Tag Archives: cornwall

Happy anniversary…flash back to the invites

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Today Shelly and Dave are celebrating their one year wedding anniversary! Congratulations guys. They were married here in Cornwall and I was the lucky invitation designer. I met Shelley through an old boyfriend and we often would catch up when I went into her work so I was delighted to be ask to design their wedding invitations.

And I finally get around to share them with you. I thought of doing it sooner but might as well take this opportunity to thank them and wish them a happy anniversary and years of happiness to come.2013-03-15_0009

Thanks again for thinking of me for your wedding invitations.

Nancy

Kaleb

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Remember about a year ago I went to meet this lovely young man.

2013-03-18_0013 He was all fresh and curious. He kept his gorgeous eyes open throughout the shoot. Well I got to celebrate his first birthday with him in a photoshoot. He is by far one of the happiest little guys out there and his parents love him so much. Such a cute family. Here are few of the images from that shoot.

Kaleb_1ansThe great thing about being in Cornwall is that I get to use my passion for photography and preserve memories for great friends like Terri who I have known for years. I remember when Terri & Marc started dating ages ago and now to see them as a family is amazing.

To take a look at this gorgeous, stylish and happy boy head over to my album on facebook with all the images from his newborn shoot and his birthday shoot.

30 has come and gone

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Well here I am at the very end of my 30th year. I must say it was a great year. I spent a lot of time with loved ones traveled to a few new places and lived every moment to the fullest. Attended a few baseball games went to my first NFL game. But the end of 30 is near and I am happy a new number is coming along so I can put the not so good parts of 30 away and start working on 31.

I have big plans for 31! I am heading to Paris for 10 days in the spring with my sister, my mom and my 80 year old grandma for a trip of a lifetime. I will have my first solo shift this week at my new job that I absolutely LOVE! (So happy I passed my training I guess I should have announced it here but if you follow me on Facebook you already know) I’ve already started building new friendships and am so blessed to already have some incredible friends.
birthday flowersMy family is of course the best thing I have cause I know even when I’m not the best daughter, sister or grand daughter they are always there for me. I have a few big purchases I am planning for the next few weeks and months and can’t wait to share them with you as well as a possible move. I’m also planning a trip to San Fransisco in the fall something I have been putting off for far too long.

This year as selfish as it maybe I will be putting myself first I’m going to work on saying no when I don’t really feel like doing something and I will take the time to do the things I love. It seems like I haven’t crafted in ages (minus today of course at Auntie Em’s). I want to try project life for year 31. I had a few projects around the house that I never accomplished and I miss that sense of accomplishment. Also with my training days behind me I can’t wait to concentrate more on my business and the many projects that have been brewing in my mind for a long time.

betterme_nancy

I started working out at Renew and it’s challenging and it hurts but it’s feels so good to know I can do it and I could work through the pain I hope this will remain a big part of my life. I need to take better care of me.

So even though 31 begins with a little rough patch I am sure it will be another great year to add to the story of me, and this little rough patch will be so worth it in the end. As my colleague told me upwards and onwards. Plus it turns out my life is nothing like I would have ever imagined it but I wouldn’t change one minute of it.

This year I won’t rely on anyone else for my happiness it’s all about me I’m number one however in being number one I still want to work on being a better me. Cheers to 31!

I’m a lucky girl

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curlymel&nance

 

Today Melmel is celebrating her birthday. And I figured it would be a good time to share how lucky I am. How lucky I am to have been born with a best friend. Sure when
I was little I didn’t appreciate it when she farted on my face and we tugged at each others hair.

Wish we were both still this skinny! Heather @Renew this is your goal to get us both back on track!

Wish we were both still this skinny! Heather @Renew this is your goal to get us both back on track!

