And finally.

After more years that I want to admit, I’ve finally taken the time to get a portfolio back online. I’ve struggled with my online identity for years, all while focusing on others people’s identity, company, logo, website, and on and on.

A few months ago I woke up around 4am. I was the only one awake in the house and I just felt God saying, “Get up and get this on paper. I’m about to give you some info you need to remember.” Well, when God wakes me up that early, I try to listen. And I’m so thankful I did.

Within a matter of 2 hours I had sketches for a whole new line of stationery, a website outline, and ideas to market myself. Now let me back up.

2001 – Sassy Pants Designs was born. After 4 years, one National Stationery Show, and a lot of life with me and my partner, we decide to put it on hold and not try and grow the business.

2004 – eh paper hired me as the main designer. After 4 years, many national shows, 72 designs, and countless customers, it was sold to another local company who has since sold to another company. I have no idea where all of the designs are.

Since 2004 I’ve done a lot of pro bono work for friends, co-workers, and myself. I also have not had a portfolio of print work online that whole time. So, one of my 40 before 40 goals was to get a new portfolio online. I didn’t make that deadline. But when the 4am call came – I knew I’d have to get this done. I’ve spent the last month messing with design, fonts, styles, gathering samples I wanted to highlight and just thinking about this in (all) my spare time. I’ve only worked on this in small chunks after the kids are in bed and mostly for the 30 minutes I can keep my eyes open before drifting off to sleep.

JD was free to take photos of my work last Sunday and I was able to add the critical piece – the work! I’m so excited and ready to see where God takes this. It’s all His. Please join me over at my new website, where I’ll be blogging from here on out, posting work and working on new designs. I’m hoping to offer some gifts from time to time also. After all, what’s the fun in designing if you can’t do something completely free of constraints and then share it with people.

Gowns & Crowns

Aside from 6 months flying by and me having no clue where it went…oh wait…I have an 8 month old baby, a 4 year old little girl who never stops, a full time job, and my second job (keeping my home.)

I wanted to share the most recent event. Please pardon my non-straightened photos and lack of children. The party photos are on the other camera.

Theme: Princess Dress Up Party
Invitation: Gowns & Crowns, Sweet treats too, to a Royal Birthday Celebration, we invite you!

Everything was pink, white and silver. I designed all the paper pieces including invitation, banner, cupcake toppers, cotton candy cones, candy bar covers, enclosures.
I purchased the paper straws and pink polka dot paper favor holders from Cakes & Kids. The scepters came from Continental Awards & Trophies, ribbon and tulle from Hobby Lobby, paper goods from Target, Princess ribbon and white ribbon from Costco, Pom Pom flowers from Michaels.

The real crowns were borrowed from my friend Patty who’s daughter was Miss Teen Tennessee, Madeline Littrell. And the serving pieces and vases were borrowed from various friends/places.

Menu: Cotton Candy, Cupcakes, Nerds, Smarties, Sugared Marshmallows, Caramel Kisses (in addition to tea sandwiches, fruit kabobs, and pretzels.)

Favors and Goodies – Candy Bars, Star Scepters personalized, Enclosure Cards.

Decorations: crepe paper, Martha Stewart pom pom flowers, Princess ribbon, tulle.

All in all it was a perfect day. We had 12 perfect Princesses. I wish we could have invited more…but 12 was more than enough. I’ll post more photos from home with the surprise guests and the birthday girl. Wonderful memories for my sweet Garner.

For information or custom design please  email me.

 

It’s been a good one.

In just a few hours it we will close the chapter on 2011. The past year has brought more blessings than I can handle most days. I am thankful for our health, our family, our home, a bed to sleep in and for more than we could ever ask or imagine.

We started 2011 with  my 39th birthday, 6 years of marriage, Garner turning 3, a healthy pregnancy, and lots of snow.

In 5 days I’ll turn 40, and the day after that Graham will be 6 months. One month after that we will celebrate our 7th anniversary, and a month after that Garner will turn 4.

This will be a year of huge milestones for Graham as he grows, sits up, crawls, and walks. How amazing!

And Garner will start JK at ECS, God willing, in August.

I’m overwhelmed by God’s grace, mercy and blessing each day. I pray I can be content where we are, and see what He is doing in our lives daily.

May 2012 be the year we notice what we have and give God the honor and glory for it all.

While the sun is setting

The sun is setting on this beautiful Friday…and the sun is setting on our vacation. This is the first vacation with the four of us…Garner – 3 1/2, Graham – 10 weeks, JD – turned 38 while we were here, and me…39 for a few more months.

I’m sitting on our 15th floor balcony looking into the beautiful jade green Gulf ocean. The sand is white and soft like sugar. I see Garner and JD treking through the sand to the ocean for one of the last times this trip. They are searching for treasures and shells.

The other night Garner told JD that she wanted to swim in the sunset…not swim in the ocean while the sun set, but swim in the beautiful sky. I love how she describes things.

We have had wonderful weather. Graham has loved hanging out on the beach with the breeze and the sound of the water washing up on shore. We have eaten a lot of delicious seafood – Poppy’s at Baytown Wharf, The Back Porch, Dewey Destins, and McGuires.We have shopped and hung out in the condo. Most of all, we’ve had uninterrupted family time.

We have seen dolphin, stingrays, sea turtles and lots of little crabs and fishies. Garner has marveled at the sea creatures and I’ve marveled watching her excitement.

Last night we took some portraits of Graham in and old canoe bookshelf and then family portraits on the beach. I’ll post some when we get home as our wifi is lacking.

