Truly Noted

Tonight In The Studio

2012-01-31T18:04:00.000-08:00

I am just loving taking pics with my iPod Touch! The filters and effects are so fun to play with.

A very productive evenings in the studio. Lots of beautiful invitations going out in the mail tomorrow! I love it when everyone is quiet and I have time to just get down to business. Now I just need to stop ignoring my taxes and put some of my energy into that little task....

Etsy Crush | Modern Keepsake

2012-01-24T06:12:00.000-08:00

Oak Tree Guestbook Print -Modern Keepsake

Wow, it's been a while since I have done an Etsy Crush post, but I assure you that it is not because of lack of time spent on Etsy browsing amazing products. I think I <3 a new item (or two or three) every single day. Between the newsletters and the front page spread I see every time I log in, and seeing what everyone in my circle is bookmarking too. Well, let's just say I have many pages of favorite shops.

Recently, while looking for wedding inspiration, I came across this gorgeous oak tree print by Modern Keepsake. I love anything involving trees and this idea is right up my alley. Instead of getting the traditional guest book that will inevitably end up at the bottom of some box in your attic, why not get a beautiful, personalized piece of art that your guests can sign?

I am a little sad I did not know about this when I got married. We did the oversized matte that people signed and then we used to frame our favorite photo from our wedding, which was a pretty popular choice back then (and still is). But I love the fine art vibe of doing something like this instead, especially if you put it in a big, decorative frame like they show it in the picture. It would be a perfect focal piece in a living room, dining room, or really any room.

I would definitely get the teal color (in case you didn't guess).

Modern Keepsake also offers lots of other personalized modern art prints and unique ideas for guest books for all occasions. The Finger Print Guest Book is another of my favorites, as well as the Custom Canvas Wedding Prints.

For What It's Worth

2012-01-23T07:32:00.000-08:00

One of the hardest lessons I have had to learn in working for myself is to place a value on my time and skill, and then stick to it. It's not that I undervalue the work that I do, but more an issue of fear. Fear that if I tell customers this is how much it costs to buy my products, they might decide to go somewhere else. Fear that they will not believe in the value of my product, or in the value of me.

Combine that fear with my desire to please everyone and it's a recipe for, well, not a very successful business. In the beginning, when I was doing this in my spare time and I had a full-time job (and a full-time paycheck) it didn't seem as important to me. I was just starting out, getting my feet wet, learning the ropes and building a clientele. The brides I met, and worked with, were so sweet and sincere. Honest about their budgets and so I waved fees, changed prices, and essentially worked for free to give them the invitations of their dreams.

It was very generous of me, but I am running a business, not an invitation charity. Being honest with myself about that was hard to admit, because it meant looking at the fear I felt in my heart, staring right at it and saying 'Yes, I am worth it'.

I think that most creative professionals struggle with this concept at some point in their career. Putting a value on yourself is an exercise in self-awareness that makes most modest and humble people a little uncomfortable. But if I don't believe in my value, how can I expect my customers to? And if I change my prices or bend the rules to make my work more affordable for someone, what does that say about that belief? That it wavers? That it's not important?

All of this self-reflection has come at a price. It took feeling overwhelmed and frustrated to the point of having a good, therapeutic cry late one night last week. It took pushing me to my breaking point, knowing that I was spreading myself too thin and not doing a great job at any one particular facet of my life. My wonderfully supportive husband kindly pointed out the the source of my anxiety was probably the fact that I was doing too much work for free. That my time is precious and limited and I was feeling frustrated at not being paid what I know I am worth.

So this last week has been an exercise in sticking to my guns. Not doing more than I should without being paid, without requesting some sort of commitment on the side of the customer. Being honest about my prices and feeling confident about them. It was so freeing. I knew that every minute I spent working last week was worth it. It wasn't perfect, but I am getting there. I know I still have some other aspects of my business to refine and update to better align with my vision for Truly Noted, but it was a great start. I have a really good feeling about 2012.

Vermont Bride Military Wedding Giveaway

2012-01-07T12:23:00.000-08:00

Click image to view larger.

Something I have wanted to do for a while is figure out a way for Truly Noted to give back to the community. That is why I am so excited to finally announce our participation in the Vermont Bride Military Wedding Giveaway! This amazing giveaway is for a complete wedding package to be awarded to one deserving military couple. There are so many great local vendors participating and Jackie of VT Enchanted Events is doing all of the planning and coordination so you know it will be beautifully done.

The wedding will be held on September 2, 2012 at the charming ye olde England Inne in Stowe. Here is a list of the local talent lending their services and expertise to make it unforgettable:

Bear Pond Productions | Videography
Barbara Graham Buzzi | Officiant
Green Mountain Photo Booth | Photo Booth
Jay View Wedding Flowers | Wedding Party and Bride and Groom Flowers
Jamie Norse | Groom's Cake
Polis Photography | Ceremony and Reception Photography
Sarah's Weddings by Betty's Flower Basket | Centerpieces
SuperSounds DJ Co | DJ
Sweet Crunch Bake Shop | Wedding Cake
Truly Noted | Invitations
Uncle George's Flowers | Ceremony Flowers
VT Enchanted Events | Planning and Coordination
Weddings, Tents & Events | Linens
Ye Olde England Inne | Reception Venue & Catering

To enter simply tell us your love story and why you deserve to be the lucky couple to win this fabulous event! You can read the contest rules and enter on the Vermont Bride Magazine website. Entries are only accepted until April 1st so don't delay and send us your story today!

Organizing with Style

2012-01-02T07:49:00.000-08:00

I love the minimalist look of this office space. If my desk is ever this clean I will be shocked.

With so many hats to juggle in my daily life I have come to realize that organization is key. The more organized I am the more efficiently I can work and the more stuff on my to-do list actually gets done. So I was super excited when I went to Staples this past weekend and found the newly launched Martha Stewart Office line.

I love Martha Stewart and I am not afraid to admit it. My friends and family often refer to me as 'Martha Stewart' and I can never really tell if it is a compliment or a snark, but in my opinion Martha is a genius. She teamed up with Avery (another brand I love) to create a whole line of tools to organize your home and business office. I had a hard time not buying absolutely everything, but I took a few minutes to evaluate each product and chose the things that I thought I would really, honestly use.

I ended up with the Dry Erase Weekly Planner which is an oversized weekly planner that sticks right onto your wall (or your fridge or wherever you want it). You can re-position it and it uses a dry-erase marker so you just wipe it off at the end of the week to start over. I love the idea of the monthly planners that go on the top of your desk but I don't have the desk space for it, so this is the perfect solution. I also got a blank Dry Erase decal with a pretty ornate frame that will be perfect for writing notes or inspirational quotes.

I also got two File Pockets that adhere to the wall as well. I have been wanting to get rid of my ugly, black plastic tiered filing tray for a while. It just gets cluttered up with junk I don't want to take the time to put away and then my bills and receipts pile up in a separate stack on top of my desk. I am hoping that by eliminating the tray and giving myself an out of the way place to stash those bills and receipts that I will be more motivated to keep the top of my desk clear of clutter.

They have a limited selection of the new line on the Staples website, but supposedly there will be more available online soon.

The other amazingly gorgeous organizational tool I bought for myself is the Emily Ley Simplified Planner. I have tried other planners before and was never good at keeping up with it, but I also never really had to use one. With the amount of things I find myself forgetting lately (the brain can only hold so much info) I really need to start doing something. I follow Emily's blog and when she debuted her new planner last week I was practically swooning. Since Emily is a mother and small-business owner herself it promises to be engineered for women just like me. I love the personalized monogram on the front and I, of course, got the teal one.

I am actually giddy with anticipation for it to arrive!

Operation 'Organize' is going on all this week and I plan on posting pics when everything is complete! How are you organizing your new year?

Dreamin' and Hopin' and Wishin' and Doin'

2011-12-29T12:50:00.000-08:00

Mountain sunrise photo from here

As 2011 comes to a close I have been doing a lot thinking, brainstorming, planning - as in my brain actually hurts and you might find me staring blankly off into space at any given moment. There is so much in my heart right now just trying to bust out and I have been working on figuring out how to make that happen. Because, as it turns out, just because you are on fire about something doesn't make it easier to obtain.

This past year has been full of change for me. I decided to leave my job to stay at home with Eli and pursue Truly Noted full time. There have been so many ups and downs since then, including an anxiety inducing August and September with virtually no sales, and I think I learned a lot. I have always subscribed to the idea that as long as you learn something, every trial is worth it. Throughout all of it, though I have tried my hardest to keep my thoughts on the reason for it all. The awesome rewards of being able to be with my son and experience every little milestone along with him. To give him all of the nurturing, love and attention he deserves.

So what if that means I had to give up cable, a fancy cell phone and going out to dinner? Who has time for that stuff anyway? Especially when you are working your little behind off trying to grow your business into something awesome. Something greater than you ever thought it could be. Something to give me pride, joy, fulfillment and a decent paycheck.

And I really did work my behind off and I did make progress. I did have more sales than 2010. More sales than I ever have had before. I created new designs. I launched a new website. I forged new friendships and partnerships. It wasn't perfect, but it was in the right direction. And I learned so much.

I was also inspired by some pretty amazing people. Other women who intimidated me at first. Who made me want to go back to bed, crawl into a ball and cry about how lame I was. But I wouldn't let myself. Sure, I might have had a pang in my heart of jealousy towards their awesomeness, but then I let it inspire me. I let it fuel the fire inside of my soul that wants to achieve all of my dreams. And then some. I read what they believe, what they do, who they are and I tried to learn from them.

Then I reminded myself that they were once where I am now. They didn't start out ridiculously successful and awesome. Once upon a time they were just girls sitting at a computer with an idea and $2 to their name just like me. They had jobs that they risked leaving to pursue their dreams just like me. They had fears and made mistakes and questioned themselves just like me. But they pushed on and worked hard and eventually made it through to the other side. Just like I am going to do.

So, 2012, I have a lot in store for you. A lot of goals. Some of them might sound crazy and unachievable, but if you shoot for the moon and miss at least you end up in the stars. In the next year I hope to accomplish some amazing things, such as:

Get Truly Noted set up as an LLC
Trademark the Truly Noted name
Sign at least two wholesale accounts in Vermont to carry my invitations
Forge a relationship with area venues to carry my event stationery line
Attend at least one seminar or conference geared towards stationery or wedding professionals
Get to the point where I can pay myself a regular paycheck each month
Expand the Truly Noted product line
Teach DIY Invitation classes in my area
Be able to afford to send Eli to daycare two days a week (I really need this!)
Blog at least twice a week
Tweet at least once a day
Update Facebook at least once a day
Hit 500 sales in my Etsy store

So there you have it. My goals for the new year. There are a few other, personal goals I have as well just to spice it up. I used to think, when I first started out on this business owning journey, that my goal was just to be able to afford staying home with my kids. If I could make just enough to pay the bills and stay home that would be enough. I didn't want to push it, to try and have my cake and eat it too. But now I realize that I am capable of doing so much more than that and I shouldn't try to limit my expectations of myself. I am looking to the new year like the sunrise in the picture at the top of this post. Beautiful, breathtaking and amazingly large.

Merry Christmas

2011-12-23T09:12:00.000-08:00

A very special project I have been working on for the last several weeks has reminded me just how precious family is. How, as we grow up, it is easy to forget the simple joys of togetherness and unconditional love from our youth. Whether your family is parents and siblings, or friends and neighbors, I urge you to recognize the blessing they are to your life and take a moment to cherish them.

All too quickly this too will pass and the future will be upon us. Don't let the simple beauty of this moment slip by unnoticed.

I wish you all a wonderful holiday that is unforgettable.

Real Weddings | Kim & Shane

2011-12-21T14:31:00.000-08:00

Earlier this year I had the pleasure of working on invitations for a lakeside wedding featuring our rowboat illustration. One of my favorite and beautifully simplistic designs. The bride, Kim Grassie, works at Etsy so it came as no surprise when the most recent Etsy Weddings e-newsletter arrived in my inbox and her wedding was featured!

I get so much joy out of seeing pictures from clients weddings. Being the invitation designer my work is usually done and over with weeks before the wedding even takes place, so I rarely get a glimpse into them. Kim and Shane's lakeside ceremony and reception in Wisconsin is absolutely idyllic! And I love that Kim worked with so many Etsy artists to make her wedding special.

Check out more about Kim and Shane's wedding on the Etsy blog.

Savvy Couples Wedding Solutions

2011-12-16T09:32:00.000-08:00

I am so excited to announce my participation in the Savvy Couples Wedding Solutions seminar series! This seminar series was put together by Jackie Watson at VT Enchanted Events and Nick de Tarnowsky of Blue Sky Weddings & Events to help couples plan their perfect dream day! They understood that not all couples can afford to hire a wedding planner but still could use some tips and tricks on how to navigate all of the different aspects of planning such a huge (and momentous!) occasion.