We spent awesome times lifeguarding at TACTSC together

But since she went to University things changed we started growing closer. Even being miles away from each other we always kept in touch. For some reason I never shared with her when I was going through hard times. I felt since she has had such a great life she wouldn’t understand but lately I promised I would be a better sister and I’m starting to turn to her when things are bad and turns out she still understands even if things went differently for her. Plus through my sister I scored an awesome brother in law and of course the cutest niece ever.

Celebrating with her before Gaby’s arrival

The sad part about this is this is the most up to date picture of us together and it’s from 2010!!

A colleague of mine and I were talking about imagining life without our sisters and we both had no idea how we could do it. I can’t imagine not being able to text or call her anytime or not having my awesome (good deals) shopping partner.

So on this day I thank you Melmel for being the best sister a girl could ask for. And I hope you have a wonderful day. Looking forward to what the future has in store for us and to growing old by your side.

bananas

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Are you like me constantly storing bruised bananas in the freezer and constantly telling yourself you will make banana bread? But do you ever really do it?

My freezer was beginning to get overloaded so I decided to make a few loaves. That same night I packaged them in wax paper and made these cute labels. Brought them to work as a sign of appreciation for those who made it enjoyable.

The labels read: I would  go Bananas without you here and one special label read I’m completely bananas about you guess who that one was for ;)

Looking back on this, it’s crazy how much I needed those people around to help me get through the everyday at my old safety net. As of right now the change has been amazing. I truly enjoy what I do. Plus luckily I am surrounded by more wonderful people here as well.

BTW I miss you guys. I’m trying to be around as much as possible.

Nancy Paquette

Sheconnex…

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Have you heard of Sheconnex? If you haven’t and you live in the Cornwall area you should look into it. Sheconnex was founded by Karine Parthenais.

Karine Parthenais Founder of Sheconnex

It’s a great organization that brings women together through various types of activities. At first, like many I thought this was just another business association. It’s nice to have a place where I don’t have to talk business all the time and where I can bring along my friends that aren’t business owners. They have activities aimed for moms, business women and other activities where women of all walks of life are welcome. It’s also a low commitment environment you can sign up for the events that interest you and that fit into your busy schedule which is great.

I first met Karine at the end of August she was looking for someone new and local to Cornwall to work on the graphic design for their various events. When I met her I instantly knew that she would do very well in this type of work. She is a warm welcoming person with an amazing personality very approachable and completely invested in this project. I wish her the best of luck with it and encourage you all to look into their events. Go take a look around their site here and like them on facebook here.

As of right now I have created the following for them. Each of their projects are fun and I look forward to all the projects that have yet to come.

First off they created the feminar you can find more info about it here.

The next project was creating a logo and poster for their super hero party, organized to to raise money for la maison baldwin. Unfortunately due to lack of participation it was cancelled let’s all make sure that doesn’t happen again.

And here was the poster.
Lastly and most importantly I just designed a poster for the opening of their studio and the logo for the studio itself!!! Which means they will now have a space in which to host their events; essentially a pied a terre. The other interesting part of this space is that they will be sharing it through space rental.

Here is the logo.

And the poster…
I hope to run into you at the grand opening I will be there for a bit (I have to sneak over during my lunch since I work a 12 hour shift that day). Once again Cornwall is a great place to be and there is plenty going on please check out their site and get involved.

Nancy

Lately…

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It’s been a while since I’ve had a chance to give you guys an update.

Lately…
Things are busy
Things are good
Things are great
Things are looking up
Time is limited
Time is precious

One of the many reasons I haven’t been around as been because believe it or not I am free. Free from my safety net. Don’t worry I didn’t take a complete leap but rather I found a new safety net. One with more padding and comfort, one in which I feel I will be much happier. This safety net comes with 5 weeks of full time day training followed by 3 months of shift work coaching. I have been barely surviving with trying to keep up with my clients and studying for the weekly exams but I’m making it. After this week there will only be one more full time days week and once on shift I should be able to manage a little better.

