my heart is FULL...

the past two weeks have been AMAZING!

the flood of positive responses to the recent "lemonade & sunshine" party i hosted has been HUMBLING!

the SWEET, sweet comments have lifted me in ways you can't imagine.

i appreciate my readers...

i appreciate my facebook followers...

i appreciate you ALL!

i decided to dedicate a full post to everyone who has reached out...

everyone who has left a comment...

each of you who've shared some "love" with me...

i'm filled beyond belief.

thank you SO much for your ongoing support and kindness.

it means the world to me.

i've said it before...

and i REALLY mean this...

your comments are like gifts i can't wait to open! *wink*

a special thanks to all of the blogs/websites that were sweet enough to feature the party

or make mention of it on facebook or even twitter...

Postcards & Pretties, Sara's Party Perfect, The Sweetest Occasion, TomKatStudio, Celebrations at Home, Bella Grace Party Designs, Sharnel Dollar Designs, Imprintables Blog, Be Different...Act Normal, Oh Goodie Designs, Fresh Chick Design Studio, Icing Designs, Project Wedding, Gordon Gossip, Crazy About Weddings, Sheek Shindigs, Celebrate Today...the Superchick Way, Catch My Party, The Hip Hostess

hugs to each of you...

again, my heart is FULL!

thank you...

**i've tried keeping good track but if i've left anyone off...please let me know & i apologize in advance**

it feels good...

it feels good to be unexpectedly recognized...

this is a magazine i've been featured in.

i had no clue about it...

...until a couple of days ago.

i had a customer mention she'd found me in a magazine she subscribes to called review it!

what?!

at my request, she forwarded me the article.

i looked it up online and found a digital version of the magazine - go here to take a peek.

(the feature is on pages 28 & 29)

wow!

it feels good to be recognized...

and the "unexpectedness" of it all makes it even sweeter...

so that got me thinking about all of the other things that are making me feel good lately...

- to step off the treadmill having accomplished my daily exercise - especially on the days i lack motivation.

- when i make healthy eating choices

- to discover something new

- when i figure out an easier way to do something

- to do custom orders people love

- when i design something i completely adore

- to receive an unexpected card in the mail from a long-time friend

- to have my creative journal filled with ideas to try and concepts to make happen

- to be consistently accomplishing things listed on my "before birthday goals"

- knowing i have all of the ingredients i need to officially start my journey through the babycakes cookbook

- when the sun is shining and dreary winter days seem to be behind us. (finally)

- snuggling up to my 3 girls

- when ella takes a LONG nap *wink*

and the list could go on really...

i have a lot to be grateful for.

making this list is exactly what i needed today.

so how about you?

what's making YOU feel good?

Keeping It Real:

today is NOT one of those "LONG nap" days for ella...

in fact, i'm quite irritated about the ruckus going on next door - one of the neighbors is building a pool and the noise has ella all out of sorts...(focus on your list jessica...just breathe & focus)...*wink*

featured...

so here's my big news for the week...

i'm soooo super excited!

the baby shower i posted in january was featured by HWTM yesterday...

go HERE to see the entire write-up

so do you want the full story on how it all played out?

remember when kim from the tomkatstudio featured ella's party?

well....

not only did she feature it...

she later twittered me informing me she'd sent the info. to HWTM!

WHAT?!

i just thought that was the sweetest thing...seriously!

so...

i quietly waited.

the holidays passed and no word from HWTM.

hmmm?

so...

january came.

i got the gumption to forward the shower to HWTM -

& i also included the link to ella's party.

jenn from HWTM responded right away and mentioned wanting to feature both parties.

WOW!

we decided to feature the baby shower first...

and that my friends...

is how i got featured on the incredibly inspirational HWTM blog!

i'm honored.

seriously!

have you checked out the party themes, home decor and entertaining ideas featured there?

you MUST!

a HUGE thank you to all of you following along...

you are literally experiencing all of this with me.

that's SUCH a cool concept.

technology amazes me.

i'm so grateful for all of this "growth" i'm experiencing.

and grateful to be sharing it with you.

i'm meeting sooo many talented people.

people who quietly cheer me along...

people i can call "friends"...

so...

here's an insanely tight hug from me to all of you today!!!

now.

back to work. *wink*

Keeping It Real

yes...i actually questioned whether or not to send the email to HWTM...

but i'm so glad i just DID it...without too much thought behind it! *wink*

so many things to celebrate...

source

i've been feeling completely on cloud 9 for the past week or two.

i think because of several reasons...

remember that contest i mentioned a week ago?

the one i said i entered just for fun?

the contest on the creative hostess site...

searching for the most adorable kids party of 2009?

well...

the winners were announced yesterday...

i couldn't believe my eyes!

apparently 200+ entries...

and there were sooo many that were over-the-top creative/adorable.

and i won 2nd place?!

amazing!

if you want some awesome party ideas you should TOTALLY go here.

scroll down and look through the comments section.

click on the links readers left behind to view the different party entries...

totally inspirational!

and you should definitely go check out the first and 3rd place winners...

a vintage carnival theme by zuesette of marizette paperie won 1st place.

the 3rd place winner was an adorable construction party by Jessica of Juicy Bits...

