Yeah - My office is a mess.

My office is a mess. Not your average run of the mill "I need to dust and do a little filing" mess. This is epic, "in your face, hard to work until it's cleaned up" mess.

Once upon a time Sara Paper was housed in a small room (a glorified closet really) off the front foyer. It was nice and cozy. I met with clients in my living room/dining area of our home. Once a groom-to-be happily watched a Cleveland Browns game from the nearby sofa while us gals pored through the books.

Shortly before we bought our very large printer we decided we needed to rearrange things. The master bedroom became our living room, the living room became the office and the the little cozy office off the foyer became a paper closet. Everything fit and I became an expert at stacking. And I could still close the door so it wasn't a big deal how anything looked in there.

But then I found that I was spending a lot of time moving stuff. And calling out for my husband to come in and move the heavy pieces so I could get to certain parts of the closet. Clearly this wasn't going to be a decent way to live or do business.

So last night I yanked everything out of the closet. My biggest thrill of Sunday was when my sister-in-law asked if I knew of anyone wanting to get rid of a chest of drawers. I NEEDED to get rid of a chest of drawers that was taking up valuable real estate in the closet! They came and picked it up and that was one less thing I had to move.

Here is the picture of my cozy paper closet after it puked all over my office.

Here are my happy little workers. My husband and his dad. They are doing a fabulous job!

I can't wait to share the "after" photos. In the meantime I'll enjoy the nice smell of wood and sawdust which always makes me think of home.

I'm also going to see what Harry and Helen were up to this time 66 years ago.
____

Monday Eve, February 21, 1944

Hello Honey,
Well, how's the most wonderful husband in the world today? It's just 10:20 and I'm laying in bed writing this. I got home around 9:15. Then I had to put up my hair, wash and glance at the paper. Now my letter. I wasn't as tired as usual tonight, somehow.

I sent you a box of cookies today. I hope you like them. They aren't homemade but I thought you fellows would like to munch on them while you study. Hope they're not all broken.

On my lunch hour I got the license plates. It seemed to go through okay. Howards have the license plate service too, but you have to wait a week before you can get them and I didn't want to take a chance. I'll also have to take my drivers test Wednesday morning at 8:00. I'll probably be pretty nervous, but I hope to get along okay. Our license number is pretty easy one to remember 487861, isn't it?

Honey, do you ever get any gum? If you can get any and send it or bring it if you get home. I'd appreciate it. Beechnut preferred, or Beechils in the red or blue package. I'd take almost any kind.

The snow has just about disappeared here no and walks and streets are at the messy stages.

Darling, did you know that I'm crazy about Harry Teague? I love him more and more each day. In fact, I can't hardly wait to see him. Honey, I'm praying for that furlough. I love you and am so proud of you. I can't tell you how much.

I'm yours, as always ~ Devotedly, Helen

Happy New Year! - again

February 1 might as well be New Year Day for me. Adam and I spent most of January being sick or (for him) healing from surgery. I woke today, February 1, well rested and not sick! I even kicked off the month with a round on the Wii fit. Not too shabby!

I had fun this weekend at the WCSM Bridal Show at Romers in St. Henry. I enjoyed cake (naturally) but more importantly I got to visit with a bunch of brand new brides. I hope I get to know some of them better via a FREE Consultation. Speaking of free - I know a lot of you are cutting corners these days. Many of the brides I spoke to we looking for ways to do their own invites.

Taking on the project of your own wedding invites is a big task, even for those who are crafty. Don't get me wrong - it can be done and I've seen it done beautifully. However, I urge those of you DIYers (Do It Yourself) who are thinking of doing your own invites to give me a buzz first. I can help you cover the invitation bases and maybe even save a little money in the process.

I love to blog about life, but life gets in the way

I know - it's been forever since I last posted.

I had the end of the year Christmas cards and gifts rush. Then the holidays, then a sobering walk home on New Years Eve which left me with a lingering head cold. Then, since we hadn't yet celebrated Christmas with Adams family we had more of the holidays. Let's not forget the Rose Bowl (O - H ). THEN my husbands gall bladder decides to not work and we have to go get that removed. Have I mentioned that Bridal Show season has started?

