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we had so much fun last year at disneyland we decided to squeeze another mickey visit in this year. it’s amazing how much more the boys are enjoying it this year. they loved it last year, but one year older makes a big difference. seeing it decorated for the holidays is even more magical. are you rested after the long weekend? or did you play too much??
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hello friends! we’re recovering from lots of turkey, mashed potatoes, cranberry sauce and stuffing, paired with laying around and catching up with aunties, uncles, grandma and grandpa. i’ll be avoiding the mall today, but i’m making my christmas shopping list and doing some planning. we got our family pics back and i can’t wait to share them with you next week. do you have a turkey hangover? what does your friday hold?
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for my sweet little family
and my bigger, amazingly supportive and loving family
for coffee and sunlight
and being able to set my own work schedule
for a husband who is my best friend
and friends who understand my soul
and the friends i’ve never met who read my blog
and care about me and my family
for hope and happiness
even on the hard days.
i am very thankful.
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what are you thankful for today?
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not sure if it’s the upcoming holiday, or our internet going down for a couple days or what but i completely lost my rhythm this week. i’ve been feeling really out of sorts and like i’m constantly trying to keep up/catch up/patch up. sigh. so looking forward to time with family over thanksgiving.
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on a lighter note, i’m obsessed with hot chocolate right now. with marshmallows. so yummy and comforting. what is soothing your soul right now?
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one of my favorite shops downtown is paper sky. i leave buzzing with inspiration.
and jessica, the owner, kindly agreed to answer some questions for us!
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I get inspiration from just about everything…color, humor, odd moments, great packaging, anything handmade, the sound of the ocean…
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2. What is your favorite craft or thing to create?
I love the hands on creative process. I am all over the board when it comes to creating but I typically gravitate towards paper crafts. I’m having a lot of fun right now creating our holiday window. It’s a very whimsical snow village entirely made out of paper, ribbon and of course, heaps of glitter.
3. What’s the hardest part of owning your own shop?
There is always something else to do, always another idea on your mind, and never enough hours in the day.
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4. Any great ideas hit you today?
This is not my idea but I just color coordinated the spines of all the books in our built in shelving unit and it looks so cheery and artful now!
5. What advice would you give to other women who want to start their own business?
Stay focused and never deviate from your overall vision. But mostly, GO FOR IT! This has been the most amazing and gratifying experience ever!
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6. Plain or peanut M&M’s?
Ha! Ha! Both?
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Thanks Jessica! Paper Sky is located at Higuera St. If you’re looking for unique cards, custom wedding invites, table decor, or general inspiration, paper sky is your best bet!
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hello friends. we ate breakfast in morro bay and then did a family photo shoot. fingers crossed we got a couple good ones. i’ll share more later this week. the sun was shining and it didn’t feel at all like winter. what are you doing today?
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our winners for the paper lantern necklace are…
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Jessica
I would put the words “walk” “in” and “light” on this necklace. What is really causing me to glow lately is walking in the light of the Bible. God’s truth is giving me joy an I am trusting Him to continue making me into a new creation. This lantern necklace would be perfect to express that! “But if we walk in the light, as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus his Son cleanses us from all sin.” 1 John 1:7
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Nan Gough
Today I had a wonderful afternoon outing with my 4 year old daughter (a bit of Mommy and me time without sister baby) and a bit of quiet time with the baby when we returned home. I also have an anticipatory glow because tomorrow my husband returns from deployment! Hooray!
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Ladies, email me your shipping addresses and how you want your paper lantern necklaces stamped. Congratulations!!
You can be my noise
When I have no sound
You can be my net
When I stumble down
You can be my leap, up off the ground
My escape
From the live and lose
Our friend Chad started writing a song last weekend. Hearing him work through the melody was amazing-so peaceful, so beautiful. And he told me that a big part of his inspiration for this song was our sweet David. You can find the words and the audio here. Go and listen and download it if you’d like to. It’s so lovely.
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ps. do you tweet? follow me on twitter.
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little bits of christmas are starting to pop up around the house.
it’s a good motivation for cleaning.
this year, we’re sticking with silver and aqua with punches of color.
and there might be christmas music playing, too.
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would you rather spend the week in southern california, playing at disneyland, munching on hot dogs and cotton candy, sleeping in a comfy hotel and humming ‘it’s a small world’ 
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OR would you rather spend a the week in a snow covered, mountain cabin, reading a good book, sipping hot cocoa, playing board games and snuggling under warm blankets?
if you could get away for the week, which would you choose??
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i am so excited about the new paper lantern necklace. there are three {exlusive} lanterns to choose from. aren’t they fun??
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the sterling discs are small and perfect for everyday. And of course, you can customize each disc with a hand-stamped name, date or word.
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so we should give a couple away, right?? leave your comment and tell us what’s making you glow today?
and you can see the new piece here.
* GIVEAWAY CLOSED, thank you!
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david and chad playing guitar.
sunshine and a very cold breeze at the park.
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starbucks break
reading stories on the top bunk
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the most beautiful sandcake i’ve ever seen
shoes and toys and lots of laughing
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the kids had sooo much fun running and playing and pretending. they didn’t want to say goodbye. the adults had lots of time to catch up and talk and dream together. sarah and chad shared their story on sunday and it was real and honest and beautiful.
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i was a little worried about making our guests comfortable. our house is small and i didn’t have a lot of time to clean as well as i would have liked. then i remembered our guests are also our dear friends, and they don’t mind a mattress on the floor or a stack of papers near the phone. i doubt they would notice if i dusted my bookshelves or cleaned out my fridge. and because i didn’t spend a lot of time cleaning and tidying, i didn’t worry about the toys strewn all over the house or the sand and leaves the kids tracked inside. i think our friends were more comfortable in an imperfect home with relaxed hosts. do you enjoy having overnight guests? how do you make friends feel welcome?
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and tomorrow i’ve got a new design to show you!!
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with this amazing couple. playing guitar, building sandcakes, eating burgers, running into the incredible hulk while shopping downtown and generally just soaking up this time together.
are you enjoying your weekend?
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i’m really soaking up fall BUT…i’m really ready to put up my christmas tree.
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does that make me a bad person??
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do you see the bumblebee in that first pic? what luck!
and even more good luck with this new {to me} typewriter.
we’ve been having so much fun with it. $15 at my favorite thrift store.
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looking for inspiration? sarah and her husband chad will be speaking at our church on sunday. their story is an amazing one. you’ll be inspired by their love for each other, their journey of forgiveness and most of all their firsthand experience of God’s grace. haven’t read her story? you can find it here.
*Join us*
Sunday, November 14, 2009
Grace Church, San Luis Obispo, CA
10:45am in the ministry center
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pretty pics, a fabulous find and a super fun new design coming soon.
i’m buzzing with inspiration today! are you??
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i love letterpress. the thick paper, the texture, the muted colors, the amazingly creative designs.
i get seriously inspired by vintage letterpress.
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my friend becky and her husband, troy, bought a vintage letterpress machine and they crank out the most. amazing. art. they gave me a demonstartion of how to letterpress a while back and i was drooling. the creative process is labor intensive and beautiful. the product is definitely something unique and special. they make our business cards. they make beautiful holdiday cards.
oh, and they make the most delicious wedding invitations…
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here’s becky with her daughter emma. aren’t they darling? there is so much waiting and grace and abundant blessing behind this picture. you’ll have to go over to becky’s blog to learn more.
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