When they asked me to be a guest speaker to talk about invitations I leaped at the chance! I have been wanting to offer seminars on invitations, especially DIY, for a while now but just didn't have the venue for it. There will be a series of four seminars and I plan on bringing lots of resources and inspiration to help you on your way to making your wedding stationery dreams come true.

If you are planning a wedding and can make it to the Hilton Hotel in Burlington on January 22, from 1-3 pm, please join us for an amazing afternoon! There will be a drawing for a romance package for two and a sampling of some local Vermont wine, not to mention tons of info and a chance to ask us all your burning questions!

You can register for the event on VT Enchanted Events website, here. Can't wait to see you there!

Golden Autumn Leaves Invitation Design

2011-11-01T13:50:00.000-07:00

One of the best things I ever did was to join an online group consisting entirely of stationery business owners. Working from home by myself can be very isolating at times {E doesn't have any appreciation for fine papers except to try and eat them} and the inspiration and support I receive from the wonderful community on Let's Talk Stationery is priceless.

In fact I think that whatever your passion or profession is it is a good idea to see if there is an online forum dedicated to that particular activity. It is amazing to me what kind of forums there are out there on the world wide web- my husband belongs to one that is specifically for owners of his particular make and model of car. Yes, he is a geek- probably why we are perfect for each other :-)

Anyway, I digress - recently a fellow member of LTS suggested a monthly design challenge where we are given certain perameters to design around and at the end of the month everyone posts photos of their creations. I love that kind of thing so I was super excited to complete our first challenge- like three weeks ago. I am a little bit of an overachiever if you haven't guessed that yet.

This months design challenge was to use leaves and the color gold. Fall being in full swing for the month of October there was tons of inspiration all around me. I happened to have some beautiful bronze metallic cardstock from Envelopments laying around and I decided to give it an organic feel with a kraft paper envelope. Some super shiny vellum became an envelope liner and a simple illustration of delicately layered fall leaves completed my vision.

I am pretty excited with how it all turned out and can't wait for next months challenge! Oh, and in case you are wondering, this design will definitely be making it's way into my Signature collection soon.

Wedding Video Love | Lola Video & Film

2011-10-25T17:35:00.000-07:00

Film by Lola Video & Film found via Style Me Pretty

I am just swooning over this gorgeous wedding video I saw on Style Me Pretty today. Shot in Super 8mm, it has a vintage, grainy texture that I find so alluring. It is a perfect format for the location and ambiance of the wedding. Speaking of which, you should really check out all of the lovely pictures on SMP.

I love the song playing too, but can't figure out who it is, so if you know please tell!

First Birthday | Teddy Bear Picnic

2011-10-19T07:33:00.000-07:00

The Teddy Bear Picnic invitation is now part of my Signature line!

Well this post has been a little delayed in the making- funny how life has a way of speeding up just as things are getting good! We celebrated Eli's first birthday back in September and I wanted to share these pics of all the goodies I put together.

During his first year I tried my darndest to have a mini photoshoot every month, including these adorable shots of E with his giant teddy bear. I love the idea of watching him change in size with the ever constant bear in the background. Of course the older he got the less he wanted to sit still for the shots, but I managed to get 10 out of 12 months!

The cupcake toppers- we had chocolate devils food and apple spice cupcakes- yum!

I knew I wanted to incorporate the photos into his party and thus the idea of a Teddy Bear Picnic themed party was born. I lucked out and it was a beautiful, sunny and warm weekend - perfect for having a picnic in the backyard. I gathered up all of the quilts and blankets I could find and made sure to instruct guests to bring their teddy bears to the party.

Yummy Ham, Cheddar and Apple sandwiches and my favorite pic of Eli from the day.

With a limited budget I found the picnic idea to be perfect for easy to make and easy on the wallet food choices. I whipped up a couple of tasty sandwich options on mini rolls and made a homemade pasta salad the night before. Paired with some bags of goldfish crackers (E's favorite), apples and cupcakes for dessert it made a perfect casual lunch.

For the kiddies I just put out juice boxes which were easy for them to carry around outside. But for the adults I mixed up some Papa and Mama Bear Juice, being careful to label it such so no one was confused which juice was for whom. For favors I took a pinwheel and attached it to a bottle of bubbles which I labeled with custom stickers that went along with the theme.

I made this banner following this tutorial from the Moda Bake Shop

A few years ago I made a homemade Happy Birthday banner for my nephew and its blue, white and red color scheme went perfectly with E's party too! I got some red gingham fabric at Walmart and put it over a plain white tablecloth for the buffet table. And of course, as I mentioned in a previous post, I had my super awesome cupcake stand from All Custom Gifts on Etsy.

Gah! Can you believe how cute those plaid pants are!?

And of course I had to create a little wall display for the teddy bear pics chronicling E's growth over the year. It was a wonderful day and even though E looked at us like we were crazy when we sang him Happy Birthday I think he had a pretty good time, too.

Check out E's party recap on Catch My Party too!

Vermont Bride Gala

2011-10-14T08:12:00.000-07:00

Gorgeous shot of the entrance to the barn.

Last Sunday I had the pleasure of participating in the Vermont Bride Gala at Boyden Valley Winery. It was a gorgeous blue skied afternoon and the foliage was just starting to hit peak colors.

I had never been inside the barn at Boyden Valley before {although I am very familiar with their wine!} and it was gorgeous! I only wish that it had been available for events when Matt and I were married- which was five years ago today!

So it is fitting for me to share these wonderful photos of this fabulous event that took place in a barn, on the anniversary of my own fabulous event that took place in a barn.

Bold and hip sitting area arranged by Vermont Tent Company

It was a smaller bridal show, but the wow factor was not at all diminished. All of the vendors that were there brought it in spades. Gorgeous colors and textures. Delicious smells and mood pumping music. The theme of the day was Alice in Wonderland and everyone did an amazing job of making that them resonate throughout the day.

Here is a pic I took of my table, right inside the door as the guest's arrived and across from the wonderful Fiori Bridal. My position couldn't have been better and I met many charming couples and their families. Of course every baby that walked by me I had to google at and I probably mentioned 'I have a one year old at home...' a dozen times. That's motherhood for ya!

The deep red and purple color scheme on this table done by Vermont Tent Company was very striking.

This tablescape was done by Vermont Tents and Events and also featured Gold Vellum Menus and White Rabbit Placecards from Truly Noted. I love the teacup flower arrangements and I am stealing the idea for my niece's 1st birthday party {which will also be Alice in Wonderland themed}.

Close-up of the Gold Vellum Menus and White Rabbit Placecards.

Loved this display of tasty cakes by BakeAria

Overall it was a spectacular event and a beautiful Fall day. Can't wait to participate in next year's Gala!

Real Weddings | Amanda & Reid

2011-09-30T08:34:00.000-07:00

Last weekend I had the pleasure of attending my friends Amanda and Reid's wedding in Cornelius, North Carolina. It also was my first weekend away without a tiny toddler in tow. Bliss is pretty much the perfect word to describe both events.

Reid and Amanda moved up to Burlington, Vermont a few years ago but shortly after becoming engaged, they decided to head back to their home state of North Carolina. We were sad to see them go but excited for the excuse to travel down south for their nuptials. While there for our whirlwind weekend we were more than happy to take advantage of the (much) warmer weather and the amazing authentic Mexican food that Reid and Amanda were constantly pining for in the Green Mountain State.

Their wedding was beautiful and many of the details were DIY'd by the bride and groom and their friends and families. The ceremony itself took place in Jettison Park in a peaceful clearing of trees called The Formal Garden. I loved the chalkboard signs that were handwritten directing guests on their way. They played a theme throughout the wedding day. I especially liked the idea of the chalkboard sign detailing the wedding party, propped against a wooden chair with a bouquet of flowers casually laying on it's seat.

A delicate arbor was constructed from branches, potted flowers and a lovely crocheted lace throw. It's ivory color against the woodsy backdrop gave the setting a vintage, old-world feel. We all gathered in friendly clusters around the arbor, something I had never encountered at a wedding before, which gave it a homey, informal feel. Everything from the color of the bridesmaid's dresses to the soft guitar accompaniment created an earthy, bohemian feel to the event.

That earthy, bohemain feel carried over to the reception, which took place at the home of the Groom's parents. Right on the shore of Lake Norman, the setting could not have been any prettier. We arrived right at sunset, just in time for me to snap some shots of the view and table settings. Each table had a cluster of glass jars containing flowers that the Bride and her Aunt purchased at the flower market in Charlotte the day before. Heirloom crocheted throws warmed up the standard white linen tablecloths and echoed the feel of the arbor from the ceremony.

When Amanda asked me to design her wedding invitations she had a clear vision of what she wanted. She knew that the reception would have charming cafe lights strung under the tent and so she wanted to play up that element in the design. I loved the warm glow that the cafe lights lent to the reception- it is definitely becoming a popular choice for adding charm and an old-world feel.

The reception was labeled 'heavy hors d'oeuvres and lawn party' so there were lots of tasty treats for guest's to help themselves to, in addition to some passed goodies. The chalkboard signs came in to play with the different tables set-up for self service. I loved the row of drink dispensers, each with it's own sign telling you what it contained. Of course there was the southern favorites of 'Sweet Tea' and 'Lemonade'. The cupcakes were almost too lovely to eat. I said 'almost' :-)

Overall the wedding was simple and elegant, charming and casual, filled with warmth and sentiment. The perfect beginning for Reid and Amanda's new life together.

An Apple Orchard Afternoon

2011-09-21T06:44:00.000-07:00

One of my greatest pleasures in being a wedding stationer is helping my friends and family realize their vision for a perfect wedding. So when my younger sister became engaged earlier this year I couldn't wait to get started on all of her wedding stationery (and any other wedding details she was kind enough to seek my advice on)!

This past weekend while she and her fiancé (and my adorable niece Lucy) were visiting for Eli's birthday party, we decided to take advantage of the beautiful weather and take their engagement photos. I consider myself an amateur photographer, even though many have encouraged me to pursue it as a source of income. There are so many wonderful professional photogs out there that I can't imagine throwing myself in with them, but it is nice to be able to take some decent photos without having to spend a lot of money.

My sister used to dream of having her wedding in an apple orchard, but in the end they decided on an ocean side affair with a lobster theme (can't wait to share all of the details as they unfold!). But I thought that the apple orchard idea could still work for their engagement photos, so off we went in search of one. Of course all you have to do is spit in Vermont and you will hit an apple orchard so we didn't have to go far. The first place we went to check out was a family run orchard that my husband and I had gone to many years ago in our early years of dating. The couple that own the orchard had long given up offering their apples to the public, but they were more than willing to allow us to take some photos amongst their overgrown trees.

I made 'Mr,' and 'Future Mrs.' signs for them to hold for some of the shots and the sun was gorgeous through the leaves. Many of the trees were practically falling over with all of their fruit and despite Lucy's protesting we managed to get some nice shots.

After I was done taking their photos my sister was kind enough to take some shots of us, too :-)

From Birth to Boy

2011-09-13T19:25:00.000-07:00

One year ago today I lay in a hospital room, exhausted, sore and so in love. It was the worst and best day of my life all wrapped into one and I would go through it all again to have Eli in the end.

My life has changed in so many ways in the last year I could never express it all in words. There have been a lot of tears and a lot of hard decisions but there was also a lot of laughter and heart-swelling happiness. Even though my heart is heavy at times with worry about the future I do not regret the sacrifices I made to to spend this precious time with him. It was so worth it.

When I look at the photo above I can hardly believe that it has only been a year, and yet it seemed to go by so fast at the same time. Everyone tells me that the years will start to fly by and I have to admit that I hold onto the childish wish that they are wrong and I will be able to savor every moment.

Pin Of The Week

2011-09-06T17:07:00.000-07:00

Crayon Art As-Seen-On Whatever

Have you heard of Pinterest yet? It is the latest internet bookmarking craze going on right now. I seriously can't get enough of it and I have been seeing some other blogs doing a weekly cap of their favorite pins and never one to pass up a fad I decided I need to jump on this bandwagon before it passes me by.

So enter the new Truly Noted Pin Of The Week series. I dont think I "pin" enough to do a whole round-up of items, but one super awesome thing I pinned sounds just right for me (don't want to go overboard- and it is so easy to do). This week I decided on this super colorful and bright crayon artwork idea which I totally love and hope to recreate at some point in the future (maybe when E is old enough to appreciate it and join in on the fun).

That is what is so great about Pinterest- you can catalog all of the cool inspirations and how-to's you run across on the internetz and hang on to them in one place- categorized however you like even. And other people can see your pins and if they like them they can re-pin them to their own boards and thus the virus is formed. I have to say it is a little ego-boost when I get those little emails saying so-and-so has re-pinned my pin. It reaffirms that maybe I really do have good taste!

