Stay Lifted Notes

2012 Calendar is this month's feature!

2012-01-03T20:00:00.001-08:00

the gift that keeps on giving...
featuring the fashionable designs, you can enjoy encouraging sentiments each month of the year!

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

Happy New Year!

2012-01-01T20:03:00.000-08:00

as always,
remember to stay lifted! charissa

January 2012

2012-01-01T06:17:00.000-08:00

thank you and thank you some more...
in 2011 we achieved quite a few firsts with the debut of our two signature collections, Expressions and My 2 Cents, as well as our first Holiday Collection which featured ten greeting cards and five invitations. we are so appreciative of the love and support from our customers, family, friends, and supporters that made the year extremely fun, invigoratingly exciting, fruitful, inspiring and blessed. so thank you and thank you some more for riding with us, embracing our products, and making a difference through your inspirations, volunteer efforts and donations.

2012 is here and we're looking forward to another fabulous journey! the beginning of the year is the time when we select the core initiatives and organizations that we will support in the upcoming year. from the inception of stay lifted, we knew that we wanted to celebrate women in our creative expressions while giving back to those whose fundamental needs are unmet. in staying true to these goals, we strive to create products with visual statements and images that convey a sense of self and punctuate the way we experience life. we also give a percentage of the profits from all stationery products to select organizations that are dedicated to educating children and improving the lives of women locally and around the globe.

this year our core organizations and projects include Charity Water, Susan G. Komen For the Cure, and Global Fund for Women. as always, you have the option of supporting our selected charities or donating to another cause of your choice at no additional cost with every purchase. additionally, if you know of a great organization/cause that isn't on our radar, please comment on our blog and let us know.

thanks again for your continued support, energy, and inspiration as we embark on another amazing journey in 2012. wishing you love, peace, joy and everything fabulous this year.

many blessings!

as always,
remember to stay lifted!
charissa

Stay Lifted in Jet Magazine

2011-12-02T13:24:00.000-08:00

Editor's Gift Pick...
hey friends and family, check us out in the december 5th issue of JET Magazine. editor, S. Tia Brown, highlights Stay Lifted and recommends us for your stationery needs. very cool! thanks JET!

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

December 2011

2011-12-01T12:39:00.000-08:00

Today is World AIDS Day...

AIDS affects close to 33.3 million people worldwide. 2.6 million people became infected in 2009 and the epidemic is still sweeping through south africa. although reports indicate that the number of new cases is down, we can't be complacent when it comes to HIV education, prevention and treatment. we are donating an additional $1.00 from every product sold in december to organizations and efforts that are committed to the education, prevention and treatment of this disease.

we are thrilled that each time you make a purchase, you make a difference at no additional cost to you. so not only does sending and receiving fabulous stationery from stay lifted brighten someone's day, but collectively our impact is even GREATER.

as always, remember to stay lifted!

charissa

2012 Calendar is here!

2011-11-09T13:13:00.000-08:00

the gift that keeps on giving...
featuring fashionable designs, you can enjoy encouraging sentiments each month of the year!

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

November 2011

2011-11-01T07:49:00.000-07:00

get in the know...

november is American Diabetes Month and we're reminding everyone of the seriousness of diabetes and the importance of prevention. with nearly 24 million people in the united states including 10.2% of women over age 20, and an additional 57 million children and adults at risk, it is imperative that we remain educated about this disease and that we do our part to promote prevention through education, diet and lifestyle. in some communities the statistics are even more startling such as the african american community where it is estimated that nearly half of all african american women born after the year 2000 will develop diabetes in their life time.

consequently, we are eagerly supporting the stop diabetes movement by donating an additional $1.00 from every featured item sold this month to organizations and efforts that are committed to the education, prevention and treatment of this disease. for additional information on diabetes, you can visit the American Diabetes Association website at http://www.diabetes.org.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

Happy Halloween

2011-10-31T08:38:00.000-07:00

don't just think orange today, think PINK!

today is the last day to order our limited featured products that support breast cancer research, detection and treatment. give a little and get A LOT with these sassy designs.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

October 2011

2011-10-01T10:13:00.000-07:00

Think Pink!

october is Breast Cancer Awareness Month so we're shining a light on the importance of continuing to support the research, detection, and treatment of breast cancer. women's health is important to us and many of our stay lifted staff members have friends and family who are survivors and who have lost their battle with cancer. with the help of our customers, staff, and friends, we have donated to several projects and organizations including the EIF Revlon Walk/Run for Cancer, Susan G. Komen for the Cure, and the National Breast Cancer Foundation. we encourage you to stay informed and to support organizations such as these that are dedicated to fighting cancer.

we are proud to say that we have greeting cards and note cards that are designed specifically to promote breast cancer awareness. during the month of october, we are giving an additional $1.00 to breast cancer research from each of these featured products. view all designs by using the link or clicking the picture below.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

drum roll please...

