Beautiful Curtains via Oh Happy Day

A few of you may remember when I swooned over these gorgeous curtains. Well, enough people commented about the curtains & luckily Jordan, the blogger behind Oh Happy Day, shared with everyone! She made them herself and said the fabric was called Hedge, it's Duralee and is designed by Thomas Paul. Now, I have searched and searched, but have yet to find this exact fabric. I have found something I think is very similar or maybe even the same fabric in different colors. What do you think? Is that the same fabric as in the photo? Anyway, I guess I should say that it doesn't really matter because it's $50 a yard & this little lady doesn't have that kind of cash to spend on fabric to use for the curtains in the house she doesn't own. Ah, but at least now we have an answer! :)

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Cyber Monday | The New Black Friday?

Photo via We Heart It

I personally had never even heard of Cyber Monday until this morning as I was on my way to work. As the day has gone on, this term has popped up a few more times! How have I not known about something so popular? The growing sales on the Monday following Black Friday are insane. I'm pretty sure I heard that they have surpassed that of Black Friday! But I guess what better way to shop for yourself loved ones than in the comfort of your own home with a great big cup of coffee? Ahh, sounds so nice right now as I sit behind my desk freezing my butt off!

Hope everyone had a fantastic holiday weekend! I know I did and I'm super sad to have seen the long weekend pass us by! But luckily it is less than a month until Christmas is upon us! My mother has already decked the halls and it's nice and cheery at the North residence! I love this time of year!

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Thanksgiving Crafts From Sweet Designs | Via Paisley Card Company

So, I know Thanksgiving is tomorrow (oh my gosh, I can't believe it), but I thought I'd share these cute Turkey Day crafts I found over at Sweet Designs. What an adorable yet very affordable way to decorate your Thanksgiving Day tables in a very festive way? Head on over to the Thanksgiving Crafty Roundup from Amy Atlas and check out even more lovely ideas!

I mean seriously, how cute is this turkey?? :)

Hope everyone has a wonderful Thanksgiving with loved ones!

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Basement Remodel from All Things I love (via Road Called Life)

How gorgeous is this basement? I absolutely love the floral wall paper on the accent wall and how lovely is that gray paint? Normally, I stay clear of neutrals such as beige, tan, and yes even grays - but this room is perfection! It's so stylish and chic and still is a place I can see myself relaxing! Too often people create beautiful rooms but they don't seem like a place that people would actually want to hang out. I don't know about you, but in my house I want every room to have a purpose and be a place that is welcoming to everyone who enters! Becky from All Things I Love did just that! Check out more photos from her basement redo - the pictures are gorgeous!

 I'm in serious need of a house to decorate! Help! :)

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Birth Announcement | Avery Alane

I'm so excited to finally be sharing these baby announcements! They were so fun because not only are the subject/photos darling, but its my good friends Haley & Brock new addition to their family. I'm so happy for them and so excited to be an aunt again! I've been visiting them this weekend in Jacksonville and it's been so fun to hold little miss Avery. If you think she's adorable in these pictures, you should see her in person! She's perfect!

These were double-sided baby announcements with a glossy finish.
Photos by Jaiden Photography 

The back of the baby announcement:

Congratulations again, Haley & Brock!

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Thankfulness | Today I Am Thankful For...

MY JOB.

I know I complain a lot about it, but today I am thankful for it! Did I ever think I would be working as a paralegal? H - E - Double Hockey Sticks, No! But nonetheless, here I am (I'm actually writing this while at work - another reason I'm thankful for my job). There are so many people out there right now who are being laid off and who are unable to find employment. Thankfully, I am not one of those people. I have a job I work at everyday, and although it's not my dream job, (owning my own stationery + invitations shop) I know I can't get to my dream job unless I have some money. I won't have any money if I don't work. So again, here I am! Thankful for a job that puts money in my bank account, let's me take trips to visit my friends (leaving tomorrow), and also gives me a little time to sneak online to blog! I sure am lucky! I don't know about you guys, but can you believe Thanksgiving is next Thursday? Geeze, I sure am ready for the good home cookin'! Have a great Hump Day everybody! :)

Image via We Heart It

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Custom Calligraphy | Paperfinger

I can not say enough how much I love everything from paperfinger. I stumbled across this shop today & I just had to share! I am definitely thinking about ordering one of their custom return address stamps. How cute would that be to finish up Paisley Card Co packaging? I blogged about custom return stamps before on my personal blog. I think maybe I should take the plunge and just buy one!