Not on Pinterest yet? Send me a note for an invite to join!

Etsy Crush | Letters 4 Lilly

2011-08-31T14:07:00.000-07:00

Button Bouquet by Letters 4 Lilly

I am totally loving this new trend of bouquets made up of something other than flowers. I fell in love with the felt flower craze and now I am seeing gorgeous creations made out of broaches and buttons.

What a wonderful momento to be able to keep from your wedding (and a lot less messy than dried flowers). There are tons of beautiful and unique options on Etsy, but this one made out of buttons from Letters 4 Lilly really caught my eye.

Etsy Crush | All Custom Gifts

2011-08-25T15:23:00.000-07:00

Eli's first birthday is only two weeks away! Gah! In between crying my eyes out and being in shock I have been planning his party. I am a believer that kid's birthday parties should be simple and low key, especially the first (I mean he isn't even going to remember it!), but at the same time I love to throw parties.

I love an excuse to be creative with decorations and create cute little favors, color coordinate place settings, put together a kick-ass playlist, and cook up some yummy food for my friends and family. So far I think I have managed to keep things more on the sweet and simple side. The theme is Teddy Bear Picnic and I plan to put together some simple picnic-y food, throw some blankets on the ground and give out simple homemade chocolate chip cookies as favors (with adorable coordinating stickers of course).

One of the things I had my heart set on was cupcakes. I love cupcakes and I desperately wanted an excuse to create cupcake toppers with the cute teddy bear from E's invites (more on those later). So I decided it was the perfect time to finally buy a cupcake tower. I have wanted one of these for as long as cupcakes have been 'in'. But I had a hard time finding just the right one. I wanted it to be reusable, tasteful and more on the plain side so that I could use it for lots of different themes (I love for my parties to have themes).

Flower Cupcake Stand by All Custom Gifts

Enter the amazing Flower Cupcake Stand from All Custom Gifts on Etsy. As soon as I saw it I knew it was the cupcake stand for me. I was totally blown away when I read that they are made from PVC material. How could something from the hardware store look so cute an chic?? I love that it's clean white, geometric design will easily go from a child's birthday party to a stylish bridal shower and back again.

Now all I need to do is buy some picnic baskets, print the cupcake toppers, bake some cookies, wash all my blankets, assemble mini sandwiches............

Grace Not Perfection

2011-08-23T05:31:00.000-07:00

Grace Not Perfection by Emily Ley

Wearing a lot of hats can be overwhelming and lately I feel as though I am wearing some pretty heavy hats and not necessarily doing an awesome job in any of them. Trying to be the best mommy possible to E, work on building my business to the point I can pay myself what I was making before at my 'real' job, being a caring and loving wife to my hubby - these are just a few of the 'hats' I feel like I wear on a daily basis.

I have always been a perfectionist (my friends and family lovingly refer to me as 'Martha Stewart') and I also have a knack for playing down my accomplishments and success. Despite my wonderfully supportive husband's best efforts I always have an 'I could've done it better' attitude. I suppose that this is good to some extent as it drives me to ever improve myself, but it can also make me feel stressed out more often then is probably healthy.

But I can not go on this way. Although it might push me forward, constantly beating myself up for not being 'perfect' takes all of the sweetness out of the things I have accomplished. And I have to remember that it is ok to be proud of what I have done. And if I don't get everything done in the day that I wanted to, or a customer doesn't like the design I made for her, or business slows down and I hit a lull - it's going to be all right.

Another invitation designer that I find a lot of inspiration from recently posted about this very subject on her blog. She challenged herself to a standard of grace instead of perfection. To me this means do the best you can and be content that you put your best effort forward, even though it might not be perfect. Because no one is perfect, everyone makes mistakes and hits road blocks, but you can't let that get in the way of your passion and fire to move forward and try, try again.

Download the 'Grace Not Perfection' image here.

Summer Flies By

2011-08-19T07:36:00.000-07:00

Ice Cream Social Birthday Party Invite

It seems like just yesterday Spring was just starting to unravel it's fragile fingers and then suddenly August was halfway over. Time seems to fly by fast each year and this Summer went in record time. Now all I see on TV are ads for Back To School sales and previews for this Falls new sitcoms.

Summer is Wedding Season and this was by far my best yet. Of course I contribute a lot of that to the fact that I was working at building my business full-time and devoting all of my spare moments to designing, marketing, printing, cutting...etc. I learned a lot, my business grew and I am finally feeling settled into this new routine.

There is still a lot to do and finding the time proves harder than 'before baby', but I wouldn't change a thing. I recently designed the invitations for Eli's 1st birthday party, a mere month away. I am in shock that it came so soon and yet it seems like light years ago that I was pregnant, waddling around my house hoping and wishing that today would be the day our little boy would make his appearance. Now he is close to walking, eats spaghetti and is obsessed with climbing stairs. I was warned and yet so unprepared!

Balloon and Banner Birthday Invitation

Planning his birthday party has sparked a few new invitation designs which I am happy to add to my Baby and Kids section. I am hoping this is just the beginning of many children themed stationery items I will add to my shop in the coming months. Now that I hired a dear friend to help me with the website re-design I am feeling more confident (and less stressed!) that it will get done sometime this year.

Jammin'

2011-07-14T05:21:00.001-07:00

Wedding season is in full swing which means there are not enough hours in the day! My office has been jammin' the last few weeks with invitation orders and some other fun stuff, like these darling jam labels.

Of course all work and no play makes for a boring Summer, so I have been doing a lot of traveling to show off my little (or not so little!) bundle of cuteness who has suddenly morphed into more of a little boy! It breaks my heart a little to see him grow up so fast, but watching him grow is awesome and oh so rewarding.

Some exciting things going on and coming up:

Check out my article in the newest issue of Vermont Bride Magazine! I will be contributing a little something in each issue to help with all of your invitation questions and quandaries.

Truly Noted just signed on to be a part of the 2nd Annual Vermont Bride Gala. I am so excited to be a part of this event! It is going to be at Boyden Farm and the theme this year is Alice In Wonderland. Unlike other wedding shows, this one involves each vendor to help bring the theme to life. I have been dreaming up all kinds of fun Wonderland inspired stationery items!

Hopefully coming soon- a new website for Truly Noted! In between invitation mock-ups I have been plugging away at a new web layout that will feature a cleaner, more streamlined look. And of course some new invitation designs! I have tweaked the Truly Noted logo a bit, too, which is going live on my Facebook today!

Hope you are all enjoying this fabulous Summer weather and maybe when the season starts to wind down I might find a little more time to do some blogging! ;-)

Oh, hello there!

2011-06-17T11:02:00.000-07:00

Despite my lack of blogging lately, I am indeed still here. Not only am I here, I am officially working my butt off. I figured being a work-at-home-mom would be a big job, but I never figured on working harder than I ever have in my whole life. And yet, I love every single moment of it!

Each day whizzes by and each morning comes too soon. Some days it is a struggle to get down to my office and do much more than stay barely on top of the projects I have already. Then there is the occasional afternoon where inspiration strikes just right and I manage to whip up a few more designs for the Etsy shop.

My goal was to have 50 things for sale in my Etsy store, and I am excited to say that as of today I have a total of 60! Now I have the goal of going through and getting rid of some old designs that no one seems interested in and reviving others. Gotta keep it fresh!

Here is a sampling of some of the new stuff in the Truly Noted shop.

This Tree On A Hill design reminds me of the view out my front door. Majestic, yet somehow soft looking mountains on the horizon and a lush tree that makes you feel like there is a breeze even if there isn't one. The colors I picked are some of my favorites, but I think this would look dynamite in a few other Summer and Fall color combos as well.

I have done a few skyline invitations in the past and have wanted to add a line of them to my shop for a while. This is the first in a series of simple and classy cityscape designs I hope to introduce over the next month or so. I love the idea of a wedding in the big city, with the bustle and the grand buildings adding to the excitement and buzz in the air! Boston is a city I have visited many times and the old-fashioned banner illustration seems to fit the feeling there.

I have also been trying to add more Baby Shower invitations to the mix. Wedding season has been so busy that this area of my shop sort of sat on the back burner for a few weeks. But I want to really try and pump up this portion of the shop, as well as start adding in birthday party invitations to the mix. I just finished a few new baby shower designs and this Red Umbrella design is my favorite! I love umbrellas and I love the bright red and navy combination. It's modern and sweet with just a touch of humor. I think this design would also work for a bridal shower as well!

So that is what I have been up to the last few weeks. Hopefully I will have time to post some more new designs soon! Or you can just check out the shop. ;-)

Orange You Glad It's Summer?

2011-06-05T04:46:00.001-07:00

I recently had the honor of being included in a wedding inspiration photo shoot featuring some of the area's top talent. Kathleen of North Photography and Merriam of The Little Purple Cake Shoppe hatched the idea over cupcakes and set out to gather all of the necessary details to make it amazing.

The orange and lime theme is fresh and colorful- perfect for a Summer wedding on the lake! I love all the light and airy details plus the antique touches that add just the right amount of romance. Hints of teal make the orange and lime really pop and adds just enough contrast for a truly gorgeous setting.

But enough talk and on to the photos! But first, here is a list of all the area professionals that were involved:

The Little Purple Cake Shoppe

Just Weddings Floral Design

Fiori Bridal Boutique

Truly Noted Stationary

The Grand Isle Lake House

North Photography

The shoot took place at The Grand Isle Lake House in Grand Isle. It is a beautiful spot overlooking the lake. Set away from the nearest town it is a serene and peaceful location. It also offers rooms for your guests to stay in and booking the entire Inn is definitely the way to go and offers you the most bang for your buck. My Brother-In-Law was married here a few Summers ago and I can say it was one of the most memorable weddings I have ever attended!

I designed a pocketfold style invitation for the shoot, but it is not your traditional pocketfold. I took a patterned pocket and adhered it to the inside of a folded invite. I love the bright green floral pattern with the hints of orange and the faded, antique illustration with the bride and groom's names.

Gorgeous floral bouquet (and all other flowers) were done by Just Weddings Floral Design. The teal and lace wrap really make this bouquet special.

Dress and shoes provided by Fiori Bridal (my favorite wedding dress shop). The necklace and earrings were custom made by Fiori as well- something I never knew they offered, but what a fabulous service!

These gorgeous cake jars from The Little Purple Cake Shop look so yummy! I also designed a menu for the place settings.

I love the idea of using oranges (or any kind of fruit or vegetable) for the name cards. I cut these leaves out of metallic paper and they are attached with colorful pins. Such an easy and fresh way to make your tables special.

Fun, custom labels hung off of the cake jars.

Merriam and I collaborated for the Bride and Groom signs. I created the frame and name part and she painted the wooden signs for them to go on. I love the ribbon and floral touches!

Etsy Crush | Recycled Ideas

2011-04-19T16:09:00.000-07:00

Plantable Birch Tree Leaves by Recycled Ideas

Eco-weddings are becoming more and more popular as we realize the impact every facet of our lives has on the environment. Couples have an increasingly large selection of eco-friendly products to choose from and products like these plantable paper birch leaves make it easy to make the jump to being 'green'.

From Etsy shop Recycled Ideas, these charming plantables also come in flower and heart shapes, among many other unique offerings, and are full of flower seeds such as poppy, cosmos and black eyed susans. I am particularly drawn to the leaves pictured above and think they would make lovely favors for a nature themed wedding. Or string them onto a large branch and invite guests to write good wishes for the happy couple. Then after you read through them they can be recycled in the backyard for a beautiful display every Spring to remind you of your special day.

Etsy Crush | Mystery & Manners

2011-04-12T14:21:00.000-07:00

Custom set of necklaces by Mystery & Manners

Every bride spends countless hours coordinating all aspects of their wedding day, but sometimes it's the small details that get overlooked that make the biggest impact. Specifically I am talking about accessories. I spent a long time finding just the perfect earrings to wear at my own wedding, but I totally spaced on what my Maid of Honor would wear. Thankfully my Mother-in-law was paying attention and dug up some treasures from her jewelry stash to complete her ensemble.

But her jewelry didn't really match mine- not even close. And if my wedding party had included more bridesmaids what would they have done? We spend so much time thinking about the dresses that I think it's easy to overlook jewelry or assume that your bridesmaids will accessorize themselves.

This beautiful wedding set by Mystery & Manners on Etsy would be perfect for a larger wedding party. It could serve as your bridesmaid gifts as well as give everyone that cohesive, polished look. I love the gorgeous shade of turquoise paired with the creamy pearls and clear crystals in this set, but since you are probably not Leah you should contact Mystery & Manners directly so they can do a custom order for your wedding party.