WOW!

details!

needless to say i felt very humbled yesterday...

and completely thrilled & surprised!

thank you creative hostess for hosting the contest...

and a special thanks to the judges:

chris from "celebrations at home"

jenn at "hostess with the mostess"

kelly from "the party dress"

and my dear, sweet friend...

kim from "the tomkat studio"

and there's still more things to celebrate...

3 sales in my brand-new etsy shop...

fun commissioned jobs for invites/announcements...

a sweet personal story sent to me from one of my readers - relating to the "be" print.

(you know who you are)...

before birthday goals met:

#17

#20

#21

#26

& looking forward to accomplishing goal #5 on saturday...

a picnic with the family...

...bubbles & photography included. *wink*

and so many more goals "in progress"....

there's so much power in writing your goals down...

but there's even more power in looking at them everyday...

and doing small things each day to scoot yourself closer to your desired result.

where are you at with your own personal goals?

great big ole hugs to you all...

you make my world go around...

Keeping It Real:

i'm much more motivated to achieve these creative "before birthday goals" than say...losing weight, eating better or exercising.

why is that?

oh yeah.

the creative goals are more fun. *wink*

and what about that "thing" i mentioned i'd be posting?

some sort of valentine's day inspiration?

well.

supplies have been gathered.

and that's about it.

my goal was to have things assembled yesterday...

pictures taken and ready to post today.

you know...

to send you off with some valentine's inspiration for the weekend.

looks like i won't get to post until monday.

darn it!

creative hostess contest

yep.

it's another contest.

but this time i'm not hosting it. *wink*

kim posted this on her site and i couldn't help but enter.

just for fun.

you never know...

right?

you should enter too...

or if you have friends that would be interested...

pass along the information.

creative hostess is sponsoring it.

go here to enter...

holy mackeral...

as i'm getting ready to copy the link from creative hostess,

i see a slide show on the homepage with my party! what!?

i had no idea she posted it. (evidently on the 11th).

i'm so excited.

thank you creative hostess!

thank you for all of the sweet things you said about my little ella's party!

that just made my day...

ok.

that does it.

today is the day i'm going to go and make someone else's day...

i'm going to cross off the "pay for someone's order in the drive thru"...

you know...

one of my "before birthday" goals...

make YOUR day great...

have a wonderful thursday...

hugs!

here we go again...

uh oh...

the "creative bug" has bitten me again...

i'm on the search for some fun inspiration for an upcoming baby shower i've been asked to help throw.

how cute is this cake from pinkcakebox -

must gather my ideas for the invitations, do a rough draft, have them "approved", send them off for printing and start putting it all together...

no pressure. *wink*

i LOVE this kind of stuff.

meanwhile...it's totally bugging me that i haven't changed my blog header yet to reflect the NEW upcoming holiday season. but hey...the new holiday music i've got pumpin' is good...huh?

and i MUST mention a huge THANK YOU to sara over at partyperfect.

she featured ella's birthday party on her blog today... sara is a former art director for martha stewart baby and kids magazines...hello! she shares lots of fun ideas on her site and she currently designs for hicks paper goods. (part of whitney english company). i'm completely flattered...thanks again sara. now....go check out her site...

my new best friend...

remember me mentioning the incredibly talented kim, over at thetomkatstudio? she's the inspiration behind the design of the dessert table place cards & tags on the favor boxes for ella's birthday party!

well.

let me tell you.

she totally flattered me yesterday by posting ella scarlet's 1st birthday party on her blog! (go read it...) she had such wonderful things to say i was "cyber blushing". it was SUCH a big compliment considering i ADORE what this girl can do. i stumbled across her site awhile back & she's not only got a beautiful blog to visit with lots of inspiration and ideas...but she's also got THIS etsy site where you can purchase & download her super cute, super fresh & super fun party goods.

like this adorable gift tag from her new holiday collection

you've GOT to go check her out. her things make you WANT to throw a party...just because. it's all SUCH delicious eye candy.

so THANK YOU kim... if we lived close to each other...we'd be doing lunches together frequently! *wink*

and thanks to all of you for the sweet comments and positive feedback that have filled my blog and twitter page over the past 2 days. YOU girls know how to make THIS girl feel really good. *wink*

working on posting some "how did she do that?" tutorials over the next couple of days. i've gotten lots of different questions about different elements of the party and i'm more than willing to share all of the details.

so.

hold tight.

enjoy your thursday.

xoxo,

jess