I absolutely adore this seating chart she did for a wedding. I've seen the "destination tables" idea used before but personal touch this particular chart adds is amazing. It's details like this that will take your event to the next level!

Check out more of them here: paperfinger | blog

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Haiti | I'm Going Back!

I can't believe I have yet to share this little bit huge, amazing news with you! Well, most of you reading this already know, but I haven't blogged about it yet & so here we are! I'M GOING BACK TO HAITI! I can. not. even. begin to describe how happy this makes me! I always knew I would go back, I just had no clue I would actually get the opportunity to go back so soon! We will be leaving December 28th and returning January 4th - 2011 I might add! What's that mean folks? I get to cross off another task from my 101 in 1001 list! I will be spending NYE in another country - Prosper, Haiti with the most happy people I've ever been around! I don't know about you, but that sounds awesome to me!

Every year I get so excited for NYE and I always want it to be special or different. The truth is, although I always have fun, its normally not any different than any other night out on the town! I'm excited to be doing something meaningful while bringing in a new year. I won't have to worry about dressing up or where I'm going to go for the night. I think this will be a perfect start to 2011 and will get me on the right track for the new year!

I'm so excited to see all the kiddos! I've missed them so much! I'm terrified that a child, or anyone really, that I met while I was there will have passed away. It's hard to survive there and 50% of the children die before the age of 5. With all the news about Cholera and the tropical storm it's hard not to worry! I just don't think I'll never forgive myself if something happened to one of them in the short time I was gone! I know in reality there is nothing I could have done, but I will just feel guilty for have leaving them! Ahh, I can't think about that right now - no crying at work! Just please say lots of prayers for my friends in Prosper!

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Just Remember:

Photo via We Heart It
How true that is! Just thought I'd take a moment & say how thankful I am for my life and the people in it! God takes way too good of care of me - I am far from worthy! Thank goodness he has unconditional love for us, or else I'd be in trouble - we all would! :) Hope everyone has an amazing week and has a moment to stop & remember to be thankful!

P.S. Today, I am thankful for a 3.5 day work week! Leaving to visit Haley, Brock, & Avery Alane Thursday evening with Alicia! Can't wait :) It will be nice to get away. Another thing I'm thankful for? A 3 day work week next week as well! Yayyy holdiays! :)

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Thankfulness | 10 Things I'm Thankful For

Image via We Heart It

Finally, it's Friday! Well, actually the weeks go by pretty fast but by Friday I am so ready for it. Monday through Wenesday I do OK working, but once Thursday hits I can hardly stand it! Anyhow, it's the weekend and I'm excited to relax, have some fun, & possibly get a few things checked off my neverending "to do list"!

Anyway, it's November & I had planned on sharing something I'm thankful for each and every day of the month! Clearly, I have slacked big time so in an effort to catch up, I'm going to share 10 things today!! Enjoy!

1. It's Friday and I get to spend time with my family & friends.
2. I have a job. I know I complain about it but there are many who are unwillingly unemployed!
3. I booked my flight and I am leaving for Florida next Friday to meet Avery Alane!
4. I had a big ol' cup of coffee this morning with lots & lots o' pumpkin spice creamer! Yum!
5. Wed night we threw a little surprise dinner for Lindsay & it was so great to see everyone!
6. I am leaving to go back to Haiti in 46 days!
7. I have the sweetest puppy on earth!
8. I have finally changed my business name to one I love & that I think everyone else will too! 
9. My sweet grandparents. They came over for dinner this week & I just love them so much! :)
10. I have had an awesome 2010 & can't wait to finish out the year with more fun!

Hope everyone has an awesome weekend! :)

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happy birthday | lindz marie

 2008 | LP Field | Titans v Packers

Today, is my wonderful friend, Lindsay's 25th birthday! I can't believe I just said that! How is it even possible we are this old! It seems like yesterday we were just talking about boys in 8th grade Home Ec! Shew! Lindz and I are vastly different but we have always been really close. She knows how to handle my moods and she loves me even though she knows me. I know I can count on her to always be there!