Cristina & Jeffrey | Invitation Booklets

2011-04-11T11:31:00.000-07:00

Things have been pretty busy over here in the studio. I have been working hard at finding new ways to connect with customers and re-evaluating where I spend my advertising dollars. It has been exciting and rewarding, and hopefully it will be producing real results soon!

One of my bigger project over the last couple of weeks are these beautiful booklet invitations I did for a charming Maine couple, Cristina and Jeffrey. They were married in a traditional ceremony in Scotland, in the ruins of Jeffrey's ancient Scottish clan's castle. How romantic! Now they are having a celebration in the states for their family and friends.

To fill everyone in on their Scottish nuptials and all the other details, they opted for a five page booklet, bound by brass eyelets. The pages are staggered so you can see the title indicating what you can find on each page. And the last page is a tear-out RSVP post card.

They were very fun to put design and put together! I even got to buy a fun new tool since they are the first booklet style invitation I have created. Looking forward to making more of these beauties in the future.

Etsy Crush | My Mom's Knitting

2011-03-19T04:45:00.000-07:00

Crocodile Green Special Knitting Handbag by My Mom's Knitting

This morning was my turn to get up with the baby so my husband could sleep in. At 6:40 'the alarm' went off and by 7 I was browsing the front page of Etsy and there, staring me in the face was this gorgeous purse by My Mom's Knitting.

Of course it's green, and you know me and green. This would be the perfect Spring accessory- warm and cozy knit to ward off the chilly Spring air (I am in VT after all), but a nice lush green to remind me of where the season is going. Love that polka dot ribbon too.

St. Patty's Day Coasters

2011-03-14T17:45:00.000-07:00

Well, despite my printer's best efforts I am happy to be able to bring you Truly Noted's first free download! I have wanted to start offering fun free downloads for a while so look for more in the future.

Being Irish St. Patrick's Day has always been a holiday that made me feel special. Having red hair, blue eyes and freckles, people tend to gravitate to me with comments and good cheer all day long. And since green is my favorite color I am just a shoe-in!

But being Irish also means most people peg me as a big beer drinker, and while I do enjoy a tasty micro-brew now and then I tend to be a wine-o and skip the hops and barley for the most part. Whether you are drinking green beer or root beer this St. Patrick's Day, make sure to place a festive coaster beneath your glass!

I have created four coasters, each with a different Irish 'blessing' on them. All you have to do is download the free art file, print on some cardstock, and then cut out with your choice of tool. I used a circle cutter and I tried scissors as well. The circle cutter was definitely better at making a smoother circle, but the scissors might be easier for those not familiar with the circle cutter. You could also use a craft knife or x-acto knife.

Whatever way you cut it, I hope you enjoy my first free download!

Etsy Crush | Crafts2Cherish

2011-03-10T07:42:00.000-08:00

Mexican Felted Floral Necklace by Crafts2Cherish

I love felted flowers. Someday I might learn how to make them, when I have some spare time. I hear they are super easy, but they look so intricate! This bright and cheerful Mexican Felted Floral Necklace from Crafts2Cherish is right up my alley. It makes me want to book a flight to Hawaii so I have somewhere tropical to wear it.

Save The Date

2011-03-08T06:07:00.000-08:00

Save The Date Necklace, Noah's Ark Creations

Check out this unique way to memorialize your special date in a beautiful Save The Date Necklace from Noah's Ark Creations on Etsy. Whether you just picked your date or you got married years ago, this is a stunning way to always remember that moment in time.

It's not just for wedding dates either- birthday's, a special anniversary, any date that has a special meaning. Check out the other items available from Noah's Ark Creations on their Etsy shop.

Snow Day

2011-03-07T11:37:00.000-08:00

'Bluster' by Etsy seller bomobob

We are officially buried in over here in Jericho (and most of northern Vermont). 24" in the last day and the snow is still coming! I guess I posted my Spring inspiration board a little too soon. {sigh} You just never know with March in New England. In like a lion is fairly accurate, I'd say.

But, it has given me the opportunity to hunker down in my office and do some designing. What I love best, of course. Nothing like a little snow day to give you the perfect excuse to not go anywhere and bury your nose in something creative.

Here is a sneak peak of what I am working on.

Under The Birch Trees | Inspiration Board

2011-03-04T17:46:00.000-08:00

This weekend it is supposed to get into the forties here in Vermont and, honestly, it couldn't come soon enough. To say that I am over the Winter weather would not come close to how much I am yearning for warm, sunny skies and some soft green grass.

So it comes as no surprise that most of my inspiration these days is coming from images of lush, springy greens and the warm glow of a Summer sunset.

Clockwise from top left: Pretty Birdie's Hemp Silk Layer Dress by stephanieteague, Personalized Tall Birch Vase by braggingbags, Mason Jar Lanterns by treasureagain, Urban Picnic Roll-up by NstarStudio, Wood Heart Sign by braggingbags, Customized Barn Wood Wedding Sign by ShandrasCreations, Handmade Birch Bark and Moss Baskets by NHWoodsCreations

Pretty as a Pastry

2011-03-02T08:18:00.000-08:00

You may have noticed things look a little different today! I spent a couple of hours last night re-doing the blog with a little help from Powered by Pastries, which I just discovered the other day. I was so excited to stumble across this amazing collection of blogger design tips and free templates since it seems that Rainy Day Templates is not available right now (my original plan for sprucing up this little blog o' mine).

I downloaded the 'Strawberry Shortcake' template and made a couple of changes. Still working on some more design tweaks- probably play around with the header image and I want to add a nav bar underneath. But it is a start!

Garden of Love

2011-03-01T17:50:00.001-08:00

Today, while waiting in line at the post office, I spotted a poster with the 2011 stamps on them. These ones, called 'Garden of Love', really caught my eye. I actually think I like them better than the 'Wedding' ones and since they are the 'forever' stamps I will have to stock up!

Available in May they feature the artwork of Jose Ortega. Just gorgeous. Find out more info here!

Etsy Crush - Emilie Friday's Calligraphy

2011-02-28T06:50:00.000-08:00

Steinway Style Calligraphy Return Address Stamp - amililies

I have been lusting after this address stamp for quite some time. What a pretty way to make all of your correspondence just a little more special. If I had only known about this when I was creating my own wedding invitations - it would have saved me a lot of hand cramps!

Risks & Rewards

2011-02-25T07:29:00.000-08:00

I just read this in the latest edition of 'Quit Your Day Job' on Etsy...

"...what I really love is that the risks and the rewards are all ours. Not everything is going to be perfect, but the opportunities we discover and the challenges we face are because of decisions we make. Feeling that type of ownership over what you do each day is liberating." -Shauna, Etsy shop somethingshidinghere

This is exactly how I feel. And today marks the beginning as I just gave my two-week notice at work this morning. So I can't go back now!

The Best Laid Plans

2011-02-23T10:48:00.000-08:00

Poster by Etsy seller KeepCalmPosters

I had so many plans, to-do lists, ideas, aspirations....but none of them could stand up to ~~THE PLAUGE~~ the horrible virus I just had. Six beautiful days off in a row, and most of them were spent on the couch. Or rocking a sick baby. Or caring for my equally ill husband.

As horrible as it was I am finding the positive in our plight. At least I already had the days off and I didn't have to stay home from work and lose any pay. At least I had the choice to stay home and care for my baby and I didn't have to drag him to daycare to infect all of the other little babes. And through my fever and pain many things became apparent to me.

1. I hate bringing my baby to daycare (already knew this to some extent) and allowing him to be exposed to heinous germs that make him sick more days than he is well.

2. Being sick for two weeks out of every month doesn't make my job seem very worth it. Especially once you deduct the expenses of doctor's visits and medicine, not to mention the emotional toll it took on both my husband and myself.

3. Having a baby that is always sick is sad. It makes me cry. And then when you get sick and have to care for the sick baby as well you realize what is important to you. And for me that is having a baby who is healthy and happy (at least more days than he is not).

4. I think that whole line about daycare and getting sick being 'good' for babies is totally blown out of context. Yes, exposing your baby to other people and germs is good for building their immune system. Much preferable to keeping him indoors all the time and never letting him see the light of day. Being horribly sick more days than not? Having ear infection after ear infection after ear infection? No, I don't believe that is good for a 5 month old baby. Or anyone, for that matter.

5. It's time for me to act on my heart and do what I know is best for my family.

So I didn't get to post 20 new designs in my Etsy store. Nor did I balance my business checking account and clean my office. My new contacts interested in having a Pampered Chef party did not get called and my house did not get cleaned. But I made a decision- a big one - and I am really excited to start the new chapter of my life.

Be Still My Heart

2011-02-14T10:30:00.000-08:00

Blue and Green Heart Pillow from Etsy seller bexcaliber

My heart has been doing funny things lately. It is sometimes so full it feels like it might burst. But then it will ache with a wanting I have never felt before. And then some days it burns with frustration and a feeling of helplessness I can't seem to shake.

There are so many emotions and thoughts going through my mind and heart right now I have no idea what direction to go in.

The love I have for my new baby boy is unlike any love I have ever known. All I want to do is snuggle him and kiss his cheeks. Hear him laugh and giggle and cuddle him next to me as long as he will sit still (which is getting less and less with each passing day). He has changed everything about who I am in his short five months of life.

Suddenly my priorities are completely different and all I feel is a need to change. To change who I am, or rather change back to who I was a long time ago. Someone who was softer. Someone who had dreams and wouldn't compromise. Someone who valued friendship and love above all else.

All of the things I thought I 'needed' in life suddenly seem trivial and childish. A waste of effort and energy. How did I get so off track? Or rather, how did I end up on the wrong one? Did I know myself so little?

Eli has made me open my eyes to who I truly am, who I truly want to be, and what I truly want to make a priority in my life. But now I am at a loss on how to get to that point. I am making changes, slowly. To my thinking, to my routine. But the bigger items I am not sure how to tackle.

There are so many things I want to have time for but time seems to be sparse these days. With my regular job, my Truly Noted business, my new Pampered Chef business, and the regular every day things that need to be done, I really have no idea how I do anything to completion.

I need to de-clutter my life- but how? I need my job to pay the bills (and even then it is a stretch). I need the businesses to hopefully make enough to off-set the job so I can eventually leave it. So do I just need to bear with it for now? How can I be assured there is a sunny ending? That all of this work and sacrifice will be worth it?

And I refuse to sacrifice any time I have to be with my baby. It is all for him, but I don't want to miss anything in these early days.

How does anybody make this work and come out the other end intact?

It's been a long, long time...

2010-11-10T11:48:00.000-08:00

Well it's actually only been a couple of months, but it feels like years since I last posted! There have been some exciting changes going on for me both personally and professionally and I am so happy to finally be back to blogging.

Of course the biggest (and best) change has been the introduction of my little man, Elijah. He made his appearance on September 13th after what seemed like the longest pregnancy EVER. Here is his birth announcement that I designed (before I actually gave birth- always good to plan ahead!).

Aside from all things baby I have also just finished designing the new Truly Noted website! I am so excited to finally have this project up and running. There are lots of new signature invitation designs that you can purchase straight off of the website. I also added a new Baby & Kids section where you can find fun items like the Owl Birth Announcement I did for Eli.

Now that I have my new website, new baby, and my Etsy store back up and running I am super excited to see what the future holds!

Giveaway Winner!

2010-07-26T09:42:00.000-07:00

And the winner is (chosen by random.org)...........

Commenter #35 - Simonka

Congrats and thanks to everyone who entered!

Vermont Etsy Street Team Giveaway!

2010-07-11T08:17:00.000-07:00

Even though things are winding down for me as I prepare for our new bundle of joy, I didn't want to pass up the opportunity to host a give away for the Made In Vermont Etsy Street Team!

So from July 12-15 you can enter to win a set of Custom Note Cards from Truly Noted! You get 10 beautifully printed note cards made with thick linen textured cardstock complete with matching lined envelopes. I will customize them with whatever name you like, or if you would prefer a message such as 'Thank You' I can do that as well.

They come nicely packaged in a box tied with ribbon so they are perfect for a gift if you choose to get them for someone else. Or enjoy them for yourself and never be without a pretty card to send to a friend!

There are four ways to enter:

1. Leave a comment on this post.

2. Leave a comment on the Made In Vermont Etsy Street Team blog.

3. Become a fan of the Made In Vermont Etsy Street Team on Facebook (leave a comment here letting me know that you did).

4. Tweet about this giveaway or the Made In Vermont Etsy Street Team (leave a comment here letting me know when you tweeted).

The winner will be announced here and on the Made In Vermont Etsy Street Team blog on Monday July 26th!

Great Guest Book Idea

2010-06-07T08:00:00.001-07:00

Just found this great guest book idea on Chookooloonks (found via Design Mom). So creative and fun!

