big day for a little blog

today is a big day for this little blog of mine.

i'm excited to announce my very first website!

[mental snap shot for the baby book]

tadaaaaaa!!!

eeeeeeeeeeekkk!!

pinch me,,,,this can't be real!

please take a few minutes to check out the new www.gracefullymadedesigns.com and bookmark, star, or sticky my new blog address: www.gracefullymadedesigns.com/blog.

i'm so excited about this new adventure for Gracefully Made Designs, 

and i can't wait for you to come along with me! :) 

a makeover story: k batty design and stationery

the last few weeks, i've been working with the talented ms. kerry batty on a little blog refresh!

kerry is a graphic designer up in new york, and has some of the cutest stuff up in here etsy shop!

i was so honored that she would reach out to me to help her with this project.

she has great taste and beautiful sense of style. working with her was a joy! 

visit kerry's blog and etsy shop. i promise you won't regret it!

an itty bitty baby announcement

warning:

cute baby alert

a few weeks again, my sweet friends mandy and travis welcomed their baby girl, amelia belle, into their family. when mandy first posted the newborn photos, i couldn't stop scrolling through them.

putting together this baby announcement for them was a breeze! 

seriously though.  could that baby girl be any cuter?

my iphone photos don't do her justice!

photos by more than an image photography.

this might just be my new favorite project.

#myversionofbabyfever

training update: weeks 5 and 6

i finally feel like i'm reaching the point of "not dying" at the end of my runs.  looking  back, it's crazy to think that my regular daily runs are longer than my first week's long run! progress is definitely a fun achievement!

during one of my runs last week, i got caught in the middle of a mini-rainstorm.

at first, i felt a little bummed, and a lot stressed that my iphone was going to be ruined,

but then i realized that there was nothing i could do about it, except enjoy the refreshing surprise!

so i just kept running till reached my goal and made it home.
what a blessing from the Lord. it was just the cool down i needed.

slowly but surely we are getting there!

i'm a bit nervous about next week's 5 miler, but fingers crossed! :)

#justkeeprunning

a glamorous opportunity

a few weeks ago,  a sweet friend asked me to participate in a styled shoot.

remember sarah carpenter? 

the lady behind our adorable one year anniversary photos?

she partnered up with emily at petals couture and put together the most glamorous layout.

i designed the invitation and the macaroon box tags,

and they coordinated the rest of the beautiful tablescape.

all photos were taken by sarah carpenter of sarah carpenter photography and design.

didn't they do a fantastic job?

i feel a little more fancy just looking at the photos!

i feel so blessed to be a part of such a fantastic project.

pretty in purple

of all the projects i am blessed to be a part of, i think bachelorette parties are the most fun.

i love seeing how excited the bridemaids are to shower their sweet friend with love and attention.

this bride's favorite color was purple, so we updated the invite to match accordingly!

we also included a lingerie shower card and a weekend schedule. 

the schedule piece is definitely my favorite part.

every girl loves to be prepared when they go off for a weekend with the girls, so we paired the set with a weekend schedule card! this piece is completely customizable, whether you're hanging by the pool, having a spa day, or taking on the town, the schedule pieces can be updated to match the occasion.

need a custom invitation?
check out my etsy shop!

gracefully made re-designed

i'm so excited to to introduce my new logo and blog design!

i've been wanting to make a change for a while, but couldn't quite figure out what i wanted.

change is hard sometimes, but in the end, it feels so good! 

i've also added a gracefully made designs facebook page!

i'd love it if you like me! :)

are you afraid of change?

what have you updated in your life recently?

what i'm wishin' for

 [clockwise starting top left: 1, 2, 3, 4]

i'm trying really hard to distinguish between wants and needs.

for instance, 

i really want all of these yummy things,

but do i really need a super adorable iphone case or fabulous necklace?

and do we really need to replace our current christmas-themed welcome mat
with this fantastic one that says "howdy"?
and does raider really need a new collar? 

silly bub-hub's "let's save money"
 brainwashing techniques must be working.

what's on your wish list?

i love snail mail: watercolor stationary

everyday when i get home from work,

i take raider on his little walk,

go to the mail box,

and hope i have a surprise waiting for me!

usually it's just junk mail,

but every so often, a beautiful envelope will be there waiting for me.

i love snail mail!

i love having cute stationary to send notes to friends or include with gifts.

i know how much a little note can change my day, 

and i love being able to share that feeling with others!

do you still write letters?

does snail mail brighten up your day?

visit my etsy shop here: gracefully made designs

let's celebrate with confetti!

nothing says "we love fun" more than confetti!

this suite is a perfect fit for a couple looking to spend their wedding day with friends and family. weddings are a celebration after all!

there is also a coordinating save the date!

i am in love with this new design.

it's so versitile and would be adorable in so many different color combinations.

the little polka dots just make my heart so happy.