Last night I threw sort of a surprise party for Lindsay. (When you're poor these are the things you must do - be creative!) Lindz thought just her and I were going to get a bite to eat at El Rancho Grande, but little did she know I had a group of our friends there waiting for us when we arrived! Lindz threw a curve ball at me though! While I was on my way home from work she texted me saying she didn't really want Mexican and asked if we could just order a pizza? Ahh! I just pulled the selfish card and told her that I really was craving some queso & chips! She of course went along with it and obviously understood once the surprise was unveiled! I also had her very own pizza there waiting for her too (thanks for picking it up Alicia!) so it turned out pretty good! The best part is, she was surprised! :)

Happy Birthday Lindsay! Love you! :)

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Thankfulness | Today I Am Thankful For...

Photo via.

Veterans. I've been meaning to post at least one thing I am thankful for every day in this month of November. So far I have obviously failed, but what better day to start than today! There are not enough words to explain how thankful I am for the men and women who have served, are serving, and will serve this country. It's amazing the sacrifices they and their families make. What would our country be like without these brave individuals! I don't know about you, but I certainly do not want to find out! So, again thank you to all the veterans for all you have done! You're amazing!

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Invitation | MVTLA Holiday Dinner

These are the invitations I designed for the Miami Valley Trial Lawyers Association's (such a mouthful) holiday dinner! I'm in charge of planning it at work and after taking a look at past years invites, yuck (think - Times New Roman, printed on printer paper..), I decided to create these! Luckily, the boss was please and I got to send them out!

Don't forget to email paisleycardco[at]gmail[dot]com to place your order for your holiday party invitations or greeting cards! :)

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Avery's Baby Blanket

Yay! I finally finished! Avery's blanket is finally complete, sent, and with her now! This project was pretty simple but for some reason it was hard for me to find the time to sit down and sew! When I was shopping for the fabric I instantly fell in love with the floral pattern! It was so fun, cute, and girly! Avery's room is yellow and green with a little pink so the blanket fits in great! I love the ruffled edge of course - we all know my love of ruffles! And I added a little piece of me with a stitched signature on the back! Hopefully the blanket holds up and its something Avery will have for a very long time! I love that little girl to pieces and can't wait to hold her! :)

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Introducing | Avery Alane

Photo by Jaiden Photography

I can't believe this little bundle of joy is finally here! I also can't believe that I'm just now blogging about it! Avery Alane was born on October 21st to my wonderful friends Brock & Haley Bolen! It feels like yesterday I got the text of the ultrasound saying, "Hi Auntie! I can't wait to meet you!" She was 8 lbs and 6 oz! How adorable are her newborn photos? This is probably my favorite, but it was definitely hard to narrow it down! Here's another fave:

Photo by Jaiden Photography

Ah! I can't wait to meet her and give her lots of Aunt Stephy kisses! Hopefully that will be in two weeks! Alicia and I are trying to make it down & guess what extra little perk comes with this trip? Tickets to the Jaguars vs Browns game! Of course at this game I will be wearing black & teal! You know I love my Brownies but I have to support my friend! Go #44!

Here is a gorgeous one of the new little family!

Photo by Jaiden Photography
It's so crazy to believe that Haley & Brock are parents, although I know they're going to do wonderful jobs! I'm so happy and proud of them! Such an exciting time in their lives! I made little Avery a baby blanket! I'll be sharing that in a few days and I just know you're going to be mucho impressed with it! :)

Hope everyone has an amazing week! :)

P.S. I designed Avery's baby announcements! I'll of course be sharing those soon! :)

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Curtain Envy | Oh Happy Day

Oh, how I love these curtains. I saw them over at Oh Happy Day. She was actually sharing the magazine she had on her nightstand, but I didn't care anything about that once I laid eyes on these! I went to leave a comment asking where these curtains are from and saw that about 13 other people had already beat me to it! Here's hoping she shares where these beauties came from!

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Introducing | Paisley Card Company

Well. I've done it again! Those of you who are reading this probably know that when I started my little business venture back in 2009, I named myself SNC & CO. Not too sure why I thought that would be a good name, but nonetheless that's what it was called. And so it was changed rather quickly to La Bella Vita Designs. I really liked still like the name but I wanted to change it for a number of reasons. For one, it was too long. In my opinion business names and dot coms should be as short as possible. It's easier for people to remember that way! LBVD was also hard for people to say. It's Italian, and although I think it's pretty simple to say, I noticed friends and family stuttering from time to time when talking about it! That of course, isn't good!

I want my company to have a name that is simple to say, easy for people to remember, and I also wanted it to be relatively short. No one likes a long dot com! Paisley Card Company fits all of that! I love paisley and again, while I was in college, I had to design a logo using my initials. I made the S and C from my initials into paisley! So, I also like the fact that a little part of me is working into the logo!