Good Things Come To Those That Wait

2010-05-14T05:56:00.000-07:00

{Image from the long thread}

Waiting for something truly momentous is quite exhausting. Or maybe it's the whole gestating-a-baby thing that is exhausting? Either way, I knew I wasn't going to be able to continue making invitations right up until I go into labor. But when to stop?

I finally decided to do it in stages. Starting this week I put up a sort of 'out of office' notice on my website explaining that I will no longer be taking any custom orders. Couples can still order invites off of my Etsy store until the end of July, when I will cease invitation creation until after the little one has arrived and we have a handle on things. (Does anyone ever feel like they have a handle on a newborn baby?)

But hopefully all of this free time will help me get my new website up and running for when I return. I have so many ideas and designs swimming around in my head, and I haven't had a lot of extra time to work on them. Time is definitely the secret ingredient for making a business thrive and I need to make more of it.

If I ever figure that out how to do that, I will let you know. :-)

Amazing Wedding Video

2010-04-30T11:24:00.001-07:00

You simply must check out this amazing wedding video I spied on Snippet & Ink today. Absolutely breathtaking!

Neda + Sati "A Marriage of Two Cultures" from Cherish Films on Vimeo.

Get Paid to Honeymoon

2010-03-30T08:35:00.000-07:00

Yeah, that sounds pretty awesome, doesn't it??? Well if you agree then you might want to check out how to win the best job in the world. Apparently Runaway Bride and Groom (an Irish travel agency) is looking for a couple to send all over the world to test out hot honeymoon destinations. Yeah, that's right, you would get paid to lay around on a sun soaked beach and sip exotic cocktails in your honeymoon villa with ocean views.

All you have to do to enter is tell them why you think Ireland is the perfect destination for your wedding- easy peasy! If I wasn't about to have a baby in five months I would totally be applying for this job! But since I probably wouldn't fit their criteria for an ideal candidate, I am letting you know so maybe you can win it! (and I can live vicariously though you, okay?)

I am still here! I promise!

2010-03-05T07:40:00.000-08:00

Photo by Ariana Falerni of Becoming Mom

Wow- it has been two months since my last blog post. I have no idea how that happened- well I do have my theories- but that is no excuse!

First off, let me explain the cuteness that is above. I will be having one of those in early September. Holy crap. I still can't believe it! My husband and I have wanted this for a while and it was a long and sometimes frustrating road that led us here, but we are oh so glad we made it.

So, I have been very tired. More tired than I have ever been in my life. And sick. Oh man, the nausea. Which I suppose if I were to have some excuse for my lack of blogging those are pretty good ones. Oh, and I am growing a baby. That is a lot of work, people!

But I have still been making invitations. Actually a lot of invitations, which is awesome! I have so much updating to do and so many things to fill you in on. But its like getting back on a bike after years of not riding. I wasn't exactly sure how to start so now that I am back I am hopeful that it will come to me like an old friend and become a habit of my weekly life again.

Set The Tone

2010-01-15T12:17:00.000-08:00

Check out this great post on Bridepop.com about some great non-traditional options for what song to walk down the aisle to. I am particularly fond of the Mark Mothersbaugh, “Mothersbaugh’s Canon” idea! I love The Royal Tenenbaums. There are even links to download their suggestions!

Found via Kirtsy

Gorgeous Etsy Wedding Gown

2010-01-11T08:25:00.000-08:00

Just came across this swoon-worthy wedding gown on Etsy. And at $700 it's quite a bargain! Made by yourfairytalewedding.

Welcome 2010

2010-01-05T13:02:00.000-08:00

Ah! A new year! A clean slate! I love starting off fresh and I hope that this year is going to be full of changes- all good- and getting stuff done. Here are some of the things I have lined up so far in my New Year To Do List:

1. Revamp the Truly Noted website, including new design and adding the ability to buy invitations and goodies right off my site! (this is my number one goal this year).

2. Get a new design for the Truly Noted blog- I am looking at designs by Rainy Day Templates. Particularly this one!

3. A super secret surprise that is blowing my mind right now, and I can't wait to share with everyone!

4. Get a hold on keeping tabs on my business expenses and what-not. This is something I struggle with A LOT. I just want to do the fun part of owning a business, not keep track of sales and consumables!

5. This is a biggie. I want to be able to drop down to part-time at my 'real job' by the end of the year and focus on Truly Noted being more of an income and less of a hobby. Which might have a little something to do with #3! ;-)

So that's it- my very ambitious to-do list. Here's to 2010 and all of the great things that are in store for us.

Oh, and by the way, check out the cool free Twitter backgrounds by illustrator Nate Williams! Which reminds me, I might have to add 'Twitter more often than once a month' to my to-do list...

We Interrupt This Lack Of Blogging To Bring You

2009-12-21T07:46:00.001-08:00

Ridiculously adorable gingerbread houses perched on hot chocolate mugs! I mean seriously, I need to make these right. now. Except my Christmas craftiness is just about out and with the big day only four days away what is a girl to do?

I guess I will just have to file these away for next year and hope I remember in time. So many projects! I just might have to start around Halloween to really get it all done...

'A tiny gingerbread house made to perch on your mug' brought to you by Not Martha

I am still here, promise.

2009-12-16T07:36:00.000-08:00

Has it really been nearly a month since my last blog post? Wow, it certainly hasn't felt like that long to me! I have been busy, to say the least. Lots of people inquiring about wedding invitations, which is awesome! Lots of last minute projects at work to get done before the new year, not so awesome. And of course getting geared up for Christmas! (my personal favorite holiday)

So, hopefully as the holidays wind down I will find myself with lots of spare time to blog away. With the temps getting down into the single digits here already, I won't want to spend much time running around outside anyway.

In the meantime check out a shout-out to all the Vermont Etsy artisans on All Things Simple. Lots of great shops to bookmark!

100 Posts! And A Special Offer

2009-11-19T07:45:00.000-08:00

Today marks my 100 post! I can't believe I made it! There were times I wondered if I could really keep up blogging on a regular basis (and still times where I find it hard to fit it in). But I have really made it, and it feels so good.

I hope there will be lots more, and my goal is to do more than 100 posts next year! Keeping my fingers crossed I will have more time in the New Year to devote to Truly Noted and blogging.

In the meantime, head over to Before The Big Day for some special deals (including one from little ol' me!).

Glitter, Glitz and Glam

2009-11-11T07:27:00.000-08:00

{a glimpse of my table at the show}

The VT Vows Wedding Affair last Saturday was amazing! The theme was Marie Antoinette, which I wasn't sure how they would pull off, but basically it looked like we were on a set from the movie. Pink, glitter, glam, and more pink covered everything at the Coach Barn at Shelburne Farms. People dressed in period dress waltzed and walked through the aisles while a musician played the piano in the front room. There was a fasion show, a cigar lounge for the boys, and champagne and martinis for everyone (that was of age, that is)!

{top: the goodie bags that each bride got to take home- worth over $100! middle: the make-your-own candy apple bar, bottom: the make-your-own potpourri bar}

It was a great crowd and everyone seemed to be having a great time. No one left hungry or without ample inspiration for their big day. I wish I could have taken more photos, but since I had to attend to my table it was hard to get very many. Here are some of my faves from the evening.

{clockwise from top left: a fanciful cake from one of the vendors, a bright pink pom-pom, an array of colorful vintage dishes on display, the spa room, a sparkly 'dream' sign greets the guests as they arrive}

Wedding Affair Winner!

2009-11-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

I will email the winner to figure out all the details! Thanks everyone for entering and I hope to see you all at the show on Saturday!

Let It Snow!

2009-11-05T05:40:00.001-08:00

***Time is running out to enter the giveaway for 2 FREE TICKETS to the VT Vows Wedding Affair this Saturday! So enter now!***

I just finished working on a new snowflake design! It occurred to me that I didn't have anything very wintery available in my shop yet, so I set out to create something elegant and classy.

Looking around it seemed like most winter themed invitations were red and black, dark, rich colors with a heavy, almost depressing sort of feel to them. But (and maybe this is because I grew up in the Northeast) Winter is something different to me. It is fun and magical- light and airy. Where every branch is encased in glassy ice that makes the whole world sparkle in the morning sun.

Something whimsical and fun was what I had in mind and I am very happy with the results! Now available in my Etsy store.

Put A Stamp On It

2009-11-03T12:11:00.000-08:00

{Don't forget to enter the giveaway for 2 FREE TICKETS
TO THE VT VOWS WEDDING AFFAIR SHOW!}

A recent client of mine was telling me about these fabulous custom Save The Date stamps that he purchased online, so I had to check them out for myself! I found several different websites that offered custom stamps in hundreds of designs, and not just for Save The Date cards. They do cost a bit more than just buying the regular stamps at the post office, but I think it's worth the extra cost just to add that little personal touch to the package. Everyone loves to receive beautiful things in the mail and custom postage can make your envelope shine against regular, old boring mail.

For custom stamps check out Zazzle and Perfect Postage

Another great idea that is growing in popularity is using vintage stamps to add some interest to your invitation packaging. You will need to use several to make up the correct postage amount, but it's fun to mix and match different designs to create a totally unique look to each envelope. Just make sure that you take your invitation to the post office before adding the postage to have them weigh it so you know exactly how much you need. (I would recommend this whether you are doing vintage postage or not.) And if you can find the stamps at face value then it won't cost any more than buying the current stamps!

Check out local antique and coin and stamp stores or score some on ebay or Stamp Wants online. (Just make sure they are unused!)

The Wedding Affair - A GIVEAWAY!!

2009-11-02T05:43:00.001-08:00

When I was planning my wedding in 2006 I went to most of the greater Burlington area bridal shows, but none could come close to the elegance of the VT Vows Wedding Affair. It is the only show my husband-to-be accompanied me to, and I am so glad that was the one he chose! He started to wonder what he had been missing, but really he didn't miss anything because that show was it. Champagne and hors d'ouvres being passed around everywhere, a live band and dancing lessons, Fiori Bridal wedding gown show; it was definitely the who's who of the talented wedding professionals in Vermont.

So I am incredibly excited, and oh so grateful, that this year I will be going to the Wedding Affair again, but this time as a vendor. With my own dupioni silk covered banquet table and tons of samples for all of you to see and touch. And most importantly I get to meet all of you face to face and talk to you about your weddings, which really is why I got into this business to begin with!

If you are engaged, even if your wedding is in a couple of months and most of your details are already figured out, I urge you not to miss this incredible event. And I am hoping to help make sure one of you gets to go by giving away two free tickets to the event! Tickets are $25 so that is a $50 value!

All you have to do to enter to win is leave a comment on this post. The winner will be chosen on Friday morning and I will leave the tickets in your name at the registration table at the show!

For more info on the Wedding Affair check out their website.

Chelsea & Andre

2009-10-26T12:10:00.001-07:00

Chelsea and Andre were special clients of mine- Chelsea was a good childhood friend of my brother-in-law, so I had known them for a while. I was absolutely thrilled when Chelsea contacted me to do their invitations and when I saw the photos from their amazing wedding, I had to ask to share them with all of you.

Their ceremony took place at St. Francis Xavier Church in Winooski, VT and they took a cool vintage car to their reception which was held at Chelsea's parent's home in Jericho. They have a beautiful view of the mountains from their property and even though the morning was a little overcast, the sun came out for some great photo ops later on.

I love the photo with the umbrellas! So fun and colorful. There were so many good pics to choose from, it was hard to decide on just a few to share. Congratulations Chelsea and Andre!

All photos are by Raiden Shine Photography.

Fall Wedding Details

2009-10-21T08:07:00.000-07:00

Many months ago I got to create some Engagement Party Invites for Jenn and Jason, so I was thrilled when Jenn contacted me recently to do her wedding elements. Above is a sweet sign (ha! pun was so intended) for the candy bar.

Here is the menu, which sounded delicious bytheway. It's hard to tell, but around most of the signs and the menus was a great textured paper that looked like the bark of a tree.

A fun sign for the apple cider and donut pre-ceremony gathering.

The programs were one of my favorite projects that I put together for Jenn. A rich chocolate background with white reverse type, then rolled and tied with satin ribbon in a cranberry red.

Tom & KK

2009-10-20T05:39:00.000-07:00

I just finished these gorgeous Wedding Announcements for Tom & KK. They got married in a small ceremony on Prince Edward Island and wanted something to send to all of their friends and family. The text is printed on vellum overlayed over their picture and secured with dupioni silk ribbon.

I love the bag piper in the background. So lovely.

One of my favorite Robert Frost poems. Love the fringe on the ribbon.

