my inspirational thoughts

On this day, 27 years ago, I was born.

When I visited my parents for Thanksgiving Day weekend, my husband and I spent a lot of time with them, just relaxing. My mom has a small bronze picture frame engraved with all of my birth information. The frame features a giraffe, rainbow, clouds, my time of birth, length, it's really quite cute. The picture, however, I hate {lol}! Well, I don't really hate it, but every time I see it on the shelf I say Mommmm, I hate that picture. I look like an alien. My eyes are all squinty and slanted, but my mom seems to just adore the picture.

You see, I am a believer in birthday celebrations, and I always feel like a celebrity on my birthday. It's my day. My day to get attention, have special treatment, and to just pause and think how cool it is that I have made it 27 years in this crazy world.

Instead of a paper or foodie themed post today, I just wanted to say how lucky I am to be alive. I've been very fortunate, and I never take a single breath for granted.

Here are a few inspirational jewelry pieces I found online today, and each one truly says something about me.

















On my birthday, I always feel like a star... like it's my day, and mine only.




























Hope is really the only thing we have to hold on to when life is hard.

I'm here... I exist... so what else is there to do?


Photos located in the Etsy shop of Pretty Little Me.

textured paper decisions

What type of textured paper/card stock should I purchase? Seriously, I need your help.

As I have mentioned in previous posts, I will soon start printing my own stationery, note cards and other paper products. Today, as I was browsing through Invita Paper Studio's Etsy shop, I realized that my collection of paper is limited. Sure, I own some 100+ card stock and some other fancy-schmancy Martha Stewart paper... but, I don't own textured or linen card stock. I don't know why this has not crossed my mind.

I found several appealing products in Invita's shop today, and quickly realized that I don't know much about textured paper.

I'd appreciate any comments/suggestions you have to help me make the right decision. Check out some of my favorite products, printed on textured paper...






















All photos are located in Invita Paper Studio's Etsy shop.

christmas postcards by krista keltanen

If you are looking for some Christmas postcards, then you need to check out the Etsy shop of Krista Keltanen. Her photography is amazing, and so is her super cute Christmas postcards. Just take a look for yourself. My personal favorite is the vintage van with presents strapped on top. I can really relate to that postcard, since I'm always travelling during the holidays.

thanksgiving vacation

Today is the first full day of my Thanksgiving vacation, and so far, it has been great. I'm enjoying time at home, relaxing with my husband while we milk Netflix for all they are worth. Movie streaming is the best, especially while I'm cuddled up with my Snuggie and Illustrator. Here is a memo card draft I threw together. Simple, but that's how I like my memo cards. I can hardly wait to bring some of my creations to life next week. :)

Also, since the new year is getting closer every minute, I'm working on some goals I have for Paper + Food. One of my goals includes revamping the blog, and cranking out my own set of personalized stationery. One step at a time though...

happy thanksgiving

I wanted to go ahead and give all of my readers a HAPPY THANKSGIVING shout out! Make it a good one, but, don't forget to count your blessings. Among my many blessings are good health, a good job, wonderful family, friends, and especially my wonderful husband who makes every day exciting and fun.

personalized note cards by joy merryman

I found some very elegant personalized note cards today after browsing through Joy Merryman's Etsy shop. I love hydrangeas so much that I had to incorporate them in my wedding, and now, into my own set of personalized note cards.

thank you cards by aripress

Sorry I've been MIA this week! My husband has been sick, which means neither of us have been getting great sleep. I literally come home from work, tidy the house, cook dinner, eat dinner, and crash on the couch.

In other news, I am getting a new printer on Black Friday. IF I survive the madness that day. All so I can start cranking out the goodies.

Since I will soon be attempting to produce my own stationery and thank you notes, I decided it was high time for home inspirational Etsy browsing. Check out some of my recent Etsy finds:

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This weekend I am working on more crafts, and heading to the store to get that printer cartridge I so desperately need.

Have a good weekend, and see ya Monday ♥

birthday card | phase 2

Yesterday, I mentioned that I am making a birthday card for my friend, Theresa. Today I decided that instead of trying to be all poetic, I want the inside of her card to be somewhat decorated, yet simple. Here's a draft of the inside of the card:

She loves cupcake too, so I had to include one somewhere on the card. It's a must!

Stay tuned for more drafts...

birthday brainstorming

My friend Theresa has a birthday next week, and if I can get my act together, I want to create her a homemade birthday card. This, in turn, means I will have to get my printer up and running. Note to self: get motivated to go by those ink cartridges you need!

The plan is to have our small circle of friends sign it, so I'm torn between creating a Hallmarkish message inside the card, or simply leaving a blank space for us to write whatever we want.

Anyway, I love soft pinks/corals, so... this is the direction I am wanting to go.

i ♥ fridays

It's Friday, and I'm spending the weekend with my new craft supplies ♥.

I'll be back on Monday...

























Cupcake picture located here.

modern guestbooks

Sorry for the absent-tee ism the past few days, but I do have a great excuse!

I went to the craft store this weekend and bought some supplies so I could make one of these. Plus, I want to start making a few other things too, so I took the first step this weekend. You have to start somewhere, right? Point being that I was utterly consumed in craft punches, paper, crafty tools, and the works. It's so easy to lose track of time when you are getting crafty!

While scouring the Internet, I began thinking about the wide variety of guestbooks that I have seen lately. They are not the traditional book-like guestbooks, but... well... something like these that I found on Martha Stewart crafts.


I especially love the individual scalloped cards and the red + aqua combo. ♥