September is my big milestone month. Yesterday I celebrated my 32nd birthday. Sophie’s first birthday (!!!)Â is a week from today. On Sunday, Oh So Beautiful Paper will celebrate its 5th anniversary. Oh, and while I’m at it, Andrew and I celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary in May and I celebrated 3 years of self-employment in early July. Anyway, I normally reserve my goal setting for the end of the year, but I’ve been in an introspective mood these last few weeks. So, a few thoughts before we get to our weekly round up…
Photo Credit: Sweetapolita
The truth is: as many wonderful things happened in my 31st year, it has been quite a struggle. I’ve struggled to find my footing as a working mother, struggled to manage caring for my child with growing my business, and struggled to regain a sense of normalcy after our big move back in March. I made it through Sophie’s first year of life, but just barely. So today I’m looking forward to a new age and a new year, hopefully filled with a little less anxiety and a bit more peacefulness. I don’t like to focus on anything negative here because, well, this blog is my happy place, but like anyone else I need to grow and evolve. Reflect and make changes. I’d like to share some of those changes here, with all of you. I’ve always shared things that inspire me beyond invitations and stationery, but I’d also like to share a little bit more of me here. I mean, it’s been five years… it would probably be nice if you actually knew me, right? I don’t entirely know what that means just yet, but stay tuned!
Image Credit: Todd Wendorff and Anna Zajac
As always, a few links for your weekend:
- Between Joy, Jordan, and my friends Amber and Emily, I’m absolutely dying to have my own studio space!
- Completely in love with this timeline that Melanie put together for her 7 year anniversary
- Being gentle to ourselves. YES.
- A gorgeous boathouse wedding. And oh hey! The bride used one of our DIY tutorials for her invitations!
- Super cute printable geometric gift boxes
This week on Oh So Beautiful Paper:
- Theo’s adorable mini flip book first birthday party invitations
- Party Paper: A row, row, row your boat party!
- Dramatic and elegant soirée invitations with metallic foil on black chipboard
- Vibrant and colorful destination wedding invitations
- Well Said Type: Cantoni Calligraphy Font (and a big discount!)
- Lots of ideas for incorporating award ribbons into your day-of wedding stationery
- Art Deco-inspired screen printed wedding invitations (and a glimpse of the process behind the scenes!)
- Pretty + Paper: Inspired by the loveliest shade of lavender
- Love these interactive comic book strips for kids from The Mu
- Our spring family session with Adam Barnes
A big welcome to the newest member of the Designer Rolodex: Julie Song Ink!
Check back soon for this week’s cocktail! I hope you all have a wonderful weekend, and I’ll see you back here next week! xoxo
Congratulation on all of these wonderful events & milestones! And happy belated birthday 🙂 Personally, I have found your content to be absolutely wonderful, cheerful and spot on. Not to mention personally inspiring to me! I can’t believe you were able to manage with a lil one in her first year! I was a wreck during the first year of both of my kids 🙂 Working at home is especially challenging even with someone holding the kids while you work. Oh the distractions and interruptions! I look forward to the changes and knowing a little more about you Nole 🙂 Good luck with the party and happy birthday to baby girl! Sophie is absolutely precious-love the new family photos!
Done rambling–have a great weekend!
Thank you Linnette!!
Happy belated birthday and I think all of us have been the happy recipients of your work/life balance efforts. Thank you for continuing to publish happy paper pieces for us stationery lovers day in and day out
Thank you so much for reading! I always appreciate your supportive comments!
Thank you for the honor of being in the Rolodex! I’m struggling to juggle things with being there for my 8-month old girl too – totally feel you 🙂 Happy Birthday Nole and Sophie!
Sweet Nole, Happy Birthday!
I know exactly what you mean when you say you made it through your very first year of motherhood “just barely”. Take good care of yourself and REJOICE! The road really does smooth out a bit after the first year. There’s just something about being able to sleep and shower that really restores a person…and doesn’t happen much in a baby’s first year.
Thanks Beth! Yes, sleep and a shower go a long long long way towards feeling like a real person again. I’m definitely looking forward to this second year, although the idea of a walking and running toddler kind of terrifies me!