Flowers, Candles, and Embiance

2009-10-15T17:45:00.000-07:00

I wish I had more photos of the flowers at my wedding. I poured over many Martha Steward Wedding magazines and I had this great Wedding Reception magazine I found in the grocery store one day, that gave me all of the inspiration for my flowers. I was so happy when I found A Schoolhouse Garden, in Waitsfield, and the talented Nancy who made all of my flower ideas come to fruition.

I knew I wanted a big wreath hanging above the barn door welcoming people in, and big hurricane vases with candles on wrought iron stands at each post inside the barn. On the tables, instead of floral centerpieces I wanted to showcase the elements of the season- red and orange maple leaves, slender stalks of wheat, and plump berries on branches. These were encased in more glass vases with candles.

It was the perfect balance of rustic and elegant that I wanted to my wedding to embrace. When I first met with Nancy I could tell immediately that she 'got' my vision and then she ran with it.

Everything was so beautiful, I wish the flowers, heck I wish the evening, would have lasted forever. I am bummed the photographer didn't get a picture of the wreath that was outside- nor did I think to take the wreath home with me! The night just went by so fast and everything was such a blur I forgot details like that until many months later. It's true what they say- it really does go by in the blink of an eye. So make sure you try and stop and enjoy the moment!

Food- The Most Important Part Of The Wedding! (no, really it is)

2009-10-14T10:40:00.000-07:00

Clockwise from top left: The Antipasto board, selection of fruit, Artichoke & Spinach dip, Stuffed Chicken Breasts, the amazing Mashed Potato Bar (everyone's favorite), and Roasted Seasonal Vegetables

The one thing that both my husband and I really wanted for our wedding was amazing food. We had been to a lot of weddings where the food was sub par, at best, and we figured if you are going to spend thousands of dollars on a wedding and people were coming from thousands of miles away to attend it then the least we could do was feed them (and us) a decent meal. It was the one thing we were prepared to splurge on.

I can't even remember how many caterer's websites I looked at or if I even talked to anyone else before I contacted Spice of Life catering. That's because as soon as I tasted their food everything I had ever eaten before immediately was forgotten. Yes, it was that good. We met with Matt and Maggie, the husband and wife team behind SOL, at the Ethan Allen Club in Burlington where they were in charge of providing dinner. It was a little strange since the Ethan Allen Club is a men's only club and so I was the only female in there, other than Maggie. But they set us up in a secluded corner and just started bringing us out sample after sample after sample. And we just kept eating and staring at each other in a hazy food coma wondering how each thing could possibly be better than the last.

So we booked them- right then on the spot. Then the fun part of browsing through all of their selections came. It took us a long time to narrow it down to just a few items. And everything we picked was so amazing. All night long all we heard was how great the food was. My Mother-in-law personally thanked them and immediately started recommending them to all of her friends. In fact, a couple of years later when my brother-in-law was getting married she hired them to cater the rehearsal dinner (having abandoned the idea of cooking all of the food herself, again, as she had done for ours).

They did not do the cake, but I couldn't do a food post about our wedding and not include a picture of our wedding cake, could I? Ashley Woods, based in Waitsfield, made our cake and it was another item that I was intent on being amazing. Wedding cake sort of has a bad rap as being pretty to look at but not so great to eat, and I wanted to make sure our cake didn't fall into that category. Ashley really delivered and the cake was amazing.

The bottom layer was chocolate cake with a chocolate mousse and raspberry coulis filling, the center layer was white cake with a lemon mousse filling, and the top layer was the chocolate again. The frosting was just a simple buttercream and Ashley put a monogram of our initials on the front and our florist put a cascade of flowers on the top. It was exactly what I envisioned.

Three Years Ago

2009-10-13T10:59:00.000-07:00

Three years ago I was running around like a chicken with my head cut off. I was fretting over the fading foliage, the weather forcast, and shoot! we totally forgot to make signs for the road so people knew where to turn! Yes, that's right, I was mere hours away from my wedding day.

The days preceding my wedding are a blur- filled with last minute details and finally letting go of the idea that I could do it all. (Maybe hand-stitched hankies was going a little overboard?) My relatives were starting to arrive and my phone was ringing off the hook with questions and concerns. My parents had arrived and were each fielding requests from their families. My soon-to-be in-laws were also welcoming house guests and shuttling grandparents to and from the hotel. It was chaos. It was pandemonium.

That night, of October 13th, 2006, we all gathered in my in-laws home for the Welcome Dinner. I have no idea how many people were there, but we were spread out on every seat in the whole house. My soon-to-be Mother-in-law and her sister had prepared all of the food from scratch. It was amazing.

After dinner my father called everyone out to the back deck then he set off the most fantastic firework show feet from where we all stood breathless. The bursts of green and purple filled the sky above our heads and the booms and bangs were so loud we all expected the police to show up at any moment. My friend Tara's four month old baby slept through the whole thing. It was almost the best night of my life.

Except the next day I got to do this:

Gorgeous Travel Themed Wedding

2009-10-08T05:53:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite bloggers, Holly Burns of Nothing But Bonfires, recently got hitched in idyllic San Diego and not only was her wedding detailed on her own blog (for months, really, but I gobbled up every post), it was also a featured wedding on Style Me Pretty. It's not surprising, either, when you see all the awesome handmade details that Holly and her new husband Sean put together for their special day.

Holly is a travel writer and has lived in many different parts of the world and her and Sean have done extensive traveling. Plus their friends are so widespread that most of their guests traveled from far away to attend their special day. So it just made sense to do a world-travel themed affair and everything they did was so creative and charming! From the 'Where in the World Are You Sitting' seating chart to the vintage map lined lanterns on the table, every detail was perfect.

Check out all four installments here, here, here, and here!
All photos are by Erin Hearts Court.

Awesome Give-Away!

2009-10-02T11:15:00.000-07:00

If you are not already familiar with the blog This Little Life of Mine by the wonderful Talia, then you should definitely head over there right now! Especially since she is hosting a great give-away with goodies from some of my favorite fellow bloggers and Etsyians!

I am especially drooling over this adorable wallet from Your Wishcake that I have to bookmark on Etsy so that even if I don't win (fingers crossed though!) I can get one anyway :-) But this is just the tip of the iceburg for this give-away. There is a total of NINE items up for grab, including a bonus $10 Starbucks Gift Card. Yum- I can taste a tall skinny mocha with almond syrup shot right now.

Sorry I've Been Away

2009-10-01T08:03:00.001-07:00

I was doing so great with this regular blogging thing! So what the heck happened over the last couple of weeks? Well it was a combination of being overwhelmingly busy with life, getting horribly sick for four days, and not having a whole lot to blog about. Which probably has a lot to do with the being busy part. Coming up with something to write about was downright exhausting to think about, so I took a little hiatus.

Now it's time to get back into the thick of things! Thankfully my schedule is a little less jam-packed and with Winter right around the corner I should have plenty of time, snuggled up in my house and not wanting to go anywhere, that I can devote to blogging.

So thanks for your patience!

Because Winter Is Right Around The Corner

2009-09-14T05:23:00.001-07:00

I am totally digging this photo from Martha Stewart Weddings right now. The ironwork on the door, the long-sleeved dress, the bride's wistful look out into the distance, and the deep evergreen bough in the bouquet. All of it makes me wish for soft, pillowy snow to drape across the landscape! I can just see her wrapping up in a fur shawl and hopping into a horse drawn sleigh.

Photo from the Green Bouquets photo gallery.

And Now Back To Our Regularly Scheduled Programming

2009-09-09T07:46:00.000-07:00

It has been a while since my last post, and I apologize for that. We jetted off for a fabulous long weekend to visit relatives in Lake Geneva, Wisconsin and the days preceding and following were a little hectic. But I finally feel like I am back on schedule and ready to go!

One of the things that has been occupying my time was trying to decide if I wanted to participate in another wedding show. I finally came to a decision to just close my eyes and jump in head first. Part of my reason for deciding to go ahead was the sad news that Scribbles was closing. A downtown staple for years in Burlington, they were also one of the largest invitation resources around here as well. So, I decided that with them gone it was the perfect time to stick my neck out and let the world know I am here! Or at least the greater Burlington area- hehe.

What is the show you ask?? Well I am glad you did, because it is THE wedding show to attend around here. And of course it is put on by none other than VT Vows. It is called The Wedding Affair and it's more amazing every year. Last year was a Moroccan theme and they had elaborate beds adorned with gorgeous linens and big hanging lanterns and colored glass candle holders. There was a potpourri bar and a candy table to make your own goodie bags, and of course there were tons of great vendors to check out.

Even though I had a small basket of cards in their Wedding Resource Library last year, I think that having my own booth will be better exposure. I found being able to talk one on one with the brides was a great experience. And being a vendor also means I will get a couple of complimentary tickets to give out. Which means I will be having another giveaway! Look for it in the next couple of weeks for your chance to win tickets to go to The Wedding Affair!

I Heart Thursday

2009-08-27T09:03:00.000-07:00

This past weekend I went to visit my grandmother in Plattsburgh, NY and was lucky enough to make it over to Target! I haven't had a chance to go over there since it opened a few months ago. That and I hate the idea of spending $22 to go over on the ferry and back just to go shopping. Now that I have been there, though, I might change my mind!

It was awesome and I got lots of great stuff, including a case of this Izze Fortified Sparkling Juice. I got the Sparkling Pomegranate and it is all I want to drink now. Not only is it super tasty, but apparently it's good for you too! It doesn't have any added sugar and contains pure fruit juice. I think my case of 8 is not going to last me very long.

Catch The Spirit

2009-08-26T18:06:00.001-07:00

On Tuesday night I had the pleasure of dining on the Spirit of Ethan Allen dinner cruise on Lake Champlain. I have lived in the Burlington area for almost a decade but had never made it on any of their famed cruises. Lucky for me, my work decided it was the perfect retreat for a sales conference and we were all invited to come along.

We lucked out and it was a gorgeous day- sunny and yet mild compared to what the temperature had been lately.

The Spirit of Ethan Allen does a nightly dinner cruise, with a different theme each night, but you can also book space on the cruise for a wedding or function and have them cater an entirely different menu. I was excited to see what it was like and to taste the food and check out the interior of the ship.

You can choose whether or not you want to have your ceremony on board the ship as well as your reception. If you do book the boat for your reception than a ceremony is included, free of charge, in the package- so it is something to consider. Also, there are many decks on the boat that offer stunning panoramic views of the lake and surrounding mountains that would make for a breathtaking ceremony. This is a pic on the forward deck of the boat, which is normally outfitted with tables and chairs and has a casual bar feeling to it.

We had dinner on the lower deck of the boat, which is where you initially come into after you board. There were several other rooms above that were reserved for special parties, that I am sure would be where a wedding event would take place. The walls were all windows which allowed for amazing views all around of the water, boats passing by, and the mountains.

The night that I dined aboard The Spirit was Italian Night, or Mangia Mia as they call it. For appetizers we had an Antipasto plate with pickeled and roasted veggies, several different kinds of cheeses, and some bread. We also got some flatbread pizza topped with fresh mozzerella, black olives and cilantro. It was all very tasty! For dinner we had the choice between four entrees. I got the Frutti di Mare which was an assortment of scallops, shrimp, calamari, and white fish in a tasty tomato based broth with potatoes. To finish the evening we had some Tiramisu which was really good- light and fluffy with a perfect balance of chocolate and espresso.

Of course the real reason the Spirit of Ethan Allen makes a great choice for weddings is the views of the Adirondacks and Green Mountains, especially at sunset. We were lucky that it was the perfect evening for viewing the sunset, and I happened to be seated on the right side of the boat next to a window! I got so many amazing views of the sun setting behind the mountains.

For more information on booking the Spirit of Ethan Allen for your wedding, or Sunday brunch buffet (which I hear is amazing- gotta check that one out next!), view their website here.

The Shred

2009-08-25T06:36:00.001-07:00

Due to an abundance of great local micro-brews and amazing restaurants, I have been feeling a little more round and soft in the middle lately. I have been ignoring the signs for a few months, trying to brush it off as nothing more than a few vigorous hikes could take care of, but when most of your wardrobe starts to feel tight and more than one pair of pants loses a button in a week, it's a sign. A giant, red, flashing sign that something must be done. And fast.

Since I can't afford to get a whole new wardrobe I decided to suck it up and try the 30 Day Shred - you have probably heard of it as it has been all the buzz on the internet lately. It is an exercise plan developed by Jillian Michaels, the head trainer on the show The Biggest Loser, and it follows the formula of 3 minutes strength training, 2 minutes cardio, one minute abs. The workout is only 20 minutes and there are three levels that get progressively harder as you go on.

Sounds pretty straight forward right? 20 minutes sounds like a piece of cake!

