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

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!

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


Commenter #35 - Simonka

Congrats and thanks to everyone who entered!

Vermont Etsy Street Team Giveaway!

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

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

Good Things Come To Those That Wait

{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

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

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!

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

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

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

Welcome 2010

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...