GAME ON

It's game day, y'all!

You can feel it in the air! Everywhere you look there are Gamecock fans of all ages, shapes, and sizes decked out in their Gamecock spirit wear {including the Bakers}. It's an awesome sight to behold. Last year, I actually started a post on this particular phenomenon, but never uploaded the pics. Oh well! If you live anywhere near Cola., SC...you don't need my pics to understand.

Any who... I haven't posted about CTBakerDesigns.com in a while. And I realize I'm a little late in posting this, but I have recently created some fun theme invitations, as I had a client planning a tailgate engagement party. And NEVER FEAR! If you are not a Gamecock fan - I can change the culahs {colors}!!!

No need for fancy tailgate spots for a great party! Why not have a team spirit shindig in the comfort of your home?!?

Go for it! And GO COCKS!

 

 

Currently

Currently loving... our 3 day STAYcation. Shan's parents volunteered to keep the boys at the lake for a few days and we gladly took them up on it. So refreshing!

Currently reading... My So-Called Life as a Proverbs 31 Wife by Sara Horn. Such a cute easy read on a topic in which lots of women I know struggle!

Currently waiting for... God. I've been doing lots of praying and sorting through which path I should follow in my "career"/"purpose" and which steps to take to get there. Just waiting on some guidance from Him.

Currently excited about... the gradual face-lift the interior of my house is slowly-but-surely getting. It's been a long 8 years since we've done anything to our house and we're finally going room by room! Oliver's room- 90% complete, Up Next {in this order}... Master Bedroom (we're moving downstairs into what is currently my guestroom), Sam's room (No more sharing! He's getting his own room.), Fulton's Room (Not a complete over-haul because he and Sam had their room repainted a few years ago. So we're just doing some updates and re-arranging because we don't want him to feel left out.) Hall and Stairwell (repainting), Laundry Room (We're doing some built-ins...desk, cabinets, folding counter etc.), Kitchen (Repaint and put in a new microwave), Living Room and Dining room (Repaint), Den (Repaint and FINALLY reupholster my chair and ottoman)

Currently missing... my boys! While I have loved the quiet time to ourselves, I am really starting to miss them. I am not used to being away from them, especially for more than a day or two.

Currently trying... to eat more "real" food. I'm not being hugely successful, but I'm learning and making an attempt.

Currently working... on several invitation projects and a logo! Loving the original themes... 50 States...50 Years Anniversary, Cheer party, Pinewood Derby party, and a Hot Rod party

Currently enjoying... The last few weeks of summer. I am looking forward to a routine and everyone going to their own "places" each day, but I love the lazy days of summer too!

Currently using... my Kindle Fire, LOTS! I have had issues falling asleep recently. I think it's mostly because I'm stewing in all the things I need to get done and dreading how long it's going to take. UHHHG! So my Kindle has become my new BFF from 11:00pm-1:00am.

Currently wearing... a different ring on my right ring finger because I STILL can't find my 30th birthday gift, ruby and diamond cocktail ring. I lost/misplaced it a couple of weeks ago and it makes me want to barf when I think about it.

Currently planning... A fun Summer Olympics Opening Ceremonies get-together with a few neighbors for Friday night. Can't wait! I should probably warn them that I get so excited I cry.

Currently singing... whatever pops into my head. Y'all know I love to sing all.the.time., especially when I have the house or car to myself.


Currently needing... to get my mojo back. I think I've had so much going on recently with our house projects, the lax summertime schedule, and entertaining the boys daily that I have yet again, pushed "me" to the side. S & F are not wild about the gym nursery and pushing 100+ pounds of baby and stroller while watching 2 wobbly bicycle riders as I hit the pavement doesn't make for a very thorough workout. Ok. Those are crappy excuses. So I need prayers for my mojo to return. Thanks.


Currently learning... to make more time for me and more date nights with my hubby. We deserve it and have been simmering on the back burner for a long, long time now. We have discussed several ways to "afford" it so money isn't an excuse. And we have also discussed making better use of our time so we can't say we don't have "time" to squeeze it in.

Currently listening to... the morning news and the click-clack of the keyboard.

Currently wishing... for Fall! I can't wait for cooler temps, the beautiful blue sky, and designing and planning fun fall parties for people.

Currently doing... what I can to keep O a baby. He is using the potty, sleeping in a big-boy bed, going to Mrs. Frannie's class 5 days a week this school year, and just in the last week started calling me "mom". Noooooooo! It's all going by so fast. I promise to never blink again!!!