Today was my second day on The Shred and let me just tell you, it totally Kicks. My. Butt. I am sweating harder after that 20 minutes than I do hiking up Mt. Mansfield for two hours. Jillian Michaels is crazy. My arms are incredibly sore, walking down stairs makes my legs go weak, and both mornings I did the workout I thought I was going to puke right after. And I am only on level 1. But no pain, no gain (or loss), right!?

In order to stay motivated I thought I would chronicle my journey here, that way I know I have to keep up with it!! And I imagine that some of you Brides-to-be are planning on doing some sort of weight loss regimen in preparation for the big day and could benefit from an in depth revue of this popular video. In addition to doing the 30 Day Shred, I am also trying to modify my diet to be a bit healthier. I have cut out drinking for the most part (I still have a glass of wine every so often, but that's it) and I am eating low-fat/low-carb as often as I can. For breakfast I am drinking Slim Fast chocolate shakes made with Soy Milk- it's a super fast and easy option for me since I don't have a lot of time in the morning to make something.

So there it is- I plan on doing regular updates on both my diet/work-out progress and what changes I see in my body. Wish me luck!

My Favorite Part Might Have Been The Chocolate Fountain

2009-08-21T20:06:00.001-07:00

This thing of beauty is what I got to gaze at all last night at the Burlington Evening Bridal Show. The smell permeated the entire floor I was on and it was all I could do to not abandon my table and go scarf down some Rice Krispie Treats covered with warm chocolate.

But seriously, I couldn't have asked for a better neighbor than the 'Chocolate Fountain Girl', as I liked to call her. She was incredibly generous and offered up all of the left-overs after the brides had filtered out to the prize drawing on the first floor. Yum.

I had a fabulous time at my first real wedding show and I felt like my table turned out better than I had hoped and I didn't feel out of place amongst the more seasoned professionals around me. I also got to see Echo for the first time and I was really impressed by the space! We were on the third, or top floor, of the building and right next to the outdoor terrace.

Here is the main part of my display with my fabulous new banner I just had made! My table came with a white tablecloth but I also brought a chocolate brown cloth to put over the top to create some interest and depth of color. I think it worked out great!

Here are my inspiration boards- unfortunately one of the easels I brought was missing some key parts and wasn't usable, but Dorothy, my awesome Mother-In-Law, came up with this stool-covered-with-an-extra-table-cloth and it worked out great!

Here is a close up of the table. I had originally thought I was getting a six foot table but it ended up being five, but even if it had been a six I think I would have had enough stuff to fill it. There were several invitations that I wasn't able to display. And to think I was afraid I didn't have enough stuff?! Pshaw! You can also see the great roses that she picked up at Costco to brighten up the display. I can't even tell you how many people asked us if we did flowers! They were so amazed when we told them we got them at Costco! (Hopefully the florist set up diagonal from us didn't mind)

This was another one of our vendor neighbors- The Spirit of Ethan Allen Cruise. They had some pretty tasty treats to give out, but I didn't get a chance to sample much.

Right next to us was Fiori Bridal, my favorite wedding gown shop of all time! They also had some models walking around with different gowns on- a sort of walking fashion show. They were all gorgeous! I kept thinking, what a fun job to wear amazing wedding dresses all night- how do you get that gig?

Down on the first floor was my friend Calais with Stowe Mountain Resort! It was great to see some familiar faces. Her display had these great hurricane glasses filled with some dark grains and white candles.

This was a jeweler on the second floor. Her stuff was really pretty, but I didn't have much time to look at everyone elses stuff.

These cupcakes were on display on the table next to Calais. I was so tempted to take one before the show even started! But I was good and left them for the brides.

Last, but certainly not least, is this little cutie pie who was hanging out at the DJ's table. He is a Sheltie and was born blind and deaf, but he was the sweatest little thing. He hung out on the table during the whole show with these headphones around his neck! He was a definite hit with the ladies and everyone that went by had to stop and pet him. I am thinking this might be a good marketing tactic, perhaps I should bring my dog Nova to my next show? Ha!

Here is the view from the terrace on the third floor. This is part of the space that you can rent at Echo and a lot of people have their ceremony out there. It was a gorgeous view and I imagine on a clear day at sunset it's just magnificent!

So there you have it, my first wedding show! It is still a little early to know if it was a success or not, but I handed out more than half of my info cards and I got three full sheets of email addresses from brides. I also had someone make an appointment with me right there on the spot! Since most of the brides were planning for Summer 2010 weddings I am not sure how soon they will be looking to purchase invitations, but hopefully I will have the opportunity to do some more shows to really get my name out there.

Now I am super tired after staying up to finish a rush invitation order so I am going to bed!

Sneak Peak

2009-08-19T13:55:00.000-07:00

Things are getting a little crazy over here, and I don't think I have ever seen my office so messy, but I wanted to give you a little sneak peak of what I am preparing for my booth at the show tomorrow. It's getting down to the wire! Thankfully I have gotten 99% of all the things I wanted to get done, done. Now I just hope I can actually get some sleep tonight!

In case you want more info on the show, check out their website here. Tickets are only $6 at the door and there are going to be some great door prizes! (Especially the ones that I am bringing-ha!) Depending on how exhausted I am after the show tomorrow night I might find the time to share pics of the show on Friday, if not than Saturday for sure!

Bridesmaid Dresses Never Looked Sweeter

2009-08-17T08:05:00.001-07:00

What better way to ask your BFFs to be your bridesmaids than with tasty, adorable cookies! They are almost too pretty to eat! (note the word 'almost') These creative confections are from The Flour Pot and are made by mother-daughter team Margie and Abbey Greenberg and at a little over $5 they are affordable, too! They also have cookies for ring bearers, flower girls, and several different bridesmaid dress designs to choose from. When presented with one of these beauties how could anyone say no?

Check out all of their other cookie gifts- including favors. They offer shipping all over the world and even take custom orders!

Found via Sweet Designs

Deep Breaths and Happy Places

2009-08-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

Do you ever have so many things in your head that you can't think straight? So many things on your to-do list that you don't even know where to start? And for some reason it seems like the more stuff you have to do the less you want to do anything? That is about where I am right now. With 4 days left until The Show I have been scrambling all weekend to get myself in order. Of course, I am willing to admit that my type A personality and constant need for perfection is probably adding to the stress level.

I have a vision in my mind of what I want my table to look like, but having never done a wedding show before I really am at a loss for how to prepare. Thankfully I will most likely be so exhausted by Thursday that I won't care if things don't work out exactly how I planned them. (But I will be doing several dry runs at home with my kitchen table.)

So last night as I laid in bed I just couldn't shut my brain off. There were a million things streaming through my consciousness, like Twitter on crack, and it was making my head hurt. When I get like that the only way I can get to sleep is with breathing and visualization exercises. I start by controlling my breath- deep in, long out - then I focus on each individual part of my body starting with my feet, letting them relax before moving on.

When I was in high school I used to sleep over at my friend Leanne's house a lot and she had this sleep CD that we would listen to. There was a soft female voice that would command us to 'relax your arms, let them go limp, feel the stress and energy release from them', while new-age music played in the background. It sounds kind of hokey, but it honestly worked! By the time you got to your head your whole body would be in a state of relaxation and peace. It is amazing what your mind is capable of if you focus.

Now I just need to apply that same idea of focus to actually finish all of the things on my to-do list.

I Heart Thursday

2009-08-13T12:17:00.001-07:00

I know it's been a while since I have done one of these, but today I happened to be browsing through some of my favorite Etsy sellers and I reminded myself of this amazing shop, Piper & Paisley! They make the coolest hats.

I am really in loooooove with this one!

And this one too....

Or maybe this one? I can't decide- there are too many I like!

All I know is that I need to make one of these part of my Fall wardrobe this year!

If I Had Hired A Videographer For My Wedding

2009-08-11T11:19:00.001-07:00

When we got married I didn't even look at videographers- who still does that anyway? That is so, like, 1999! Why pay someone hundreds of dollars for a video that will just end up collecting dust in the far reaches of your TV stand?

Well not if you hire someone like Joel Serrato and your wedding film ends up looking like this!

(be sure to mute my playlist down on the right before you hit play)

ainjil + chris from joel serrato on Vimeo.

See more of Ainjil & Chris' wedding on design*sponge.

Moroccan Inspired Dessert Table

2009-08-10T13:07:00.000-07:00

By the ever talented Amy Atlas of Sweet Designs

Now That's An Entrance

2009-08-05T13:38:00.000-07:00

Make sure you pause my playlist before you hit play!

A Little More Progress

2009-07-29T13:42:00.001-07:00

New design just posted over on Etsy. So far so good on my goal of two new designs a week! Got a couple more done today, plus had a bunch of good brainstorms on more. I need to put together a couple of complete suites to showcase at the show next month- this one is looking like it might make the cut.

A Little Bit Busy

2009-07-28T12:07:00.000-07:00

I haven't had a lot of time to post lately since I took the plunge and decided to do the Burlington Summer Evening Bridal Show- that is ONE. MONTH. AWAY. Ack!!

So my spare time has been filled with brainstorming on banner designs, door prizes, displays, hand-outs, what to wear!!??, and lots of other stuff I need to figure out- stat!

But I wanted to make sure I posted info on the show in case anyone wanted to check it out, so here it is:

3rd Annual Burlington Summer Evening Bridal Show
August 20th from 6:30-9pm
at the Echo Lake Aquarium and Science Center

You can check out the official website here!

New Design and Random Thoughts

2009-07-23T17:33:00.000-07:00

Just posted this beauty up on the Etsy shop. Very summery and refreshing looking. Makes me want a nice tall glass of lemonade.

Whew! I feel like I have been on a roll for the last couple of days. For the month of June and half of July I felt like I was in a little bit of a funk- couldn't really motivate myself to do anything and just feeling a little down about things. I guess everyone goes through that once in a while, but I sure am glad to be getting out of it!

All of the sudden I feel like being productive and getting stuff done! Clean the office, get those designs out of my head and onto the computer, then onto paper, and then on to Etsy! Return some phone calls, emails and attend to all that paperwork piled up on my desk. It sure feels good.

I also have been doing some research on doing a bridal show that is going on in ONE MONTH! I just heard about it and for kicks asked if there was any space open still. The idea of doing some shows has been in the back of my mind lately as a good way to get my name out there locally. Well I didn't think it would happen quite so fast! I don't really have a table, or a banner, or anything really set up to go to a show, and its cares the crap out of me, but I really think I should do it!

Nothing better than just throwing yourself out there, right?

Folk Art Wedding Invitation

2009-07-22T14:30:00.000-07:00

Just posted a new invite on my Etsy shop. This one is inspired by folk art and is a little different than your traditional invite. I am pretty much in love with it!

Oh Baby!

2009-07-21T10:18:00.001-07:00

Here is a little peak of what I have been working on lately. One of my friends recently gave birth to this bundle of joy and asked if I would do her birth announcements. I was thrilled! Especially since I have been wanting to branch out into doing stuff that is not wedding related.

These are just a few of the mock-ups I sent her. Ruby has an 'Under The Sea' nursery theme so I tried to incorporate that into some of the designs.

I can't wait to get them up on my Etsy store! Eventually I would love to do birthday invitations too. I need to work on some more Baby Shower invite designs too. So many ideas and so little time!

Home Run Wedding

2009-07-16T08:11:00.000-07:00

My husband and I (really, more my husband) are avid baseball fans- Red Sox of course! When we get a chance to go to a game it's a special treat and we always have tons of fun. If he had known about Sara and Brett McGinness' wedding at AT&T stadium (home of the San Francisco Giants) I think our wedding probably would have ended up differently.

Why get married in a barn in rural Vermont, when you can get married in the stands at a baseball stadium? And serve your guests popcorn and cracker jacks during the ceremony? And give your groomsmen personalized baseball bats as gifts?

This wedding is so creative and fun, I am tempted to show it to my husband just so I can hear him say, 'Oh man! A baseball themed wedding? That's so cool- why didn't we do that?!'.

Check out all of the details over at The McGinness Clan!

More DIY Wedding Inspiration

2009-07-14T08:33:00.000-07:00

I found some more DIY Wedding inspiration on the Craft website! June was their DIY Wedding Month and there are tons of projects for everything from how to make your own wedding veil to a custom crafted log cake stand.

Check out this wedding dress made out of t-shirts! Now that's thrifty!

New Items!

2009-07-10T10:48:00.000-07:00

I was a total slacker about my Etsy store during the month of June- what with a vacation, a wedding, and a very important one year birthday party. So I am determined to get some new stuff up there during this month. I really need to get cracking on this thing if it is going to get anywhere, that I am well aware of....

So this week I managed to put up some new custom address labels! So far I have two designs up there, but I have lots more waiting in the wings. (Been trying to spread out posting the new stuff so I have something new every day or so.)