2011-09-23T12:43:00.000-07:00

2011 Holiday Collection

what a difference 12 months make! this time last year i was putting the finishing touches on my first full collection of cards and notebooks thinking that i may possibly, hopefully, if God willing, the planets aligned, and every support system in my life joined forces to lift me up, pull it off in time to share with my loyal customer base, family and friends. those collections, My 2 Cents and Expressions, debuted at the National Stationery Show in may of this year to great reviews and have had a wonderful response since then. who knew that in just 3 short months, we would be debuting another collection!

our new holiday collection includes greeting cards, (our first) invitations, and wine gift tags in the same fashionable, fun style that is expected. each design has hand-embellishments including metallic accents, what we call glitter glam, and jewels, and is paired with a fabulous metallic or leather-like envelope. even though several of these looks have been coming together for a while, i'm still in the honeymoon stage and very excited about their debut. we hope you are too! you can view the full collection as this month's feature on our website by clicking here.

a special thanks to my wonderful kids for putting up with an extremely busy mommy, my rockstar support team, super mom aka nana, and my honey. ahhh...i can exhale. but only for a moment...the holidays are just around the corner!

peace & blessings,

and as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

tis the season...

2011-09-22T07:37:00.000-07:00

to be jolly!

jolly? no...more like giddy! our 2011 Holiday Collection debuts tomorrow! here's another sneak peek.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

Countdown to our Holiday Collection

2011-09-21T10:32:00.000-07:00

2 days left!

we're counting down to the debut of our 2011 Holiday Collection! here's another sneak peek.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

peace be with you

2011-09-21T07:36:00.000-07:00

International Peace Day...
is today! click here to find information on this day of shared peace and events. in honor of this day and the many peace efforts around the globe, members of our staff will be participating in the OM Candles Candlelight Peace Vigil at 7pm in Arcadia. please share your ideas and activities...we would love to hear from you!

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

our studio is buzzing...

2011-09-20T09:31:00.000-07:00

we're counting down!
only 3 days left until our 2011 Holiday Collection debuts! here's a sneak peek.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

September 2011

2011-09-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

a woman's work...

is never done! not to say that the guys don't do their fair share of heavy lifting of course but today i'm speaking for myself. this past week has been BUSY to say the least. since hurricane Irene delayed my travels for a couple days, i had a late return to the office this week which also happened to be the first week of school. that means sports try-outs, teacher meet and greets, registration activities, lunches, and carpool were all added to the things-to-do list...the very long things-to-do list. don't get me wrong - i'm not complaining. in spite of the hectic scheduling, it has been a very productive week at our Stay Lifted studio. we put the final touches on our first Holiday Collection that will debut next week, we made arrangements for two upcoming trade shows, and our Fall/Winter catalog was finished and sent to the printer. Not bad...

and as we move into the Labor Day weekend where the things-to-do list is sure to get even longer with end-of-summer activities, school shopping, and Labor Day celebrations added to the calendar next to tomorrow's conference call and design proof deadline, i'm still very aware that i'm super fortunate. a little fatigued maybe but a lot of blessed. i have work that i love and it allows me to contribute to my community in my very own special way. this year as we celebrate our nation's workers, history and some fundamental American values on Labor Day, we will also be reminded of the many individuals that are currently unemployed in this country and the impact. so even though we are all busy with our individual interests and obligations, we must add the tasks of staying informed, staying engaged, and holding our elected officials accountable to our things-to-do list. collectively we can make a difference.

not sure where to start? find information on your government officials here.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

August 2011

2011-08-01T08:11:00.000-07:00

friends rule!
in celebration of Friendship Day on august 7th, we're celebrating our besties all month long! whether we call them BFF, my girl, my boy, homies, sisters, bros, girlfriends, ace, partner in crime, buddy, boo, chica, fam, or many other terms of endearment, one thing remains the same...we couldn't live without them! so find some time this month to nurture your dearest relationships, to send a thank you note to a friend or two for their support or for simply being there, and to let your friends know how much they mean to you. we will do the same starting with a donation. on behalf of our friends and family battling cancer, we will donate an additional $1.00 from all featured items sold in august to Susan G. Komen for the Cure.

as always, remember to stay lifted!
charissa

July 2011

2011-07-01T11:25:00.000-07:00

stone soup
who doesn't love the story about Stone Soup? as a kid, it was one of my favorites! it's a simple tale about making something out of nothing that describes the journey of a soldier returning from war who wanders into a small village in search of food and shelter. since the villagers are poor themselves, they deny his requests for food, explaining that they have nothing to offer. the soldier ultimately embarks on his own mission to create soup using only a stone and boiling water. as the villagers watch this unusual effort with curiosity, he convinces them to join forces and little by little they begin to contribute ingredients that collectively form a fabulous pot of soup.

