Keeping Calm & Carrying On

Happy Birthday Lauren

This little cutie pa-tootie is officially three years old today. I'm so proud to call her my niece and my Godchild. Lauren, you bring so much joy to mine and Uncle Steve's lives and we are so thankful for your happy disposition, your curiosity and beautiful smile! We love you so much!

Hashtag Giveaway Winner

Sorry about the delay in choosing & announcing this winner, but Typepad has been having some major issues this past week. I haven't even been able to login to post....so, thank you for your patience. The winner from the Grand Prize Bella Blvd Hashtag giveaway (see post here) is.....

 

Stephanie Knepsheild of Charlotte, NC via @stephraek on Instagram. 

Stephanie please email me using the subject line "STEPHANIE BLOG WINNER 4/19/2014" with your mailing address!

Thank you everyone for re-posting! My three newest collections will begin shipping worldwide in May! Be sure to tell your friends and local stores you want to buy it :)

Hashtag It to WIN IT: Bella Blvd Giveaway!

Did you see my three new collections revealed this week with my company, Bella Blvd? 

 

Today is your lucky day because I'm giving away 3 complete collection kits to one lucky winner!

You could win all three of these collections complete with patterned papers and stickers for your next scrapbooking/papercrafting project!

How to win: Share this giveaway somewhere online (your blog, facebok, twitter, instagram). Use the hashtag #bellablvdgiveaway and I'll find you, and announce a lucky winner on Monday Morning!

Happy Easter Everyone!

 

My Second Reveal: Scattered Sprinkles

Sprinkles are so much fun no matter what you add them too, right? Sprinkles on ice cream, sprinkles on cake. It's just fun and sweet! That's the inspiration behind my new miniature basics set, Scattered Sprinkles^tm. Sprinkles are available in Bella Blvd's seven best-selling colors: McIntosh, Peep, Bell Pepper, Pickle Juice, Ice, Oreo and Oyster. The back-sides are super fun and versatile too. Here's a couple of my favorites:

Scattered Sprinkles will be available in retail and online stores starting the middle of May! Be sure to request it today, and visit Bella Blvd's Blog for a chance to win this complete miniature collection today!  Spread the happiness; Happy Thursday!

Bella Blvd Reveal: Summer Squeeze

Today's the very first reveal of my new collection, Summer Squeeze. Below are three of my most-favorite prints from the collection including florals, text hearts, strawberries, trees and more.

 

I just LOVE how the colors pop-off the rich black background! It's so lush, and a bit different for me and Bella Blvd. I just love it and hope you do too!

 

And at the Bella Blvd Studio Blog, we're giving away the complete collection to a lucky Bella Blvd fan. Don't miss the fun and new inspiration over at Bella Blvd today. This new collection will be available at retail and online stores in the middle of May! 

Reveals will continue tomorrow with my new Scattered Sprinkles collection!

 

BIG REVEAL STARTiNG TOMORROW!

Tomorrow is the day!

For the next three days straight we'll be revealing my brand new miniature collections over at Bella Blvd. The products will begin shipping worldwide in the middle May. Don't miss the fun and giveaways too! See you there!

New Issue: The Bella Buzz April

One of the perks of loving Bella Blvd products is that every other month we release a 3-6 electronic newsletter for free. The newsletter is planned in advance and layouts and challenges are created specifically for each new issue, making everything inside brand new inspiration, never-seen-before! The April 2014 issue is now available for you to download. Visit Bella Blvd for the link today. 

If you're interested in receiving the newsletter conveniently via email directly to your inbox, just use the widget that looks like this via the homepage:

Here's a peek at the April Bella Buzz. It's full of colorful Spring ideas from some of our most talented designers.

There's also a great giveaway inside.....don't miss it!

 

 

I've been Absent

I know I've been absent for quite some time. I've carried a lot of guilt about that to be honest. It's been really hard balancing life lately between work and personal. This blog is something I love, something that requires a lot of attention and work as well. It's part of who I am and part of my career too. For those of you that read daily, I'm sorry I've been away. Nothing is wrong, there is no need to worry at all, I just was drowning in work and life and really needed the time to focus on my priorities, get some (okay, a lot) of sleep, work on some house projects and more. 