These are really simple but make a nice clean and crisp alternative to just scribbling the address onto the front of the envelope. I especially love the wrap around feature, so that the return address is on the back. I can even print these on paper that matches the envelope so that it blends in, or on a contrasting color so it sticks out- the choices are endless!

I am also working on some birth announcement and baby shower invite designs that I am really excited about! Hopefully I can share next week!

I Heart Thursday

2009-07-09T07:38:00.000-07:00

Now I have never been much of a baker or dessert cook. Sure I make the occasional cake or cookies (especially during the holidays) but aside from that I don't venture out of my comfort zone. I am more of a 'fly by the seat of my pants' cook that changes the recipe to suite my tastes, or what I have in the fridge that day so I rarely have the necessary ingredients to concoct a fancy dessert.

Well, let me tell you, I am ready to jump headlong into the world of Pumpkin Seed Mascarpone Mousse And Raspberry Tartelettes, Vanilla Tapioca and Milk Chocolate Lime Cremeux, and Snickerdoodle Lemon Ice Cream Sandwiches and it's all because of Tartelette. I can't remember how I stumbled across this feast-for-the-eyes-and-stomach blog, but it got bookmarked mighty quick!

It is written by Helen, a French pasty chef living in South Carolina, who not only creates the most fantastical sugar confections you could imagine, but takes the most amazing pictures of them as well. She even sells some of her prints on Etsy! Even though most of her stuff looks far too difficult for my culinary skills, her 'you can do it!' attitude and great recipes make me feel like I just might be able to pull it off.

So the next time you are wondering what to make for dessert, definitely see what Helen has been whipping up over at Tartelette. I am planning on trying to attempt the cherry pit ice cream as soon as cherries are in season- yum!

images courtesy of Tartelette

Finally! Pictures of the Thai Wedding

2009-07-08T07:22:00.001-07:00

Disclaimer: What follows is most definitely the longest post EVER! But it was hard to leave anything out because it is all so fascinating and beautiful. The ceremony was very elaborate so, there are a lot of pictures! I broke it up into several storyboards followed with a description of what is going on in the pictures, but feel free to take a break and read it in installments!

In my previous post I showed you some of the 'gifts' that we had to carry in the procession to the ceremony site. Well here are the pictures of the procession itself! The top left photo is showing part of the dowry that was presented. All of the groomsmen, bridesmaids, the groom's parents, the groom and some random friends and family formed a long line, with each person carrying a 'gift'. The groom and his mother carried the dowry, which was the most important part of the gifts.

The point of all this was to arrive at the ceremony with enough to convince the bride's family that the groom was serious about marrying her and was willing to give gifts to show what she was worth to him. Most of it was just for show and tradition, but it was still fascinating to be a part of.

When the groom reached the entrance to the ceremony there were several 'gates' that he had to pass through. In order to do this he had to barter with the 'gate keepers' with envelopes full of money. They screeched and made noises at him to try and scare him away, to test if his intentions were true. He had to convince them that he would do anything in order to get inside and marry the bride.

Thankfully he made it in! Yay! We made our way to the stage at the front, handing off our gifts to other family and friends of the bride. Once the groom and his parents were up on the stage the father of the bride went and got her. He led her through the crowd of people to the stage to meet the groom.

Now one of the more interesting things I found was that the guests did not sit during the ceremony. There were no neat rows of chairs- they just stood in a large mass at the edge of the stage. It made everything feel more like a performance and a spectacle, especially when they would hoot and holler and make a lot of noise in general. The feeling was very communal.

So the parents of the bride and groom sat on chairs and the bride and groom knelt on the floor in front of them- with the dowry being center stage. The groom's parents formally presented the dowry to the bride's parents and then it was all thrown onto a gold cloth. Then other people came and threw flower petals and more money onto the cloth before it was wound up into a sack and presented to the mother of the bride.

Part of the dowry were the wedding bands so they were fished out of the sack and placed between the bride and groom. They bowed to each other and then exchanged rings. It was all a little crazy and even though I was only a couple of feet from them I couldn't hear if they said anything to each other as they placed the rings on their fingers.

Then the bride and groom had the bow before each of their parents to receive their blessing. The parent would place their hand on each of their backs to signify they approved of the union.

After the ring ceremony the bride and groom left for a few minutes. When they returned the four chairs from the earlier ceremony had been replaced with red and gold benches. They sat on a lower bench and leaned over another in front of them. The parents of the bride placed rings on their heads, with a string that attached the two rings.

Afterwards a gentleman came and placed three dots on each of their foreheads. Then all of the guests came and took turns pouring water from gold shells over their hands. This was to wish them luck and bless their union. It took a while since there were hundreds of people there. There were lots of women up on stage helping to fill the shells and shuttle them back and forth on the stage.

I loved that they placed a beautiful bouquet of flowers beneath both of their hands so that the water dripped off of their hands and onto the flowers.

After the water ceremony was complete the bride and groom went and changed into their reception outfits. The rest of the night was very much like a typical American wedding. The bride and groom were announced as they entered the reception and there was a head table set up on the stage where the bride, groom, groomsmen and bridesmaids all sat to eat dinner. Later on they cut the cake, had their first dance, and the bride threw her bouquet to all the eligible ladies.

There was tons of food and dancing to Thai music and the party went well into the night. Everything was so different than anything I had ever been to before, but the same basic emotions as an American wedding were there- everyone was happy and joyful to be celebrating this new union.

A Little Sunshine Would Be Nice...

2009-07-07T05:30:00.000-07:00

These colors make me think of the hot sun radiating through the sky and warming my face- something I haven't felt a lot of so far this Summer. The weather here in Vermont has been less like July and more like October, raining almost every day and temps in the 60's and 70's. Usually I am all for this kind of weather, but a couple of nice hot, searingly sunny days would be nice.

I might have to get this Sunflower Pin from miesmama on Etsy to remind me what color the sun is in case it decides to come out so I can recognize it.

Or maybe I could just get this awesome Forest Fern Sweater Tote Bag and give in to the fact that we moved from Spring right into Fall!

Featured Invitation!

2009-07-01T08:50:00.001-07:00

I was just informed that one of my invitations was featured on the wonderful blog Inventing Weddings. They put together amazing inspiration boards featuring all Etsy sellers! My Red & Teal Leaves invitation was featured in their board 'A Little Bird Told Me'. Yay!

P.S.- Now you can find Inventing Weddings down on the right in my Notable Inspiration links.

Hey, wanna see the invitation?

2009-06-30T13:29:00.000-07:00

I thought you all might be interested in seeing the invitation I designed for the Thai wedding I went to this weekend! Cus, you know, that's why I'm here- ha!

It was a very simple, elegant flat invitation with multiple layers of off white and pyrite cardstock. There is a layer of patterned cardstock in there too to break up the solid colors.

It went rather nicely with the whole ambiance of the wedding since the reception hall was done in all white- white table cloths, white orchids, white candles hanging from silver trees, and an arbor done up in white roses.

Simple and gorgeous.

What A Weekend

2009-06-29T14:56:00.000-07:00

I finally rolled back into Jericho at 12 a.m. last night after a whirlwind weekend in Burlington, Mass. The whole weekend was full of fun, hanging out with old friends, seeing family, meeting new faces, and eating tons of good food.

The wedding was a sensory experience on all levels- nothing like anything I have ever witnessed or been apart of before. All I have to say is if you get a chance to attend a traditional Asian wedding- do it!

Unfortunately, since I was part of the bridal party I was occupied with my bridesmaid responsibilities most of the night and therefore was unable to take many pictures myself. I have some photos coming to me and when I get them I will write up a very detailed description of how the whole thing went down (and its one heck of a story).

But in the meantime I have a few shots from behind the scenes as we were all getting ready.

Here are a couple of the other bridesmaids getting ready. On the left is Carla getting her hair done- we all had these crazy up-dos with real orchids pinned to the side. On the right is Nareh getting wrapped in the final sash that was part of our outfit. Our dresses were so involved that there was a person dedicated to helping us get into them!

Here are four of the five groomsmen all dressed up in their jackets. The groomsmen were very understated compared to what the bridesmaids were wearing.

These are some of the things that were offered up as gifts to gain the wedding party entry into the wedding- yeah that's right- the groom had to barter his way in to the ceremony! All of the groomsmen, bridesmaids, and the grooms parents carried gifts and a dowry to convince the friends and family of the bride that the groom was worthy enough to even be there.

And last, but not least, here are the bride and groom moments before the festivities started. Don't worry- they didn't get to see each other! This is one of two outfits the bride wore during the ceremony. The groom also got to change outfits halfway through.

I hope I get pictures of the rest of the night soon so I can share all of the details of this amazing night!

And just like that I'm gone again...

2009-06-26T10:56:00.000-07:00

Yup, that's right, I'm off again- this time to Boston (or right outside it, anyway) for the big Thai wedding. My bro-in-law got married last May in a lovely wedding in the Vermont Islands, at the Grand Isle Lake House, but her parents wanted to throw them a traditional Thai bash as well. So a little over a year after their first nuptuals we are gathering at her parents restaurant in Burlington, Mass for a weekend full of festivities.

There will be plenty of Thai food, I am sure, as well as a traditional Thai bridesmaid dress and groomsmen jacket for my husband and I- I don't even know what mine looks like yet. I only know that its purple and gold- ooooh! We aren't sure how many people are coming, because apparently Thai people don't RSVP and they tend to bring their entire extended family with them.

There will be a water cermony which I hope to get some pictures of, but not sure how I will pull it off yet since I am going to be in it. Hopefully my MIL won't mind snapping some pics with my camera.

And I will of course post all about it when I get back! Which will be Monday. I might have internet access in our hotel room, though, so maybe I can post updates during the weekend. I will try, but I can't promise anything!

BTW- isn't that picture gorgeous? I snapped this right outside my house Tuesday evening. It was a full rainbow arching right over our road!

I Heart Thursday

2009-06-25T09:06:00.000-07:00

Currently I am totally obsessed with bento lunch boxes, and it is all the fault of Wendolonia, a super cute blog I stumbled onto a few weeks back. It is the blog of Wendy Copley who, among other crafty things, packs her son Wyatt's lunches in adorable Japanese bento boxes! She even cuts stuff into fun shapes and sticks them on cute skewers! I would totally love for someone to pack me a lunch like this.

So now I have totally decided that I must do this when I have children and they are going off to school. But I am a little bummed that it is going to be a few years, since I don't even have any children yet. And to make matters worse, Wendy just announced that one of the best online spots to score some bento supplies, Ichiban Kan, is shutting down! Do you think it would be wierd for me to buy a bunch of bento stuff for children I don't have yet for them to use when they finally go to school? Hmmm...I am seriously considering....

Tully, Ho!

2009-06-17T14:22:00.001-07:00

I meant to post this last Wednesday, but I got a little busy getting ready for the trip I was going to tell you about. The one where I went to see my Grandmother in Tully, NY and would be gone until today. So that is why it has been a little quiet around here, but I have a bunch of new posts planned for the next week, including full coverage of the second wedding for my brother-in-law and sister-in-law, which is going to be a traditional Thai affair complete with water ceremony. I can't wait to see what my bride's maid dress looks like!

(Oh, and the picture above is of the ferry in Charlotte, VT that I took to get across Lake Champlain and into New York- found on this site.)

Tie One On

2009-06-17T13:24:00.000-07:00

So I would love to take credit for this idea, but I did see it somewhere (can't remember where- I read far too many magazines) and I was immediately smitten with the idea. Instead of just tying on the usual ribbon for your Father's Day present to Dad, tie it on like a tie! I think it is adorable and much more 'manly' looking than a super girly bow.

At first I tried to find the magazine I had seen this in to get the directions, but in the end I just looked up how to tie a tie online. Here is a good step by step if you don't already know how. After it is all tied up you just snip the ends of the ribbon to form the point. Just fold the ribbon end in half and cut at an upward angle.

Blog Love

2009-06-16T12:22:00.000-07:00

You might have noticed I have added some sites to my 'Notable Inspiration' category, but in case you hadn't I wanted to point it out. It seems that I am constantly finding new and amazing websites/blog each day and if I listed all of them it would be a mile long! These ones were the cream of the crop of recent sites I stumbled across so if you are looking for some inspiration for your upcoming wedding or you just like to look (I have been married almost 3 years and I never tire of looking!) be sure to check these guys out. And if you know of any incredible, creative sites I don't have listed, but should, just let me know!

iDiY

Once Wed

Vintage Glam Weddings

100 Layer Cake

The B List

Green Wedding Shoes

Short Story Invite

2009-06-15T06:26:00.000-07:00

I spotted this invitation on Design Sponge and had to share. It is so charming- I love the typography and the format, and it's cute that they include the entire story of their (lengthy) courtship. I think it really flows into the invite, though.

My favorite part is the end; 'dinner and dancing and eternity to follow'- very cute!