We plan to take a few more photos tonight and to go back to Dewey Destins for another delicious dinner. I’m  looking forward to one more fresh shrimp dinner. YUM!

We’ll go back home tomorrow  and vacation will be over, but our memories are amazing. We have taken a ton of photos and I”m thankful for that. I think an annual beach trip might be in order. I’ve never been one to want to go to the beach but this trip has changed my mind. September is an awesome time to come and I hope we can visit again this time of year.

Only two more weeks of maternity leave. I’m feeling a little sad and a little happy. Graham will love Ms. Jane, his daycare teacher. She is wonderful and loves little babies. I hope to work less in the coming years. I’m going to let God take care of that.

No WW update  – haven’t stepped on a scale all week and that’s a good thing, I think.

It’s FOOTBALL TIME!

Roll Tide baby!

So excited football season is here! Graham seems to be enjoying the game…especially since Bama is rockin! ROLL TIDE!

Now we’re just ready for the weather to catch up with the season. 70 degree days, where are you?

Pandora

I love Pandora radio. I recently got a new ride and although I had a AUX port in my Camry, I never plugged in my phone using Pandora. It was great on a recent short road trip…and here I am working away while my baby is napping in his swing and Pandora is serenading us with an artist I’ve never heard – Landon Pigg. I made a Norah Jones channel and it’s so soothing when working.

WW Update: -2lbs, feeling good about it, motivated to continue, looking forward to meeting my first goal.

My day today.

We are 7 weeks, 6 days out from the birth of Graham. He actually slept for 5 hours last night which is a record. The most we’ve gotten up to this point was 3.5 or so. He’s completely on formula. His system is getting used to it finally. He napped today more that he has since he was born and I’m thankful.

The last 45 days have been a blur of bottles, dirty diapers, fractured sleep, crying baby, fuzzy brain, and who knows what else.
I’ve learned to let go a little and go with it. He is a sweet baby. He smiles a lot. He’s making fun noises that sound like laughter or babble. He makes me smile.

My day looked like this:

5:30 am – up to fix a bottle for Graham
6:50 – up again to fix coffee, make lunch, shower, and get ready before JD left at 7:45
8:20 – took Garner to school
9-12 – worked on various work items for ECS. Researched WW.
2:30 – JD stopped by to say  hello and give me a moment of adult conversation
4:45 – headed to pick up Garner
5:45 – dinner – Rotisserie Chicken, Mashed Potatoes, Steamer veggies – nothing that required cooking.

It’s been too hot to cook and I’ve been too tired to think about it. I have moments where all I want is a night’s sleep, or a girl’s night, or a vacation.

Stop reading if you don’t want to read about diet and weight loss.

So today I hit the end of the constant diet conversation in my head. I probably saw about 15 commercials for Jenny Craig and Weight Watchers while I was watching the Hallmark Channel – Martha and the Waltons – I know. I logged on, went to WW and joined. I’ve half heartedly done WW before. I haven’t had the motivation I have this time. 40 is coming ’round the corner fast and my goal is to be at my goal when that day comes.

Mini motivation – trip to the beach in 2 weeks, JD’s 20 year high school reunion, Fall clothes, going back to work.

I figured the best way to be accountable was to put here. I’ll document my progress on this blog. I will not put my weight or measurements because I’m really to vain for that. But, I will track my progress, my ups, my downs, my good recipes, my strategy, my challenges…all here.

My goal is to lose 47 lbs. I’ll be in my taget BMI. I’ll be in my perfect size. I’ll be healthy and thankful.

Mini goal #1 – 7 lbs, white jeans (that I won’t wear after Labor Day but I can at least try them on). I think it will take more than 7 lbs to get in them but I have to have mini goals.
Goal #1 Reward – manicure

Once I reach goal #1, I’ll set goal #2.

I’m a stress eater. I’m a bored eater. I’m a social eater. I graze throughout the day on junk. I’m a decent eater at meals – just have to get those snack under control. I want this to be the last major weight loss I ever do. I’ve spent half my life not being the size or weight I want to be or should be. I don’t want to spend the rest of my life wishing I were thinner.

My prayer: :”Lord, I want my body to be a temple for you. I want to be healthy for my family. I want to show my children healthy eating habits. Lord help me to be mindful with every bite I take. Help me to stop and ask myself if I am really hungry before putting something in my mouth. You are almighty and powerful and I know I can accomplish this through you. I give  you all glory and honor as I move forward.”

I want to tell you a story…

This evening JD told Garner a few stories before bedtime. After he finished, Garner followed up with a story of her own. He tells Garner lots of bible stories.

Below is the story JD passed along to me. We laughed out loud. I wonder how he kept a straight face and didn’t laugh as she was telling it. I am always amazed by her little imagination.

“God told Jonah to go to Nineveh but Jonah didn’t want to. Jonah bought a ticket and got on a boat and fell asleep.

Then Jonah waked up and when he did there was a big black pond monster and the pond monster was Jesus. Jesus told

Jonah to go to Nineveh but Jonah didn’t want to because  all the people were naked. The boys and girls were naked.

(Jonah went to Nineveh) and they turned from their naked ways and that is all of my story.”

Week 1

a few photos from week one…
I’m hoping to post to flickr if I can ever get around to it!

Welcome to the world

Baby Graham Andrew Meredith arrived yesterday afternoon at 2:40pm. At 7lbs 8oz and 19.75″ he’s just perfect. We are all doing well.