is where they are being stationed.. for 3 years. Man that's a long time! I will be 27 by the time they are moving (hopefully) back to the states! Crazy! Sunday night Jenny, Alicia and I hung out for the last time. At least for awhile! I know we'll see each other again, but its just so weird! When we said goodbye it didn't hit me that I wasn't going to be able to see Jenny for awhile! But I'm sad and I sure am going to miss her when all of us girls get together! It just won't be the same!

But Jenny-- I'm happy for you and Matt & I just want you two to be happy and safe! I love you so much and can't wait for you to come home for a visit! I miss you already! :)

On a different/happier note-- new look for the blog! I think I like this much better! Clean and simple with a little pop of color! haha :)

Love always,

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We will be held!

Hellooo! :)

I just got home from church & I'm waiting for Mom & Paul to get home so we can get some lunch & visit Grandma Shirley! Last night we went to the Natalie Grant concert! It was so good! Phil Stacey (the bald guy from American Idol a few seasons ago) & Britt Nicole were there as well! I had never heard of her but she was really good! They all were! It was awesome! I'm gonna share a post I made when I blogged a little over on Myspace! It's fitting since it's about one of Natalie Grant's songs... So enjoy! :)

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February 9, 2009
Held

A lot has been going on lately, & not the way I hoped it would. This song I'm about to share with you is one Corky & I liked to listen to after Jamie passed away, but it is also one I can relate to other areas of my life.

Life is not always going to go the way you want it to. No one ever promised it would be fair, they just promised it would be worth it. So often we feel we are being let down, & that God has forgotten all about us. "The promise was when everything fell, we'd be held."

That's just it. He doesn't promise us we will get the perfect job, the perfect husband, or even that the people we love will never leave us. What he does promise is that when hard times are among us we will be 'held' by him and he will never leave us.

Two months is too little
They let him go
They had no sudden healing
To think that providence
Would take a child from his mother
While she prays, is appalling
Who told us we'd be rescued
What has changed and
Why should we be saved from nightmares
We're asking why this happens to us
Who have died to live, it's unfair

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held

This hand is bitterness
We want to taste it and
Let the hatred numb our sorrows
The wise hand opens slowly
To lilies of the valley and tomorrow

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held

If hope is born of suffering
If this is only the beginning
Can we not wait, for one hour
Watching for our savior

This is what it means to be held
How it feels, when the sacred is torn from your life
And you survive
This is what it is to be loved and to know
That the promise was when everything fell
We'd be held

Song: Held
Artist: Natalie Grant

I hope everyone has a wonderful week & that your 2009 is off to a wonderful start!
Love Always,

Stephanie Nicole

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Invitation | Nathan Paul's 1st Birthday!

This invitation was really fun to do! I can't believe a year ago this little man came into our lives! He has changed so much since last March and it's been amazing to watch him grow! It has been so much fun being his aunt & he is a perfect little miracle! So happy birthday, Nathan Paul! :)

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the end is in sight!

geeze, i've been busy! winter quarter is finally coming to an end! i have one more final tomorrow morning & then i am done, done, done! ahhh! it feels great to be able to say that! & the best part about this quarter being over is that i actually passed all 5 classes! weeeee! :) one more quarter & i'll be graduating from the ohio state university! yayyyy! well i'm gonna go relax/possibly look over stuff for my exam tomorrow (i'm not too worried about it, should be easy!) just wanted to drop in and say hi!! so, hi! :)

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happy birthday haley alane!

Today is my beautiful friend Haley's 24th Birthday! Ahhh. It's happening one by one. I'm next! Noooo! :) haha This picture was at one of Haley's Halloween parties about 2 years ago! So fun! I miss Haley so much! She's now living in Jacksonville, Florida because Brockly is now playing for the Jaguars!! Go #44! But even though she's far away, her friendship still means so much to me & I don't know what I'd do without her! I know we'll always be friends no matter where we are in this world!!


Some reasons I love Haley:
1. She's so beautiful & doesn't even know it.
2. She's even more beautiful on the inside.
3. She is so silly & is always smiling.
4. She loves me even though she knows me.
5. Always there when I need her.

Hope you have a wonderful day Haley! I love & miss you!

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Business Card | Vote for LBV Designs New Business Card!

Hello Everyone!

I have been wanting to design some new business cards for La Bella Vita Designs & just have never gotten around to it. I still have business cards from when I first opened as SNC & CO (which by the way is an awful name! haha). But obviously, those are no good to me now! I'll be graduating in about 3 1/2 months so I really want to start putting some energy into this business! So, first step, business cards! Here are a few different versions, let me know which ones you like best!