Currently praying for...lots! Personal growth in several areas, comfort and healing for family, peace, patience, and the ability to bite my tongue during hard times (including the hours from 4pm-8pm), and for guidance as a servant, wife, and mother.

Currently dreaming of... our next family road trip. We had so much fun back in April and I can't wait to do it again! We've been throwing around some ideas. Y'all got any in particular for me?

This is a borrowed post from the girls at Jones Design Company and Lemonade Makin' Mama!

Okay it's your turn if you want... give me a run-down of what you're doing "currently" in comments or blog it and pass it on!

XO,

 

Time.

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,

3 a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,

4 a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,

5 a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,

6 a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,

7 a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,

8 a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.

Ecclesiastes 3:1-8
Time.
We have God's word that there is a time for everything.
And there definitely is.
During the holidays, so many things - emotions, activities, obligations, traditions, etc. - are crammed into such a small amount of time.
I love the hustle and bustle, but love the calmness and peacefulness at the same time. It's weird and can be quite hard to manage at times. But we see the holidays come and go each year and I always wonder if I did too much or did too little. I'm still waiting for the year that I feel juuuust right.
I wonder if I'll ever feel that way?

If Ecclesiastes 3:1-8 had been written by me about the past month it would go something like this:

A Time for Everything

1 There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:

2 a time to set up market and a time to break it down,
a time to hunt for and decorate the perfect tree and a time to grind the greens,
3 a time to shop for gifts and a time to return them because you're clearly not the "medium" your husband likes to think you are,
a time to wrap and tie beautiful bows and a time to unwrap them and put the beautiful paper and bows in the trash,

4 a time to bake 3 batches of biscottis and a time to selfishly hide the last one so no one else gets it,
a time to reunite with the best of friends and a time to say good-bye again,

5 a time to worry about the poor health of loved ones and a time to pray {lots} for their comfort and healing,
a time to spread some holiday cheer and a time to receive it with a grateful heart,

6 a time to dress in holiday duds and a time to stay in warm fuzzy PJs all day,
a time to over-indulge in dips made with cream cheese and a time to get on the scale and have a panic attack,

7 a time to design, print, and ship Christmas card orders and a time to proudly display each one you receive on the wall,
a time for Rockin' Around the Christmas Tree and a time for Silent Night,

8 a time to remember that precious baby born in a stable many years ago and a time to remind yourself and children of the REAL reason for Christmas,
a time to reflect on the good and bad of the year that has passed and a time to toast a new one.

As we wind down the holiday season and begin a new year, I am praying that I will be blessed with the ability to better manage my time throughout the year and recognize the appropriate "time for everything".

Happy New Year!

Christmas recap to follow...stay tuned!

Holiday Photo Cards are Here!!!

It took me a while due to a few bumps in the road, but I made it just in time for the HOLIDAY season.
Here are the 2011 Holiday Cards by CTBaker Designs.

Remember, custom designs are available too and the rest of the collection can be seen in our shop!

 Believe

 (Blessed)3

(exponent number can change)

 A Child is born

Classic Christmas 

Colorful Christmas 

 Dots

 Fa-la-la

 Believe

(available in your team colors at no additional charge)

Glory 

 Joy to the world

 Laughing all the way

 Christmas Cloud

 Merry Little Christmas

Tartan



Wonderful Life

 Joy & Happiness

 Rejoice

Happy Always

There are 2 ordering options this year...

1. You Print: Add your design to your cart here, then select your quantity here, and I'll send you a high-res jpeg to print at the photo lab of your choice (Wal-mart, Walgreen's, CVS, Rite Aid, Ritz, etc.) For your convenience I have size A7 envelopes available here in the event that you need them.
2. I Print: Add your design to your cart here and I'll send you a proof before printing your cards. Once you approve, I'll print them and ship them along with envelopes to you. (If you're local, you can contact me about pick-up.)

For pricing and to see the rest of our collection, visit our shop. Feel free to contact me with questions.



Shop with us at: http://www.etsy.com/shop/CTBakerDesigns

Party Time at CTBaker Designs

This is the best time of year to come up with an excuse to have a party! The weather couldn't be more PERFECT. The last few weeks I have been creating up a storm...lots of baby showers (all girls for some crazy reason), outside birthday parties, and fall parties.

I thought I'd share a few of my creations with you.

(I don't like to be a spoiler. And I try to respect the privacy of my clients soooo...Names and addresses have been changed to protect the innocent ;0))

What kind of party are you hosting this fall?