One thing that has been keeping me busy are these photographs. We recently cleaned house and re-organized at the studio office and warehouse for a local photo shoot. My office has never been so spiffy, clutter and dust free!

I'm so glad to have some images of my office and this happy place I come to each and every day.

I'm happy to be back around here and will be posting regularly again. I'm going to cut back just a bit, in order to give you as my readers some better quality. Instead of everyday you'll be able to find me posting here every other day with some of the things you are used to seeing about my life, my work, my hobbies and family too.Thanks for stopping by. I'll be back soon :)

Happy Monday.

 

 

Styling a Shelf

Decorating at home is definitely one of my favorite things to do. Because I have so many different styles that I love I tend to move things around and switch things up often. Plus, over the past few months I've enjoyed printing wedding pictures and scattering them throughout our home.

 

 

I bought this beautiful bookshelf from Pottery Barn a while back and have been holding off on mounting it, because it came with a bunch of heavy duty hardware. The shelf itself is almost 10" deep and weighs more than 15 pounds for sure. Once I got it leveled off I collected pieces for it. Amongst the engagement and wedding day photos is a painting I purchased in Puerto Rico a couple of years ago; A destination Steven and I have both enjoyed and a place where some special friends that mean a lot to us live. It's a wonderful reminder of those times and those friends as well.

A vintage camera, a flower frog and some flowers inside a painted mason jar added a pop of color. The shelf is hung in our front living room, above the sofa. I love the fresh light that comes in from the large windows on the west side of the house. Hope you're having a wonderful weekend.

For all the Guys Out There!

Hilarious & True:

My sister and I were recently on a shopping adventure when we spotted this sign in a boutique. We both couldn't help but crack up, knowing exactly how true every single statement was. For all you ladies out there, don't you agree? 

My favorite: "WOW".

so true. Happy Saturday!

Birthday Wishes

(image credit)

Little Lauren: A Bella Blvd Family Forever Layout

My newest Family Forever collection has one of my most favorite color combinations ever. Red is hard to find in scrapbooking, that perfect Macintosh red that is, and in this collection is truer than truer and paired with turquoise, navy and lime too. 

 

"Little Lauren and Uncle Steve". This little girl puts a smile on my husband's face like no one else does. He's so happy when he sees her and just get a kick out of everything she says and does. Lauren will be three years old in April. I love looking at these older photos and seeing how different she looks already. She's getting so big.

For more Family Forever ideas, visit the Family Forever Idea Gallery via Bella Blvd's Blog.

Go Pack Go: A Bella Blvd Layout

 

 

My new Lucky Starz collection is incredibly versatile. Have you spotted it yet in your favorite local and online stores? We've been shipping orders like crazy for more than a week now! This layout has one of my very favorite photos of Steven and I on it, a selfie from a Packer Game back in 2012.

 

The new Treasures & Text 12x12" sticker sheet has this fun new whimsical and blocky alphabet on it. I must admit that I can't get enough of those sticker letters! I've been wishing I made them in full alphabet sheets in lots of different colors!

I'm already missing football and can't wait for it to return this fall! But first, the freezing air and mounds of snow need to go. This winter has been dreadful, I've just been wishing for Spring.

9 Months & Counting...

Gosh, I know, it's already Tuesday, February 18th. Hard to believe that 9 months ago today I married my Mr. Mister, Steven Michael, and became Mrs...

and 9 months later he still writes me sweet notes, not as long as this one from our wedding day, but the notes keep coming, even if short & sweet.

I know he'll be so embaressed by this post, but I don't care, he truly is the most handsome man I've ever set eyes on. In every way Steven is genuine, nice and so caring.

Happy Nine Months my love. 

Happy Valentine's Day

Download the Issue for Free today:

The Bella Buzz February 2014 Issue

Enjoy!