what i love about this story is that it's the enhancements added by everyone that create a fabulous melting pot of flavor and substance. people came together from all over the village with individual contributions that had unique value and when combined, they created a delicacy that surpassed their expectations and could be enjoyed by everyone. even without a predetermined recipe, a masterpiece was created. similarly, that's what i love about this country. we have a rich history of people coming together from all over the world forming links to create a strong chain. Stay Lifted is extremely excited to be able to continually form links and chains with the donations and contributions to charitable work that are made as a result of your purchases and support. we are very proud of our stone soup. and this month, as we celebrate Independence Day, we are honoring the family links that support our military. in addition to the donation to the organization of your choice, we are donating $1.00 from all purchases made in July to Blue Star Families, an organization that provides resources and support to military families.

as always,
remember to stay lifted!
charissa

June 2011

2011-06-01T08:24:00.000-07:00

pay it forward...
summer is here and the kids are out of school, vacations are planned and most folks are focused on fun, fun, and more fun! well before you completely solidify your summer activities and plans, we encourage you to add one more task to your to do list (as if it isn't long enough already). but trust us...you'll enjoy this one and the return on your investment will be HUGE. in the midst of working, business meetings, carpool, laundry, traveling, partying, etc., we encourage you to find a few still moments to reflect on your blessings and then commit to performing at least one small act of kindness each day. we're calling this our June Pay It Forward Challenge. whether it's volunteering, donating, or helping a neighbor, we believe that small gestures of selflessness and kindness have a BIG impact. i know...we're all super busy living life and sometimes the demands of the day require so much attention that we lose sight of the importance of giving back. we hope that fulfilling this daily commitment leads to new wonderful habits of giving and that you'll share your efforts and enthusiasm with others so that these acts continue to grow and multiply. don't forget to keep in touch and share your efforts through our blog, twitter, and/or facebook page. we would love to hear your stories and ideas!

as always,

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

National Stationery Show - Blog 5

2011-05-20T22:42:00.000-07:00

We're baaaaaack!
it's tuesday, may 31st and we're back to work! we successfully completed our first trade show, the National Stationery Show in NY, where we debuted two new collections: My 2 Cents, our sassy tell it like it is line and Expressions which includes some of our favorite words of wisdom in the most fashionable way of course. in spite of a few mishaps and surprises we had a great time and even more importantly, we had a wonderful reception to our fresh designs and sentiments which included adding several new stores to our retailer family. i owe a BIG thank you to my team for holding things down and for holding me together, and to my family and friends who didn't make the journey to NY but provided resources, love, support and prayers along the way. a special shout-out to my amazingly talented booth neighbors who made each day enjoyable and fresh: J Falkner, Jot2Jot, Gratitude Designs, and Melange Collection. use the links to view their offerings and check out a few pics from the show below. enjoy!

 our booth! here are a couple of angle shots of our booth.

bright white was the backdrop for our colorful images and vibrant displays.

NSS favorite from the My 2 Cents Collection

The boxed folded note card set "Meds"

NSS favorite from the Expressions Collection

"Multiple Purse-onality" available as singles or note card sets

Eric and I pose with our booth neighbors and new friends:

Jason, Mark, Sue, Tara, Nancy and Clay

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

National Stationery Show - Blog 4

2011-05-15T07:47:00.000-07:00

It's day one!
we're on our way to the Javits convention center and my emotions are an interesting cocktail of excitement and anxiety. although i don't have enough time to write a lot now, i promise to fill you in on this entire journey when we return to LA. in case you're wondering, Plan B to compensate for the missing products was a bust so we're working with what we have. i'm sure we'll be fine and if you're in NYC, please come by and say hello. we're at booth 3564. thanks for the love and support!

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

National Stationery Show - Blog 3

2011-05-14T11:35:00.000-07:00

The show must go on...
so we're trying to stay lifted after learning that half of our collection did not make it to NY. i do see glimpses of sunshine this morning as we scramble to locate a local printer that can spit out dozens of paper products in record time...like yesterday. right now, this very second...it looks like we may be able to do this! fingers and toes are crossed and we're prayed up! any ideas? please share. the show starts tomorrow!