I hope…
to keep loving it as much as I do today
to find some balance between work, business and life
to never go that long without seeing my girlfriends again
to take the time to be a better girlfriend, friend, sister,
aunt, daughter and grand daughter
to learn to stop over planning
to learn to say no
to live a healthier lifestyle
to be back here regularly soon

How are things with you guys? Any big changes going on in your lives? My bestie is having her first baby sometime soon. Now that is one big change! I am so excited for her! The baby should be here anyday. Can’t wait to meet the little one.

Miss you all

Happy to be where I am today…

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Today as I write this ( September 27) I have now been living back in Cornwall for 2 years to the day. It seems like just yesterday I was in the peak of marathon training and fundraising when suddenly I was given 2 weeks to uproot and move back to Cornwall. Luckily my parents own a rental property and I was able to move into a vacant apartment right away (more on that soon). Thank goodness, cause finding an apartment was an extra stress I didn’t need.

In the past 2 years so much has changed. I completed my fundraising challenge of 6800$. I traveled to Greece and completed my very first marathon. I became single and lived on my very own for the first time ever other then a brief stint in 2007. I became an officer in the Cadet Instructor Cadre. I completed my invisalign treatment (more on that later too) and best of all I became an aunt as well as a girlfriend once again to a wonderful man.

Now I’m in my thirties living in Cornwall working part time and working on this business and living it up. Funny I always thought that I would live in the big city seeing that that is where the work is in my field. I knew that someday I would start my own business but I never thought I would do it so soon and that I would return to Cornwall to do it.

Looking back now as much as there was to do in Toronto I couldn’t afford to do much in the 2 years I lived there. I never went shopping couldn’t afford it. Rarely went out couldn’t afford it. Never traveled anywhere but home. Not only couldn’t I afford things money wise but my time was so limited with the daily commute that I couldn’t partake in the activities that I love so much. Since moving home I have been able to join my old bowling league, join the design team and become an officer with 325 air cadets plus I get to spend quality time with my girlfriends crafting and some good old family time too.

There are so many advantages to living in this beautiful city and today I’m happy to say that moving home was one of the best decisions I have ever made.

Do you ever look back on past decision and have regret? I don’t usually carry regret in my life; turns out everything that I have done has led me to where i am today and they are experiences that have made me richer.

In the spirit of not regretting I agreed to join some girlfriends on a new york city adventure next month. When I received the invitation I was hesitant and over analyzing everything ie: time, money and of course staying away from the business for a long weekend yet again. In the end I decided it was a great deal and the business would profit from me taking some time away and getting new inspiration from the big apple.

Check out this video. It’s been around for a while but I love it and figured I’d like to share it with all of you.
Nancy

Safety net

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Did you know I have a safety net? My safety net is a job. A job that others would consider a great job. You know, with great pay, great benefits and my mom would argue a pension too.

But when I am at work I feel claustrophobic, anxious and sad. When I think about work I feel the same. Luckily I only have to work 25 hours a week but those hours feel like they never end.

The plan is to eventually leave that safety net and leap but it’s so scary. I have been planning to do this for years and I don’t know if I will ever have the guts to do it.

The good news is business is going well. I have loads of projects lined up and I have made more this year than I did all of last year that’s good right?

I wonder what it will take for me to leap. Maybe I need a push. Sometimes it feels like people around me don’t understand why I would want to do something so crazy. Is it really crazy?

I’m sure you have noticed my business is growing into many different things. Wedding invitation designer, photographer, graphic designer, photo editor, web designer and even some event design it has been such an interesting ride and I love the variety and growth. There is so much I still want to learn and do.

I’m going to keep working hard and being too busy for a while and hopefully someday I will be free falling and who knows maybe I’ll fly.

It all feels like I did in the picture below in Chicago’s Willis Tower so scary but yet I felt so alive and happy that I pushed through the fear and stood on the glass floor.

Have any of you taken the leap? Or is something holding you back too?
I’ll post more on our trip to Chicago later.

Nancy