So that's it. That's why I'm changing my name again, for the final time. I am now the Paisley Card Company (www.paisleycardco.com). Ah, I love it. And I hope you do too! I'm looking forward to taking the next step in really taking my business to the next level!

Thanks to all my friends and family for your never ending support! I love you!

Head on over to Paisley Card Company to check out a few new things!

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Christmas Card | 'Tis the Season

It's never too early to start thinking about the Christmas cards you'll be sending out for the upcoming holiday season! Order your custom Christmas cards today and check back for pre-made options as well!

Single-Sided Holiday Cards -

25 Custom Holiday Cards | $40

Includes shipping, envelopes & free glossy finish.

50 Custom Holiday Cards | $50

Includes shipping, envelopes & free glossy finish.

Send an email to paisleycardco[at]gmail[dot]com to place your order!

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In the Studio | Introducing Paisley Card Company

In case you haven't noticed, I've made a little change around here. Again. And for the last time, no matter what. I promise!

As some of you know when I started this little venture back in 2009 I was named SNC & Co. Why I thought that would be a good name, I'm not quite sure, but obviously that didn't last very long.

In comes La Bella Vita Designs. I was taking some Italian courses in college and thought the phrase la bella vita (the beautiful life) was so pretty. I actually really liked (and still liked) the name La Bella Vita Designs but I've decided it's just not working, for a couple of reasons.

1. The name is too long.
2. It's hard for people to say.
3. It's hard for people to remember.

I want my company to have a name that is simple to say, easy for people to remember, and I also wanted it to be relatively short. No one likes a long dot com! Paisley Card Company fits all of that! I love paisley and again, while I was in college, I had to design a logo using my initials. I made the S and C from my initials into paisley! So, I also like the fact that a little part of me is working into the logo!

So that's it. That's why I'm changing my name again, for the final time. I am now the Paisley Card Company (www.paisleycardco.com). Ah, I love it. And I hope you do too! I'm looking forward to taking the next step in really taking my business to the next level!

Thanks to all my friends and family for your never ending support! I love you!

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happy birthday | daddy

Today is my Dad's birthday and because it's so close to Halloween I thought I'd share a photo from my 3rd Halloween, I believe! I just love all the pictures I have of my dad and I on Halloween. I love that he always dressed up with me! I know a huge reason why I love to go all out for holidays is because of him and the extra effort he put into them to make them special for me!

Happy Birthday Daddy!  I love you! :)

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Why Men Are Never Depressed

This is from an email I got and I thought it was funny, so I thought I'd share with you! :)

What do you expect from such simple creatures?

Your last name stays put.
The garage is all yours.
Wedding plans take care of themselves.
Chocolate is just another snack.
You can wear a white T-shirt to a water park.
You can wear NO shirt to a water park.
Car mechanics tell you the truth.
The world is your urinal.
You never have to drive to another gas station restroom because this on is just too icky.
You don't have to stop and think of which way to turn a nut on a bolt.
Same work, more pay.
Wrinkles add character.
Wedding dress $5,000. Tux rental $100.
People never stare at your chest when you're talking to them.
New shoes don't cut, blister, or mangle your feet.
One mood all the time.

Phone conversations are over in 30 seconds flat.

You know stuff about tanks.
A five-day vacation requires only one suitcase.
You can open all your own jars.
You get extra credit for the slightest act of thoughtfulness.
If someone forgets to invite you, he or she can still be your friend.
Your underwear is $8.95 for a three-pack.
Three pairs of shoes are more than enough.
You almost never have strap problems in public.
You are unable to see wrinkles in your clothes.
Everything on your face stays its original color.
The same hairstyle lasts for years, maybe decades.
You only have to shave your face and neck.
You can play with toys all your life.
One wallet and one pair of shoes -- one color for all seasons.
You can wear shorts no matter how your legs look.
You can 'do' your nails with a pocket knife.
You have freedom of choice concerning growing a mustache.
You can do Christmas shopping for 25 relatives on December 24 in 25 minutes.
No wonder men are happier.

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Hello November

Ok, sorry. I have to say it! How in the world is it already November 1st?? This year is absolutely flying by. I'm actually a little sad this year is just about over. Just 2 more months, that I'm sure will fly by like the past 10 have, and it will be 2011. Crazy, is all I have to say! I've been working and I just haven't really had as much time to blog and design as I would like to. Hopefully that will change soon! I hope everyone has a great week! :)

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