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

National Stationery Show 2011 - Blog 2

2011-05-13T18:25:00.000-07:00

Friday, the 13th
today started at 5:33 am est which was really 2:33 am LA time so it took me a minute to get into the swing of things but after a long shower and a breakfast of champions (a large coffee) i was ready to go! armed with 3 or 4 pre-show webinars, really helpful tips from a few veterans, and my team, we hit the ground running.

the first task was to set up the booth of course. since i would be traveling from across the country with only 2 months to prepare, i decided to have foam core walls installed and it turned out to be a great move. in about 6 hours we installed the carpet tiles, put the product pieces together and displayed them along with all of the labels, signs and decorations. not bad for a couple of amateurs. and the real cool thing is that we worked well together in a 10x8 space. so well that we were not only still speaking to each other by the end of the day but we were laughing and eagerly anticipating the next task. i was almost beginning to think that the show wouldn't be so overwhelming after all. today was great! except for one little detail...actually it was HUGE. we confirmed that about 50% of our collection that was to be displayed at the show did not arrive. needless to say, i had a small meltdown (just a tiny one) because all of our grand ideas for our first NSS exhibit were now just that...ideas. thank God for my honey who has been my rock throughout this process, and thank God for my best friend from DC who will be arriving shortly and thank God for this super yummy pino noir from south africa...superb. i can feel myself slowly moving into a more productive space and the brainstorming wheels are starting to turn...how are we going to pull off this show with a handful of products to display? that is the question of the evening...

remember to stay lifted!
(i'm trying to but it's not easy tonight)
wish me luck!

charissa

National Stationery Show 2011 - Blog 1

2011-05-12T21:10:00.000-07:00

NY here we come!
my friends and family thought i was a little crazy when i made the decision in march (just 2 short months ago) to debut our new collections, Expressions and My 2 Cents, at the National Stationery Show this month. i admit that even i wasn't completely sure of my decision but the encouragement and support from my honey made it all sound doable even if it wouldn't be easy. it turns out that it was definitely doable. easy? not so much. in fact, the only word that really describes the past 2 months effectively is "crazy". crazy in the most exciting, fun, eventful, creative, inspiring, no sleeping, no eating, kind-of-way. and now i'm on the red-eye to NY, bags are packed, boxes are shipped, press kits are done, products printed and packaged, and my support team is in place. NY here we come!
remember to stay lifted!
charissa

a BIG thanks

2011-05-08T19:48:00.000-07:00

EIF Revlon Walk
may is all about fighting cancers and our 5k walk yesterday was a HUGE success! our team, Pandas with Purpose, raised over $9,000 to fight women's cancers. a BIG thank you to everyone who walked, ran, donated & prayed for us. we're super grateful and touched. i must admit that all that walking and celebrating has me pooped! check back shortly for our video diary and additional pics from the event. now, we're off to NY!

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

The EIF Revlon Walk is amost here!

2011-04-21T05:51:00.000-07:00

reminder - we're walking for a cause! on saturday, may 7th, the week before we hit NYC for the big show, i will be participating in the 18th annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women to fight women's cancers. please join our efforts by walking/running or making a donation. Use the link below for more details...

http://do.eifoundation.org/site/TR/RevlonRunWalk/General?px=1195136&pg=personal&fr_id=1041

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

Publish Post

New Website is Underway!

2011-04-20T09:49:00.000-07:00

Our new website is online and we're super excited! We're still in the middle of updating our fabulous greetings & accessories to the online store but you can still check us out. Let us know what you think!

remember to stay lifted!
charissa

NSS - Here we come!

2011-03-01T07:02:00.000-08:00

Booth 3564
you may have noticed, we've taken our website offline...don't worry, the website will be back up next month. we're simply getting ready for our new address at the National Stationery Show, booth 3564, in may. i absolutely love NY in may...it may actually be one of the greatest places to be in the world during that time of year. we're doing it up big this year with the introduction of two new collections, My 2 Cents and Addressed to you..., so i'm bringing back-up. even my honey is coming along for the ride!

needless to say, i'm a busy bee these days leading the team in finishing new designs, updating the website, prepping the new catalog and press kits... and raising my son who happens to be attached to my hip at this very moment and my pre-teen daughter who hates everything on a good day. hmmm...it's going to be an interesting couple of months... and i look forward to including you on every step of the way!

task #1 - i'm relocating to Honolulu for a change of scenery and design inspiration this week. aloha!

remember to stay lifted! charissa

March/April/May 2010 Cause

2011-02-28T06:04:00.000-08:00

on saturday, may 7th, the week before we hit NYC for the big show, i will be participating in the 18th annual EIF Revlon Run/Walk For Women. you can join me in the fight against women's cancers by making a donation on my behalf. your donation will help fund important research in the cause and cure of women's cancers, prevention, education and support service programs. every dollar and effort, big or small, will help bring us one step closer to a cure. we have about 60 days to reach our goal so support this cause by walking with us and/or donating today! more details...

remember to stay lifted! charissa