And those "special moments"? (As in "Sara Paper . . . for life and it's special moments") Special moments seem to get forgotten under the pile of work. Balance, I've found, is a work in progress. So it's been a bit busy but I want to get back to reporting on YOUR special moments and in turn show you how I can help you with your social stationery.

Have I mentioned that Bridal Show season has started? You can find me at the WCSM Bridal Show on Sunday, January 31, 2010. It's being held at Romers in St. Henry from 1 - 3:30. A good time should be had by all (plus there will be lots of free cake).

I'll also be at the Greenville Bridal Expo at the Darke County Fair Grounds in Greenville. This event is being held on Sunday, February 28, 2010 from 12:30 - 4:00. (also free cake).

I do have some great things cooking lately. Forgive the lousy photography. However, bad photos are better than no photos at all.

Here are some calendars I did for Go Bucks Trucking. Each month features a photo of one of their impressive trucks. Next year I intend to have some templates and will be able to offer personalized calendars useing photos of YOUR family. You'll be able to buy personalized calendars for everyone you know.

This is a close up of the wire binding. We bought a machine this year and can now offer this service in house (and reasonably quick).

Happy New Year to Shannon and David. This is the front of their very fancy petal pocket invite. Shannon and David, who live in Chicago, rang in the new year in Ohio with a New Years Eve Wedding.

Best wishes to Jennifer Bornhorst and Scott Ranly, who will get married this weekend. Their invites are very elegant black, ivory and red. Jennifer was the total opposite of Bridezilla. I wonder if anyone who attends their wedding this weekend will tell me she snapped. I couldn't imagine it, she was so sweet.

More good wishes for Natalie and Luke who also get married this weekend. Natalie was also very non-bridezilla. Her original choice of a deeper plum pocket was back-ordered. So we waited, and waited for the pocket company to tell us they were in stock. Never happened. (well it did finally happen a couple weeks ago but that didn't really help Natalie's situation ) So Natalie gamely switched her colors up a little and I really love the result.

An inside look.

And finally a look at my Christmas.
My husband taught my brothers kids to make balloon animals (and hats). Now that's a gift that will last a lifetime.
Thanks to Topsy Turvy Toys in New Bremen for selling the kit to us.
We had a great time.
I guess "special moments" exist even in the middle of busy times.

Happy New Year! And how I justified my first '10 trip to Coldstone

The begining of the new year always brings the same resolution for me - lose weight, be healthier. In my defense I tried - I really did. I've been eyeing the Wii fit for weeks now, even though we didn't even own a Wii. This sounded promising to my husband who probably never expected to get a new system since we already have the playstation. He waited patiently until Walmart had their big sale (the one where you buy the Wii system and get a $50 gift card). I finally agreed and he wasted no time hustling to Walmart.

So anyway, we got the Wii. We enjoyed the Wii Sports and I even thought the boxing would make a decent workout. But I still wanted the Wii Fit. We waited until after the holidays (stupidly hoping for a sale) only to find that everyone who received a Wii on Christmas was out shopping the day after Christmas and snatched up all the Wii Fits. Grrr.

I stopped at the Meijer in Troy - Out
I stopped at the Walmart in Troy - Out
No big deal I'll just hit up the Walmart in Piqua - Out

I finally go to the Walmart in Sidney. While getting off I-75 I remembered the Coldstone Creamery. Damn! I told myself that if this last Walmart had a WiiFit then I was going to reward myself with ice cream. After all, I worked off a lot of calories getting in and out of my car.

Of course Walmart failed me. Before I even left the store I talked myself into the ice cream anyway. It was delicious!

Then I saw the sign for the Coldstone Cupcakes. How will I resist these?

Merry
Christmas!

Trials of Tuesday

I'm sick. Just a cold but still. And my printer decided it didn't want to work last night. I'm anxiously awaiting the arrival of the service tech so I can get back on schedule.

All in all - not a great start to my Tuesday. I have high hopes for the afternoon though.

Masterpiece Monday - Melissa and Lance

Love the look of these. Circles are sleek, retro in a modern way (possible?) and a great "theme" to carry through all the wedding details. Melissa and Lance used rich colors to achieve this look.

The inner and outer envelopes - what a bold, fun piece of mail.

The invite, rich color printed on champagne card stock, then mounted onto a copper card stock.

A close up of the top of the invite.

The RSVP postcard. Only takes $.28 postage.

Place card for the wedding guests.