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02


03


04 Front


04 Back

I'm still not sure which of these I'll choose (if any!) But I need your input! So just leave a comment under this post! Thanks guys! I appreciate it! :)

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happy birthday jennifer lynn!

Today is my wonderful friend Jenny's 24th birthday! Again, I'll say that it's crazy we're this old! (I will continue to say that every time I or a friend of mine turn another year older.) Recently every time I start to think about Jenny, I get sad. In just a few short weeks she and her husband Matt (whom I love by the way) will be moving to Okinawa, Japan. They are being stationed there by the United States Air Force. It's a really good/fun/exciting opportunity for them & I'm extremely happy for them but at the same time, I'm a little selfish. I love my friends & I want them all to stay near me!

Some reasons why I love Jennifer:
1. She's just as, if not more emotional than I am.
2. Her attitude! She gets what she wants!
3. Being so brave about moving to Japan!
4. She loves me even though she knows me.
5. Always there for me no matter what.

I love you & hope you have a wonderful day Jenny!!

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Business Card | Jamaica Run Chows

Crystal's Feedback: "You're amazing! I love it!"

Crystal is a returning customer. I previously did her business cards for her freelance makeup business. This time around I did her cards for her company, Jamaica Run Chows. You can purchase beautiful Chow pups from Crystal and her husband or just see how Peppy, their award winning Chow does in his competitions! Thanks Crystal!

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wrong baby wrong.

"Come on now, everyone falls down, Everyone crawls now and then, then they get up again, You cry if you want to, that's what we all do, But if you think you'll never move on, you're wrong baby wrong.."

That's Martina McBride's newest song & I just love it! It's talking about moving on from a relationship and that you'll love again someday! But I love the chorus of the song because it speaks to me in a different way! We all are going to go through tough times, but we're always gonna get back up (with the help of Jesus and of course good family & friends)! I've been stressed with school and money and I just have to know that its all going to work out! God will never give us anything we can't get through! I really believe this, so I'll make it through the storm! :)

Well last night I got a little less than 2 hrs of sleep so needless to say, I'm exhausted! Time for bed! Classes all day and then, it's the WEEKEND! Finally! :) Best friends are coming up too, so lots to look forward to!

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DIY | Fabric Flowers

Last Friday night I got into a creative mood & I convinced myself to brave the blizzard outside and drive to Joann Fabric! I had found a tutorial on how to make fabric flowers here over at Once Wed. They are showing you how to make garland out of fabric flowers but I wanted them to put on headbands like I did in the picture. I'm not sure what else I'll do with them, maybe put them on some pillows? Hmm, we shall see! I pretty much cleaned Joann's remnant area out though! I couldn't help but pick up every color when it was so cheap! Now I have mounds of fabric and no time to sew! Hopefully I'll get some free time this week so I can make more but it's week 9!! Yayyy! Only 2 more weeks of class & then finals week! Life is good! :) Welp, just thought I'd share my lovely flowers with y'all (again, whoever that may be! Mom? Jenny? :)

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March!

Did you know-- March is the only month that is a command?

Ha! I just saw that on someone's Facebook status' & thought it was cute! It's hard to believe that its already March! Geeze, 2010 is just flying by! & I'm ok with that. Or at least I will be until June. After June 13th (when I graduate) it'd be nice for time just to sloooow down. Yeah, that'd be great! Normally I can hardly take the excitement once March arrives. I'm usually preparing for a spring break trip to Mexico or some other fabulous place. Usually I have a concert to go to-- for some reason Kenny was always in my area around this time of year! & I'm also a March baby, only this year I will be turning 24 which I'm not too excited about. I'm not necessarily upset about it, just not particularly as excited as I have been in the past, that's all! So although I don't have any great plans for this March, I'm still hoping for the best! My little nephew is turning 1 on the 29th! This is a huge deal because he was a preemie that came 2 months early. (I was in Cabo San Lucas & had to come home early! Just in time to be there at the hospital. Which was good because it was a scary time for my sister Jana as well as Nathan Paul!) He was born only 2lbs 9oz! He was so tiny, but he's a fighter! He's grown so much! I just love that little guy & don't know what I'd do without him! :)

I think the weather is supposed to be warmer this week! I sure hope so! It has been so cold & I a so sick of snow! It has finally started to melt, thank goodness, it was brutal there for awhile!

{icicles on the side of my house in their early stages}

I wish I would have gotten some pictures when they got a little bigger! I have to walk by/under this every time I left or returned from class! It was scary! I'm so glad they finally melted! Well, I'm running late for class (of course!) so I gotta go! Have a blessed day! :)

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