The Boat Song

you may or may not know, but the traditional first anniversary gift is paper.

bub-hub and i are not typically traditional gift givers,

but for our first wedding anniverary we both stuck with tradition.

i was formally invited, via movie tickets created by bub-hub, to watch our wedding slideshow and videos, with a yummy bottle of wine.

and i created this print for us to hang in our bedroom.

 

although it's not our official song,

it is the song that makes me tear up everytime i really listen to it.

#mushygushy

watch the music video and try not to fall in love.

i dare you.

 

this print is now available in my etsy shop!

check me out! :)

 

 

some pictures, a park & a puppy

i love my family.

maybe i'm a little biased,

but i'm pretty sure i'm the luckiest girl on the planet.

raider was loving life that morning.

he was running around the park like a mad man and just having the time of his life. he'd come back and pose for a few photos, and then run back into the trees.

#naturedog #wildman

please tell me i'm not the only one who thinks having pets in your family photos is a fabulous idea.

these photos were snapped by the lovely sarah carpenter at sarah ashley events.

sarah and her hubby/assistant ben did a fantastic job.

i was blown away with the photos and can't stop scrolling through them.

i love the way they were able to capture our personalities.

bub-hub and i don't take ourselves too seriously, 

so it was great to have a photographer to laugh with us through our awkwardness.

it's amazing what a fabulous photographer can do with a camera.

fun fact:

these were taken at the same park we took our wedding party photos!

i know, we are the cheesiest of them all.

to see more photos, check out sarah's blog post on our shoot:

sarah ashley events

for real. she's the bomb[dot]com.

thankful in the busyness

lately, i feel like i can't catch my breath.  

as soon as one project wraps up, another giant one is looming around the corner. 

don't get me wrong, i am very thankful for our busy lives and i'm very thankful for the many blessings that we have and for the time we do get to spend together. 

but sometimes, 

i wish i was a little more successful in my 2013 resolution to slow down and be still.

#someday

i just wanna snuggle with raider.

is that too much to ask??

:)

Source: paperplayne.com via Sarah Grace on Pinterest

today, i am thankful for:

hot tea and giant mugs,

a sweet puppy that welcomes me home every day,

a bub-hub who is a professional mac-n-cheese maker,

rain and cool temperatures that helps keep the humidity away,

sweet friends who provide encouragement at the perfect time.

what are you thankful for today?

the big one!

what is more adorable than a first birthday party?

ummmm....nothing. :)

recently, a sweet friend asked me to help design the invitation to her baby boy's first birthday party and i was thrilled! she is such a fantastic party planner, so i can't wait to see how the party turns out!

i tried to keep the design minimal and make the photo of her baby boy the main focus. 

i love how bright and simple the colors are. 

and just because i've got spring fever:

no, i didn't throw a birthday party for raider,,,,yet. :)

although, that is a brilliant idea!

visit gracefully made designs on etsy. 

a precious baby stocking

i am so excited to share this christmas card with you guys.

but it isn't an ordinary christmas card,,,

it's a "we're having a baby" announcement!

how cute is that baby stocking?

#cantgetenough

when i was asked to help make their big announcement, 

i was overwhelmed with excitement and happiness. 

i first got to know this sweet couple back in college at Texas Tech, and i am so grateful to still call them friends!  they are going to make fantastic parents. and i can't wait to see how the LORD blesses them over the next nine months as they await their beautiful baby b! :)

i'd be honored if you would check out my etsy shop:

gracefully made designs

eat, drink and be married!

today, i'm excited to introduce a new addition to my etsy shop:

eat, drink & be married!

who doesn't love a good mustache?

i can't get enough of the yellow.

maybe it's the last five days of cloudy-rainy weather,

but i just love me some sunshine.

visit gracefully made designs on etsy. 

merry january from the chastains!

merry christmas january from the chastain family!

"for unto us is born this day, in the city of David, 

a Savior, who is Christ the Lord."

luke 2:11

christmas cards are probably one of my favorite parts of the holidays. 

i love checking the mail,

i love getting mail,

and i love decorating our refrigerator with photos and beautiful cards. 

me + christmas cards = m.f.e.o.

i will probably leave them up until valentines day.

#notashamed

do you have a special event coming up?

check my etsy shop for custom invitations and party designs:

gracefully made designs

new designs are going up soon!